[IP Hot Topics Podcast] Innovation Conversations: Walter Isaacson, Part 1
Clinton: SCOTUS Myriad Genetics Decision 'Terrific'
Can You Patent Human Genes? ACLU Says No
Yours, Mine and Ours (not yet!): An Update on the Patentability of Human Genes
When DNA Tests Meet Estate Plans: Surprise Heirs and the Legal Fallout - For many families, at-home DNA testing kits like 23andMe and Ancestry.com have provided fascinating insights into ancestry and genetic health. But...more
U.S. Congress will largely return to normal operations this week, following passage of an appropriations package on February 3, 2026, that will fund the vast majority of federal agency operations through the end of 2026. ...more
As interest in dual citizenship continues to rise in today’s complex geopolitical landscape, many individuals are exploring options for obtaining a second passport. ...more
For many families, at-home DNA testing kits like 23andMe and Ancestry.com have provided fascinating insights into ancestry and genetic health. But for those of us practicing Elder Law and Estate Administration, they’ve also...more
Courts in British Columbia continue to evaluate when genetic testing should be used to resolve estate disputes. A recent Supreme Court of British Columbia decision in Morberg Estate (Re), 2025 BCSC 2265 provides important...more
In an important clarification of federal trade secret litigation, the Ninth Circuit in Quintara Biosciences, Inc. v. Ruifeng Biztech, Inc. recently rejected the argument that a plaintiff suing under the federal law (DTSA)...more
A brief, consensual sexual encounter between two opposite-sex individuals without a romantic or domestic relationship, often called a one-night stand, is typically not intended to result in long-term consequences. However,...more
Today, on the last day of the 2024-2025 term, the Supreme Court of the United States issued five decisions: Trump v. CASA, Inc., No. 24A884: This case addresses whether district courts had the authority to issue...more
In a recent ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) affirmed the finality of voluntary acknowledgments of parentage (“VAPs”), even if later genetic evidence proves that a parent who signed a VAP has no...more
23andMe, a pioneer in the DNA testing kit industry, announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and recently asked to select an independent customer data representative regarding any sale of user data....more
Several state attorneys general (AGs) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have begun scrutinizing ancestry tracking company 23andMe following its recent announcement that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of...more
Sometimes important contributions to innovation can come from the mundane rather than the extraordinary. One (perhaps apocryphal) example comes from the story of the early development of television by Philo Farnsworth (the...more
Welcome to our sixth volume and first issue of 2025 of Decoded - our technology law insights e-newsletter. We have been publishing for six years and could not continue without our committed readers and your insights....more
In a decision that raises significant questions about the future oversight of genetically engineered (GE) plants in the United States, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, December 2,...more
Welcome to our ninth 2024 issue of Decoded - our technology law insights e-newsletter. How are States Using Generative Artificial Intelligence? and Employee AI Adoption Cools Globally - Why this is important: As...more
Direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) genetic testing companies are faced with more scrutiny than ever over their privacy practices, security practices, and data use policies. In December 2023, 23andMe experienced a data breach...more
In November 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against the genetic testing company, 23andMe. The plaintiffs alleged that a data breach resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of 6.9 million users’ personal and genetic...more
The recent $30 million settlement between 23andMe and 6.4 million users following a major data breach offers important lessons for businesses dealing with sensitive genetic and genomic information....more
We have written a couple of times about the 23&Me phenomenon and the chance that those who enter this unknown world come back not just surprised but possibly creeped out by their quest for ancestral knowledge. USA Today...more
Can a person claiming to be the decedent’s biological child out of wedlock obtain a court order directing DNA testing of the decedent’s acknowledged children, in order to verify her claim? In Matter of Estate of McGuire, 203...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sent clear signals that it will pursue companies for “AI washing” — touting the use of artificial intelligence in ways that are false or misleading. The SEC has imposed fines...more
The "genome revolution" over the past 30 years has resulted in the elucidation of several species, both domesticated (see, e.g., "The Genetic Basis of Coat Variation in Dogs"; "Further and More Detailed Study of Domestic Cat...more
In family law cases in North Carolina, parental rights can seem particularly complex, especially when children are born to unmarried couples. Navigating this terrain involves a legal process known as legitimation, which aims...more
Employers are facing new potential legal risks under the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) and the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) over inquiries in routine employment physicals...more
On February 13, 2024, Nebraska’s Governor signed Legislative Bill 308, which enacts additional consumer protections for consumers in the state. It is similar to another genetic information law passed by Montana last year. ...more