Establishing a Board of Directors for Startups
After incorporation, one of the most important governance tasks for a new startup company is to appoint one or more individuals to its Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for all fundamental actions and decisions such as issuing stock and hiring executive officers. more...

Social Media Law 101: Dealing with Legal and Risk Issues Arising from User-Generated Content
These are a subset of what I'd call "abuse" issues more broadly; at major sites like MySpace, the abuse team handles all kinds of ugliness that doesn't always have legal implications, but reflects on the character and perceived value of the site. The most serious issues get escalated to Legal. more...

Legal Compliance Guide for Online Contests and Sweepstakes
Many online businesses decide to offer giveaways of various kinds as marketing promotions. Contests and sweepstakes can be traps for the unwary if marketers fail to follow some important rules. Consult qualified legal counsel for more information and personalized advice. Here are some basics: more...

How Your Lean Startup in Social Media/Web 2.0 Can Avoid Costly Legal Mistakes
With most resources focused on engineering and product development, leanly staffed startups in social media, Web 2.0 and similar tech businesses find it challenging to comply with the patchwork of state and federal laws and regulations governing consumer-facing Internet businesses. Here's a start: more...

California Employment Law Traps for the Unwary for Social Media and Other Technology Startups
California's laws and court decisions make it one of the most pro-employee states in the country. Emerging growth technology companies in general, and today's "lean startups" in particular, risk running afoul of strict regulations unless they understand and adhere to these basic requirements. more...