Online Social Networking: Legal Risks for Businesses
Identifying and Minimizing Liabilities Due to Company Use and Employee Misuse
Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A
This seminar will examine the range of potential legal pitfalls for businesses arising from using information obtained from social network sites and their employees' use of such sites. The panel will outline best practices for companies to minimize liability exposure.
Outline
- Introduction
- Employment issues
- Privacy concerns
- Use of social networking sites for pre-employment screening
- Harassment issues
- Disparagement issues
- Employee blogs
- Risks to trade secrets/confidential company information
- Intellectual property concerns
- Infringement concerns
- Defamation concerns
- Ownership
- Digital Millenium Copyright Act—potential safe harbors
- Best practices
- Setting policies
- Monitoring
- Revision of organization bylaws to reflect position and possible action for conduct related to social networking sites, listservs, blogs, etc.
- Disclaimers and user agreements
- Legal/privacy considerations
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- How can online social networking and Internet forums pose a threat to a business' IP rights—and how can companies manage that risk?
- How can employers legally take advantage of Internet sites to learn more about applicants and current employees?
- What are the best practices for companies in creating and implementing policies regarding their own and their employees' use of social networking sites and Internet forums?
Faculty
Laura B. Friedel
Partner
Levenfeld Pearlstein
She provides business-focused, practical advice across a full spectrum of labor and employment issues, including... | Read More
She provides business-focused, practical advice across a full spectrum of labor and employment issues, including reductions in force, wage and hour compliance, whistleblower issues, discrimination, employment-related agreements, restrictive covenants and temporary staffing relationships. She works with clients to develop and implement employment policies and practices.
ClosePeter N. Townshend
Partner
McDermott Will & Emery
He is a member of the firm’s Corporate Department and has extensive experience representing emerging growth... | Read More
He is a member of the firm’s Corporate Department and has extensive experience representing emerging growth technology companies and venture capital investors in structuring transactions. He handles privacy and other issues relating to clients' social networks.
ClosePeter E. Perkowski
Partner
Winston & Strawn
He focuses his practice in commercial and business litigation, accounting malpractice, entertainment, securities, and... | Read More
He focuses his practice in commercial and business litigation, accounting malpractice, entertainment, securities, and intellectual property litigation. He handles complex and class action litigation. His significant cases range from defending an information technology company against claims of unfair business practices to defending an aerospace company against claims of environmental contamination.
Close