Updates till 7th Feb

This week we have quiet some interesting updates from around the globe.

1. This interesting piece examines the role that John Grisham has played on legal theory. I have been a die-hard fan of him to disagree. Each of his novels has been based upon a theme devoted to an aspect of law and he has really taken pains to bring out the sarcasm involved therein, though often true. I would have expected much more on this theme but nonetheless a worthwhile read. [click here for the full post]

2. Another interesting dimension of affairs relates to the 'moral obligation of an author to publish'. Relating to the 'moral rights' aspect of the authors under Copyright law, this post has wider significances than that traced in the post. While there are three basic moral rights with an author under the Copyright law (also known in totality as the Paternity rights), this post mulls over the obligation of a author to get his expression published. Though the discussion transcends from a different dimension, yet is a curious bit of work for it examines an hitherto unknown jurisprudential concept. [click here for the full post]

3. Then continuing their earlier posts, Law and Other things blog has come out with it second post on digitalizing legal scholarship (we had covered the first one in the last updates post). This post covers a number of law journals in India, which are available online and makes an attempt to bring legal scholarship with convenient search features. [click here for the full post]

4. This LawLibrarianBlog covers an interesting e-book "How much will you earn?" which goes about informing the readers about the potential salaries they should expect (strictly for legal professionals). A curious bit of interesting writing, makes this book a worthwhile read. [click here for the book] [click here for the full post]

5. After this we have this Law.com post which covers five most notable sites which have been chosen as ones contributing to the change of online legal landscape. Each of the five websites covered are pioneering in their own right and in fact are worthwhile ones to be bookmarked as they serve as research based platform while also offering invaluable insights into legal scholarship. A must read (and requiring follow-up) post. [click here for the full post]

6. This new series in Financial Express also requires mentioning. Titled 'Teaching law more practically', this new series seeks to focus on the prominent law varsities in India, covering their strengths and weaknesses. Starting with NLSIU, the series promises a worthwhile guide for the CLAT 2008 aspirants in making an informed choice of law schools. [click here for the first post in the series]

7. On last week we had covered upon the ongoing debate in the EU over the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the guide published by the Law Society to understanding the Lisbon Treaty. As a sequel to that, we have this post which covers an interesting development in UK wherein the UK's proposed referrendum on the Lisbon Treaty has been challenged in court. [click here for the full post]

8. Another one from Law-and-Other-Things-Blog, wherein an attempt has been made to examine the copyrightability of the judgment of Indian courts. While the issue is a non-starter for the Copyright Act, 1957 itself categorically states that judgments are not copyrightable but yet it is an interesting post as it covers ancialliary issues as well such as head-notes, editor's notes etc. and examines their impact on the copyrightability of the judgment. [click here for the full post]

9. Then this article from BBC traces the contours of legal crisis in Pakistan. Covering the standoffs between the President and the judiciary and the pro-active role of the lawyers in seeking a change-over of government regime, it brings to light various factors affecting the legal profession in the country. [click here for the full post]

10. Coming from far west, this post on redefining law school education towards making 'student focused law degrees' is an interesting piece of thought on giving more meaning and choice in legal education, making the system more friendly for the incumbent lawyers. Transforming the curriculum to make students as 'natural problem solvers', mixing interactivity of real life in class room etc. are some of the nicer features which have been suggested. A nice read. [click here for full post]

11. Then this is one issue I had thought about writing myself on but these posts are really informative; concerning the various legal woes arising from facebook. The first from SpicyIP deals with the rights over the pictures uploaded by the facebook users. Under the agreement (which we all simply agree without reading), the exclusively rights to our pictures are with facebook which can sell it or use it for whatever purposes it finds appropriate. [click here for the full post] The second post from Concurring Opinions deals with other privacy concerns arising on account improper privacy settings on the facebook template. A must read for all facebook users. [click here for the full post]

12. This nice post by Akshay Gandhi interrelates taxation and IPR and examining certain issues come to hold the Ministry of Finance responsible for the overheating of the Indian economy. An interesting piece of thought certainly. [click here for the full post]

13. Then another example of justoposing religion with law, this post on TimesOnline examines the postulate 'does Islam fit with our laws?' Examining the compatibility of the postulates of Islam with English Law, looming to avoid the clash of civilization. Comparing the principle of English law and the Islamic practices, the post does raise some eye-brows considering the fact that British call themselves non-racists but then we all know what the reality is. [click here for the full post]

14. And as for those who have not been keep track on what has been taking place in Afghanistan, this is just a overview for you. One student of journalism in Afghanistan was recommended to death by a three judge panel (Afghan Council of Mullahs) for downloading a paper from the internet on the rights of women and their role on society, on the ground that the alleged conduct was in violation of Article 130 of the Constitution of Afghanistan. This recommendation was approved by the Afghan Parliament which approved his death penalty. But somehow this news got spread in the international media and as usual there were words from everywhere condemning the situation. This has forced the Parliament to reconsider the punishment. As of now the matter is before the Afghan President who is considering about giving clemency to him. [click here for more]

15. In an attempt to reform its taxation structure and giving a boost to the industrial initiative, the United States has been pondering with the Economic Substance Act, 2008. To further the proposal, the Joint (Congress) Committee on Taxation to work upon the issue. This Joint Committee has come out with interesting comments and observations on the Act and the way to further the intention. A nice reading for all those interested in Tax Theory (I know it sounds heavy but than the way it has been dealt with is interesting). The list of publication of Joint Committee on this issue have been collaged on beSpacific. [click here for the full list]


Keep looking for more in later updates. For previous updates, click here ...