Confidentiality agreements

Advice on keeping confidences, from in-house counsel Mark Herrmann.

Ed. note: In observance of the holidays, Above the Law will be on a reduced publication schedule today and dark Monday, December 26th. We hope you don’t have to bill too much more in 2016! Have a happy holiday!

* Be careful when shopping last-minute holiday deals on Amazon — counterfeits are aplenty. [Slate]

* This terrible Missouri law makes school fights a felony. [Huffington Post]

* Some law professors have their panties in a twist over the University of Oregon’s handling of a law professor’s decision to wear blackface to a Halloween party. [Tax Prof Blog]

* Lessons from the North Carolina political shit show. [Salon]

* Google’s employee confidentiality agreement is the subject of a lawsuit. [Law and More]

As reported this week by Law360 (subscription required), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently issued a reminder (Regulatory Notice 14-40) warning firms against the use of confidentiality provisions in settlement agreements that prohibit or otherwise restrict customers or anyone else (such as current employees) from communicating with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA, or any federal or state regulatory authority regarding a possible securities law violation.

* Additional thoughts, from Professor Josh Blackman, on Judge Richard Posner’s awesome streak of book reviews. [Josh Blackman] * Meanwhile, Professor Kyle Graham wonders: How would Judge Posner review Moby Dick, Fifty Shades of Grey, and other classic literature? Incredibly, that’s how. [noncuratlex] * Apple responded to Samsung’s blame-the-jury appeal with knives out and guns blazing. [Ars Technica] * This attempt at using a disguise to commit ID theft was so pathetic, I almost feel bad for the guy. And yes, there is a photo. [Lowering the Bar] * A longtime Arby’s employee fled when a knife-wielding robber broke into the restaurant in the middle the night. And then Arby’s fired her. At least unemployment > dying alone in an Arby’s. [Consumerist] * Models, runway shows, and confidentiality agreements, oh my! [Fashionista]