The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will increase trademark fees starting Jan. 18, 2025, and patent fees starting Jan. 19, 2025. Highlights of the fee increases are provided below. The entire listings of updated filing fees can be found at:
On Oct. 30, 2023, the Biden administration issued an executive order focused on the growing field of artificial intelligence. The administration is advancing a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the safe and responsible development and use of AI and setting a marker for the world. The EO is practical and aspirational with varying degrees of immediate impact for businesses and their leadership teams.
Our team is pleased to offer this summary of the EO and related guidance, and to share key provisions and initial takeaways. In the coming weeks, we will dive deeper into critical topics covered by the new EO.
A federal court in California ruled in favor of sanctions against Google last week for failing to preserve records. Google’s document retention policy required individual employees to identify internal chat conversations responsive to a litigation hold. The court found this policy to be in violation of Google’s duty to preserve electronically-stored information under the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(e). The consolidated case arose out of antitrust litigation regarding Google’s “Play Store” Application on Android cell-phones. In re Google Play Store Antitrust Litigation, 21-MD-02981, NDCa.
Employers beware: A recent holding out of Illinois has determined that employees may sue employers who collect and/or disclose employees’ biometric data. On Feb. 3, 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a significant decision in McDonald v. Symphony Bronzeville Park, LLC, et al., impacting current and future claims against employers involving the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Continue Reading
Porter Wright is proud to announce that international business and privacy & data security attorney Katja Garvey has been elevated to serve as chair of the firm’s International Business & Trade Practice Group. Continue Reading
BIS has issued an interim final rule, and entities dealing with cybersecurity exports are being asked to submit comments by early December. In this latest edition of our Privacy and Security Roundup, we share the details of the final rule’s two key measures including export restrictions and a new License Exception, provide an update on cyber incident reporting legislation, discuss modifications to the GLBA Safeguards Rule and much more. Continue Reading
Across the globe, concerns continue regarding cryptocurrencies and digital currency exchanges. In the October edition of our Privacy and Security Roundup, we dive into the latest details surrounding OFAC’s efforts to stifle ransomware attacks, how organizations should carefully assess the new Personal Information Protection Law in China, the new EU Standard Contractual Clauses requirement effective Sept. 27, and more. Continue Reading
On Sept. 21, 2021, the Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), updated its published guidance regarding sanctions risks associated with making ransomware payments and its official policy on such payments. This updated guidance, taken in conjunction with OFAC’s recent sanctions designation of a cryptocurrency payment exchange frequently used for ransomware payments, and other ongoing regulatory legislative efforts to address ransomware attacks, further highlights the whole of government effort by the United States to discourage ransomware attacks and address the compliance responsibilities this effort continues to impose upon the business community. Continue Reading
Not only are public and private companies increasingly targeted for cyber-attacks, but local and state governments across the country are as well. In our latest Privacy and Security Roundup, we cover the Senate-passed bill that includes nearly $2 billion in national cybersecurity funding, recent sanctions by the SEC on investment advisors and broker-dealers, a new initiative that aims to improve defense planning and information sharing between the public and private sectors, and more. Continue Reading
More states, including Ohio, are working on comprehensive consumer privacy laws that could impact how companies share data. In our August 2021 Privacy and Security Roundup, we cover the nuances in the various legislation, more ransomware and supply chain attacks and news of a messaging app used as a Trojan horse by the FBI.
