Recently I had the opportunity to interview cyber law expert Brett Trout, who’s blog Blawg-IT is, in my opinion, one of the top 10 blawgers on Planet Blogosphere. I subscribe to Brett’s feed even though I’m far from a lawyer, and always manage to learn something.
Why should you read this interview through to the end (other than because you’ll learn something)?
Free book Contest: Brett was also nice enough to give away 2 copies of his awesome new cyberlaw book Cyber Law: A Legal Arsenal for Online Business to 2 lucky readers. There’ll be a question at the end that everyone can give an answer to and who knows? You just might win a copy of Brett’s book.
Q: Tell us about the man, the myth, the legend, Brett Trout.
The Man? In my free time, I race motorcycles, practice Hapkido and Ju-Jitsu, do a little handgun hunting, train for cage fighting, and have even been known to stop a ceiling fan with my tongue. The Myth? Well I am the hottest, sexiest patent attorney I know. But that’s a little like saying I am the hottest, sexiest octogenarian I know. The Legend? That’s the part I have trouble convincing other people of.
Q: You’re part of the Des Moines blogga nostra (that’s amazing online publishers, for those in need of a translation). How has having a local group helped your blogging and your business?
I could tell youse, but den I’d have ta whack youse (apologies to all the Sopranos fans out there). Blogga Nostra actually provides a lot of support and advice to bloggers. It creates a collaborative environment where you can share ideas and avoid potential mistakes. All Blogga Nostra blogs are better for the affiliation. We meet once a month to share ideas, renew connections and provide assistance to new bloggers. Blogga Nostra is a great way to continue the online conversation offline. It adds a new dimension which strengthens and solidifies relationships. Google Blogga Nostra to get a flavor of the high quality of blogs published by such a small group.
Q: What’s the best (non-lawyer) advice you’ve ever gotten and what made it so good?
Never bring a knife to a gunfight. As a lawyer, I have never been
disappointed in being over-prepared. Over-preparation makes what would
otherwise be a very stressful occupation, a lot of fun.
Q: What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 12-18 months and what made it so outstanding?
God’s Debris – It’s theology for geeks. Very short. Quite enlightening.
Q: You are an intellectual property attorney – as an online publisher, tell me why this is important to me?
Everything you do as an online publisher involves intellectual property. From fair use, to copyright, to trademarks to defamation, online publishing is all about protecting your intellectual property and avoiding infringing other people’s intellectual property. As your blog becomes more popular, intellectual property issues become much more important. I always advise new bloggers to get some advice on doing things correctly from the beginning. This avoids the difficult process of changing everything later (and possibly getting sued). Every online publisher needs to have at least some type of relationship with an intellectual
property attorney, preferably an intellectual property attorney who is also an online publisher.
Q: Congratulations on publishing your new book Cyber Law: A Legal Arsenal for Online Business. Your cover is almost fantasy like. How does it fit into the rest of the book?
Although
the book is actually written in simple terms, for anyone who does
anything online, I designed the concept of the cover art for geeks like
myself. I had other artists attempt the cover, but no one really
captured the graphic novel feel I wanted. Finally, I went to Ron Wagner
who translated my vision into the coolest law book cover I have ever
seen. You just can’t see Cyber Law on the shelf without picking it up.
A lot of reviewers find the cover art so cool we spend half the
interview talking about Ron. I have known Ron for about five years and
have always wanted to do a project with him. As it turns out, he has
always wanted to do a project like this as well. Luckily, Cyber Law
came about and allowed us to collaborate on a project which has far
exceeded my expectations.
Q: Tell us a little more about your wonderful book?
Cyber Law: A Legal Arsenal for Online Business is a desk reference. You can read it cover to cover, but I find
keeping it by my computer as a reference is where it really comes in
handy. I actually use it myself on a pretty regular basis. Cyber Law
answers most of the general questions I have gotten from clients over
the past fifteen years. It is actually my third book on Internet Law.
The books just keep getting bigger and bigger and people keep wanting
more and more.
Q: Any rejected titles you care to share?
Pocket
Online Lawyer, Internet Laws Affecting Your Company II, Gone With the
Wind (looking for a few initial interest confusion sales) and
Everything You Wanted to Know About Internet Law, But Were Afraid to
Ask.
Q: Please share some of your favorite blogging tips and resources that are essential to your arsenal?
Keep
posts short and be yourself. My best posts have always been the easiest
to write. They are merely an extension of who I am. Find a great editor
(Thanks Martha) and actually take their advice; you can never take back
a bad post. Some of the resources I could not do without are my Really
Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds and Blogga Nostra. Having other bloggers
share their support and ideas makes things much easier.
Q: What advice would you give for budding law bloggers (blawgers if you will)?
Read
a lot of other blawgs. Get a feel for how blawgs read. As different as
they are, the best one’s all have a certain professionalism that runs
through all of their posts. Incorporate this sense of professionalism
into your own voice. Find a niche, the narrower, the better. Post
comments on other blawgs and you will start to see traffic trickle
back. Be yourself and most importantly start posting!
Q: Anything else you’d care to share?
I will be speaking at BlogWorld Expo
in Las Vegas November 8th. Stop by and see me if you are attending. Who
knows, you might even be able to talk me into stopping a ceiling fan
with my tongue.
Thanks to Brett Trout for taking time to answer my questions right before your big speech in Las Vegas.
Contest: What’s the best advice YOU’VE ever gotten and what made it so good? Two (2) lucky readers (you must live in the US, sorry overseas folks) will get a copy of Brett’s book Cyber Law: A Legal Arsenal for Online Business. All you need to do is leave this great advice in the comments box, and you’ll be entered to win this random giveaway contest.
