| Volume 84 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
The People's Lawyer is now the Interim Dean of the University of Houston Law Center!
For more information about the appointment,
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Illegal Music Downloads Down Significantly
Illegal music file sharing was down by 17% in 2012, compared to 2011. With free (and legal) services like Spotify available, music lovers have been less inclined to find their music through unscrupulous methods. The shift in behavior is likely a good sign for the struggling music industry.
Despite the recent positive news for the music industry, enforcers from the entertainment industry are finding new ways to track and go after those who illegally download files. This week, internet service providers will implement a Copyright Alert System to monitor Internet activity. Consumers found to be in violation of copyright laws could face a range of discipline.
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Boeing Finds Battery Fix for Dreamliner
According to representatives for Boeing, the company has a found a permanent fix to the battery problem that led to numerous recent incidents. In order to get the Dreamliner 787 back in the air, Boeing officials have recently met with United States and Japanese officials. If regulators accept Boeing's proposal, the Dreamliner could be ready for commercial flight in short order.
To read about the potential fix,
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Survey: High School GPA Not Important
USA Today recently released an article about college admissions and applicant grade point averages (GPA). According to the article, numerous high ranking academic officials disregard an applicant's GPA as "meaningless" and "artificial" for purposes of college admissions.
Is it true? Do some colleges disregard an applicant's GPA?
Although GPA may not be the absolute determining factor in admissions, it is certainly one of the most objective means of evaluating prospective students. While some schools take a more subjective approach in evaluating potential students, others will still closely examine a student's courses and grades.
Why are some schools so unconcerned with GPA?
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Your Money
Should you pay discount points for a lower interest rate? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Fees charged for tax refund checks violated Truth in Lending Act. A California Court of Appeal held that a “handling fee” charged by a bank in connection with tax refund checks constituted an undisclosed finance charge that violated the federal Truth In Lending Act. The defendant provides certain tax preparation services, including arranging refund anticipation loans and electronic refund checks through certain banks. The state of California sued alleging violations of various federal and state consumer protection laws. In particular, the state argued that certain “handling fees” that affiliated banks charged for electronic refund checks constituted undisclosed finance charges under TILA. The court agreed, finding that “In the present case, the handling fee was a condition to customers receiving [the defendant’s] tax services on credit. [The defendant] does not establish why the fee’s application to administrative aspects related to the extension of this credit matters, and we are not aware of any reason why it should.” Click here for more.