J. Beatty – Business Law and the Legal Environment (6th edition)

Автор: J. Beatty
Название книги: Business Law and the Legal Environment (6th edition)
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Юриспруденция и право
Страницы: 1393
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

BUSINESS LAW AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, 6E uses vivid examples and memorable scenarios to walk readers through the full breadth of business law. Focusing on real-world application and using a conversational writing style, this handy textbook gets readers ready for business challenges from the first page. Plus, by giving readers hands-on experience with legal concepts, BUSINESS LAW AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, 6E deepens readers' understanding of the law and promotes thinking through issues from a lawyer's perspective.

New to This Edition
A New Chapter: Practical Contracts
The contracts chapters in this and other business law texts focus on the theory of contract
law. And that theory is important. But our students tell us that theory, by itself, is not
enough. They need to know how these abstract rules operate in practice. They want to
understand the structure and content of a standard agreement. Our students ask questions
such as: Do I need a written agreement? What do these legal terms really mean? Are any
important provisions missing? What happens if a provision is unclear? Do I need to hire a
lawyer? How can I use a lawyer most effectively? These are the questions that we answer in
this new chapter. As an illustration throughout the chapter, we use a real contract between a
movie studio and an actor.
Landmark Cases
As a general rule, we want our cases to be as current as possible—reporting on the world as
it is now. However, sometimes students can benefit from reading vintage cases that are still
good law and also provide a deep understanding of how and why the law has developed as
it has. Thus, for example, we have added Miranda v. Arizona. Reading this case provides
students with a much better understanding of why the Supreme Court created Miranda
rights. And this context helps students follow the recent Supreme Court rulings on
Miranda. Other landmark cases include: Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad, Hawkins v. McGee
(the case of the hairy hand), Hadley v. Baxendale, Griggs v. Duke Power Co., and Chiarella v.
United States.
CPA Material
We have made two changes to the CPA material. First, faculty have told us that they are
sometimes pressured to teach the CPA material, even if not really necessary, because
students feel cheated if they skip a chapter. To solve this problem, we have created a
separate unit entitled Additional CPA Topics. In it, we have placed topics that are of
primary interest to accounting students: Secured Transactions, Negotiable Instruments, and
Accountants’ Liability. Certainly all professors have the option of including this material in
their courses, but those who want to skip it will now have free rein to do so.
Second, to reflect the changes in the new CPA exam, we have eliminated the chapter
on Article 4 of the UCC, entitled Liability for Negotiable Instruments: Banks and Their
Customers. We have taken this step for several reasons: (1) this material is no longer covered
on the CPA exam, (2) it is not as relevant as it used to be and (3) faculty would like more
breathing room in their syllabus. Also, we felt that class time would be better spent on
Practical Contracts than on a third day of negotiable instruments.

The New Patent Law
This statute represents the most major change in patent law in our lifetime.
End of Chapter Material
To facilitate student learning and class discussion, we have overhauled the study questions
at the end of the chapters. They are now divided into three parts:
1. Multiple Choice Questions. Many instructors use this format in their tests, so it
seemed appropriate to provide practice questions. The answers to these multiple
choice questions are available to students online.
2. Essay Questions. Students can use these as study questions and professors can also
assign them as written homework problems.
3. Discussion Questions. Instructors can use these questions to enhance class discussion.
If assigned in advance, students will have a chance to think about the answers before
class. This format is familiar to students because business cases often pose discussion
questions in advance.
New Material
We have, of course, added substantial new material, with a particular focus on the Internet
and social media. For example, there is a discussion in the Securities Law chapter about
special issues involving Facebook and LinkedIn. The Employment Law chapter includes a
section on socialmedia. The chapter on the Life andDeath of a Corporation uses Facebook’s
charter as an illustration. There are new cases involving eBay and craigslist. In addition, the
chapter on Starting a Business includes a new section about Benefit organizations—both
Corporations and LLCs.
Staying Current: Our Blog, Facebook and Twitter
Business law changes rapidly. To find out about new developments, visit our blog at
bizlawupdate.com. If you “like” our Facebook page at Beatty Business Law or follow us on
Twitter@bizlawupdate, youwill automatically receive a notificationwheneverwe post to the blog.
The Beatty/Samuelson Difference
It has been 18 years since we began work on the first edition of this textbook. At the time,
publishers warned us that our undertaking was risky because there were already so many
business law texts. Despite these warnings, we were convinced that there was a market
for a business law book that was different from all the others. Our goal was to capture the
passion and excitement, the sheer enjoyment, of the law. Business law is notoriously complex,
and as authors, we are obsessed with accuracy. Yet this intriguing subject also abounds
with human conflict and hard-earned wisdom, forces that can make a law book sparkle.
Now, as the sixth edition goes to press, we look back over the past eighteen years and are
touched by unsolicited comments from students, such as these posted on Amazon: “Glad I
purchased this. It really helps put the law into perspective and allows me as a leader to make
intelligent decisions. Thanks.” Or, “I enjoyed learning business law and was happy my
college wanted this book. THUMBS UP!” We think of the students who have emailed us to
say, “In terms of clarity, comprehensiveness and vividness of style, I think it’s probably the
best textbook I’ve ever used in any subject,” and “I had no idea business law could be so
interesting.” Or the faculty who have told us, “Until I read your book I never really understood
UCC 2-207” or, “With your book, we have great class discussions.” Comments such as
these never cease to thrill us and to make us grateful that we persisted in writing a business
law text like no other—a book that is precise and authoritative, yet a pleasure to read.