Information Technology + Cyberlaw

Information Technology + Cyberlaw is an exciting and constantly evolving area.  At Miller Canfield we have invested heavily in the critical competence necessary to provide services to clients for their IT needs.  We have developed a cross-disciplinary team of attorneys who focus on the legal issues and business strategies specific to technology enhanced businesses and service providers, online and off. 

The Information Technology + Cyberlaw Team offers comprehensive representation for transactions and dispute resolution issues.  Team members with specialized knowledge of copyright and trademark law form the core competence group providing services to solution and service provider clients.  Because clients benefit from coordinated representation to address their complex corporate and entrepreneurial challenges, this team works closely with our Miller Canfield colleagues in several practice areas -- Intellectual Property, Corporate and Securities, Public Law, Labor and Employment, Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Telecommunications and Administrative.  By simplifying communications and sharing collaborative work we create efficiencies and synergy that adds value to the results we can provide to our clients.  And clients notice.

The clients whom we counsel and represent on information technology + cyberlaw law issues include every aspect of our society and economy -- commercial, financial, manufacturing, telecommunications, education, government, organizations and professional services.  And, in addition to addressing a full complement of back-end technology contracts, we assist with:  

• Privacy and information security counseling
• Network and Internet policies
• Web site terms of use
• Web site auditing
• E-commerce agreements and issues
• Outsourcing and application service provider agreements
• Resolving disputes through both traditional and innovative means, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms

Typically clients who provide technology based solutions and services require:

• Protection of Intellectual Property 
• Joint development contracts (drafting and negotiating)
• Partnering agreements
• Outsourcing agreements
• Licensing agreements
• OEM and distribution agreements for software and other proprietary products and related services

Our representation of technology startup companies generally requires a full complement of our cross disciplinary skills.  Our fundamental philosophy is client protection at the outset.  We do everything from incorporation counseling, domain name selections, web site provider agreements, and privacy policies to terms and conditions contracts with business partners, customers and other users of a client's site.  Tax, corporate law, and securities issues, along with employee compensation incentive issues, tend to dominate the picture at the initial startup point.  Follow up advice typically relates to tax issues, privacy and security considerations, and intellectual property strategies such as copyright protection and infringement avoidance, appropriate trademark use and misuse, and analysis as to whether the business plan may infringe on a methods of doing business patent.

We provide clients with timely, bi-weekly updates to keep them fully informed of the latest laws and regulations affecting their business.

At Miller Canfield, Information Technology + Cyberlaw is a high priority.  We recruit lawyers with technology backgrounds.  We offer in-house and outside training and seminars in the fast-moving area of Information Technology + Cyberlaw.  Our Information Technology + Cyberlaw Team is well-published, well-read, well-trained and experienced in this very technical and ever-evolving practice.  We are committed to providing dedicated and timely representation with a single-minded focus on client needs.