The Bottom Line The FTC Workshop highlighted the issues facing consumers attempting to purchase event tickets online, where conflicting viewpoints emerged between preventing seller abuse and protecting buyers’ freedom to dispose of their tickets as they choose.Given the cutthroat competition in Continue Reading
New York State Legislation Significantly Expands Workplace Harassment Protections
The Bottom Line New York State’s new legislation will provide workers with significantly expanded protections against workplace harassment, including a lower standard for asserting — and prevailing — on harassment claims and the availability of punitive damages and attorneys’ fees for successful Continue Reading
Patent and Trademark Office Clarifies Rules for Cannabis Trademarks
The Bottom Line Now that the USPTO has issued this guidance, its examiners can be expected to issue decisions on pending cannabis-related trademark applications. Companies with applications pre-dating December 20, 2018, or considering filing new applications, should keep the essential elements of Continue Reading
GDPR’s Inaugural Year: Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned
The Bottom Line In GDPR’s inaugural year, except in the case of Google, the low fines indicate that there has been a degree of tolerance for noncompliance as companies continue to determine how to become compliant.However, the past year has shown that no one is immune from regulatory scrutiny, Continue Reading
Nevada Updates Privacy Law While New York Gets Ready
The Bottom Line California may have been the first to enact a comprehensive privacy law, but Nevada will be the first new law to become effective and will certainly not be the last. As evidenced by the updated Nevada law and the proposed New York law, companies may have to comply with Continue Reading
Trademark License Rights Survive Rejection in Bankruptcy
The Bottom Line The Mission Product decision should resolve uncertainty created by the circuit split between the First Circuit and Seventh Circuit decisions. The Supreme Court’s ruling should also reassure trademark licensees that should their licensor end up in bankruptcy, absent contract terms Continue Reading
American Gaming Association Hedges Its Bets with Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering
The Bottom Line The AGA Code represents a tentative first step by the AGA to impose a self-regulatory framework on an exploding sports betting industry. Whether it will be sufficient to ward off government oversight remains to be seen, but some key concerns remain:Age protections are looser than Continue Reading
FDA Public Hearing on the Use of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds in Food and Dietary Supplements
The Bottom Line The FDA is in uncharted territory and has requested additional safety data to assess whether CBD and other cannabis-derived compounds can be safely added to food and dietary supplements.The industry believes that CBD has the potential for significant health benefits, but is open Continue Reading
Massachusetts Issues Revised Regulations and Agency Guidance in Preparation for Paid Family and Medical Leave Law Taking Effect
Update as of June 17, 2019 Massachusetts lawmakers have extended by three months the implementation date for the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. The start date for required payroll withholdings has been extended to October 1, 2019 (a three month delay from the Continue Reading
IRS Reopens Its Determination Letter Program to Cash Balance Plans and Merged Plans
The Bottom Line Under the IRS’ expanded determination letter program, plan sponsors of statutory hybrid plans (e.g., cash balance plans) may now submit an application for a favorable determination letter for a 12-month period beginning September 1, 2019. Additionally, all retirement plans that Continue Reading