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FTC's <i>Wyndham</i> Ruling Raises Data Security and Privacy Issues for Franchisors
In a ruling delivered April 7, a federal judge in New Jersey handed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) a resounding victory in the first round of an ongoing court battle regarding its authority as the primary regulator of issues related to consumer data security and privacy in the United States. The court denied Wyndham's motion to dismiss the FTC's complaint, which challenged the FTC's authority to bring enforcement actions related to data security issues, and the sufficiency of the allegations in the complaint. See, The Federal Trade Commission vs. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, 2:13-cv-01887-ES-JAD.
While this case is far from over, for now this ruling provides judicial validation of the FTC's authority to pursue breaches or potential breaches of consumer privacy as deceptive and unfair trade practices subject to the jurisdiction of its regulation under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
Of more concern for franchise business models, the ruling suggests that franchisors are at risk of being found responsible for data security and privacy practices (and breaches) of its franchisees, in the common situations in which the franchisor requires franchisees to implement specified POS and/or computer systems that often connect to the franchisor's network and computer systems. However, the ruling also provides guidance in the area of best practices in privacy policy and franchise agreement drafting to help minimize this risk.
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.