Features

The 2025 Patent Landscape Begins With Many Pieces of Proposed Legislation
The U.S. patent legal landscape in 2025 is poised for change. The incoming presidential administration is coupled with interim changes in leadership at the USPTO after Kathi Vidal’s departure, and several newly vacant, fillable commissioner seat openings at the ITC. Amid that backdrop, many pieces of proposed patent legislation are pending in Congress which could further — or possibly stifle — modern trends in American patent law, and could alter our innovation landscape for years to come. This article surveys that pending patent legislation.
Features

3 Factors for Successful Hourly Rate Adjustments
Beyond alternative fee arrangements, firms should consider hourly rate adjustments with three factors in mind: psychological pricing, client feedback and growth. All three are vital for aligning fees with perceived value while supporting the firm’s financial health.
Features

Edge Implements AI: A Q&A with Amy Juers
In late January, Edge Marketing unveiled the implementation of generative AI into its legal marketing practice, and along with it, a refresh of its brand. I spoke with Edge’s CEO, Amy Juers, MBA, about what AI can do for legal marketers in general and what went into the decision to implement AI and how Edge did it.
Features

Franchisers: Watch Out for Fraud When Using a Franchise Broker
Because franchise brokers have been historically free from making any type of disclosures about their pre-exiting relationship with the franchise companies they are marketing to the prospect, the prospect often feels that the broker is working for them, when in fact, the broker has a financial incentive to make a sale.
Features

U.S. Trustee, Insurers, Object to J&J’s $10B Talc Bankruptcy Plan
The objections, filed ahead of a key hearing on whether to confirm the Chapter 11 plan, cite the Supreme Court’s decision in Harrington v. Purdue Pharma, which invalidated nonconsensual releases in the $6 billion bankruptcy plan granted to Purdue’s founders, the Sacklers.
Features

AI Trainers Exposed to ‘Deeply Unsettling’ Content File Suit for Unsafe Working Conditions
Contract workers who say they suffered severe psychological harm by being exposed to “deeply unsettling” and traumatic scenarios used to train generative artificial intelligence models filed a class action complaint on January 17 against three Bay Area firms for alleged negligence and unsafe working conditions.
Features

In-House Lawyers Are Focused on Employment and Cybersecurity Disputes, But Looking Out for Conflict Over AI
Employment and labor and cybersecurity, data protection and data privacy remain top of mind for in-house lawyers focused on litigation. Still, there’s mounting concern about the threat of large damages verdicts.
Features

Trump Looks to Sell Fed Offices to Private Sector While Demanding Full RTO
The Trump administration wants to sell two-thirds of the government’s office stock to the private sector. The actions could have a significant impact on the DC property market. Many landlords depend on the government as an anchor tenant. If the space is suddenly cut loose, it could fall in value and leave owners without many options.
Columns & Departments
Players On the Move
A look at moves among attorneys, law firms, companies and other players in entertainment law.
Features

Third Circuit Orders SEC to Clarify How Securities Regs Apply to Digital Assets
In a 72-page opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit directed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to clarify for Coinbase Global Inc. “how and when the federal securities laws apply to digital assets” like cryptocurrencies and tokens.
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