Privacy › Business Organization › Commercial Law & Contracts

Big Regulation’s Big Data

In March 2012, the Obama Administration announced its Big Data Research and Development Initiative. The program involves a total of over $200 million in new commitments from several departments and agencies to improve the...more

Cloud Storage Providers Storing Protected Health Information May Be Obligated to Comply with HIPAA Regulations

A recently issued government rule may unknowingly create significant liability and legal risk for many technology enterprises. The expanded definition of "business associates" and related interpretations by the Department of...more

BLG Monthly Update for April 2013

Bird deaths, contracts cases, Lindsay Lohan, IP and more in the BLG Monthly Update for April 2013...more

Missouri Uniform Trade Secrets Act Does Not Protect Customer Information Insufficiently Guarded or Which is not Truly "Trade...

In this case, a corporate successor, Central Trust Investment Company (hereafter also "Central Trust") sued the former employee (Kennedy) of its acquired company, Springfield Trust & Investment Company (hereafter also "STC"),...more

R (on the application of Prudential plc and another) v Special Commissioner of Income Tax

Privilege – Lawyers Only

The Supreme Court has given judgment in a long awaited case on whether or not legal advice given by accountants is privileged. The case is R (on the application of Prudential plc and another) (Appellants) v Special...more

What Standard must be Met for and Emailed Contract to be Considered Valid

A new ruling that could affect how Phoenix law offices advise their clients on contract law is currently in the news. In September, an Arizona appellate court advised that a trial court needed to determine what constitutes...more

Data Privacy And Security Risks

If there is one issue which causes sleepless nights for business executives, it has to be data privacy and security. While the laws are still being updated and drafted for new technologies and new threats, businesses need to...more

Beyond The Privacy Policy: New Guidance

On September 5, 2012, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (“IPC”) released a new guidance paper, entitled “A Policy is Not Enough: It Must be Reflected in Concrete Practices”. This guidance paper will be...more

Trust in On-Line Advertising

It’s no surprise that people trust online reviews from consumers more than traditional advertisements. After all, advertisements are created by the company selling a product of service, whereas third party reviews are by...more

California Employment Bill Recap

California legislators have been active passing several employment law bills that impact local businesses in recent months. Here’s a recap of some with brief summaries. Legal counsel should be sought for a complete...more

Mobile App Privacy Developments In California

The Attorney General of California has begun sending non-compliance letters to mobile app developers who are not complying with the State’s privacy laws because their apps do not have a privacy policy. The apps targeted are...more

Privacy Enforcement By California Attorney General’s Office

California takes citizen privacy rights seriously. That’s the unmistakable message communicated by a recent announcement that the Office of the Attorney General of California is creating a Privacy Enforcement and...more

Reducing Cyber Risk

The European perspective on managing cyber risk is valuable for US companies operating internationally and also as risk management guidance when operating in the US. Recently, an arm of the UK Government Communication...more

Corporate Social Media Policies Should Comply With Recent NLRB Decision

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently issued a decision with significant impact upon employer policies that apply to employee use of social media. [Costco Wholesale Corporation, 358 NLRB No. 106 (Sept. 7,...more

Who’s Liable For Vendor’s CAN-SPAM Violation?

The CAN-SPAM act sets legal rules for commercial E-Mail and includes various provisions that apply to “any electronic mail message the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial...more

Data Privacy And Protection Efforts Start With A Company Policy, But Don’t End There

If your company has a data privacy policy in place, make sure you live up to its provisions. Failure to do so makes it more likely that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) will pursue an enforcement action against the...more

Privacy Enforcement By California Attorney General’s Office

California takes citizen privacy rights seriously. That’s the unmistakable message communicated by a recent announcement that the Office of the Attorney General of California is creating a Privacy Enforcement and...more

Recent Trends In Cybersecurity Scrutiny

Originally published in Law360, New York on October 22, 2012. On the heels of a recent survey that found that cybersecurity is becoming the primary concern of corporate general counsels and directors, the United States...more

California’s Shine the Light Act: Plenty of Reason$ for Businesses Not to Shine It On

Recent class actions regarding California’s Shine the Light Act illuminate the need for California businesses to pay attention to their privacy policy compliance practices. Violations of the Act can incur civil penalties of...more

"Privacy Update: Rockefeller Cybersecurity Letter"

On September 19, 2012, John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, sent a letter to the CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies, urging the recipients to...more

Subscription Business Models May Raise Revenue, But Also Holds Privacy And Security Risks

These days everyone subscribes to something. Whether you’re a consumer or a business, the goods and services you depend on or enjoy on a regular basis are often available by subscription. Subscribers prefer the low...more

Corporate Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship: Part Three

Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of media baron Rupert Murdoch and a successful media executive in her own right, recently criticized her brother James, a top executive at News Corp., for pursuing profit at all costs. According...more

Beyond the Privacy Policy: New Guidance

On September 5, 2012, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (“IPC”) released a new guidance paper, entitled “A Policy is Not Enough: It Must be Reflected in Concrete Practices”. This guidance paper will be...more

Google Privacy Violation Alleged, Leads To FTC Settlement

Google’s business model is based on delivering relevant search results and, increasingly, relevant ads to those who use its products. In order to do so, Google needs to know a user’s search history since search history and...more

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Big Data and the Law [Video]

As the use of the internet and social media continues to increase rapidly, companies are being challenged to keep up with changing laws and the many ways in which customer and employee data flow in and out of their hands. In...more