Course Descriptions | Online Business Exposure Summit

NOVEMBER 3, 1 PM ET

Web Accessibility Under the ADA and State Laws: Best Practices and Compliance

Adam R. Bialek and Taylor F. Bialek

This session provides a practical overview of the legal landscape governing web accessibility, including obligations under federal and state laws, and compliance best practices. The session covers the WCAG 2.1 technical standards, upcoming compliance deadlines, the current litigation environment, and actionable steps organizations can take to reduce exposure and build accessibility into their website operations. Designed for claims professionals, in-house counsel, risk managers, and insurance professionals, the presentation includes a general compliance checklist and a discussion of defense strategies and common pitfalls, including the limitations of third-party overlay tools.

NOVEMBER 10, 1 PM ET

Trademark Law and Brand Building: Protection and Enforcement Strategies

Michelle Gallagher and Taylor F. Bialek

This presentation delivers an engaging and practical overview of trademark law. Michelle and Taylor examine the lifecycle of a brand – from initial brand selection and clearance to the development and implementation of effective filing strategies – highlighting the importance of building a strong, protectable brand identity from the outset. Expanding beyond the basics, the session also explores global brand protection and enforcement strategies, offering insight into how companies safeguard their trademark portfolios across jurisdictions and develop proactive strategies to deter potential infringement. These topics are relevant to entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and independent business owners, providing a cohesive framework for understanding how legal strategy can support and sustain brand value in a competitive, international marketplace.

NOVEMBER 17, 1 PM ET

Defamation and Trade Libel Exposure

Adam R. Bialek and John P. Cahill

This session examines defamation and trade libel exposure in the digital age, focusing on online publishing, social media, review platforms, and brand communications. The program reviews the legal elements of libel, slander, and product disparagement; critical distinctions between statements of fact and opinion; the actual malice standard; and the per se categories that presume damages. Particular attention is given to how these doctrines apply in commercial contexts, including competitor disputes, negative online reviews, influencer campaigns, and corporate communications that may implicate rivals or their products. Also explored are key defenses and immunities, including Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act; truth/substantial truth, opinion and rhetorical hyperbole; fair report privilege; and anti-SLAPP statutes. The presenters also address anonymous online speakers, cross-border jurisdictional disputes, and offer practical guidance for claims professionals on evaluating exposure and damages, retraction statutes, litigation privilege, and insurance coverage issues affecting claim severity and resolution.

NOVEMBER 24, 1 PM ET

Emerging Non-Traditional IP Exposure: Crypto, Blockchain, and Generative AI

Adam R. Bialek and John P. Cahill

This session examines the evolving intersection between blockchain technology, generative AI, and intellectual property (IP) law, beginning with an introduction to IP, Generative AI, blockchain, digital wallets, smart contracts, stablecoins, tokens, and tokenized real-world assets for participants without a technical background. The program explores emerging IP claims and how blockchain technology can support provenance and authentication, rights management, licensing, royalty administration, anti-counterfeiting, and commercialization, including the important distinction between ownership of a blockchain token and ownership, licensing, or economic participation in the underlying asset or IP. The session also addresses IP enforcement challenges in blockchain and Gen AI environments, including pseudonymous actors, transaction tracing, decentralized infrastructure, intermediaries, and cross-border activity, and briefly covers relevant SEC and CFTC developments. The presenters conclude with practical guidance for business owners, lawyers, underwriters, and insurance claims professionals on evidence preservation, damages, remedies, risk management, insurance concerns, AI governance, and the intersection of AI and blockchain.