A federal court has struck down the California Resale Royalties Act, which provided visual artists a 5% royalty on their work in the secondary market. The court found the law conflicted with federal copyright law.

Many European automakers use software programs to price spare parts based on how much consumers are willing to pay for them, according to documents filed for a court case. The companies argue that the tactic is legal.

Customers often notice small details inside retail spaces, said Elisa Marshall, co-founder of Maman, one of several participants in the Rethink Connect Experiential Marketing Symposium in New York City. Speakers emphasized the value of creating shareable moments on social media.

Entrepreneurs who want to pass their businesses on to the next generation offer intensive training to their heirs, often assigning them key projects and involving them in decision-making processes. Babson College professor Lauri Union notes a successful transition may require a willingness to make certain changes to company operations.

Running a small bookstore comes with plenty of advantages as well as certain challenges, booksellers say. They discuss some of the issues they have encountered related to paying rent, working with wholesalers and trying to land author signings.

The Forest Faire, which opened earlier this month in Mars Hill, N.C., offers a wide variety of items, including felt animal masks and freshwater pearls. Many of the items are made by the Willis family, who own the store and have been selling handmade goods for the last 12 years.

Robotic process automation can take care of back-office duties and help companies reduce human error while cutting costs, Kristin Manganello writes. "Thanks to these unique benefits -- and the upward trajectory of industrial automation in general -- it's safe to assume that RPA will eventually become standard practice across all types of industries and applications," she writes.

Companies looking to reap the rewards of mass customization should "[s]tart at the top, with a commitment from leadership to transform the manufacturing process," writes Vicki Holt, CEO and president of Protolabs. The biggest obstacle to change is often the company's mindset, she argues.

Data is the future of maintenance, repair and operations but needs to be managed properly to deliver value, says Synovos executive Mike Weinberg. "If your MRO program is to be effective, think simple and elegant, not complicated," he advises.

A strong culture for safety is the key to building a better workplace where employees are happy, loyal and more productive, says Chuck LeRoux, director of corporate safety, security and disability services management at Andersen Corp. LeRoux shares how Andersen changed and communicated its values as a first step toward improved workplace safety.