5/26 Your Instagram photos may have just sold for $90k: A NY artist took Instagram photos without getting the owners’ permission, enlarged them, and added weird comments. They went up in an art exhibit and sold for $90,000 each! Generally you own the copyright to every photo you take, so did the artist infringe on Instagram users’ copyrights? Maybe not. The law allows you
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If you read that headline and you’re like, “wait seriously there’s an election?” you’re not alone. Based on past turnout for local elections, this Tuesday’s election could see only around 10% voter participation. Which is EXACTLY the reason for the two ballot measures on the March 3, 2015 ballot for voters in the city of Los Angeles. Many cities are holding
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YOUR RIGHT OF THE DAY: Websites that show your* photos (or other content you own) without your permission must quickly remove them when you send them a valid “takedown notice.”1Digital Millennium Copyright Act Jennifer Lawrence and other celebrities whose photos were hacked and leaked on the internet are taking advantage of this relatively easy to use legal tool to get these photos taken down. Thanks to
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Governor Jerry Brown signed into law today a measure that allows guns to be temporarily taken from people deemed to be a threat to themselves or others due to mental instability or otherwise. The law is a response to the Isla Vista shooting rampage that occurred near the UC Santa Barbara campus back in May, during which a mentally disturbed 22 year old
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YOUR RIGHT OF THE DAY: You are entitled to a substantial “whistleblower award” for providing original information to the government about violations of federal financial regulations that leads to successful enforcement action where the penalties involved are over $1 million.1Section 21F(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), 15 U.S.C. § 78u-6(b)(1), and Rule 21F-3(a) thereunder, 17 C.F.R.
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YOUR RIGHT OF THE DAY: You have the right to protection against people who attempt to intimidate you in your efforts to vote or to register to vote. 1U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 245 Don’t like your member of Congress? Don’t complain, vote! (OK you can vote AND complain). If you haven’t yet been bombarded by hundreds of campaign ads, you may
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If you “host,” meaning, rent out your place on AirBnB or by any other means within the city of L.A., you may owe some taxes,1LAMC Sec 21.43(c) and the city is now working to make sure you pay up. Any person who rents out a room or house within the city must collect a “hotel” tax from guests, and then pay
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The recently opened marijuana farmers market in Boyle Heights was shut down temporarily until a judge determines whether it should be allowed or not. So who is to blame/thank for this? 1. L.A. voters who approved Proposition D in 2013 (and eligible voters who didn’t vote), which restricts where pot shops could do business and the number of them that
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California’s drought is worsening by the day and state officials are dealing with the problem by imposing stringent new restrictions on residents’ water use. To reduce the severity of the drought and promote water conservation, the state Water Resources Control Board has enacted temporary emergency rules to fine individuals who are found to be using water excessively. The fine is a maximum $500/day. This is the first time the
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Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a law that makes it easier for beachgoers to assert their right to access all of 1,100 miles of California’s coast. Under the California Constitution, all of California’s beaches are “owned” by the public.1CA Const., art X, sec 4:”tidal lands” means up to the average high tide This means that nobody may deny access to this area, although many beachfront property owners
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