Technology

  • October 11, 2024

    Kirkland, Skadden Compete Atop M&A Adviser League Tables

    The two firms at opposite ends of the bargaining table on the largest merger announced this year — Mars' $36 billion agreement to purchase Kellanova — are also running neck-and-neck in the mergers and acquisitions league tables when measured by dollar volume, according to data provided by Dealogic. 

  • October 11, 2024

    Boston Dynamics 'Took Advantage' Of Partner's Robotics IP

    Robot maker Boston Dynamics engaged in a "flagrant and secretive" breach of its nondisclosure agreement with a manufacturer by enabling a competitor to "reverse engineer" components it had built for the Massachusetts company, according to a state court lawsuit.

  • October 11, 2024

    Nelson Mullins Can't Beat DQ In Foreign Exchange Fraud Suit

    A Florida state appeals court panel unanimously sided with a trial court Friday in deciding that Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP can't represent the defendant in a lawsuit accusing him of duping the plaintiff into doing business with online foreign exchange platform FxWinning Ltd. because the firm previously represented the plaintiff in a "substantially related" suit against the company.

  • October 11, 2024

    Off The Bench: NCAA's NIL Deal Advances, QB Settles Again

    In this week's Off The Bench, the NCAA and the athletes suing it over name, image and likeness money satisfy a judge with their proposed settlement revisions, an NFL quarterback settles yet another sexual assault accusation, and a legal battle between the NFL and one of its former reporters ends amicably.

  • October 11, 2024

    Nintendo, Epic Games Dropped From Addictive Gaming Suit

    Nintendo of America Inc. and Epic Games Inc. have been dropped from a lawsuit filed against them and other well-known companies by a gamer who alleged they intentionally got users addicted to boost profits.

  • October 11, 2024

    Patent Armory Suit Over Telecom Patent Is Tossed

    U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright has thrown out a lawsuit accusing a Singapore-based company of infringing a sound system patent, noting that the patent owner never actually served the company with the suit.

  • October 11, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen billionaire Lakshmi Mittal sue steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta in a long-running clash to claw back €140 million ($153 million) of debt, a high-profile AI researcher take action against the Intellectual Property Office to register his software as a listed patent inventor and troubled housing trust Home Reit face a claim by a real estate developer. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • October 10, 2024

    Bumble App Is Biased Against Straight Women, Suit Says

    Dating app Bumble discriminates against straight women by requiring them to make the first move and tries to justify the bias by portraying women as "perpetual victims" and men as "rude, sexually-forward ogres," two women alleged in a proposed class action removed to California federal court Wednesday.

  • October 10, 2024

    Western Digital Lifted Spex's Data Security IP, Expert Says

    Western Digital's My Book and Ultrastar storage devices infringe features in Spex Technologies' data security patent, including hardware encryption and a means of allowing a host computer to request and receive information from the device once it's plugged in, an expert witness testified during the infringement trial Thursday in California federal court.

  • October 10, 2024

    Social Media Apps Don't Need User Warnings, MDL Judge Told

    A lawyer for TikTok urged a California state judge on Thursday to cut failure-to-warn claims from multidistrict litigation over social media's alleged effects on youth mental health, saying this theory is akin to suing newspapers for "not including a warning that reading the news could put you in a bad mood."

  • October 10, 2024

    FCC Says Disabled Need More Access To Emergency Services

    The Federal Communications Commission still has work to do to make sure telecom services are accessible to people with disabilities, particularly those who are visually and hearing impaired, the agency revealed in a new report.

  • October 10, 2024

    FINRA Fines Citadel Securities, IMC Over Audit Trail Reporting

    Citadel Securities LLC and IMC Financial Markets agreed to fines of $1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, to settle allegations from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that they failed to accurately or timely report tens of billions of equity and option orders to the consolidated audit trail.

  • October 10, 2024

    Ousted Chair's Claims To Go Before Arbitrator, Judge Says

    A New York federal judge ruled that an arbitrator must decide whether the ousted former chairperson of software investment company The Resource Group International Ltd., who was forced to resign in late 2021 following a widely reported sexual harassment scandal, can pursue some of his claims in arbitration.

  • October 10, 2024

    OpenAI Calls Musk's Fraud, RICO Suit A Harassing Biz Move

    OpenAI asked a California federal judge to toss Elon Musk's claims that the artificial intelligence venture and its top brass engaged in fraud by deciding to make OpenAI a for-profit company, claiming Musk "has been trying to leverage the judicial system for an edge" since launching a competing AI company.

  • October 10, 2024

    Fed. Circ. Digs Into Patent Applications' Place In Prior Art

    A Federal Circuit panel struggled Thursday to work out whether published patent applications meet the requirements to serve as prior art, in order to evaluate whether the Patent Trial and Appeal Board rightfully invalidated claims of a Lynk Labs LED patent.

  • October 10, 2024

    IP Forecast: 5G Patent Case Spells Deja Vu For EDTX

    A patent suit against a Chinese phone company will go before a new federal jury in the Eastern District of Texas after the judge scrapped the original $10.6 million verdict against it as excessive. Here's a spotlight on that case — plus all the other major intellectual property matters on deck in the coming week.

  • October 10, 2024

    Chancery OKs $9.5M Deal For Katapult SPAC Challenge

    A $9.5 million deal settled a Delaware Court of Chancery stockholder suit Thursday seeking damages arising from a stock slump following the $883 million blank check company deal that took subprime consumer lender Katapult Holdings Inc. public in June 2021.

  • October 10, 2024

    Fed. Circ. Revives Software IP Case Against Salesforce

    The Federal Circuit on Thursday threw out a Nevada federal court's finding that Salesforce didn't infringe claims in a pair of patents for database software reprogramming and that the claims weren't valid to begin with, saying key language in the patents has to be looked at differently.

  • October 10, 2024

    Chef Hit With $4.5M Award For Defaming, Harassing Worker

    A Cook County, Illinois, jury has awarded a former employee of the now-shuttered Chicago restaurant Acadia $4.5 million in damages after he accused his ex-boss of targeting him through a systematic internet harassment campaign.

  • October 10, 2024

    NC AG Nominee Says Opponent Smeared His Lawyering

    U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, the Republican nominee in North Carolina's attorney general race, has filed a defamation lawsuit against his Democratic opponent's campaign and a number of affiliated organizations, claiming the defendants defamed Bishop with a "push poll" suggesting he had represented clients accused of stealing from the elderly.

  • October 10, 2024

    Most Appian Claims Survive In Pegasystems Defamation Fight

    A Massachusetts federal judge has allowed most counterclaims from business software company Appian Corp. to proceed against rival Pegasystems Inc., which accused its competitor in a lawsuit of making deliberately malicious statements and representations regarding a trade secret case the parties are litigating in Virginia.

  • October 10, 2024

    GOP Rep. Pushes FCC To Act On 12 GHz Broadband Access

    An Oklahoma lawmaker has joined a chorus that has been calling for the Federal Communications Commission to open the lower 12 gigahertz spectrum band to two-way broadband fixed wireless access.

  • October 10, 2024

    Twitter Judge Seeks More Info On Cert. Bid In Layoff Fight

    A California federal judge declined to rule Thursday on a request to certify a class of 115 ex-Twitter workers who claim they were booted without proper notice after Elon Musk acquired the company, saying he wanted more information after learning that most signed arbitration agreements.

  • October 10, 2024

    Shield Satellite Radio From Interference, FCC Told

    Sirius XM told the Federal Communications Commission that continued attempts to open the 6 gigahertz band for low-power wireless devices could pose a threat to the satellite radio service's signals if strong protections are not put in place.

  • October 10, 2024

    FCC Chair Slams Trump's Demands To Pull CBS' License

    The head of the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday once again blasted Donald Trump for demanding the agency yank broadcast stations' licenses for political reasons, saying the former president's "familiar" attacks on free speech "should not be ignored."

Expert Analysis

  • Patent Lessons From 4 Federal Circuit Reversals In July

    Author Photo

    The Federal Circuit’s July reversal of four cases, all of which were Patent Trial and Appeal Board decisions, highlights lessons for patent practitioners regarding the scope of estoppel provisions, potential issues with obtaining certain substitute claims, and more, say Denise De Mory and Li Guo at Bunsow De Mory.

  • Video Game Release Highlights TM Pitfalls Of App Store

    Author Photo

    The upcoming release of poker video game Balatro in Apple's App Store underscores the tradeoff of keyword advertising and trademark protection for indie developers who, unlike corporate counterparts, lack resources but seek to maximize the reach of their game, say Parmida Enkeshafi and Simon Pulman at Pryor Cashman.

  • Complying With FTC's Final Rule On Sham Online Reviews

    Author Photo

    The Federal Trade Commission's final rule on deceptive acts and practices in online reviews and testimonials is effective Oct. 21, and some practice tips can help businesses avert noncompliance risks, say Airina Rodrigues and Jonathan Sandler at Brownstein Hyatt.

  • Patent Owner Estoppel Questions In The Wake Of SoftView

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's seldom-litigated Rule 42.73(d)(3) on Patent Trial and Appeal Board estoppel was recently brought to the forefront in the Federal Circuit's SoftView v. Apple decision, highlighting uncertainties in this aspect of patent practice, say David Haars and Richard Crudo at Sterne Kessler.

  • Opinion

    A Fuzzy Label With Bite: FTC Must Define Surveillance Pricing

    Author Photo

    The Federal Trade Commission recently issued orders to eight companies — including Mastercard, McKinsey and Chase — seeking information on "surveillance pricing," but the order doesn't explain the term or make the distinction between legal and illegal practices, leaving any company that uses personalized pricing in the dark, says Chris Wlach at Huge.

  • Assessing Algorithmic Versus Generative AI Pricing Tools

    Author Photo

    A comparison of traditional algorithmic pricing models and those powered by generative artificial intelligence can help regulators and practitioners weigh the pros and cons of relying on large language models to price products or services, say Maxime Cohen at McGill University, and Tim Spittle and Jimmy Royer at Analysis Group.

  • An Overview Of New Export Controls On Advanced Tech

    Author Photo

    With a new rule that took effect this month, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security continues to expand export controls on advanced technologies, including semiconductor, additive manufacturing and quantum computing, in coordination with international partners, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • How States Are Approaching AI Workplace Discrimination

    Author Photo

    As legislators across the U.S. have begun addressing algorithmic discrimination in the workplace, attorneys at Reed Smith provide an overview of the status, applicability and provisions of 13 state and local bills.

  • 3 Patent Considerations For America's New Quantum Hub

    Author Photo

    Recent developments signal an incredibly bright future for Chicago as the new home of quantum computing, and it is crucial that these innovators — whose technology has the potential to transform many industries — prioritize intellectual property strategy, says Andrew Velzen at McDonnell Boehnen.

  • SBA Proposal Materially Alters Contractor Recertification

    Author Photo

    The Small Business Administration's new proposed rule on recertification affects eligibility for set-aside contracts, significantly alters the landscape for mergers and acquisitions in the government contracts industry, and could have other unintended downstream consequences, says Sam Finnerty at PilieroMazza.

  • Navigating A Potpourri Of Possible Transparency Act Pitfalls

    Author Photo

    Despite the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's continued release of guidance for complying with the Corporate Transparency Act, its interpretation remains in flux, making it important for companies to understand potentially problematic areas of ambiguity in the practical application of the law, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • A Preview Of AI Priorities Under The Next President

    Author Photo

    For the first time in a presidential election, both of the leading candidates and their parties have been vocal about artificial intelligence policy, offering clues on the future of regulation as AI continues to advance and congressional action continues to stall, say attorneys at Mintz.

  • DOJ Must Overcome Hurdles In RealPage Antitrust Case

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Department of Justice's recent claims that RealPage's pricing software violates the Sherman Act mark a creative, and apparently contradictory, shift in the agency's approach to algorithmic price-fixing that will face several key challenges, say attorneys at Clifford Chance.

  • How Companies Are Approaching Insider Trading Policies

    Author Photo

    An analysis of insider trading policies recently disclosed by 49 S&P 500 companies under a new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule reveals that while specific provisions vary from company to company, certain common themes are emerging, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

  • 11 Patent Cases To Watch At Fed. Circ. And High Court

    Author Photo

    As we head into fall, there are 11 patent cases to monitor, touching on a range of issues that could affect patent strategy, such as biotech innovation, administrative rulemaking and patent eligibility, say Edward Lanquist and Wesley Barbee at Baker Donelson.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Technology archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!