Blackletter

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap tackles the first charge against someone for insider trading with NFTs. Tom breaks down how an employee of OpenSea, the largest market for NFTs, purchased NFTs, then picked those digital assets to be featured on the platform’s homepage, therefore increasing their value. This is another instance of how law is playing catch up to current technology–insider trading of NFTs does not exist yet in law. Tune in to hear Tom’s analysis of how the case will play out and its impact on the legal field.

Today on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap discusses the recent case of a 21-year old National Guard member who allegedly leaked classified documents onto Discord. Tom breaks down the Espionage Act and another section under the US Code: their origins, what they mean, and what their sentencing would entail. As the National Guard member put the documents online, this further complicates the matter. Tune in to find out why.

How can people market themselves to achieve more professional opportunities?On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap sits down with Jason Levin, author of "Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch" and founder of the firm Ready, Set, Launch. He is also the programming chair of the National Capital Local Steering Committee for the Legal Marketing Association, which supports marketing and networking between legal professionals.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jason was inspired to write his book after becoming aware of the human need for connection. He relates this to professional networking and community building and discusses the importance of connection and fostering relationships. Jason also shares his expert opinions on the social networking platform LinkedIn and how people can leverage the site to form strong business relationships and advance their goals.Tune in to this episode of the Blackletter Podcast to hear more about Jason's thoughts on modern marketing. And chec

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently ruled in a case regarding severance agreements. In the case, McLaren v. Macomb, management at a hospital offered severance agreements to furloughed employees that included a clause prohibiting them from speaking negatively about their employer and disclosing the agreement's terms.The NLRB ruled this was unlawful, and that the ruling also applies retroactively. This means employers may be forced to leave non-disclosure clauses out of future severance agreements and reverse agreements they previously offered.On this episode, Tom discusses why employers should be cautious when drafting severance agreements to avoid violating the provisions in the NLRA and how this could lead to more changes in the future for the NLRB.

In this special episode of the Blackletter podcast, we celebrate the trailblazing women who have spoken on the show over the years. Through their impactful stories and insights, these female leaders have demonstrated what it takes to succeed in the legal and business worlds. Tune in to hear their inspiring tales of overcoming challenges, breaking down barriers, and making a difference in their fields.S2E8 with DeAnna Burke (0:44)How can someone run a firm and manage people as a female business leader? This segment of the podcast features a clip of an interview with DeAnna Burke, an attorney for Dunlap, Bennett, and Ludwig. On Season 2, episode 8, she and Tom speak about the leadership processes involved in managing a law firm. DeAnna explains that when managing many people, all with different personalities – the best thing to do is to understand what people are doing, gain their trust, and build a trustworthy reputation as a leader. She also discusses how she continued learning on the job and the im

The Copyright Office has launched an initiative to examine the copyright law and policy issues raised by artificial intelligence (AI), including works generated using AI tools. These technologies raise questions about whether the material they produce is protected by copyright, whether works consisting of both human-authored and AI-generated material may be registered, and what information should be provided to the Office by applicants seeking to register them. Tune in to this week's episode to hear Tom's thoughts on where we might end up in 2023 and how it will impact the use of AI tools.

What leadership advice can support the success of any organizational team?On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap concludes his three-episode interview with the President and CEO of Veterans Moving Forward, Gordon Sumner. As the leader of a nonprofit organization and a former army officer, Gordon is no stranger to the demands that come with leadership positions. In this episode, he provides pieces of sage wisdom and advice that he gathered from his past and present roles. Gordon also discusses the importance of teamwork and cooperation for leadership success and how he incorporated lessons from his army training days into the nonprofit business world.Listen to this episode of the Blackletter Podcast to hear all about the important advice Gordan learned throughout his experiences. And catch-up on previous episodes available on the Blackletter website!

The U.S. Supreme Court was recently asked to decide if AI can be a patent 'inventor'. Stephen Thaler petitioned the high court to review an appeals court's decision that patents can only be issued to human inventors and that his AI system cannot be the legal creator of inventions it generated. This week Tom dives into this patent rabbit-hole and discusses from legal perspectives as well as patent owner perspectives.

A promoter's lawsuit against FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation can proceed toward trial after a lower-court judge had thrown it out, a federal appeals court ruled recently. In its refusal, the USSF had cited a 2018 FIFA policy that its ruling council "emphasized the sporting principle that official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association." Today Tom Dunlap provide's details about U.S. Soccer and FIFA's pending Anti-Trust lawsuit. He discusses why it is needed, how it will effect FIFA soccer leagues, and the difference between European and American soccer leagues.

What business challenges can one expect when running a non-profit organization?While non-profits can differ from for-profit businesses, these organizations still have their fair share of challenges. On this episode, Gordon shares the significant challenges he faced running Veterans Moving Forward during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the organization rearranged its plans to overcome obstacles and continue moving forward. He also explains the ongoing challenges of raising funds to train and care for service dogs and his goals for funding the travel costs of matching the dogs with veterans.Check out this episode to learn more about the challenges and hurdles Gordon faced in running a non-profit. And remember to tune back into the next Blackletter episode, where he will discuss his top leadership advice.

Last week, A U.S. appeals court denied requiring a minimum airplane seat size rule necessary for passenger safety. Therefore, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cannot be forced to adopt minimum requirements, the court found. FAA has no compelling evidence that the tight seating slowed down emergency exits and caused medical risks like blood clots. Listen to this week's episode to hear Tom discuss the Circuit Judge's decision.

The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in Gonzalez v. Google, which questions conflicting appellate court interpretations of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The law shields interactive websites from legal responsibility for harms third party content may cause. Listen to this week's episode as Tom discusses why this is a really important decision that can have a huge effect on the Internet and content sites like Google and YouTube.

What lengths would you go to support a cause you were passionate about?On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap chats with Gordon Sumner, a former Army officer and current President and CEO of Veterans Moving Forward, a nonprofit organization that provides service and emotional support dogs to veterans. After serving in the Department of Defense for the Obama administration, Gordan decided to start his own disabled veteran-owned organization. He explains his decision to shift focus from creating a business to starting a nonprofit and service-oriented organization. Additionally, Gordon shares how he navigated the challenges of this endeavor to support an important cause.Tune in to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to hear more about Gordan's nonprofit journey. Then, don't forget to visit back next week, as Gordan will dive deeper into the challenges of running his nonprofit, including COVID's impact on his organization.

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap chats about the infamous trademark case of the “Satan Shoes” which feature a pentagram and allegedly a drop of human blood in the sole. Nike is suing MSCHF for designing the shoe with their recognizable swoosh. To counter, MSCHF have argued that their shoes are a work of art, and therefore protected under the First Amendment. Tune in to hear how the case unfolds and why this is important for artistic protection and the law.

This week on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap continues on classified documents. In particular, he examines the legality around presidents and former presidents storing classified documents, and who would enforce these laws. To understand the complexity of this situation, Tom explains the Federal Records Act, the Presidential Records Act, and the Freedom of Information Act, under which are storage requirements. Tune in to hear how Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Joe Biden went about storing documents and what this means.

The Blackletter Podcast has covered a wide range of subjects during its eighth season, from legal advice for the Federal Aviation Administration to licensing in the medical marijuana industry, as well as technology business transformation and more. On this final episode of the season, we look back at the critical topics tackled within these past fourteen shows and the insights and knowledge revealed along the way. So tune in for this informative episode that reflects on some of the influential interviews from season eight!Business Transformation (00:45)Change is necessary for business growth, and season eight of the podcast features many professionals who had to pivot and redirect their focus to meet their business goals. Hear as these guests share their stories on managing changes to expand their industrial initiatives and achieve success in their industry.Advice From Experience (13:12)No matter your role or agency, everyone has lessons that they have gained from their professional experience. This season’s

This week on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap breaks down the six different levels of classified documents. He explains how documents are categorized, what constitutes sensitive information, and who has clearance for what. Next week, he will continue the discussion by examining if presidents and former presidents can and should access classified information.

The Supreme Court will not hear a case from New York gun owners, leaving Second Amendment law to be settled in lower federal courts across the country. The court declined to intervene on procedural grounds, giving the Second Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals the chance to weigh the case. Listen to this week's episode as Tom provides details what to expect from the rejection.

What is the most valuable career advice for finding professional success?On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap concludes his three-segment interview with Marc Nichols, the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. On this final episode, Marc and Tom talk about careers, including Marc’s pathway into his profession and his personal career advice for those starting in the workforce. Tom’s professional experience has taught him a thing or two about what it takes to progress in a workplace setting. He provides listeners with actionable steps for harnessing their control over their careers to become competitive in their fields and drive real results for their future.Tune in to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to hear Marc provide his most valuable career advice for anyone looking to excel in their industry. And if you haven’t heard parts one and two of this three-part interview series, head over to The Blackletter Podcast online to get caught up!

The Supreme Court is set to review a pair of cases that could significantly affect the power and responsibilities of social media platforms. On this episode, Tom will dive into more detail on both cases. The first case is Gonzalez v. Google, which argues that recommendations can count as their own form of content produced by the platform, removing them from the protection of Section 230. The second case is Twitter v. Taamneh, which questions when platforms are legally responsible for supporting terrorism under federal law.