NewsWire

GUSTAV IN THE GULF
While the prospect of Hurricane Gustav is leading to the suspension of drilling and the evacuation of the Gulf of Mexico's drilling platforms, energy industry expert RENATO BERTANI cautions against overreacting to the corresponding spike in oil prices. "A short-term increase is certainly expected, but oil companies are better equipped than ever to efficiently move their personnel to safety and quickly return to operations when the storm has passed," says Bertani of Houston's Thompson & Knight Global Energy Services. "Although it's impossible to definitively predict the effect of a hurricane, companies have made increased investments in technology and transportation to protect both their facilities and workers, so it's hoped the impact will be minimal." To interview Mr. Bertani about the energy industry, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.  

FOOTBALL SEASON BRINGS OUT NCAA RULE-VIOLATING 'AGENTS'
When college football season kicks off this weekend, fans won't be the only ones paying close attention to a team's superstars. Although NCAA rules prohibit contact with players until they declare their eligibility for the draft, unscrupulous agents looking for a leg up will try to establish relationships years earlier, says sports attorney DARYL K. WASHINGTON of Dallas' Shackelford, Melton & McKinley. "Some agents are approaching kids who are still in high school or even younger, making promises and handing out gifts that would be hard for anyone to turn down," he says. "This type of contact is immoral and criminal, not just a violation of NCAA rules that can result in sanctions." To interview Mr. Washington about sports law issues, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.  

WHAT CAN MICKEY MOUSE TEACH MODERN BUSINESSES?
Much has been made of the news that a copyright on an early version of Mickey Mouse in "Steamboat Willie" may be at risk due to a technicality in the original filing. In reality, Disney has taken several steps to protect the iconic rodent, serving as a lesson for other businesses, says WILLIAM MUNCK, head of the intellectual property section at Dallas' Munck Carter. "Disney has many procedures in place to protect Mickey and his friends, including federal, common law and foreign trademark registrations," says Munck. "None of these derive their validity from a single first copyright filing, so there is no domino effect that would place Mickey in the public domain. Likewise, companies must realize that the lifeblood of their organization is their intellectual capital, and should develop intellectual property protection strategies tailored to their particular business." To interview Mr. Munck about intellectual property matters, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.  

CONSTRUCTION REMAINS THE DEADLIEST INDUSTRY
A recent U.S. Department of Labor report found the number of workers killed on the job last year dropped to 5,488 - the fewest since the government began keeping track of workplace fatalities in 1992. However, the number of deadly falls rose to a record 835 in 2007 and, for the fifth consecutive year, the construction industry saw more deaths than any other private-sector industry. "There's an overall strategy to force the most dangerous work out to subcontractors who are often not big enough to provide decent training," says ANGEL REYES of Dallas' Heygood, Orr, Reyes, Pearson & Bartolomei. "The practice is prevalent in construction, especially with legislation and case law that tends to protect contractors over injured workers." To discuss workplace safety issues with Mr. Reyes, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.  

IMITATION NOT SO SWEET IN SPRINKLES CUPCAKE TRADEMARK DISPUTE
Sprinkles brand cupcakes are tasty enough to command premium prices and count Oprah and Paris Hilton as fans, but the distinctive color-coded circle design topping each cupcake also makes them visually recognizable. Sprinkles has aggressively protected its dot trademark, most recently threatening a rival who used a similar motif on its packaging. Trademark and patent attorney J. KEVIN GRAY of Fish & Richardson says disputes over cupcake toppings may seem silly to the casual observer, but it's understandable that companies need to protect their trademark. "Businesses have a duty to protect their trademarks," Gray says. "I can easily see how the Sprinkles circle-within-a-circle trademark has value to the company, so vigorous enforcement should not be surprising." To interview Mr. Gray about trademark issues, please call Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or robert@androvett.com.  

FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, DIGITAL AGE OFFERS PROGRESS AND PERIL
"Loose lips sink ships" was the World War II generation's warning, but CEOs today stay awake fretting about employees' e-mail, text messaging and other digital threats. Electronic evidence has figured into countless recent scandals, not to mention everyday business disputes and probes. "The business world and the courts are still playing catch-up with the ways we work and communicate," says former federal prosecutor ERIN NEALY COX of Stroz Friedberg LLC. "Companies need help, whether it's a complex data breach or simply understanding that data doesn't disappear when you hit the delete button." Stroz Friedberg has opened a Dallas office and computer forensics lab to meet increasing demand for expert response to the digital threat. To interview Ms. Cox about e-mail trends, data breaches, cyberattacks and other electronic threats, call Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or robert@androvett.com.  

DALLAS FIRM EARNS WOMEN'S BUSINESS CERTIFICATION
The new law firm of Taber Estes Thorne & Carr has just received certification by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. WBENC certification can offer some important advantages for both legal practices and clients. "Most publicly held corporations, as well as larger private corporations and other organizations, have programs that encourage doing business with women and minority business owners," says JANE TABER of the all-female firm. "This distinction reinforces the quality of our attorneys and how we can help clients meet their diversity initiatives." There are only a handful of women-owned law firms across the nation. The WBENC provides the nation's most widely recognized certification for firms seeking to promote diversity and inclusion in the hiring of professional service providers. To interview Ms. Taber about WBENC certification, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.