Welcome to our third issue of 2025 of Decoded - our technology law insights e-newsletter. We hope you enjoy this issue and thank you for reading.
SEC may Reverse Proposed Cryptocurrency Custody Rule and Ohio House...more
4/16/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Blockchain ,
Copyright ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Final Rules ,
Foreign Entities ,
Healthcare ,
Hospitals ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Investment Adviser ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Schools ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Technology Sector ,
Trump Administration
CFPB Takes Action to Protect the Public from Shoddy Data Security Practices
"The bureau said the circular does not suggest that particular security practices are specifically required under the Consumer Financial...more
9/7/2022
/ Blockchain ,
Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Collection ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Financial Institutions ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Britain Announces Plans to Mint Its Own NFT as It Looks to ‘Lead the Way’ in Crypto -
"Glen said the government was also 'widening' its gaze to look at other aspects of crypto, including so-called Web3, a movement that...more
4/15/2022
/ Authentication ,
Biometric Information ,
Biotechnology ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Digital Assets ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Personally Identifiable Information ,
Smart Contracts
Next year will see the continued growth of digital or virtual currencies, payment options, investments, and real estate.
Digital currencies have been around in some form for more than a couple decades. Many consider...more
The Story of Henrietta Lacks and the Biotechnology Company Accused of Selling Her Cells for Profit -
These two articles (Newsweek and Fierce Biotech) describe the new lawsuit by the Henrietta Lacks Estate surrounding the...more
10/13/2021
/ Biotechnology ,
Blockchain ,
Coinbase ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Liability Insurance ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Ransomware
El Salvador Buys 200 Bitcoins as the Digital Currency Becomes Legal Tender -
"El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as a national currency, kicking off a radical monetary experiment that could pose risks to...more
9/15/2021
/ Apple ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Climate Change ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
CRISPR ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
El Salvador ,
Ethereum ,
Facial Recognition Technology ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Government Agencies ,
Kim Kardashian ,
Medical Devices ,
Popular ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Smart Contracts
China Passes Major Data Protection Law as Regulatory Scrutiny on Tech Sector Intensifies -
A final version of the law has not been published but a previous draft included rules around requiring consent for data protection...more
9/2/2021
/ Apple ,
Biometric Information ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
China ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Collection ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Fitbit ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
International Data Transfers ,
Medical Devices ,
TikTok
Bye-Bye, Bitcoin: It's Time to Ban Cryptocurrencies -
"International banking officials say cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin are speculative assets, not sustainable, usable money."
Why this is important: This opinion piece...more
8/5/2021
/ 3D Printing ,
Big Tech ,
Biometric Information ,
Biotechnology ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
China ,
CRISPR ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Digital Currency ,
Facial Recognition Technology ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Novartis ,
Patents ,
Personal Information ,
Supply Chain ,
Technology Sector ,
USPTO
4 Ways to Boost Blockchain in Consumer Finance -
"Plenty of executives and industry leaders in the blockchain space are looking for clarity on financial regulation."
Why this is important: The recent MIT FinTech...more
Digital Dollar Project to Launch Five U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency Pilots -
"A partnership between Accenture and the Digital Dollar Foundation, the Digital Dollar Project was created last year to promote research...more
5/12/2021
/ Biometric Information ,
Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
CRISPR ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
FinTech ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Data Breach at New England’s Largest Energy Provider -
"A misconfiguration error has exposed personal data belonging to customers of New England's largest energy provider."
Why this is important: New England's largest...more
5/4/2021
/ Biotechnology ,
Blockchain ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Internet of Things ,
Vaccinations
Binance Probed by CFTC Over Whether U.S. Residents Traded -
"Binance, which has an office in Singapore but says it lacks a single corporate headquarters, hasn’t been accused of misconduct and the investigation may not lead...more
4/1/2021
/ 3D Printing ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Collection ,
FinTech ,
Popular ,
Technology Sector ,
Trade Secrets
All is Not Lost: Mitigating the Risk of Loss of a Delinquent Collateral Asset in the Era of Autonomous Zones -
The birth of autonomous zones has led to uncertainty regarding the protection of a lienholder's collateral...more
1/21/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Blockchain ,
CARES Act ,
Chapter 11 ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Mortgages ,
OCC ,
Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF program)
Congress Reaches Compromise on Clean Energy Deal to be Attached to Government Funding Bill -
"A bipartisan energy package hitched to the spending bill includes provisions to boost technologies such as advanced nuclear...more
12/23/2020
/ Biden Administration ,
Blockchain ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Exports ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Transmission Grid ,
Wind Power
Following the recent publication of the U.S. Attorney General's cryptocurrency enforcement framework, Spilman attorneys Corey Bonasso and Nick Mooney discuss cryptocurrencies, their legitimate uses, and some inherent legal...more
11/13/2020
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
BitMEX ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Debtors ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Smart Contracts ,
Tax Liability ,
Virtual Currency
West Virginia Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Horizontal Drilling Taxation Case Involving Antero -
"At issue is a consumer sales tax assessment of around $1 million the West Virginia State Tax Department has levied on...more
10/26/2020
/ Biodiesel ,
Biomass ,
Blockchain ,
China ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal Mines ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Elon Musk ,
Energy Sector ,
EU ,
Gig Economy ,
Honda ,
Horizontal Wells ,
Natural Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Plant Closures ,
Popular ,
Renewable Energy ,
State Taxes ,
Well Drilling ,
WV Supreme Court
Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Publication of Cryptocurrency Enforcement Framework -
"The Framework provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging threats and enforcement challenges associated with the...more
10/16/2020
/ Airlines ,
Amazon ,
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ,
Anthem Insurance ,
Apple ,
Attorney General ,
Bar Exam ,
BitMEX ,
Blockchain ,
Congressional Committees ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Data Breach ,
Digital Marketplace ,
Emergency Rooms ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Ethereum ,
Facebook ,
FinTech ,
Google ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Hong Kong ,
Hospitals ,
Innovative Technology ,
Mobile Apps ,
Money Laundering ,
Monopolization ,
Ransomware ,
Remote Learning ,
Sanction Violations ,
Settlement ,
State Attorneys General ,
Technology Sector ,
Travel ,
Venezuela ,
Virus Testing ,
Zoom®
U.S. Judge Halts Trump's TikTok Ban, Hours Before It was Set to Start -
"John Hall, an attorney for TikTok, said that the app, with some 100 million American users, is a 'modern day version of the town square' and shutting...more
10/4/2020
/ Amazon ,
Biometric Information ,
Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Blockchain ,
China ,
Class Action ,
Commodities ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Currency ,
Dismissals ,
Due Process ,
Dunkin' Donuts ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Executive Orders ,
Facebook ,
Facial Recognition Technology ,
First Amendment ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Free Speech ,
General Motors ,
Google ,
Hackers ,
Injunctive Relief ,
Internet Retailers ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Merchants ,
Microsoft ,
Mobile Apps ,
Networks ,
New York ,
Oracle ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
Payment Tokens ,
Phishing Scams ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
Ransomware ,
Rewards Programs ,
Shopify ,
Tesla ,
TikTok ,
Trump Administration ,
Twitter ,
User-Generated Content ,
Wal-Mart ,
Warner Music Group ,
WeChat ,
Wrongful Termination
Morrisey, Other AGs Reach $330 Million Agreement with Student Loan Company -
"West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and 47 other attorneys general have reached a $330 million, multistate agreement with a student...more
9/24/2020
/ Advertising ,
Blockchain ,
CARES Act ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Debit and Credit Card Transactions ,
Demographic Targeting ,
eMortgages ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Google ,
Illegal Fees ,
Loan Modifications ,
Merchant Fees ,
Mortgage Bankers Association ,
Mortgages ,
Multistate Investigations ,
Refinancing ,
Reverse Mortgages ,
Settlement ,
State Attorneys General ,
Student Loans ,
Surcharges
TikTok Will Partner with Oracle in the United States After Microsoft Loses Bid -
"TikTok and Oracle will become business partners in the United States — a deal meant to satisfy the Trump administration's national security...more
9/22/2020
/ Actual or Constructive Knowledge ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Blockchain ,
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) ,
China ,
Class Action ,
Colleges ,
Communications Decency Act ,
Criminal Investigations ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Data Breach ,
Digital Currency ,
Equifax ,
European Central Bank ,
Executive Orders ,
Facebook ,
Federal Reserve ,
FOSTA ,
Hackers ,
Life Sciences ,
Microchip Technology ,
Microsoft ,
Mobile Apps ,
National Security ,
North Korea ,
Oracle ,
Predictive Analytics ,
Remote Learning ,
Scientific Research ,
Section 230 ,
Service of Process ,
Sex Trafficking ,
Social Media ,
Students ,
Technology Sector ,
TikTok ,
Trump Administration ,
TX Supreme Court ,
Video
Three Important Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic is Changing the Delivery of Consumer Financial Services -
The world continues to come to grips with the daily changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools contemplate...more
9/18/2020
/ Appeals ,
Blockchain ,
Buyers ,
CARES Act ,
Consumer Bankruptcy ,
Consumer Complaint Database ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Contract Terms ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Delinquency Status ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FDCPA ,
Forbearance Agreements ,
Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Reaffirmation ,
Reverse Mortgages ,
Student Loans ,
VA Loans
To most people, the concept of digital currencies is synonymous with the name Bitcoin. However, hundreds of digital currencies exist. In fact, WorldCoinIndex.com tracks 445 currencies, and CoinMarketCap.com tracks 732....more
10/17/2016
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Digital Currency ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Popular ,
Risk Assessment ,
Security