Bit Parts
August 01, 2018
Cryptocollectible Concept Denied Trade Secret Protection<br>Jefferson Starship Co-Founder Loses Anti-SLAPP Motion Against Current Members of Band
Blockchain and GDPR — Frenemies?
July 01, 2018
In a nutshell, GDPR mandates that individuals have access and control over the use and maintenance of their data in certain circumstances, while the foundation of blockchain relies on the immutability of data. On the surface, these concepts seem in direct conflict with each other. This article discusses the points where GDPR and blockchain share common ground, where conflicts may exist and possible approaches for mitigating those conflicts.
Why Encryption Is the Key to Ensure Data Privacy in the Cloud
July 01, 2018
At both a personal and corporate level, there are huge gains to be made in protecting against data breaches. The fact is that well-implemented client-side encryption — where the corporate user keeps their own key rather than entrusting a third party to guard their sensitive information — is the only sure way to guarantee data privacy when storing data on other people's servers.
This is Not Your Father's Cloud (Part Two)
July 01, 2018
<b><i>Part Two of a Two-Part Article</b></i><p>In Part One of this article last month, we began a discussion designed to demystify the hesitations behind cloud security and analyzed the fast-growing transformation to a range of newer technical approaches with important consequences for legal practice. This month we continue the discussion by tackling the security and legal implications of the mass transformation of enterprise IT to cloud services from leading providers such as AWS and Azure.
Balancing Fourth Amendment Expectations in the Electronic Era
July 01, 2018
As rapid technological changes in the 21st century continue to expand the types and volume of private electronic information, the Fourth Amendment's privacy protections are evolving. The critical question in Fourth Amendment cases is whether a person has a “reasonable expectation of privacy in the information or event.”
Cryptography's Legal Landscape
July 01, 2018
The same applications, and the same cryptographic protocols, don't function in the exact same ways when appearing in 'the same software' utilized in different control devices. What, if any, are the legal ramifications of differing delivery mechanisms for the same cryptographic functions that may or may not perform the same?
You're Fired!
July 01, 2018
<i><b>Dealing With a Job Loss</b></i><p>The chances are that many of us will either be terminated or laid off from at some point in our careers. It happens. How you deal with the loss of a job and get back on your feet as quickly as possible is what's important.
The DOJ's Latest Opioid Crime-Fighting Tool: The Civil False Claims Act
July 01, 2018
<b><i>The U.S. Department of Justice Is Now Using The False Claims Act — Traditionally a Civil Enforcement Tool — to Combat the United States' Sweeping Opioid Epidemic</b></i><p>The use of the FCA is part of a larger DOJ strategy to develop multi-faceted solutions for this public health emergency.
Fifth Circuit Affirms Shareholder Veto of Chapter 11 Petition
July 01, 2018
“Federal law does not prevent a bona fide shareholder from exercising its right to vote against a bankruptcy petition just because it is also an unsecured creditor,” held the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in <i>In re Franchise Services of North America, Inc.</i> According to the court, applicable Delaware law would not “nullify the shareholder's right to vote against the bankruptcy petition.”
Executive Benefits at Non-Profits after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
July 01, 2018
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made significant changes to certain Internal Revenue Code provisions dealing with highly compensated employees. Among these are restrictions (in the form of excise taxes) on compensation of certain highly paid employees of “applicable tax-exempt organizations.”