Federal Judge Dismisses Facebook Investor Class Action Based on Board Diversity, Virginia Federal Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Claims that Altria Knew JUUL Was Marketing to Underage Consumers, SEC Brings Claims Against AT&T...more
On August 7, 2018, Tesla CEO Elon Musk used his personal Twitter account (@elonmusk) to propose a buyout of the company for $420 a share, stating that funding was secured....more
As financial institutions and investors turn to social media to instantly share snippets of news and potential clues about market trends, the FBI and SEC are monitoring such postings for evidence of insider trading and...more
As we discussed in our February Bulletin, late last year Netflix and its CEO, Reed Hastings, each received a notice from the SEC Staff indicating that the Staff intended to recommend to the SEC that it institute proceedings...more
The SEC opened the barn doors on use of social media, or merely reaffirmed existing guidance, depending on your point of view, in a recent Section 21(a) report....more
Recognizing the reality that many investors likely get more information from Facebook and Twitter than a corporate 10-K and that most public companies have a robust social media presence, the U.S. Securities and Exchange...more
Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a report clarifying that companies can use social media channels, such as Facebook and Twitter, to disseminate material nonpublic company information under Regulation...more
On April 2, 2013 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a report (the Netflix Report) announcing that it would not pursue enforcement action against Netflix, Inc. and its Chief Executive Officer, Reed Hastings,...more
The SEC has provided guidance to publicly reporting companies on how to use popular social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, consistent with federal securities laws. On April 2, 2013, the Securities and...more
Yes, you can use social media to make material public disclosures. The SEC did not punish Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. The reality is, however, the SEC gave a warning to executives: we are not going to do anything this time...more
On April 2, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a "report of investigation" that provides important guidance for companies that wish to use social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, to publicly...more
On April 2, in connection with an investigation of Netflix, Inc. and its Chief Executive Officer, Reed Hastings, regarding a possible violation of Regulation FD, the Securities and Exchange Commission released a Report of...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has taken a new position that publicly traded companies may use social media to communicate information to investors, so long as investors are first advised of the communication...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission" or "SEC") recently stepped into the social media age with its April 2, 2013 Report of Investigation pursuant to 21(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 concerning a...more
The Netflix Investigation - On July 3, 2012, the CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, used his personal Facebook page to announce that Netflix had streamed 1 billion hours of content in the month of June. As the Securities...more
In connection with a Facebook post by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, the SEC issued a report of investigation on April 2, 2013 (Netflix Report) indicating that Regulation FD permits a company to announce material information...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), on April 2, 2013, outlined a new disclosure position that clarifies that public companies can use social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter to announce key information in...more
On April 2, 2013, the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission released guidance on the use of social media to disseminate material, nonpublic information under Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure)....more
The increasing presence of social media has created new avenues for companies to market to and connect with consumers, customers and investors. Many heads of industry maintain very public profiles, appearing regularly on...more
You probably remember a dustup from a few months ago when the SEC threatened to sue Netflix for violations of Regulation FD. Basically, the rule says that when a public company gives material nonpublic information to anyone,...more
On April 2, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued noteworthy guidance on the use of social media to disclose material information in compliance with Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure)....more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission gave disclosures made through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter a conditional “thumbs up” in a Report of Investigation it released on April 2, 2013. Issuers of...more
On July 3, 2012, Netflix's chief executive officer, Reed Hastings, made a public post to his Facebook page, which noted that, in the month of June 2012, "Netflix monthly viewing exceeded 1 billion hours for the first time...more
On April 2, 2013, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that companies may use Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to announce key information so long as investors have been alerted about which...more
On April 2, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) issued a report of investigation (the Report) that makes clear public companies may use social media such as Twitter and Facebook to announce information in...more