Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Back from Boston and Boy Am I Tired Link-o-rama

Posted on April 1, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Linkorama.

China Buys Google (great web redesign at Slashdot!)

Orley Lobel argues that there isn't enough hierarchy in law schools. (I think she's serious.)

Internet as the pervasive marketing device, Are we there yet?

Iraq, hell in a handbasket

Use Google Maps to track Zombies in your area

A star is born (perhaps).

He sounds like David Duke, and he’s coming to a Republican Presidential primary near you. If there were any moderate Republican candidates, you might expect this guy to suck air out of the right and open a space for a centrist. But do they exist? (Cf. Sadly No reads LGF so you don’t have to.)

Posted in Linkorama | 4 Comments

No News on UM Strike Talks

Posted on April 1, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

It seems that the parties to the talks are keeping this confidential so far.

Posted in U.Miami: Strike'06 | Comments Off on No News on UM Strike Talks

Contemptible

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Have I mentioned how mean-spirited and contemptible the official UNICCO strike blog is is both tone and content? Here’s the latest screed,

With the deadline looming on its 30-day recognition strike, the SEIU has to end its picketing, chanting and tub-thumping today and the few striking workers have to come back to work. Meanwhile, a meeting between all the parties called for by UM President Donna Shalala will convene soon and we expect the message in that gathering will be clear: “Let ‘em vote.” The union really has no alternative except to try and bolster more support among students, but they will soon be departing for summer vacation. It’s over. I feel kind of sorry for the students whose heads have been filled with union mush. But, hey, students and protests used to go hand in hand and it’s actually good to see students seriously engaged in something other than keg parties. And, it’s the last chance they get to stick it to the man before they become the man.

(The “university truth” blog has neither links to individual items, nor does it allow comments, so that link will only take you to a category; look for today’s entry, currently at the top.)

Some colleagues of mine have also noted that the site — especially the main UNICCO page’s link to it — uses colors, type and language in a way meant to evoke the official UM pages. I’m doubtful that this is actually a trademark violation as I think the likelihood of confusion is low; that said there might be an initial interest confusion claim based on this item,

university_truth.jpg
currently found at the UNICCOtruth page with a link to UNICCO’s (not UM’s!) “UniversityTruth” blog.

I mention this not because I think trademark law should be used to stomp UNICCO’s advocacy, and I don’t, but rather because it’s somewhat surprising that UM’s trademark lawyers, normally quite protective of the University’s rights, don’t seem to have sent a cease and desist letter which I would presume would be immediately complied with by UNICCO, whose customer they are. Just something to think about when UM touts its neutrality…

Posted in Law: Trademark Law, U.Miami: Strike'06 | 3 Comments

Look Who’s Talking

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Interesting and generally positive line-up of participants in today’s UNICCO-SEIU-community meeting. The list is notable for the very large participation by UM law faculty — and our Dean.

Disclosure: President Shalala asked me to participate in this effort (I’m unclear as to why, and even feared she may have thought I was Michael Fischl!), but I declined, both because I’m in Boston today and because I know how little I know about labor law.

cf. Picketline blog

Posted in Law School, U.Miami: Strike'06 | Comments Off on Look Who’s Talking

More on the ASIL Resolution

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Roger Alford has a well-written and informative post describing the process by which the plenary of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) adopted the resolution I blogged about yesterday.

Prof. Alford disapproves, and he gives his reason,

My own view, which clearly is a minority one today but appears to be the traditional view if one looks at the historical sweep, is that the ASIL should avoid passing these resolutions. Such resolutions, while perhaps uncontroversial in content, are nonetheless controversial in their choice of forum and timing.

In this case, the clear implication of the resolution is that these norms are being ignored or violated by the United States. The drafting history of the resolution undeniably underscores this fact. It is in this sense a political resolution directed at the United States, admonishing it for its misconduct. It appears to be the first resolution in the Society’s history that relates to broad issues of international compliance with the laws of war and humanitarian law. In the past 100 years, a century in which “mankind experienced some of the most destructive wars of all times,” States have transgressed these international obligations on innumerable occasions. And yet the Society only now sees fit to pass such a resolution. One can only help but ask, “Why now?”

It seems to me that the multitude of replies to this question begin with “Do you read the newspapers?” and “If not now, when?”

If the US makes detention without trial or POW statuts official policy and torture its de facto national policy, something which has not frequently been the case in the past 100 years, then maybe that’s an occcasion for the American Society of anything to speak up. Especially if it’s something to do with law.

Posted in Law: International Law, Torture | 2 Comments

Explorers Everywhere

Posted on March 30, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

It seems I will be teaching Jurisprudence again next year after a long hiatus. (That link is to the old syllabus; it will change some.)

Although I start with The Case of the Speluncean Explorers, I think, slightly wistfully, that I won’t be able to include this modern version from Legal Fiction.

Posted in Legal Philosophy | 2 Comments