Communications & Media Law › Wills, Trusts, & Estate Planning

Terms of Service and Deceased User’s Account

In Ajemian v. Yahoo Inc. (May 7, 2013), a Massachusetts court considered this question. Two brothers, who administered their brother John’s estate, brought a lawsuit against Yahoo for access to email messages of their...more

Is There Life After Death for Your Digital Assets?

Digital assets. It is a phrase that is currently trending among legal commentators and Canadians alike. Some argue that it is a critical topic for any estate plan. Others feel it has no place in an estate planning meeting. ...more

What happens to your digital assets after you die?

Most people understand the need to protect, and assign, their assets after their death. They know who will care for their children or pets, who will receive the family heirloom brooch, and who will inherit their financial...more

New Laws for Facebook After Death

Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Paypal, investment accounts, frequent flier miles, LexisNexis access — consumers today take advantage of a wealth of online services across a broad swath of industries. But what happens to all those...more

Intellectual property requires careful estate planning

Intellectual property (IP), such as patents and copyrights, can have great value, but in many ways they’re treated differently from other property types. This article explains the differences between patents and copyrights....more

Bruce Willis and Music, Social Media after Death

A strange rumor making the rounds of cyberspace during the first week of September captivated us for 15 minutes: actor Bruce Willis, angered over the idea that he would not someday be able to leave his valuable iTunes...more

What Happens to Your Facebook Account When You Die?

In 2005, college student Loren Williams was killed in a motorcycle accident. His grieving mother, yearning to feel closer to her son, wanted to use his Facebook page. More than just seeing the site, she wanted to see his...more

FCC Sets Limits on Use of Divestiture Trusts When Station Purchase Would Put Buyer in Violation of Multiple Ownership Rules

When one broadcast licensee company buys another, or when there is a restructuring of a company with broadcast ownership holdings that are grandfathered under current ownership rules, there often arises a need to divest...more

Value of Internet Domain Names in Estate Planning and Probate

Today, I saw an interesting article about the value of Internet domain names, especially as more mobile devices move to “apps” instead of Website–based services. The July 20, 2011, article was written by Austin Carr and...more

Protecting An Artist's Legacy Through Estate Planing, Probate and Post-Death Administratin Part 2

Part 2 of 2: In the US alone, thousands of copyright creators and/or copyright owners die each year. How many of these folks create a comprehensive estate plan, or even a basic will or simple trust? The goal of estate...more

Protecting An Artist's Legacy Through Estate Planing, Probate and Post-Death Administratin Part 1

Part 1 of 2: In the US alone, thousands of copyright creators and/or copyright owners die each year. How many of these folks create a comprehensive estate plan, or even a basic will or simple trust? The goal of estate...more

Saunders v. Jerry Garcia Estate, LLC

First Amended Complaint

The latest suit against assets once controlled by Jerry Garcia involves the trust holding the publicity rights of musician Merl Saunders vs Jerry Garcia Estate, LLC. Merl Saunders performed hundreds of times with Garcia...more