Social Media is a global issue. Foong Cheng Leong provides some insight into “What Lies Ahead for Social Media” in Malaysia. The article touches on important US and Canadian cases that may impact on social media law in Malaysia where Twitter and Facebook users are growing in leaps and bounds. The article also provides a succinct summary of many of the important cases from 2011.
It may seem like a lot of work to track all the changes in social media law with so many stories and cases emerging every day, but it’s money and time well spent. Jon Chavez’s article, “Law’s Stance on Social Media Fluid, Firms Told, ” points out why. It’s important that a company’s social media policies keep pace with changes in the law.
Proposed changes to EU privacy laws could have ramifications for US companies. Kate O’Flaherty examines the potential risks to companies that don’t protect user data: “EU Proposes Changes to Privacy Laws.”
Jesse Dill and and Charles Pautsch’s article “Court Cases Are Shaping Social Media” is a good follow up to the two recent cases involving Twitter and LinkedIn that we posted on recently. In their article, they explore how businesses need to begin protecting their social media interests now if social media is a big part of how they are doing business. Even if this isn’t a big part of how you do business today, it may be in the future.
The Entertainment industry continues to find new ways to use social media to both promote and integrate productions. Lucas Shaw’s article “As Social Media Hits TV, 2012 the Year of ‘Must-Tweet’ TV” provides insight into how Networks are using social media to good effect. Shaw looks particularly at innovative uses for Twitter and Facebook that not only involve social media departments within the networks but also active involvement from stars.
You might think that Social Media might not be something you need to add to your already full plate as a trial lawyer. Todd Ruger’s article explains why “Trial Lawyers Should Be On Social Media.” He also references – and provides a link for – a recent article in the American Bar Association: “Social Media and the Modern Fact Finder.”
Here’s a great article on some of the issues in-house counsel should trouble spot in relation to their company and social media. There are both employee and intellectual property ramifications. Darin M Klemchuk’s article, “Protect the Company in the New Social Media World”, appeared in Texas Lawyer, but provides good basic advice.
We’ve highlighted a few stories on how government agencies have incorporated Social Media into their daily activities. Here’s a post by Alex Fitzpatrick: “Social Media Celebrated at the State Department.” Fitzpatrick’s post highlights how the State Department is using Social Media to keep up with technological changes in “the ecology of geopolitical power.”
As a follow up to yesterday’s post, the dispute over ownership of a Twitter account has referenced a similar Pennsylvania case over a LinkedIn account. The Pennsylvania case is similar in many respects and also calls into question who owns work-related Social Media interactions. Read the full article by Joe Palazzolo from The Wall Street Journal: “Before Dispute over Twitter Account, a Fight over LinkedIn.”
This question may seem like a straight forward question, but as Social Media is used increasingly for market penetration, the lines are also becoming increasingly blurred. Does someone follow you on Twitter simply for your expertise or product information, or do they follow you because they are interested in you? CNN Money explores this issue in “Who Owns Your Twitter Followers? Maybe Not You.”