NewsWire

Don't Gamble With Your Ticket Purchases
The baseball faithful wanting to watch the Rangers try to close out the Tigers or gamble that the World Series will indeed be coming to Arlington may be scrambling today for game tickets. If you are among those hoping to score last-minute tickets, Dallas attorney Steven Camp of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP cautions against buying from someone on the street. "The key is to buy from a respectable ticket broker with established, understandable purchase policies," he says. "Brokers tend to be more credible and, if there is a problem, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. It's always tempting, but you shouldn't buy from anyone you don't personally know or who isn't a recognized broker. But if you do, do not give out your credit or debit card information or you could be paying for that mistake for years." For more information, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.

Keep Your Brand From Being 'Adult-erated'
The adult entertainment industry is poised to register the domain names of some existing trademarks with the new .XXX extension, potentially creating a problematic and embarrassing situation for corporate brands. Last March, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers voted to approve the new domain extension for adult entertainment websites. "Companies should consider protecting their federally registered trademarks from being used with triple-X domain names," says Deborah Lively, a partner in the Dallas office of Thompson & Knight. Lively notes there is an Oct. 28 deadline for an owner of a federally registered mark to file a "Sunrise B" application, which is intended to prevent the mark from being registered under the "adult" domain for a period of up to 10 years. The application may be submitted through any of ICM Registry's accredited registrars with a filing fee of about $300. Open registration for parties in the adult entertainment industry will begin in November. For more information, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.

Lanier Law Firm Adviser, Attorney in ESPN Film
"The Dotted Line," a new film examining the world of sports agents from acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, premiered this week on ESPN. Eugene Egdorf, head of The Lanier Law Firm's Sports and Entertainment Law group, was involved in several aspects of the filming, which follows the lives of top agents in the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball. "The world of professional athletes and sports agents is unique and interesting," says Egdorf. "This film takes an incredible look at what goes on behind the scenes, and I am thrilled to be a part of it." The documentary profiles up-and-coming NFL agent Eugene T. Lee, President and CEO of ETL Associates Inc. Lee and his agency have partnered with The Lanier Law Firm to complement its Sports and Entertainment Law group. A noted sports attorney, Egdorf also serves as vice president and general counsel of ETL Associates. For more information, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.

Whistleblowing While You Work
The SEC has officially opened its "Office of the Whistleblower," creating new challenges for corporations and potentially lucrative paydays for employees who report violations of federal securities laws. "The new rules will have a tremendous impact on how companies manage their compliance programs, conduct internal investigations, and handle their dealings with the SEC," says Rose Romero, partner in the Dallas office of Thompson & Knight and former SEC Regional Director. "Companies will likely face a greater volume and scope of internal investigations and increased pressure to quickly complete them." In addition to potentially large paydays for whistleblowers, there are broad protections against retaliation that may increase a company's liability risk. Romero encourages companies to establish programs that demonstrate a commitment to compliance. "Employees should be encouraged to confidentially report any suspected wrongdoing through internal resources, and companies should be prepared to respond quickly, regardless of the source." For more information, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.

Gardere Anticipating King Memorial Dedication
Hurricane Irene may have derailed the original September dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., but the delay hasn't dampened Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP's enthusiasm for the memorial, or what it stands for. "Although harmful divisions haunt us still, we are uplifted by the timeless message of unity brought to us by the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial," says Dwight Francis, Co-Chair of Gardere's Diversity Committee. "Gardere celebrates and champions all efforts to unite our country, and to teach our children the vital human traits of compassion and justice." In its effort to continue Dr. King's legacy, the law firm sponsors the Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition for elementary school students in Dallas and Houston. Gardere is also assisting with the Austin competition led by the Austin Area Heritage Council. The 2012 events will be held on January 13 in all three cities and will mark the 20^th competition in Dallas. For more information, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.