Online attorney directories like Avvo protected under the First Amendment, a federal court held

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
On September 12, 2016, an Illinois District Court ruled that the publication of online attorney directories is fully protected under the First Amendment and does not violate an Illinois law that prohibits the use of someone’s identity for commercial purposes without permission. In this putative class action, Plaintiff alleged that defendant violated the Illinois Right of Publicity Act (“IRPA”), 765 ILCS 1075/1 et seq., by using plaintiff’s identity for commercial purposes without his Read more [...]

Texas lawyers may use names of competitors as key words for SEO

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
Texas Ethic Opinion 661 Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas Topic: Using competing lawyer or law firm's name as keyword in an advertising service offered by search-engine company Conclusion of the Committee: “A lawyer does not violate the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct by simply using the name of a competing lawyer or law firm as a keyword in the implementation of an advertising service offered by a major search-engine company. The lawyer’s Read more [...]

NJ Supreme Court Comm on Attorney Advertising issues notice on how lawyers may advertise “Best Lawyers” award and similar

Posted on by Federica Romanelli
  On May 4, 2016, the New Jersey Supreme CourtCommittee on Attorney Advertising issued a notice to the Bar on “attorney advertising of awards, honors, and accolades that compare a lawyer’s services to other lawyers’ service”. After the Committee received numerous grievances regarding attorney advertising of awards – such as “Super Lawyers,” “Best Lawyers,” “Superior Attorney,” it deemed appropriate to issue a notice to remind lawyers that “they may refer to such Read more [...]