The White & Case Tech Newsflash provides updates on the latest issues and trends in technology and the law. We deliver fresh perspectives across all of our practice areas, including intellectual property, data privacy, cybersecurity, corporate, disputes, antitrust and regulatory practices. Our articles explore legal developments related to artificial intelligence, Web 3.0, web3 and blockchain, metaverse, e-commerce, cloud computing, quantum computing, IoT, software, hardware, semiconductors, robotics, and issues relevant to online platform products and services. Our sector focus spans the technology ecosystem as well as industry-convergent sectors such as FinTech, AutoTech, HealthTech, CleanTech, Smart Cities, and others.
2024
No Fake Clout: FTC Issues New Rule to Crack Down on Fake Consumer Reviews and Testimonials
16 August 2024 – Nearly two years after announcing its plan to explore a new rule to address the deceptive and unfair use of consumer reviews, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued the final rule on the use of consumer reviews and testimonials (16 CFR Part 465, the “Rule”).
In Landmark Decision, D.C. Federal Court Holds Google Maintained an Illegal Monopoly in Internet Search and Advertising Markets and Sets the Stage For Future Enforcement Actions
16 August 2024 – On August 8, 2024, Judge Amit P. Mehta of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued his much anticipated and long-awaited opinion in the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) case challenging Google’s alleged dominance in online search markets.
Cutting Through Complexity: a Key Ruling for Online Platforms in Europe
17 June 2024 – Recent decisions by the EU’s highest court reaffirm that, except in limited situations, an online platform should not be subject to regulations that are stricter than those in the Member State in which it is established.
AI implementation & data protection regulation: German authorities publish guidelines for implementing AI in compliance with the GDPR
28 May 2024 – The German federal and state data protection authorities published guidelines for the implementation and use of AI in compliance with the European Union’s regulation of personal data (“Guidelines”).
JAMS unveils new arbitration rules for artificial intelligence disputes
03 May 2024 – On April 23, 2024, JAMS, a leading alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services provider, released its new Rules Governing Disputes Involving Artificial Intelligence Systems (the “Rules”).
SEC Warns Individual Actors of Potential Liability for AI-Related Security Risk Disclosure Failures
23 April 2024 – Individuals are the latest group to receive a warning from the SEC of potential liability for AI-related security risk disclosures. A cross practice team discusses the SEC Enforcement Director’s latest comments in this client alert.
Technology – The hottest commodity in the mining & metals sector
05 March 2024 – The mining & metals sector, long perceived by the broader markets as an old-fashioned heavy industry, is embracing technological innovation and new forms of partnership as it seeks to harness productivity growth and the energy transition.
UK’s Context-Based AI Regulation Framework: The Government’s Response
01 March 2024 – In February 2024 the UK government published its Response to the consultation on the AI Regulation White Paper. The White Paper was published in March 2023, and set out the government’s proposed regulatory framework for AI. We discuss the key points from the Response.
USPTO provides guidance on the patentability of AI-assisted inventions
15 February 2024 – On February 13, 2024, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued examination guidance on the patentability of inventions developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) (the “Guidance”). The Guidance is issued pursuant to President Biden’s executive order from October 30, 2023, tasking the USPTO with publishing guidance to patent examiners and applicants on inventorship and use of AI (the “Executive Order”) (which we previously discussed here) and follows case law and the USPTO’s standing policy that AI itself cannot be listed as an inventor. The Guidance provides insights on how the USPTO will analyze inventorship issues when AI systems play a role in the inventive process.
The pre-final text of the EU’s AI Act leaked online
06 February 2024 – On January 22, 2024, the pre-final text of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (“EU AI Act”) – the world’s first comprehensive horizontal legal framework for the regulation of AI systems across the EU – leaked online as an 892-page table comparing different mandates of the EU AI Act, followed by a 258-page document setting out the consolidated text. The upcoming law has now been finalized and was endorsed by all 27 EU Member States on February 2.
“The Laws on the Books Continue to Apply” – Federal Trade Commission Convenes Technology Summit Exploring AI Policy
02 February 2024 – Last week, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held an inaugural public summit on artificial intelligence (AI) policy. Read about the antitrust and consumer protection challenges explored by the agency given the rapid evolution and deployment of AI technology.
2023
UK Supreme Court Rules Against AI Inventorship of Patents
28 December 2023 – On December 20, 2023, the UK Supreme Court dismissed Dr. Stephen Thaler’s appeal, unanimously affirming the decision of the Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks that a machine which embodies an AI system could not be an inventor under the Patents Act of 1997 (UK). Here we discuss the three primary issues on which the outcome of the appeal turned.
Navigating New Frontiers in Regulatory Enforcement: the SEC Increases Scrutiny of Artificial Intelligence
20 December 2023 – In July 2023, the SEC proposed new rules that would require broker-dealers and investment advisors to take certain actions to address potential conflicts of interest that could arise through the use of predictive data analytics and other technologies powered by AI.
Dawn of the EU’s AI Act: political agreement reached on world’s first comprehensive horizontal AI regulation
14 December 2023 – On December 8, 2023, the European Parliament and Council reached political agreement on the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, a landmark piece of legislation that positions the EU as a frontrunner of AI regulation (although the final text is not yet published). Here we examine the Act’s provisions and implications.
CFPB Takes Aim at Major Online Payments Applications for Digital Payments; Spares Crypto Companies
28 November 2023 – On November 7, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) proposed a new rule, to be codified at 12 C.F.R. § 1090.109, that would bring general-use digital payment processors who process more than five million “consumer payment transactions” annually under the supervision of the CFPB (the “Proposed Rule”).
Guardians of the AI Galaxy: Lessons from Bletchley Park
09 November 2023 – Last week, the UK hosted the world’s inaugural large-scale AI Safety Summit at historic Bletchley Park, which was attended by 100 esteemed global representatives from politics and business. Here we examine the Summit’s key take-aways around risk and regulated development of AI.
Biden Executive Order seeks to govern the “promise and peril” of AI
03 November 2023 – On October 30, 2023, United States President Joseph Biden signed Executive Order 14110 on the “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” The Order is the culmination of ongoing efforts by the Biden Administration to articulate its policies and priorities on AI. Sweeping in scope and addressing agencies across industries and sectors, the Order is premised on the understanding that “[h]arnessing AI for good and realizing its myriad benefits requires mitigating its substantial risks.”
CFPB Proposes Controversial Personal Financial Data Rights Rule
24 October 2023 – On October 19, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) proposed the long-anticipated “Personal Financial Data Rights Rule” (the “Proposed Rule”), which would govern access for consumers and data aggregators to personal financial information from financial institutions through open banking.
5 Practical Considerations for Users of Generative AI Tools following Thaler and Allen
06 October 2023 – In light of two recent US decisions addressing the copyrightability of AI-generated works, we share five practical considerations for users of Generative AI outputs.
AI Legal News Summer Roundup: Edition 5
19 September 2023 – We round out our series with a summary of several developments around the world that focus on the adequacy of the various jurisdictions’ laws in addressing the opportunities and risks arising from generative AI.
Edition 4 of the AI Legal News Summer Roundup
28 August 2023 – In this edition, key themes include creators and consumers seeking more control and protection over how their content is used to train AI models (whether under copyright law or privacy laws), and governments grappling with the delicate balance between overseeing and regulating AI development, and fostering innovation.
AI Legal News Summer Roundup: Edition 3
10 August 2023 – The third edition of our AI Legal News Summer Roundup brings you further updates on recent lawsuits in the U.S. involving artificial intelligence and regulatory developments concerning AI safety and data policy across the globe.
AI Legal News Summer Roundup: Edition 2
28 July 2023 – Welcome to the second edition of our AI Legal News Summer Roundup!
AI Legal News Summer Roundup: Edition 1
20 July 2023 – Welcome to the first edition of our AI Legal News Summer Roundup! With both the temperature and artificial intelligence developments heating up, the time is ripe to provide periodic updates this summer on recent legal developments in the quickly changing landscape of AI, including generative AI.
Supreme Court Reins in Extraterritorial Application of the Lanham Act
30 June 2023 – SCOTUS wiped out Hetronic’s $90 million damages award in its ruling that Lanham Act infringement and unfair competition provisions “are not extraterritorial and that they extend only to claims where the claimed infringing use in commerce is domestic.”
Shaping the future of digital and cybersecurity governance
26 June 2023 – In this short video from the 2023 Domino conference, White & Case Partner and Chair of the Firm’s Global Cyber Risk Committee Lawson Caisley shares his insights on some of the challenges of cyber risk management in the boardroom.
Prioritizing cybersecurity at the corporate level
26 June 2023 – In this short video from the 2023 Domino conference, White & Case Partner F. Paul Pittman discusses the implications of the proposed new SEC rules on cybersecurity governance and what corporate boards can do now.
A Blow to Visual Artists? What the U.S. Supreme Court’s Latest Copyright “Fair Use” Decision May Mean for Copyright Protection and AI-Generated Content
26 May 2023 – Last Thursday, May 18, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision that the Andy Warhol Foundation’s (“AWF”) use of Lynn Goldsmith’s photograph of the musician Prince in the commercial licensing of artist Andy Warhol’s “Orange Prince” image to Condé Nast, does not weigh in favor of AWF under the first factor of the fair use defense to copyright infringement.
All change? The new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
10 May 2023 – The long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill has been published. Touted as a Bill to “stamp out unfair practices and promote competition in digital markets”, the DMCC seeks to enhance consumer protection and limit the market power of a small number of the most powerful technology firms. We take a look at the key features of the DMCC and how it plans to achieve its objectives.
Does the Lanham Act extend internationally?
22 March 2023 – On March 21, 2023, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether federal trademark law applies to trademark infringement occurring outside the United States. The case that has brought this issue to the court is Abitron Austria GmbH v. Hetronic International, Inc.
U.S. Copyright Office Provides Guidance on Registrations involving AI-Generated Works
22 March 2023 – As part of its new AI initiative, the US Copyright Office last week published new registration guidance with respect to the copyrightability and registration issues raised by AI generated works.
Cybersecurity Developments and Legal Issues
22 March 2023 – For most large companies, a frictionless flow of information and the ability to transfer customer data, employee files, financial records and other information around the world quickly and cost-effectively is a critical element in doing business. However, this can give rise to many cybersecurity risks and legal issues. Here are six points to consider when analyzing cybersecurity risks and protections.
UK Supreme Court considers AI inventorship
21 March 2023 – On 2 March, the UK Supreme Court heard the arguments in Thaler v Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, the latest in a growing line of international jurisprudence grappling with issues raised by the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in conceiving patentable inventions.
New Technologies in the Consumer & Retail Industry – Key Legal Issues and Risks
21 March 2023 – The consumer and retail industry has experienced a rapid growth in the use of new technologies, as both online businesses and brick-and-mortar sellers converge into multi-channel players and compete for customers and for greater market share. Old-world physical retailers continue to reinvent themselves with enhanced online stores and selling platforms as well as new in-store technologies designed to improve the overall customer shopping experience. Physical and digital retail are no longer separate lines of business.
Five things you need to know about… investing in Web 3.0
06 March 2023 – Despite the recent market turbulence for cryptocurrencies and associated high profile scandals, investment in Web 3.0 assets continues as investors look to take advantage of depressed valuations and corporations continue to develop their Web 3.0 & Metaverse strategies in order to protect their brands, IP rights and business lines in this new, shared virtual environment.
AIn’t an Author, yet. AI-assisted comic book receives limited copyright registration.
24 February 2023 – The United States Copyright Office’s decision this week granted a limited copyright registration to “Zarya of the Dawn,” a comic created in part using generative AI, but confirmed human authorship is still required for copyright protection.
Is decentralised governance of bitcoin really a myth? The fiduciary duties of cryptoasset software developers is a serious issue to be tried
10 February 2023 – Is decentralised governance of bitcoin really a myth? The fiduciary duties of cryptoasset software developers is a serious issue to be tried; the English Court of Appeal has found in favour of Tulip Trading Limited, reversing the first instance decision.
Infringement is still infringement, even in the metaverse: New York jury finds “MetaBirkin” infringing, not protected artistic expression
10 February 2023 – A jury has found that “MetaBirkin” NFTs violate Hermès’s “Birkin” trademark rights. This is the first trial to consider the intersection of NFTs and trademark law, with big implications for the line between artistic expression and trademark infringement for digital assets.
Down but not out: Crypto takes a hit in 2022 but is not going anywhere
27 January 2023 – Never has the digital asset space experienced such a succession of high-profile implosions and steady flow of negative mainstream press coverage, leaving many to ask—what next?
Patent venue changes look set to accelerate in 2023
11 January 2023 – Where will US patent plaintiffs file in 2023? After significant changes led to a drop in filings at the end of 2022 in two key districts, patent plaintiffs are searching for options.
2022
Website terms of service – enforceable or preempted?
20 October 2022 – There is a deepening circuit split on whether copyright law preempts contract claims arising from website terms of service. A petition to the US Supreme Court has potentially broad implications for the enforceability of terms of service.
You’ve been Airdropped: English Courts Approve Service of Lawsuit via NFT
18 October 2022 – Along with the ballooning popularity of cryptocurrency as an investment has come a wave of lawsuits involving crypto assets. In June 2022, a landmark decision of the English High Court allowed service of proceedings on persons unknown via NFTs on a blockchain.
5 things you need to know about… Tech Consolidation
13 September 2022 – Consolidation continues to increase across the technology sector with many tech companies throughout the life cycle acquiring or merging with similar or complementary businesses. This is driven by several factors including a more challenging funding environment, the opportunity to shore up balance sheets, improve economies of scale and hasten the path to profitability. We have set out five things these companies should be aware of when considering consolidation opportunities.
Is It Game Over for PlayStation Store Antitrust Suit?
18 August 2022 – The recent dismissal of an antitrust case against Sony relating to the sale of digital video games on the company’s PlayStation Store could shed light on the viability of refusal-to-deal claims against platform technology companies.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office seeks stakeholder input on Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision-making procedures
02 August 2022 – The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently requested public comments on its review procedures. This gives stakeholders an opportunity to influence the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision-making processes.
Do BITs and bytes bite? Investment treaty arbitration for technology disputes
26 July 2022 – With the proliferation of new regulations affecting the technology industry globally, cross-border disputes are on the rise. When considering legal options in disputes involving States, technology companies may wish to consider investment treaty arbitration.
The Copyright Claims Board goes live: early trends
06 July 2022 – The Copyright Claims Board, a streamlined alternative to federal court for hearing copyright disputes, has started accepting claims. The CCB is off to a fast start after just a few weeks, and some notable trends are emerging.
Web scraping, website terms and the CFAA: hiQ’s preliminary injunction affirmed again under Van Buren
22 April 2022 – Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) claims are often asserted to protect online data from unwanted data scraping, but its scope and application have been subject to conflicting judicial consideration. This update discusses the Ninth Circuit decision delivered on April 18.
Federal Circuit Potentially Widens Door for PTAB to Identify Its Own Unpatentability Grounds for Substitute Claims
12 April 2022 – On March 24, 2022, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit criticized the Precedential Opinion Panel’s application of its standard for when it is (and isn’t) appropriate for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to sua sponte raise patentability issues as to proposed substitute claims presented by a motion to amend in an inter partes review.
Biogen rehearing denied: Is SCOTUS the next step?
12 April 2022 – On March 16, 2022, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Biogen’s petition for en banc review in Biogen International GmbH et al. v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
EDPB issues guidelines on right of access under Art. 15 GDPR
16 February 2022 – On January 18, 2022, the European Data Protection Board (the “EDPB”) issued the Guidelines 01/2022 on data subject rights – Right of access (the “Draft Guidelines”), laying out its interpretation of Article 15 GDPR on the right of data subjects to request access to, or copies of, their personal data and information about the processing of the data from the relevant controller.
2021
Getting the Deal Through – Technology M&A 2022
04 October 2021 – Global law firm White & Case LLP has contributed to the 4th edition of Technology M&A, published by Getting the Deal Through. The book covers key considerations for technology M&A transactions in various jurisdictions. Partner Arlene Arin Hahn and Associate Neeta Sahadev are Contributing Editors for the book and also co-authored the United States chapter.
Technology Industry Should Watch Closely as the Executive Branch and Lawmakers Set Their Sights on Antitrust
30 July 2021 – Calls for changes to antitrust law, and how antitrust laws should be applied to the conduct of large technology companies, have been heating up in recent years. Now, the push for wide-scale changes to antitrust law has reached a boiling point. Indeed, President Biden’s sweeping July 9, 2021 Executive Order on competition policy and a bipartisan package of proposed Bills may signal that at least some degree of federal and/or legislative change is on the horizon.
Judge Albright and Transfers of Patent Cases
15 July 2021 – Judge Alan Albright, one of the most active patent jurists, recently amended his standing orders to clarify inter-district transfers and venue discovery, adding predictability for parties that litigate in the Western District of Texas.
Germany: Significant reduction of GDPR fines
04 June 2021 – Nearly three years after the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the countless fines issued by national data protection authorities, the first successful litigation challenging the value of a GDPR fine issued offers valuable insights for the future of GDPR litigation and data protection compliance more broadly.
Procedural Denials at the PTAB – Here to Stay?
13 April 2021 – Recently, the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) has issued significantly more procedural denials of IPRs, including those based on the NHK Spring and Fintiv decisions. In response, petitioners have tried a variety of tactics to reduce the risk of a NHK Spring/Fintiv procedural denial. However, upcoming changes in USPTO leadership and policy may change this.
Smart Cities: Changing dynamic between private and public actors
25 March 2021 – Articles about smart cities address various facets, including connectivity, data, infrastructure, and transportation, etc. All these facets are linked by an overarching theme: the changing interaction between private and public actors due to the central role of the public actors in smart city projects.
Late-stage VC investment weathers the COVID-19 storm
23 March 2021 – Late-stage venture capital funding reached new heights in 2020 as investors continued to hunt for high-growth potential amid the pandemic.
US SPACs look beyond their backyard to Europe
12 March 2021 – Although most SPAC activity is concentrated in the US, the boom in listings spells opportunities for European firms.
TMT 2021: France chapter
09 March 2021 – White & Case partners Bertrand Liard, Clara Hainsdorf, Saam Golshani and Guillaume Vitrich have co-authored the France chapter of the Chambers ‘TMT 2021’ Global Practice Guide.
2020 in review: Patent litigation increases
09 March 2021 – Patent litigation is increasing. Specifically, the 13 percent rise in patent cases from 2019 indicates that the pandemic did not slow down litigants. This reverses the trend since 2015 of gradually decreasing numbers of new patent cases per year. Those involved in offensive and defensive patent cases should take note that the appetite to engage in patent litigation is increasing again.
Prepare for change: Technology and sustainability
08 March 2021 – Digitalisation and ESG are transforming the face of infrastructure. Here we explore how investors are reacting to the opportunities and challenges these forces present.
Federal Circuit reaffirms the lack of authority in the USPTO’s § 101 Guidance
02 March 2021 – Because of the lack of clarity in § 101 eligibility jurisprudence, patent practitioners attempted to rely upon guidance from the USPTO. The USPTO’s 2019 “Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance” attempted to offer insight into the frequently confusing landscape of § 101. However, the Federal Circuit subsequently held that the USPTO’s Guidance had no binding authority. Now, once again in cxLoyalty, Inc. v. Maritz Holdings Inc., the Federal Circuit has reaffirmed that courts, patentees, patent holders, examiners and the PTAB itself may rely on the Guidance only at their peril, and that the Guidance has no authority in and of itself. No. 2020-1307 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 8, 2021).
Kalifa Review – Proposed Fintech Investment Reforms
02 March 2021 – On 26 February 2021, the Kalifa Review of UK Fintech published its much anticipated report on the state of the UK fintech industry. The report recognizes fintech’s current importance to the UK economy and potential material opportunities in driving growth as part of Global Britain in a post-COVID environment, including potential investment reforms impacting Fintech investors and companies.
Fraud and abuse risks in digital health: What tech companies need to know about healthcare enforcement – Part II
09 February 2021 – For companies looking to monetize their hard-earned innovations in digital health, there is a minefield of potential healthcare enforcement to avoid. As discussed in Part I of this alert, such healthcare enforcement can lead to significant criminal and civil penalties. Common risk areas are well known to pharmaceutical, medical device and other traditional healthcare companies. However, the challenge for a technology company making its first foray into healthcare is both to appreciate these traditional healthcare compliance risks and to determine the unique ways these risks may map onto the uncharted landscape of digital health.
GDPR Guide to National Implementation: United Kingdom
26 January 2021 – A practical guide to national GDPR compliance requirements across the EEA
Fraud and abuse risks in digital health: What tech companies need to know about healthcare enforcement – Part I
26 January 2021 – Digital health is exciting, innovative and forward-looking. Investors have invested billions of dollars anticipating dividends from the next phase of the Big Data revolution: collecting and synthesizing millions of data points that, in turn, could feed into artificial-intelligence-enhanced diagnostics; improve monitoring during pharmaceutical clinical trials; promote everyday fitness tracking; and so much more.
A Whole New (Virtual) World
13 January 2021 – With increasing innovations and developments in technology, the virtual asset landscape is growing at an unprecedented rate. Virtual asset trading activities have risen dramatically in recent years and, with that, the risks associated with virtual assets have become more apparent: breaches in customer security; market manipulation; and the potential to use virtual assets in money laundering and terrorist financing. Governments are catching onto the need, and benefits, of developing regulatory frameworks in respect of this emerging market, and the virtual asset space is finding itself increasingly subject to regulatory scrutiny.
2020
Ongoing Appeals May Shape How Juries and Courts Determine Patent Royalties
01 December 2020 – A patent holder that prevails in a patent infringement suit is entitled to either lost profits or a reasonable royalty. A reasonable royalty calculation often implicates the infringing product’s revenues (the “royalty base”). The smallest saleable patent-practicing unit (“SSPPU”) is a legal doctrine that restricts the royalty base that a patent holder can use in its reasonable royalty calculation. Two recent cases may shape the application of this doctrine in the patent infringement context and the SEP licensing context. Both patent holders and patent-practicing organizations should take note of and monitor developments.
Infrastructure M&A remains robust despite COVID uncertainty
30 November 2020 – The energy transition and a growing need for efficient digital infrastructure are two trends fueling infrastructure dealmaking in 2020
AI in the boardroom: opportunities and challenges
19 November 2020 – Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming business processes and strategies across industry sectors. Companies are figuring out how to take advantage of AI, focusing primarily on customers’ needs and experience. However, AI could also be a powerful tool to enhance internal decision-making processes and governance through advanced analytical models and robust risk-management methods.
Before the Dust Settles: The California Privacy Rights Act Ballot Initiative Modifies and Expands California Privacy Law
13 November 2020 – Hot on the heels of the California Attorney General’s rulemaking process for the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), California voters have passed a ballot initiative to expand and create new privacy rights for consumers. Most of the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”) will not take effect until January 1, 2023, giving weary businesses some lead time for their compliance efforts. In this client alert, we set out the key changes for businesses to be aware of as they look forward to meeting their obligations under the CPRA.
EnergyTech: New markets and new business opportunities
04 November 2020 – The energy market has been dominated by major energy companies for a long time. New market opportunities and digitalization could lead to a higher market penetration of startups.
CFPB Seeks Comments on Highly Anticipated Consumer Access to Financial Information Rulemaking
03 November 2020 – The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB or Bureau) has formally commenced its long-awaited rulemaking process to implement section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act).
Spain targets BigTech with new Tax on Digital Services
03 November 2020 – The Spanish Official Gazette published last October 16th legislation enacting a new indirect Tax on Certain Digital Services to be levied on On-line Advertising and Intermediation Services, as well as on Data Transfers realized in Spain by major Technological companies. The new tax is a unilateral response to the current lack of international consensus and falls, at 3%, on previously not taxable events. It will enter into force next January 16th 2021.
OCC Finalizes True Lender Rule, Attempting to End Uncertainty around Bank-Fintech Partnership Models
02 November 2020 – The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a final rule that creates a bright-line test to determine when a national bank or federal savings association (bank) makes a loan and is the “true lender,” including in the context of bank-fintech partnerships.
The European Commission starts two new studies into the mobile payment sector
29 October 2020 – The mobile payments sector is on regulatory tenterhooks following the increase in the use of mobile wallets and the entry of new competitors, including tech companies, in the sector. The European Commission (“EC”) just announced two new studies in the mobile payments sector. The sector is also subject to scrutiny at EU Member State level, while the US and Chinese antitrust regulators are closely monitoring developments.
USPTO publishes report on public views on artificial intelligence and IP Policy – US IP law adequate for now, until artificial general intelligence is reached?
22 October 2020 – As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, it becomes imperative to examine whether the current intellectual property (IP) legal frameworks, in the US and abroad, are adequate to address issues specific to AI. The United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have all recently had the opportunity to weigh in on the issue of whether an AI machine can be named as the inventor on a patent application.
Europe again has the technology sector in its target zone
18 September 2020 – For many years, the European Commission (the Commission) has been the global leader in applying antitrust law to the technology sector. This year is no exception. Indeed, there have been a number of new European enforcement initiatives in 2020, with the technology sector a primary focus of the Commission’s enforcement activity right now.
New US antitrust implications for your supply chain
18 September 2020 – Antitrust litigation in the US continues to focus on competitor interactions. Companies that participate in multiple levels of a supply chain must consider how to engage with their competitors and even whether that engagement should take place in the first place.
A new “rocket docket” for patent litigation in the US
18 September 2020 – Over the past two years, many technology companies have become patent infringement defendants in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas (the “Western District”). This includes many corporations with operations in and around Austin, Texas, a growing US technology hub.
Recent Uptick in Patent Litigation Likely Due to Coronavirus and Legal Developments
25 August 2020 – Companies with strong patent portfolios and those subject to infringement actions should note that patent litigation is on the rise.
Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Europe and Japan
24 August 2020 – Enterprises around the world are rapidly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into existing and new products and processes. This effort is not just to improve such offerings and services, but to achieve a qualitatively higher level of capability not possible before. It is clear that AI carries the potential for many new opportunities, across all industries, but it is also already recognized that it brings numerous risks as well.
Online gaming M&A levels up
21 August 2020 – The online gaming industry has flourished amid stay-at-home orders.
CBM Review – Last Call
10 August 2020 – Covered Business Method (“CBM”) review ends in mid-September, and you have one last chance to take advantage.
Federal Circuit Directs Transfer Out of the Western District of Texas Finding Clear Abuse of Discretion in Judge Albright’s Denial
31 July 2020 – White & Case LLP’s John Scheibeler and Demarcus Williams summarize recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Directing Transfer Out of the Western District of Texas Finding Clear Abuse of Discretion.
New expansion of foreign direct investments control regime in France and the impact on French biotech companies
30 July 2020 – In line with the increased protectionism around foreign direct investments (FDI) in the past few years, the economic impact of COVID-19 led to a worldwide rapid expansion of existing regulations. The countries justify such expansion by the need to protect the expertise and intellectual property (especially in connection with the health/biotech sector) of homegrown companies from opportunistic takeovers in a context of depreciated valuations.
UK Micromobility Trials Launched
02 July 2020 – New UK regulations offer new opportunities for micromobility sector. The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (“DfT”) has announced that new regulations for rental e-scooters will come into force on 4 July 2020.
Technology M&A remains resilient in the face of COVID-19 crisis
29 June 2020 – Technology dealmaking has continued apace in 2020 as M&A investors take advantage of the sector’s resilience to transact
Technology sector shows resilience during lockdowns
17 June 2020 – Remote working, online shopping and telemedicine have shielded the technology sector from the worst effects of COVID-19 lockdowns
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (“JFTC”) published Market Research Reports re: Fintech and Financial Services
09 June 2020 – The JFTC published two reports (“Reports”) including the “Report on Cashless Payment Services using QR Codes, etc.” (“Cashless Payment Report” or “Report”) and “Report on the Household Account Book Services, etc.” (“Household Account Book Report”) on April 21, 2020 based on the market research (“Research”) conducted on Fintech and Financial Services from October 2019 to March 2020.
Accelerating change: From smart city to smart society
21 May 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some of the shortcomings of major cities in times of crisis. As the world searches for ways to make urban areas more resilient, smart city initiatives offer some of the answers.
Supreme Court clarifies rules for remedies in trademark litigation
07 May 2020 – Willful infringement is no longer required for trademark owners to recover infringers’ profits. In Romag Fasteners v. Fossil Group, the Supreme Court resolved a longstanding circuit split. The unanimous opinion has important practical implications for trademark litigants and licensees.
Launch of the Future Fund: Funding for the UK’s fast-growth companies
21 April 2020 – On 20 April 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a scheme aimed at providing support to the UK’s most innovative and fastest-growing companies. Below we provide an overview of the scheme and highlight some key questions being asked in respect of the scheme.
The UK tax opportunities for corporate and fintech startups
14 April 2020 – For anyone wondering where to base their financial technology (fintech) startup, the UK should feature high on the list of jurisdictions to consider.
Vendor performance during social isolation
06 April 2020 – Every industry is at a critical juncture in evaluating how to successfully continue business operations in a period of unprecedented disruption. We have received a number of inquiries from clients, in particular those who rely on third-party vendors to service critical parts of their technology infrastructure, as to how to ensure performance of these services and how to mitigate the risk that vendors will seek to be excused from performing their contractual obligations
Unlocking Platform Technology to Combat Health Pandemics
20 March 2020 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to trace and track every COVID-19 case. Tracking the spread of the virus is essential to effective mitigation of this health pandemic.
Silicon Valley’s Home Court: Patent Trends in the Northern District of California
18 March 2020 – This update briefly summarizes 2019 trends in patent litigation from the Northern District of California, which remains an important and frequent venue for technology litigation.
EU’s new Digital Strategy for the next five years – will Europe become a trusted digital player?
10 March 2020 – The European Commission launched the digital single market as early as 2015 to deliver its main legislative proposals, among them proposals for boosting e-commerce, ePrivacy, IP protection, the harmonization of digital rights, harmonized VAT rules and cybersecurity. While the EU Treaties do not contain any special provisions or information and communication technologies, the EU is allowed to take relevant actions within the framework of sectoral and horizontal policies, such as industrial policy; competition policy; trade policy; the trans-European networks; research and technological development and space; the approximation of laws for improving the establishment and the functioning of the internal market; the free movement of goods; the free movement of people, services and capital; education, vocational training, youth and sport. All these are among the key elements for a digital Europe.
Key Regulatory Developments Impacting the California Lending and Payments Space
18 February 2020 – The State of California is home to almost 40 million consumers and the world’s fifth largest economy. It represents a key exposure to most financial services companies’ US footprint. In recent years nonbank financial services companies have been subject to increased scrutiny by the California state legislature and the Department of Business Oversight (“DBO”), which regulates and supervises the financial services industry. As a result, companies that operate, or intend to operate, in California must often navigate a complex regulatory landscape, subject to swift change and transformation.
Getting the Deal Through – Technology M&A 2020
18 February 2020 – Global law firm White & Case LLP has contributed to the 2nd edition of Technology M&A, published by Getting the Deal Through. The book covers key considerations for technology M&A transactions in 16 jurisdictions. Partner Arlene Arin Hahn and Associate Neeta Sahadev are Contributing Editors for the book and also co-authored the United States chapter.
Federal Circuit Alters Landscape for Design Patent Litigation
05 February 2020 – Intellectual property litigants may be increasingly addressing design patents. Design patent litigation may be getting lengthier, and this may result in the filing of more design patent cases.
The end of the e-book’s secondhand market – Court of Justice of the European Union forbids resale without rights holders’ consent
30 January 2020 – In a constantly growing number of sectors, the acquisition process is shifting more and more towards digital. This also applies to the book market. Whereas in the past, mainly physical books were sold and purchased, today e-books are gaining more and more importance. The differences between e-books and physical books, particularly in the secondhand market, have recently been addressed by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Connected and Autonomous Vehicles – a cross-jurisdictional comparison of regulatory developments
23 January 2020 – Connected and autonomous vehicles (“CAVs”) are expected to become a reality on roads across modern economies in the near future. In 2018, the EU estimated that, provided a sufficient regulatory and enabling framework is in place, CAVs could be available on a commercial basis by 2020, and commonplace by 2030. Estimates in the US are similar. On a financial level, forecasts have suggested that by 2050, the global CAVs industry could be worth upwards of $7 trillion, and that the CAV taxi market might be worth more than $2 trillion per year by 2030.
New Guidelines re: Application of ASBP to Transactions between Digital Platforms and Consumers
15 January 2020 – The Japan Fair Trade Commission (“JFTC”) issued “Guidelines Concerning Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position in Transactions between Digital Platform Operators and Consumers that Provide Personal Information, etc.” (“Guidelines”) on December 17, 2019.
DSK Calculation Model
15 January 2020 – On 25 May 2018, the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) entered into force. The GDPR is intended to harmonize data protection regulations within the EU, whereby member states are entitled to supplement or modify certain provisions of the GDPR through opening clauses. A violation of the GDPR can be punished with fines of up to EUR 20 million or four percent of the company’s total worldwide annual turnover pursuant to Article 83 (5) GDPR. The calculation model is designed to facilitate a comprehensible, transparent and case-by-case procedure for imposing such fines.
2019
Can Late IPR Petitions Be Appealed? Analyzing the Supreme Court’s Oral Argument in Thryv, Inc. v. Click-to-Call Technologies
11 December 2019 – On December 9, 2019, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Thryv, Inc. v. Click-to-Call Technologies, Case No. 18-916. The case involves the proper application of Section 315(b) of the American Invents Act (AIA) to determine whether an application for an inter partes review (IPR) is time-barred from an appeal. The issue is whether a party can appeal a Patent and Trial Appeal Board (PTAB) ruling of a time bar, or whether it is unappeable. The time bar of Section 315(b) prevents an IPR petition from being filed more than one year after the patent owner had served the petitioner with a complaint for patent infringement.
Considering Legal Implications of Open Sourcing Patents for Sustainable Vehicles
03 December 2019 – In April 2019, Toyota announced it would provide royalty-free patent licenses for its vehicle electrification technology. Toyota joins Tesla as the latest auto manufacturer to leverage its intellectual property to increase adoption of new technologies—particularly where there is little dispute over the need to develop sustainable mobility options to combat rising emissions.
Game over for loot boxes?
11 November 2019 – The findings of the UK’s Immersive and Addictive Technologies Inquiry may significantly impact the economics of video game companies.
Self-Driving Cars: Balancing Safety and Data Privacy Considerations
04 November 2019 – Empowered by technology that continues to grow at an exponential rate, automotive and tech companies around the world are racing to bring autonomous vehicles to the road. In this race, companies face the challenge of balancing the large amounts of data saved every second on an AV with the pressing public need for increased safety on our roads.
Navigating Privacy and Cyber Incident Notification and Disclosure Requirements
04 November 2019 – Fulfilling a company’s data breach and cybersecurity incident notification and disclosure requirements is an increasing challenge. Companies operating across industry sectors and around the world must satisfy a wide range of statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements, often with differing thresholds, timelines and formats. This article offers six steps companies should consider when navigating this complex process.
Israel steps on the gas in the autotech race
25 October 2019 – The convergence of technology with other sectors has been the driving force behind much of Israel’s tech boom in the past decade. And in 2017, Intel’s acquisition of Mobileye, a developer of ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), for US$15 billion thrust Israel’s automotive technology (autotech) industry firmly into the spotlight.
Dashcams and autonomous vehicles: Dodging legal landmines in the EU
21 October 2019 – The development of autonomous vehicles has attracted significant attention in recent years. The technologies being used in order to enable vehicles to navigate without human assistance include established navigation tools such as GPS, and less well-known innovations in the field of navigation, such as LiDAR, which uses light to measure the distances to nearby objects. One technology that has been making great strides is the use of AI-driven automated object recognition through video data. The development of this technology requires the collection of a vast volume of video data, taken from all manner of driving scenarios, in order to train the AI systems to accurately recognize pedestrians, stationary objects, other vehicles, and so on.
Recent Developments in IP Protection in China
07 October 2019 – The National People’s Congress of China (NPC) adopted the new Foreign Investment Law (FIL) on March 15, 2019, with a view toward unifying and streamlining the foreign investment framework into China. One of the main emphases under the FIL is to further strengthen protections of the foreign investors’ intellectual property rights under Chinese law. In particular, the FIL calls for stricter protections against intellectual property infringement and further encourages “voluntary and fair” technology collaboration between foreign investors and Chinese parties. The FIL also seeks to prohibit Chinese government agencies from “forcing” a foreign investor to commit to technology transfers in China as a condition of investment.
Huawei espionage concerns reach UK
25 September 2019 – The UK 5G debate is emblematic of protectionist sentiments in the technology sector.
CCPA 100-Day Compliance Checklist: It’s Not Just About the Privacy Policy
23 September 2019 – With only 100 days left in 2019 as of the date of this publication, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) will be here before you know it. As we have described previously, the CCPA applies to a wide range of for-profit companies (and potentially their subsidiaries) that do business in California.
hiQ’s preliminary injunction affirmed. A green light for data scraping or not?
20 September 2019 – As we have previously discussed, claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) are commonly asserted as a means of protecting online data from unwanted scraping activity. The scope and application of the CFAA, however, have been subject to significant, and sometimes conflicting, judicial consideration. Last week’s highly anticipated decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in hiQ Labs, Inc. v. LinkedIn Corp. marks the latest decision in this evolving judicial narrative.
The European strategy of regulation on artificial intelligence
29 August 2019 – On 12 February 2019, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on a comprehensive European industrial policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics1. After describing AI as “one of the strategic technologies of the 21st century”, the European Parliament presented several recommendations to the Member States. This Resolution underlines the need to close the European gap with North America and Asia-Pacific, and promotes a coordinated approach at the European level “to be able to compete with the massive investments made by third countries, especially the US and China”.
Patent transfer considerations: Takeaways from Lone Star Silicon Innovations LLC v. Nanya Tech. Corp.
26 August 2019 – In a recent decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit further clarified the “all substantial rights” doctrine related to patent infringement and assignment. The court held that Lone Star Silicon Innovations LLC’s (Lone Star) patent transfer agreement with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) did not result in the transfer of “all substantial rights” necessary to bring a patent infringement case under 35 U.S.C. § 281. Nos. 2018-1581, 2018-1582, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 16077, *1,*18 (Fed. Cir. May 30, 2019). Further, the court vacated and remanded the case for the district court to consider whether AMD, as the patentee, should be joined as a party under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (FRCP) 19.
SEC Proposes Amendments to Modernize Disclosures; Considers Requiring Human Capital Resources Disclosure
12 August 2019 – On August 8, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) proposed amendments to crucial disclosure requirements under Regulation S-K, including Item 101 (Description of Business), Item 103 (Legal Proceedings) and Item 105 (Risk Factors) as part of its ongoing initiative to update and modernize its disclosure.
Don’t worry – it’s publicly available on the internet!
05 August 2019 – Due diligence considerations with respect to licensing data and acquiring data-dependent businesses.
New York Continues State’s Charge to Protect Consumers’ Personal Information
02 August 2019 – New York recently amended its existing data breach notification law to expand the data breach notification obligations of persons and businesses (and state agencies) and impose specific data security requirements on persons and businesses to protect its residents’ personal information. Under SB 5575 or the “Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act” (“SHIELD Act”), New York continues a growing trend of regulators and lawmakers to increase consumer privacy and data security protections.
Design patents: a growing trend in the hardware space
29 July 2019 – We are in 2019. Aesthetics matter. Products that look good sell better. Hardware companies are investing increasing amounts of resources into design teams that create sleek and modern products that allow customers to feel like they own the technology of the future. A portfolio of design patents adds both a sword and a shield to a company’s arsenal, allowing greater protection for investment into product design than other traditional options, such as copyright and trademark, could afford alone. At the same time, the legal landscape surrounding design patents is in flux since Apple v. Samsung, 137 S. Ct. 429 (2016). The US Supreme Court’s decision did not merely push design patents to the forefront of academics’ attention—it sparked a legal regime shift, with tangible, significant and developing implications for how companies can and should protect their technologies and designs.
International Comparative Legal Guide to Data Protection 2019 published
17 July 2019 – ICLG has published its Guide to Data Protection, which covers 42 jurisdictions, with White & Case providing the contributing editors, and the country chapters for the UK and the U.S.
Germany’s Draft Bill on IT Security 2.0 – Extended BSI Authorities, Stricter Penalties and New Obligations on Providers
12 July 2019 – On March 27, 2019, the German Federal Ministry of the Interior (GMI) proposed a new bill (the “Draft Bill”) for a so-called IT Security Act 2.0 (IT-SiG 2.0). In an effort to take a front-runner role in Europe, Germany has enacted a comprehensive IT security law in 2015.
Tech M&A: Regulation moving up the menu?
12 July 2019 – CMA investigation into Amazon/Deliveroo and Paypal/iZettle deals highlights the regulator’s increased interest in technology transactions.
Current antitrust focus on technology platforms should take into account recent Supreme Court decisions in Pepper and American Express
09 July 2019 – Technology products are increasingly characterized by their ability to facilitate interconnectedness. More and more, tech innovators find themselves subject to increasing scrutiny under global competition laws when they succeed.
Does your deal have a Section 8 Antitrust problem?
08 July 2019 – The renewed interest in taking a fresh look at how antitrust can apply to tech has generated any number of “Hipster Antitrust” theories of harm. With the US Federal Trade Commission announcing a new Tech Task Force this spring, the FTC has signaled it will be actively shaping this issue. Last week, the FTC took another step in this direction with a blog indicating that one area of focus will be on deals resulting in interlocking boards of once-complementary companies.
Congress attempts to remove ambiguity in favor of patent holders
26 June 2019 – The basic building block of obtaining a patent starts with the determination of patent eligibility under § 101 of the Patent Act (35 U.S.C. § 101). Section 101 states that “any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof” is patent-eligible. However, courts have long recognized certain “judicial exceptions” to this general rule of patent eligibility. In Alice and Mayo, the Supreme Court established the current test for “judicial exceptions,” which states that claims directed to “a law of nature, natural phenomenon, or abstract idea” are not patent-eligible alone. Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank Int’l, 573 U.S. 208 (2014); Mayo Collaborative Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 566 U.S. 66 (2012). To clarify how patent examiners apply the Alice/Mayo test, the USPTO has issued several sets of guidance, including the “2019 Revised Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance.”
Connected cars merge with payment technology
21 June 2019 – As connected cars proliferate, auto, tech and financial companies will form alliances that raise familiar legal issues in new contexts
Supreme Court Clarifies Effects of Bankruptcy on Trademark Licenses
10 June 2019 – On May 20, 2019, the Supreme Court held in Mission Products Holdings, Inc. v. Tempnology, LLC that a debtor-licensor’s rejection of a trademark license agreement does not “deprive the licensee of its rights to use the trademark.” This holding resolves a longstanding circuit split in the Federal Courts of Appeal about the effects of bankruptcy on trademark licenses.
FTC v. Qualcomm
30 May 2019 – On May 21, 2019, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California found that Qualcomm violated the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act, in an antitrust decision significant to licensing standard-essential patents (SEPs) under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Connected devices: Challenges for both technology providers and consumers
27 May 2019 – Privacy and the development of technology are competing interests that are sometimes in conflict. These considerations often present a challenging balancing exercise for technology companies developing innovative products as well as companies and individuals that elect to use those new products. The market is seeing more political debate, legislation and litigation that focus on these issues. It is no longer a discussion that is only occurring within technology companies.
Another FRAND Decision in Europe: Clarity or Confusion?
24 May 2019 – In July 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“ECJ”) issued Huawei v. ZTE, a seminal decision detailing how holders of Standard Essential Patents (“SEPs”) must license its SEPs on fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Supreme Court Clarifies the Rules for Enforcing Copyrights
14 March 2019 – On March 4, 2019, the Supreme Court issued two unanimous opinions that clarify when copyright owners can sue for infringement and what costs they can recover from infringers. In Fourth Estate v. Wall-Street.com, the Court held that a copyright owner may file an infringement complaint when the U.S. Copyright Office registers a copyright. In Rimini Street v. Oracle USA, the Court held that that courts cannot make unconstrained cost awards to prevailing parties in copyright cases.
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