In recent years, there have been numerous predictions forecasting the end of cable television and cable companies. The reasons for this harsh prediction may be obvious especially with the advent of streaming services and the mounting costs of cable television packages.[1] Though cable companies are continuing to struggle, they are expanding their range of services in the hopes of being competitive and profitable.[2] This post will discuss the new strategies used by major cable companies such as AT&T, Comcast, and Charter Communications. These companies own some well-known subsidiaries, including Sling TV, DirecTV,[3] Xfinity,[4] and Spectrum.[5] The increase of “cord cutters,”…
Author: Melissa Zacharias
Over the last couple of years, chatbots have become increasingly popular in the context of legal services.[1] Chatbots are a form of technology that allows for people to interact with software in the form of a conversation without requiring that the user have technological expertise.[2] In the legal context, chatbots can, among other things, assist in obtaining legal information, filling out and filing forms, and performing client intake.[3] The questions that this and other technological advancements raise are whether and how access to legal information and services through such platforms will affect the need for human lawyers in the future.[4]…
Since the 1990’s, the Chinese government has enforced a policy dictating that foreign companies who wished to do business in mainland China must enter into a partnership with a Chinese company.[1] Specifically with respect to manufacturing, the policy required that a foreign company’s operations in China “be at least 50% Chinese owned,” which mandated a joint venture between the foreign and Chinese companies.[2] A joint venture is “a business arrangement in which two or more parties agree to pool their resources for the purposes of accomplishing a specific task.”[3] Under this arrangement, foreign companies, including American manufacturers, gained valuable access…
Internet service providers (“ISPs”) such as AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon allow people to connect to the Internet and access many different types of content online. These companies earn money primarily through service subscription fees paid by consumers who wish to access the Internet. Services such as television and telephone connections provide alternative sources of income for these companies.[1] The large ISPs tend to operate on a business model where they offer all three services.[2] Telephone service essentially consists of connecting one phone to another and allowing consumers to talk to whoever is on the other side. Whether it be a…
Litigation finance, or litigation funding, is the practice where a third party unrelated to the lawsuit provides financing to a plaintiff involved in litigation.[1] In return, the third party receives a portion of any financial recovery from the lawsuit.[2] This type of financing is becoming more popular[3] because it provides more access to the legal system, while providing a return for those who finance litigation.[4] Fortune 500 companies, major universities, and the tech industry have been known to use this type of financing.[5] There are generally three parties involved in litigation financing: (1) plaintiffs, (2) investors, and (3) attorneys and…
Due to the recent #MeToo Movement, companies face increasing public pressure to address and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.[1] Companies typically do not disclose sexual harassment investigations, even to shareholders, because of the privacy interests of those involved.[2] As shown in recent cases though, these investigations can drastically impact business matters, including share prices and corporate structure. [3] This raises the question of whether sexual harassment investigations are subject to disclosure requirements under federal securities law.[4] Federal securities law provides some guidance.[5] Generally, disclosure is required when a company has an affirmative legal duty or its failure to disclose…
The collection and storage of user data has grown exponentially over the past several years.[1] The ubiquitous collection of data from multiple source points, such as websites and smartphones, combined with the sinking costs of data storage have allowed numerous corporations to amass large swaths of consumer data.[2] As the technology concerning data has grown, so too have companies’ abilities to analyze consumers’ raw data and use it to make inferences and predictions about consumer behavior and world events.[3] While this data undeniably has the potential to increase efficiency and boost productivity, anti-trust experts are beginning to question whether this…
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