David.Adler

David M. Adler is a transactional attorney with more than 18 years of experience guiding entrepreneurs, executives, creative professionals and organizations through the dynamic and sometimes murky legal challenges presented by the interrelated areas of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, privacy, information security, marketing and advertising, social media, digital business, regulatory compliance, litigation and corporate-commercial transactions. He has been designated by his peers for five consecutive years as an Illinois SuperLawyer in the areas of intellectual property and entertainment and media law. David has significant in-house counsel experience managing the legal affairs of industry-leading software providers in the public relations and marketing industries, negotiating, and drafting enterprise-level software-as-a-service (SaaS) agreements and vendor and third-party contracts with a heavy emphasis on proprietary rights.

He is a prolific writer, maintaining a technology-focused blog (www.adlerlaw.wordpress.com) and a newsletter (Ping) devoted to helping entrepreneurs and professionals identify, protect and monetize their creative content and ideas, and take advantage of the opportunities presented by today’s digital business platforms.

Outside the practice of law, David was an adjunct professor teaching music law at DePaul College of Law, he also taught entertainment law and introduction to e-business at Columbia College Chicago and once chaired the Chicago Bar Association's media and entertainment law committee. He is currently a member of the Illinois State Bar Association intellectual property law committee.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of David Adler and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications Inc. or its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.

Articles by David.Adler

Who is winning in text message (SMS) marketing?
The Legal Side of Tech

Who is winning in text message (SMS) marketing?

Recent court decisions provide much needed clarity around issues of “consent” so that businesses using text message marketing know when they can rely on the recipient’s consent.
By David Adler September 1, 2017
Trump’s executive order travel ban and IT workers
The Legal Side of Tech

Trump’s executive order travel ban and IT workers

In light of the executive order restricting immigration from certain countries, should U.S. companies that rely on temporary or contract IT workers, or recruit skilled tech pros from other countries, be concerned about the visa status of those workers?
By David Adler March 1, 2017
The Legal Side of Tech

FTC v. Wyndham and corporate cybersecurity

Privacy and security are often perceived as weaknesses or risks, but they can be an opportunity. Reputation and brand protection have been identified as two of the biggest drivers behind increased IT spending to address security threats.
By David Adler September 1, 2016
New federal Defend Trade Secrets Act expands protection, adds safe harbor
The Legal Side of Tech

New federal Defend Trade Secrets Act expands protection, adds safe harbor

The continuous press for innovation in technology and media will challenge intellectual property laws to evolve. The new Defend Trade Secrets Act provides a powerful new tool to protect a business's intangible assets and a major change in how Intellectual Property rights are recognized and enforced at the federal level.
By David Adler May 27, 2016
5 key terms to know for vendor contracts
The Legal Side of Tech

5 key terms to know for vendor contracts

Vendor and third-party contract management is a challenge for every organization. Focus on key contract areas to address risks from effects of mobile, social, cloud and big data on employee, vendor and customer access and use of digital information and services.
By David Adler May 10, 2016
The Legal Side of Tech

4 questions from the standoff between the FBI and Apple

At this year's RSA Conference on cybersecurity innovation - the world’s biggest digital security expo - the iPhone dispute between Apple and the FBI touched every conversation. The battle over access to encrypted data on an iPhone provides a lens for a bigger debate on privacy, mobile devices and the implications for technology vendors that might face a similar request. Understanding leads to confidence so CIOs are surely frustrated by another growing legal minefield for a technology that is probably already widely deployed throughout the enterprise.
By David Adler March 18, 2016
The Legal Side of Tech

4 things CIOs need to know about the FCC, broadband and innovation

CIOs should take notice of recent developments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It’s rulemaking authority are making many question if the FCC may write new rules applicable to Internet services specifically, and what that means. Regulations at the federal level have the potential to stifle attempts to innovate around covered services. Here are 4 issues that CIOs should be planning to address as these changes unfold.
By David Adler February 4, 2016