The Missouri Bar

Hacker Indicted in Palin Email Scandal

The 20-year old University of Tennessee student who hacked Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin's email was indicted this week by a grand jury. David C. Kernell face a $250,000 fine and up to five years in prison if convicted of unlawfully accessing Palin's personal email and posting its contents on the Web site 4Chan.

Kernell is the son of a prominent Tennesee Democrat. Some had accused the Alaskan governor of using her personal email for government business, a claim never proven. Read more in PC Magazine.

This case raises several online consumer issues:

Whether you use your personal or work email for clients, is what you type and save really confidential? Just how much privacy do you have in the workplace? Attorney Bill Martucci discusses this topic with host Angela Wilson.

Another issue with hijacked email is identity theft. What should you do if you think your ID was taken? How can you prevent it? We have the answers!

What if you share a confidential document subject to copyright and it is illegally posted online? Copyright law is the focus of this Law in Your Life podcast with attorney Annette Heller. 

Net Radio Lives

A new deal between the record industry and the growing number of digital music providers will keep online radio going. Sites like Pandora.com will pay 10.5% in copyright fees to stream music from their site. Initially proposed fee increases would have put several free Web-based streaming music channels out of business. It also met with outrage from fans of online radio, who like commercial-free music that they choose. Five major groups worked together to create the agreement. Read more from PCMagazine.com.

Copyright is part of everyday life, thanks to the proliferation of material available on the Web. What should you know before signing on to a file-sharing site, or posting content from another publication on your blog? Host Angela Wilson delves deeply into copyright with attorney Annette Heller in this Law in Your Life podcast.

Law in Your Life #51: Copyright

Author Stephenie Meyer says she won't complete the next in the popular Twilight Saga because someone shared a rough draft of the story online. Even though it wasn't complete, the document became viral and continued sharing violated the author's right to copyright.

In the digital age, it's tough to protect copyrights - especially when some don't realize they are violating the law by sharing music, books and other documents, or failing to cite sources in blogs. Today Law in Your Life host finds out more about copyright - and how to protect your work - with attorney Annette Heller.

(Internet Explorer users click twice.)

More on the Web:

Federal Copyright Office

Law in Your Life #43: Military Legal Issues

Military families face tough legal issues when a soldier leaves on a tour of duty. What issues can the military help them with? When should they hire a private attorney to meet their needs. This week, The Missouri Bar's Military Law Committee Chair, Terry Jarrett, discusses these important issues with Law in Your Life host Angela Wilson. Issues include child custody, divorce, talking with your landlord and more. (Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 9.5 meg)
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Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 9.5 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Do You Really Have Privacy at Work?

Think that email you sent to a friend about your tyrannical boss is private? Think again. Some Corporate America giants actually hire people to read your email. Many are trying to stop leaks of key data, but others just want to keep tabs on what you are doing and who you communicate with. (Read more in The Tech Herald)

Before you forward that joke, or decide to chat about your boss or your job dissatisfaction via email, check out this Law in Your Life podcast with attorney Bill Martucci. Bill not only discusses your privacy rights when it comes to the Internet and telephone, but also tells what employers can and can't share from your personnel file.

Law in Your Life #22: Privacy at Work

Just how much privacy do you have work? What are your rights when it comes to checking e-mail or taking person phone calls? Just how much information can your employer share from your personnel file? This week, host Angela Wilson delves into this complicated topic with attorney Bill Martucci. (Internet Explorer users click play twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 30 meg)
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Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 30 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Law in Your Life #19: Identity Theft

Identity theft is a scary prospect. How does it happen? What can you do about it? This week host Angela Wilson talks with Joy Frazier, who is with the consumer division of the Missouri Attorney General's Office, about what you can do to protect yourself and what you need to know if you believe someone has stolen your identity. (Internet Explorer users click play twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 13 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

For additional details, you can visit the Federal Trade Commission, federal site www.OnGuardOnline.gov, or the Missouri Attorney General's Office.

If you have a questionable email that might be a scam, report it or verify it at Anti-Phishing Working Group. If you do P2P file sharing for music, videos or other documents, know that services like LimeWire can be hacked, or you can inadvertently share every document on your PC - including tax returns. Find out how you can be safe while file sharing.

If you believe your identity (credit cards, SSN, etc.) report it to the three main U.S. credit bureaus:

Equifax
To request a fraud alert call: 800-525-6285
Write to: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com

Experian:
Call: 888-397-3742
Write to: PO Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com

Transunion
Call: 800-680-7289
Write to: Fraud Victim Assistance Department, PO Box 6790, Fullerton,
CA 92834
www.transunion.com

To obtain a free copy of your credit report visit,
www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 13 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

For additional details, you can visit the Federal Trade Commission, federal site www.OnGuardOnline.gov, or the Missouri Attorney General's Office.

If you have a questionable email that might be a scam, report it or verify it at Anti-Phishing Working Group. If you do P2P file sharing for music, videos or other documents, know that services like LimeWire can be hacked, or you can inadvertently share every document on your PC - including tax returns. Find out how you can be safe while file sharing.

If you believe your identity (credit cards, SSN, etc.) report it to the three main U.S. credit bureaus:

Equifax
To request a fraud alert call: 800-525-6285
Write to: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com

Experian:
Call: 888-397-3742
Write to: PO Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com

Transunion
Call: 800-680-7289
Write to: Fraud Victim Assistance Department, PO Box 6790, Fullerton,
CA 92834
www.transunion.com

To obtain a free copy of your credit report visit,
www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.