Better than Lexis and Westlaw???

There is much more out there than Lexis and Westlaw (and Google) for your research.  Many attorneys and scholars use specialized topical databases to target their area of interest.  How can you do the same?  Go to the Library's Online Resources page, choose your topic of interest and see what we have available.  You will find databases specializing in Tax, Health, Commercial and Corporate and many other topics.

And, of course, if you are not sure where to go, ask your favorite Reference Librarian!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Megaupload Meets Godzilla?

Read Thomson Reuters legal columnist Alison Frankel’s interesting take on the recent accusations of racketeering and criminal copyright infringement against the file sharing site Megaupload here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Google Privacy Policy

Yesterday Google announced on the Official Google Blog and via email notices that it was changing its privacy policies, effective March 1, 2012.  One general privacy policy covering most of its products will replace the more than 70 privacy documents existing today.

A main objective behind the new policy, as stated in the announcement, will be to "[make] clear that, if you're signed in", Google "may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services."  In other words, Google will combine information gathered from different products your may have used (for example, Gmail, Google Docs, Google+ posts, shared photos, and calendars) and "treat you as a single user across all our products."  This permits Google to offer its new feature, "Search Plus Your World," described in a previous post. Google is also simplifying matters by revising its Terms of Service, also posted now but effective March 1.

Is this just simplification, just service, or just scary?  The media and the lawmakers are already weighing in on that question, as explained here by Mark Hachman of PCMag.com.  Whatever your personal take on the new Google policies and features may be, it's good to be informed. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Contract Law Karaoke

Starting with Chicken in a Contract (Frigaliment Importing Co v BNS International Sales), tap your foot and listen to more songs from classic cases of first-year contract law by visiting R.B. Craswell's Contract Songs"  Hat tip to Law Librarian Blog.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

World Justice Project: Rule of Law Index

New link added to our online resources!  The Rule of Law Index is a new quantitative assessment tool designed by The World Justice Project to offer a detailed and comprehensive picture of the extent to which countries adhere to the rule of law in practice.  The index provides detailed information and original data on nine dimensions of the rule of law:

Limited Government Powers
Absence of Corruption
Order and Security
Fundamental Rights
Open Government
Effective Regulatory Enforcement
Access to Civil Justice
Effective Criminal Justice
Informal Justice

It may be found on the law library's website under "online resources" - "Foreign/Comparative Law".

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

ABA Journal Blawg 100

Blogs are a great tool to keep up-to-date on the latest legal news and events.  Recently, the ABA Journal published an article highlighting 100 blogs that every lawyer should read (or be familiar with) to keep apprise on the latest legal information. The journal compiled the list of the top 100 law blogs in twelve categories using nominations from fellow attorneys. Click here for the entire list.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat