I often review contracts for clients that are doing business with companies from out-of-state. Inevitably these contracts will have a choice of law provision that says the laws of [insert state] apply. Clients usually take it for granted that a court will apply the laws of the state referenced in the contract.

But a recent

Jonathan Frieden of the E-Commerce Law Blog offers some excellent advice that companies should refrain from copying another company’s Web site terms of use policy.  Jonathan says that even sophisticated companies are tempted to reduce legal expenses by copying such policies.

Iowa intellectual property attorney Brett Trout has also offered the same advice.  As Brett pointed out in

I am frequently involved with the purchase and/or sale of a business.  Often the purchaser discovers the business through a business broker.  In the Des Moines area, it seems as though several of the business brokers convince prospective buyers to make an offer before seeking legal advice or reviewing the basic terms before the offer is signed. (i.e. price, financing terms

It’s no April Fool’s joke, the Iowa Secretary of State corporate biennial reports are due today, April 1, 2008.  If you have not filed your report be sure to do so today.  In Iowa, limited liability companies are also required to file the report.  If you file online the cost is $30.00 for the filing