He sat next to me in First Class. We didn't talk much (didn't even introduce myself as an Internet attorney) but everything about him said "success." This included the watch he wore on his left wrist, a model that cost more than some cars.
On the side of the watch was engraved a single word: "Invictus."
The Latin word for "unconquered." it brought to mind the secret to success found within the poem by that name written by an English poet.
I'm not a big fan of poetry but make an exceptio
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Website Attorney: Are you hiding 18 monkeys in your business?
There’s a guy who just got busted at the Mexico City airport trying to smuggle into the country 18 monkey he had stuffed into socks and wrapped around his waist. Unfortunately, 2 of the monkeys were already dead before they caught the jerk.
Why did he do it?
Greed. There’s a huge black market of people who are willing to pay a lot to keep them as pets.
Unfortunately, as a Website attorney, I see greedy Internet marketers who continue to hide forced continuity programs in a way that
Why did he do it?
Greed. There’s a huge black market of people who are willing to pay a lot to keep them as pets.
Unfortunately, as a Website attorney, I see greedy Internet marketers who continue to hide forced continuity programs in a way that
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Web Lawyer: If 73,000 blogs fall in cyberspace, do they make a sound?
Blogetry.com was a place you could set up a blog for free.
Unfortunately, for 73,000 bloggers, that “free” disappeared on July 9 when Blogetry’s web host closed every blog. The reason? Although the details are still murky, it seems that the U.S. government stepped in and forced the closure.
As both a blogger and a Web lawyer, I find it scary to think of the government shutting down so many blogs at once. Some believe the shutdown was because some blogs were illegally sharing copyrigh
Unfortunately, for 73,000 bloggers, that “free” disappeared on July 9 when Blogetry’s web host closed every blog. The reason? Although the details are still murky, it seems that the U.S. government stepped in and forced the closure.
As both a blogger and a Web lawyer, I find it scary to think of the government shutting down so many blogs at once. Some believe the shutdown was because some blogs were illegally sharing copyrigh
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Website Attorney: Are you painting the Mona Lisa in your business?
As a Website attorney, I come across thousands of online marketers every year…and many are flat broke because they’re trying to paint the Mona Lisa.
When Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, he took four years to do it. It took so long because the technique he used required up to 30 separate layers of paint in order to create a particular look with the illusion of depth…an old school version of 3D.
Mona Lisa marketers let perfection become the enemy of the good. In other words, t
When Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, he took four years to do it. It took so long because the technique he used required up to 30 separate layers of paint in order to create a particular look with the illusion of depth…an old school version of 3D.
Mona Lisa marketers let perfection become the enemy of the good. In other words, t
Monday, July 19, 2010
Internet Lawyer: Jinky and the Frozen Fischer
Chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer was a weird duck until he kicked the bucket two years ago and was buried in Iceland. But they just dug Fischer's frozen corpse up for DNA testing. Even to an Internet lawyer like me, that's just damn strange.
Why the DNA test?
There's a Filipino woman who claims that Fischer engaged in some hanky panky with her and now there's a daughter named Jinky.
Because Fischer didn't leave a will, Jinky stands to inherit his estate if the DNA tests prove Fischer was
Why the DNA test?
There's a Filipino woman who claims that Fischer engaged in some hanky panky with her and now there's a daughter named Jinky.
Because Fischer didn't leave a will, Jinky stands to inherit his estate if the DNA tests prove Fischer was
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Internet Lawyer: My Email Cash Project - Is Jamie Johnson Running a Scam?
As an Internet lawyer, I'm on all types of e-mail lists. Here's one of the bad ones. An Internet marketing guru who has recently fallen on hard times sent an e-mail to his list promoting Jamie Johnson's "My Email Cash Project." These types of promotions make me skeptical because they claim thousands are earning money online by sending e-mails to others but without owning a list. This begs the question: How do you send unsolicited commercial e-mails (spam) based on a claimed "loophole" in the law
Website Attorney: Federal Trade Commission Site Compliance Scams
Yes, many Internet marketers should be scared about the way they do business now because the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has new guidelines going into effect on December 1, 2009 concerning endorsements and testimonials. There are even some online marketers going into retirement or moving their businesses offshore hoping to escape the FTC's wrath. That's my take as a Website attorney if the FTC enforces the new guidelines.
If you're doing nothing in response to the FTC new guidelines,
If you're doing nothing in response to the FTC new guidelines,
Friday, July 16, 2010
Website Attorney: Group Think - Why Some Gurus Break Internet Laws
If you want to know why some Internet info product marketers break the law and think they can get away with it, take a look at the Eight Symptoms of Group Think. As a Website attorney, believe these 8 symptoms cover most situations.
1. Illusion of Invulnerability. The marketers take unnecessary risks because they've never been caught by the government or sued. Combined with the ego stroking of having cult-type followers, there's a sense that nothing can touch them even when they break Inter
1. Illusion of Invulnerability. The marketers take unnecessary risks because they've never been caught by the government or sued. Combined with the ego stroking of having cult-type followers, there's a sense that nothing can touch them even when they break Inter
Internet Attorney: 3 Ways You Can Fail Online
Had an email the other day asking me in my experience as an Internet attorney if I was able to identify systems that actually worked to make money online. Part of my response included three surefire ways to fail with an Internet business.
Mistake #1. Trying to sell "how to get rich" business opportunities. There are too many scam artists fishing this same pond plus the government is cracking down on false claims. Even those who have a proven system became successful in some other niche before
Mistake #1. Trying to sell "how to get rich" business opportunities. There are too many scam artists fishing this same pond plus the government is cracking down on false claims. Even those who have a proven system became successful in some other niche before
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Internet Lawyer: Dead Tree Deception
Although an Internet lawyer, I’m a bit old-fashioned because I like to read the dead tree (print) edition of the Wall Street Journal in the morning while having a cup of coffee.
So I wasn’t surprised as a subscriber to get an “Urgent Account Status” notice in the mail today. I figured that the subscription must be coming up for renewal.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. The “urgent” problem was a cross-sell pitch for the online edition of the newspaper.
In addition, the
So I wasn’t surprised as a subscriber to get an “Urgent Account Status” notice in the mail today. I figured that the subscription must be coming up for renewal.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. The “urgent” problem was a cross-sell pitch for the online edition of the newspaper.
In addition, the
Internet Lawyer: Dead Tree Deception
Although an Internet lawyer, I’m a bit old-fashioned because I like to read the dead tree (print) edition of the Wall Street Journal in the morning while having a cup of coffee.
So I wasn’t surprised as a subscriber to get an “Urgent Account Status” notice in the mail today. I figured that the subscription must be coming up for renewal.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. The “urgent” problem was a cross-sell pitch for the online edition of the newspaper.
In addition, the
So I wasn’t surprised as a subscriber to get an “Urgent Account Status” notice in the mail today. I figured that the subscription must be coming up for renewal.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. The “urgent” problem was a cross-sell pitch for the online edition of the newspaper.
In addition, the
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Internet Lawyer: Are You a Freelancer?
As an Internet lawyer, it is a shame to see consultants, website designers, software programmers, copywriters, graphics artists, and many other freelancers get hurt because of common mistakes that could be easily avoided.
Let’s face it.
When you contract your services as work-for-hire, you’re taking on risks as an entrepreneur that employees will never face.
To help you reduce these risks, I’ve created a complimentary special report called “11 Expensive Errors Freelancers Make.�
Let’s face it.
When you contract your services as work-for-hire, you’re taking on risks as an entrepreneur that employees will never face.
To help you reduce these risks, I’ve created a complimentary special report called “11 Expensive Errors Freelancers Make.�
Monday, July 12, 2010
Internet Lawyer: Business Lesson from Hippie John Lennon
I confess. I'm an Internet lawyer who loves rock and roll. But I don't really care for the Beatles as a music group. And every time I hear John Lennon's "Imagine" come on the radio, I switch stations immediately.
Yet you can always learn something if you look...even from a stoned hippie musician.
One day, Lennon said, "I'm going to write myself a pool."
Think about that for a moment. Write a pool? What Lennon meant was that he was going to write a song that would generate enough bucks t
Yet you can always learn something if you look...even from a stoned hippie musician.
One day, Lennon said, "I'm going to write myself a pool."
Think about that for a moment. Write a pool? What Lennon meant was that he was going to write a song that would generate enough bucks t
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Internet Lawyer: Federal Trade Commission Nails Kiwi Living in Australia
As an Internet lawyer, one of the saddest Internet urban legends I hear is that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission only goes after people who live in the United States. That is false.
Here's an example.
The FTC got a court order last year for $15 million against a New Zealand citizen (Kiwi) living in Australia.
Oh yeah...his U.S. business partner will forfeit $800,000 in assets and faces time in jail too.
Although this case involved spammers, the point I'm making is that the Federal T
Here's an example.
The FTC got a court order last year for $15 million against a New Zealand citizen (Kiwi) living in Australia.
Oh yeah...his U.S. business partner will forfeit $800,000 in assets and faces time in jail too.
Although this case involved spammers, the point I'm making is that the Federal T
Friday, July 9, 2010
Internet Attorney: Beware of the psychic octopus in your business
There’s a German zoo that has a psychic octopus.
The octopus correctly predicts the winners of World Cup games, including the results of every game played by the German national team. And people are gambling based on these predictions.
Ridiculous? Absolutely.
As an Internet attorney, I see Internet marketers employing the same absurd concepts to their businesses. Instead of betting on an octopus’ predictions, they believe the unproven claims of a ‘guru’ on how to succeed.
Pro
The octopus correctly predicts the winners of World Cup games, including the results of every game played by the German national team. And people are gambling based on these predictions.
Ridiculous? Absolutely.
As an Internet attorney, I see Internet marketers employing the same absurd concepts to their businesses. Instead of betting on an octopus’ predictions, they believe the unproven claims of a ‘guru’ on how to succeed.
Pro
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Internet Attorney: Saying FU to the Judge
Imagine you got in trouble with the law but were given probation if you went through counseling.
Would you take advantage of the counseling as a second chance or ditch it because you’re smarter than the judge who cut you
some slack? Lindsay Lohan made the second choice, then showed up in court with “f**k u” painted on her middle finger of a hand that she
kept pointing at the judge.
The payoff? 90 days in jail for the supertramp. You don't have to be an Internet attorney to understa
Would you take advantage of the counseling as a second chance or ditch it because you’re smarter than the judge who cut you
some slack? Lindsay Lohan made the second choice, then showed up in court with “f**k u” painted on her middle finger of a hand that she
kept pointing at the judge.
The payoff? 90 days in jail for the supertramp. You don't have to be an Internet attorney to understa
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