Concerning Healthcare Data Breach Reporting Trend -
"There has been a trend in recent years for HIPAA-regulated entities to wait the full 60 days from the date of discovery of the breach to issue notifications to affected...more
2/16/2022
/ Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Bitcoin ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Buying Virtual Real Estate in the Metaverse Now has Its Own Mortgage -
"A Vancouver firm has provided one of the first lending solutions for the whole new world we need to learn about."
Why this is important: A...more
BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy Faces Lawsuit Over Healthcare Data Breach -
"Florida-based BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy allegedly failed to safeguard PII and notify patients of a healthcare data breach that impacted 350K, the...more
2/7/2022
/ Biometric Information ,
Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cyber Threats ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Supply Chain ,
Technology Sector ,
U.S. Commerce Department
EHR Vendor Breach Lawsuit Seeks Security Improvements -
"Patient portal hacking incident last summer affected nearly 320,000."
Why this is important: On October 22, 2021, QRS Inc., a medical practice management system...more
1/21/2022
/ Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Hackers ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Medical Devices ,
Nanotechnology ,
Stablecoins ,
Tesla
Student Loan Forgiveness Updates: New Changes Coming in 2022 for Public Service Borrowers -
"Borrowers on track for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, a federal student loan forgiveness program for people devoted to careers...more
One of the most common forms of data or security breaches is the compromise of a business e-mail account that allows a threat actor to obtain financial or other sensitive information. Security professionals report that...more
Welcome to our last Decoded issue of 2021. With this last publication, we wanted to do something a little different. We looked at the top issues that affected the industry and our clients over the past year. And, we look...more
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
Athletic Fashion Dispute in Race to Courthouse -
Lululemon and Peloton are suing each other over clothing design patents and trade dress. Specifically, the case involves designs for athletic bras and leggings. Peloton won...more
Here are 5 Changes Student Loan Borrowers Could See in 2022 -
"Experts say that if student loan forgiveness is going to happen, it will likely be before the midterm elections."
Why this is important: During the last...more
Millions of Consumers have Cut Their Debts, So Why are Financial Experts Sounding Alarm -
"And with stimulus payments a thing of the past and other unusual financial stabilization programs unwinding, the alerts are going...more
11/17/2021
/ Automotive Loans ,
Banking Sector ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Credit Cards ,
Credit Reports ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Forbearance Agreements ,
Mortgages ,
Payment Systems ,
Stablecoins ,
Student Loans
Assignment and Recordation of Patent Ownership Rights -
A patent has the attributes of intangible personal property: it can be sold or mortgaged; it may be bequeathed by a will; and it may pass to the heirs of a deceased...more
11/10/2021
/ Automation Systems ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cybersecurity ,
Driverless Cars ,
Facebook ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Medical Malpractice ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patents ,
Ransomware ,
Robots ,
Technology Sector ,
Trademarks ,
Vaccinations
What to Expect as Education Department Gets Ready to Resume Student Loan Payments -
"After nearly two years of pausing student loan bills, the U.S. Department of Education is trying to figure out how to start collecting...more
Nature of Patents and Patent Rights -
When a patent is issued under the seal of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, it is signed by the Director of the USPTO or an Office official. The patent contains a grant...more
10/28/2021
/ Amazon ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Collection ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Facebook ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Medical Devices ,
Nanotechnology ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patents ,
Retailers ,
Starbucks ,
USPTO
Bankruptcies Trending Down in West Virginia, but for How Long?
"Then from June 2020 to June 2021, in the heart of the pandemic, those numbers dropped even more."
Why this is important: From 2016 to 2019, there was an...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
China's Cryptocurrency Ban: What It Means for Bitcoin, Coinbase and the US -
"On Sept. 24, China's Central Bank declared all crypto-related transitions illegal, citing concerns about gambling fraud and money laundering."...more
Biotechnology Can Fight Climate Change—but Trade Negotiators Need to Act -
"Emerging biotechnology, such as gene-editing, can safely and effectively change our planet's future for the better."
Why this is important:...more
9/30/2021
/ Agricultural Sector ,
Amazon ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Biotechnology ,
Bitcoin ,
Climate Change ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Cybersecurity ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Life Sciences ,
Novartis ,
Ransomware ,
Stablecoins ,
Surveillance
China Risks Winter Energy Crunch -
"China is at risk of the same energy-crunch chaos seen in Europe, with a state-run newspaper warning that coal-fired power plants will struggle to keep the lights on this winter."...more
9/23/2021
/ China ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Coking Coal ,
Cybersecurity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Natural Gas ,
NPDES ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Utilities Sector
Biden Administration Extends Student Loan Pause Until January 31, 2022 -
"The Department believes this additional time and a definitive end date will allow borrowers to plan for the resumption of payments and reduce the...more
9/21/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Biden Administration ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Housing Market ,
Interest Rates ,
Military Service Members ,
Payday Loans ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Small Dollar Lenders ,
Student Loans
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
Why the Overturned Eviction Moratorium May be Too Little, Too Late for Both Renters, Landlords -
"However, the ruling doesn’t mean renters in states without protections will be immediately removed from their homes — an...more
9/7/2021
/ CARES Act ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Debt Collection ,
Department of Education ,
Eviction ,
Federal Reserve ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreclosure ,
HELOC ,
Moratorium ,
Payday Loans ,
Startups ,
Venture Capital ,
Wage Garnishment
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
As U.S. Retreats, China Looks to Back Taliban with Afghan Mining Investments -
"While the Taliban takes stock of the natural resources and U.S.-funded infrastructure now at their disposal, strategic competitors including...more
8/26/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sanctions
Biden Makes It Easier for Student Loan Borrowers to Get a Mortgage -
"The new rule supported by the Biden administration proposed that FHA lenders drop the requirement to calculate student loan payments at 1%."
Why this is...more
8/25/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Blackberry ,
Connected Cars ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Credit Scores ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Mortgages ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Student Loans ,
TCPA