Technology Media and Telecom

  • FTC's Letter to Paid 'Influencers'

    In the digital age, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been keeping tabs on the growing trend of brands hiring so-called "influencers" — athletes, celebrities and others with large followings — to promote their products on social media. In April, the FTC turned its attention downstream to the "influencers" themselves, sending 90 letters to influencers and marketers informing them of their responsibility to "clearly and conspicuously" disclose the business relationships behind social media posts.

    May 02, 2017C. Ryan Barber

  • State of the Industry: E-Discovery and Cybersecurity

    Part Two of a Three-Part Article

    Examining the current similarities between e-discovery and cybersecurity and details how the history of e-discovery mirrors the present of cybersecurity and is a predictor of future patterns in the cybersecurity staffing market.

    May 02, 2017Jared Coseglia

  • A Look at Right of Publicity Suit Over Gears of War

    Celebrities who are fiercely protective of their image and branding fight back, bringing an increasing number of lawsuits when it appears that a video game creator has borrowed without permission. These right of publicity cases highlight the tension that exists between the rights of public figures to control the way their image and likeness is used in commercial contexts and the First Amendment.

    May 02, 2017Christine E. Weller

  • The Challenge of Complying with China's New Cybersecurity Law

    In a bid to assert control over cyberspace, China passed a sweeping cybersecurity law that affects virtually every company doing business in that country. The law is set to go into effect June 1, 2017. Despite its broad reach and potential for disruption, it appears that very few legal professionals are aware of the law.

    May 02, 2017Dan Whitaker

  • The Challenge of Complying with China's New Cybersecurity Law

    In a bid to assert control over cyberspace, China passed a sweeping cybersecurity law that affects virtually every company doing business in that country. The law is set to go into effect June 1, 2017. Despite its broad reach and potential for disruption, it appears that very few legal professionals are aware of the law.

    May 02, 2017Dan Whitaker

  • Can Instagram Post of Photo Become Transformative?

    An enlarged print of an Instagram post containing a copyrighted photo counts as a transformative use, an attorney for "appropriation artist" Richard Prince — whose use of other artists' material in his own works has made him no stranger to the courts — argued before a New York federal judge in April.

    May 02, 2017Andrew Denney

  • FTC Tells Paid 'Influencers' to Disclose When Instagram Posts Are #Ads

    The consumer agency has taken the view that advertisement — without proper disclosures — can mislead consumers. The agency has previously put the burden of ensuring proper disclosure on the brands. On April 19, the FTC turned its attention downstream to the "influencers" themselves.

    May 02, 2017C. Ryan Barber