With the enduring popularity of certain NFTs and the promise of their use in the Metaverse and beyond, the hype around the new technology has been accompanied by rising concerns over NFTs being the centerpiece of traditional...more
7/29/2022
/ Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Criminal Conspiracy ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Financial Crimes ,
Howey ,
Money Laundering ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Violations ,
Wire Fraud
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced yesterday that it would hire 20 additional positions to the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit (formerly known as the Cyber Unit) within the Division of Enforcement, increasing...more
5/4/2022
/ Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Currency ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Investment ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Token Sales
The concept of the “metaverse” has garnered much press coverage of late, addressing such topics as the new appetite for metaverse investment opportunities, a recent virtual land boom, or just the promise of it all, where...more
12/3/2021
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Augmented Reality ,
Blockchain ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Privacy ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
Digital Platforms ,
E-Commerce ,
Goods or Services ,
Information Technology ,
Innovative Technology ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Internet ,
Popular ,
Virtual Reality
In late May, the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a consortium of ocean carriers and terminal operators, filed a petition with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to obtain an antitrust exemption under the U.S....more
6/4/2020
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Blockchain ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Federal Maritime Commission ,
Maritime Transport ,
Operating Agreements ,
Popular ,
Public Comment ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Shipping ,
Shipping Cargo ,
Supply Chain ,
Vessels
On March 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), issued Guidance on the essential critical infrastructure workforce needed to ensure national resilience...more
On February 19, 2020, the European Commission (Commission) released a communication entitled “A European strategy for data”. It lays out a vision for a “European data space” and a plan – through legislation, technical...more
TradeLens – a blockchain based shipping consortium – received an important antitrust exemption last week from the Federal Maritime Commission. The exemption allows five major container line shipping companies within the...more
On January 7, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) released its 2020 examination priorities. The majority of OCIE’s priorities for the coming year...more
1/16/2020
/ Blockchain ,
Compliance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Digital Assets ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
FinTech ,
OCIE ,
Registered Investment Advisors ,
Retail Investors ,
SEC Examination Priorities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
On January 7, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) announced its 2020 examination priorities. In doing so, OCIE identified certain areas of technology-related...more
t is that time of year when we look back to see what tech-law issues took up most of our time this year and look ahead to see what the emerging issues are for 2020.
Data: The Issues of the Year -
Data presented a wide...more
12/24/2019
/ 5G Network ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Big Data ,
Blockchain ,
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) ,
CFIUS ,
Communications Decency Act ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Collection ,
Data Security ,
Deep Fake ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
International Data Transfers ,
Machine Learning ,
Popular ,
Privacy Laws ,
Social Media ,
Technology Sector
Yes, it’s time for the end-of-year blog post – a look back at interesting issues of 2018 and a look forward to what we see coming down the pike in the new year....more
Content owners and their attorneys have been enthusiastically anticipating the use of blockchain as a mechanism for royalty accounting, recording the chain of title of intellectual property interests, and protecting, tracking...more
5/16/2018
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Copyright ,
Copyright Infringement ,
Digital Currency ,
Digital Media ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
DMCA ,
Encryption ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Popular ,
Royalties ,
Technology
While there has been a great deal of attention being paid lately to the use of blockchain for the issuance and investment (or speculation) in cryptocurrencies, other enterprise-based applications of blockchain continue to be...more
2018 promises great inroads in the realm of “quantum computing.” While conventional computers use binary data or bits (i.e., 0s and 1s) to store and process information (a bit can either store a 0 or 1), a quantum computer...more
Blockchain advocates have been awaiting the final decision by ASX Ltd, the Australian Securities Exchange, as to whether ASX will replace its existing and aged CHESS registry, settlement and clearing system with a...more
In his recent remarks at the Securities Regulation Institute, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton had some stern words for market professionals, especially lawyers, involved in initial coin offerings (ICOs). He expressed concern that...more
1/23/2018
/ Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Currency ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Markets ,
Howey ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Token Sales ,
Unregistered Securities ,
Virtual Currency
As we approach the end of 2017, it is a time to reflect on the dizzying pace of technology evolution this year, and the amazing array of legal issues it presented. Similarly, it is a time to look forward and anticipate what...more
12/21/2017
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Blockchain ,
Communications Decency Act ,
Cybersecurity ,
DMCA ,
Emerging Technology Companies ,
EU ,
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Popular ,
Technology Sector ,
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
No blockchain phenomenon has garnered more attention lately than Initial Coin Offerings ("ICOs"), which have exploded in value and raised more than $1.2 billion thus far this year....more
The blockchain or “distributed ledger network” was originally conceived as the peer-to-peer technology platform that allows for the transfer of Bitcoin without the need for a trusted intermediary. However, the blockchain...more
The blockchain protocol (a form of a ‘distributed ledger system’) was originally designed as a platform to process Bitcoin transactions. The protocol enables peer-to-peer transactions and eliminates the need for a trusted...more