Now more than ever, technology is influencing the way we do business, communicate, move through and around the world, access and manage our homes, receive and administer healthcare, make purchases, secure information, and protect our most valuable property. Morrison Foerster keeps pace with this rapidly evolving landscape across our internationally recognized corporate, finance, intellectual property, and litigation practices. MoFo Tech brings together our insights relating to fields such as blockchain and distributed ledger, cloud and as-a-service technologies, driverless cars, drones, fintech, computer hardware and software, the Internet of Things, semiconductors, and telecommunications. The MoFo Tech blog offers real-time, in-depth analyses of the trends and complex issues shaping the global technology industry.<h2>ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Scott Llewellyn’s practice focuses on complex litigation in federal and state courts around the country, with an emphasis on patent and trade secret disputes. Over the past decade, he has worked on some of the most significant, high–profile IP cases involving technology for televisions, smartphones, and self–driving cars, relying on 40 years of experience with computer hardware and software. Scott also has significant experience with business divorce cases before courts and arbitrators, involving a mix of trade secret, patent, tort, and contract claims relating to technology development and implementation.Scott also has successfully tried general commercial arbitration and agency matters, briefed and argued various appeals in federal appellate court, and tried more than 20 cases for the Denver City Attorney’s office, most of them jury trials.Scott also has an active pro bono practice, having worked on a variety of criminal and immigration appeals, and having represented Colorado criminal defense and mental health organizations in high–profile suits against the state of Colorado for violations of the constitutional rights of defendants.At MoFo, Scott serves on the board of the Morrison & Foerster Foundation. In the broader legal community, he serves on the boards of the Colorado Lawyers Committee and Drop in the Bucket (a charity that builds wells and sanitation systems in sub–Saharan Africa).After law school, Scott clerked for the Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, District of Wyoming, and the Honorable Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain, Ninth Circuit. He was also previously an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center.

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Partner

Scott Llewellyn’s practice involves complex litigation before state and federal courts around the country, with an emphasis on patent and trade secret disputes for high-tech companies, to which he brings more than 35 years of experience with computer hardware and software, in particular relating to the processing and transmission of audio, video, voice, and other types of data. Mr. Llewellyn has also tried commercial arbitration and agency matters; briefed and argued various appeals in federal appellate court; and tried more than 20 cases for the Denver city attorney’s office, most of them jury trials.

Scott F. Llewellyn

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MoFo Tech brings together legal insights and in-depth analyses on trends and complex issues shaping the global technology industry, covering fields such as blockchain and distributed ledger, cloud and SaaS technologies, driverless cars, drones, FinTech, computer hardware and software, the IoT, semiconductors, and telecommunications.

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MoFo Tech brings together legal insights and in-depth analyses on trends and complex issues shaping the global technology industry, covering fields such as blockchain and distributed ledger, cloud and SaaS technologies, driverless cars, drones, FinTech, computer hardware and software, the IoT, semiconductors, and telecommunications.

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At the Intersection of Technology, Law, and Business

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Japan’s Approach to AI Regulation in 2025

Federal Circuit Clarifies Requirements for Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(e)

AI Agent as a Service in Medtech - Key Considerations for Commercial Contracts

D.C. Circuit Holds that Works Created Solely by AI are Not Copyrightable

Navigating Inventorship in the Era of AI-Assisted Drug Discovery

Content uploaded on to the Internet by users (e.g., music, videos, literature, photos, streaming of live events such as gaming and concerts – so-called “user-generated content”) has spawned a series of legal cases in Europe. In 2019, decisions of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) are expected to clarify one of the key open issues in EU copyright law: the extent to which online platforms such as YouTube can be liable for copyright infringement caused by user-generated content. The CJEU decisions are eagerly awaited by both media and copyright owners and by online platform operators – and will mark yet another stage in the on-going battle of the creative industries against copyright infringements in the online world.  CJEU is expected to provide clearer guidelines on key issues such as:<ul><li>to what extent can providers of online services engage with the user content hosted by them;</li><li>which activities will trigger a liability for copyright infringement irrespective of actual knowledge of a specific infringement;</li><li>whether they must actively monitor the content uploaded by users for copyright infringements (e.g., by using state-of-the-art efficient filter technologies) to avoid damage claims by rightsholders.</li></ul>To find out more about these cases read our <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/gDfyCwpR2xSEOmx1H99W_j">client alert</a>.

DocuSign, Inc

enercity AG

SoftBank Vision Fund

TDK and its subsidiary EPCOS

Tele Columbus

United Internet/1&1

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Kristina has more than 20 years of experience advising clients across many industries, including the software, internet, mobility, media, and consumer electronics industries, with a particular focus o

Kristina Ehle

Kristina Ehle has more than 20 years of experience advising clients across many industries, including the software, internet, mobility, media, and consumer electronics industries, with a particular focus on technology-driven and IP-heavy transactions.

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Counsel

Stephan is counsel at Morrison Foerster’s German office in Berlin. He focuses on advising major German and international clients with regard to drafting and negotiating complex technology-related agreements and on matters concerning cloud computing, software, e/m-commerce, digital media, intellectual property rights, consumer rights, electronic communication, big data and cyber security requirements.

Stephan Kreß

Stephan is counsel at Morrison Foerster’s German office in Berlin. As a member of the technology transactions group, he focuses on advising major German and international clients with regard to drafting and negotiating complex technology-related agreements and on matters concerning cloud computing, software, e/m-commerce, digital media, intellectual property rights, consumer rights, electronic communication, big data and cyber security requirements.

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Time to Hit Pause: Copyright Infringement on User Generated Platforms – When Is the Platform Provider Liable for Damages?

California Supreme Court Clarifies Standards for Whistleblower Claims Under California Labor Code Section 1102.5

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Content uploaded on to the Internet by users (e.g., music, videos, literature, photos, streaming of live events such as gaming and concerts – so-called “user-ge

Time to Hit Pause: Copyright Infringement on User Generated Platforms – When Is the Platform Provider Liable for Damages?

The Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL), France’s data protection authority (DPA), has levied a €50 million fine against Google for allegedly violating the GDPR’s transparency, information, and consent requirements in deploying targeted advertisements. The fine—the largest fine under GDPR to date and the first involving a U.S. technology company—was issued on January 21, 2019, and sheds additional light on the CNIL’s GDPR enforcement priorities and practices.Read our <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/SSSJCpYXBnh0EDPmfYA5-B">client alert</a>.

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Managing Partner, Amsterdam and Brussels

Alex van der Wolk, co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s preeminent Global Privacy & Data Security practice and managing partner of the firm’s Amsterdam and Brussels offices, employs his nearly 20 years of experience to advise global companies on their most complex data strategies and compliance programs governing all aspects of information management. 

With more than a decade of experience, Mr. van der Wolk helps clients develop privacy strategies for digital transformations, industrial IoT, telematics, Big Data, commercial and marketing programs, a

Alex van der Wolk

Alex van der Wolk, co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s preeminent Global Privacy & Data Security practice and managing partner of the firm’s Brussels office, employs his nearly 20 years of experience to advise global companies on their most complex data strategies and compliance programs governing all aspects of information management.

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C’est It Ain’t So: French DPA Issues Google Largest GDPR Fine to Date

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The Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL), France’s data protection authority (DPA), has levied a €50 million fine against Google for al

C’est It Ain’t So: French DPA Issues Google Largest GDPR Fine to Date

Despite increasing political tensions and evolving trade policies, the U.S. M&A market in 2018 enjoyed its second-best total deal value ever, according to Mergermarket. Activity through the first three quarters appeared poised for a new record, before slowing in the final quarter as stock market volatility spiked and questions arose about the direction of economic growth.Prospects for 2019 remain strong, with companies eager for growth and capital still abundant and relatively cheap, despite the Federal Reserve’s recent moves away from its low interest policy. However, there are risks that could slow M&A activity. In this alert, we review some of the key trends and developments arising from last year’s M&A activity, and consider how they might affect the level of M&A and how deals are done going forward.<a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/kiLFCv29Rwtn4o6EuzBy03">Read our full commentary on deal trends</a>, which includes pertinent topics such as:<ul><li>Tax Reform</li><li>Trade Tensions and National Security</li><li>Private Equity Activity</li><li>Material Adverse Effects (MAEs)</li><li>Non-Tech Companies Acquiring Tech</li><li>New Privacy Laws</li><li>Shareholder Activism</li><li>Appraisal Cases</li><li>Rep and Warranty Insurance</li></ul>

VMware – $2.3 billion acquisition of Carbon Black

Xpansiv Data Systems – Acquisition of CBL

MTY Food Group – Acquisition of Papa Murphy’s

Spark Networks – Merger with Affinitas GmbH and Acquisition of Zoosk

VMware – Recap Transaction with Dell

Takara Bio – Acquisition of WaferGen Bio–systems

Tsinghua Unigroup – Acquisition of Spreadtrum Communications

Altera – Acquisition of Enpirion

99 Cents Only Stores – Going Private Transaction

Sonic Solutions – Acquisition by Rovi

Intel – Acquisition of McAfee

Astellas – Acquisition of OSI Pharmaceuticals

VMware – Acquisition of Integrien

Fortunet – Going Private Transaction

Hurray! – Acquisition by Shanda Interactive

Mentor -- $1.1 Billion Acquisition by Johnson & Johnson

Credence Systems – Merger with LTX

Astellas – Unsolicited Offer for CV Therapeutics

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Mike advises on U.S. and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions, including “going private” and other related-party transactions. He has advised companies, 

Michael O'Bryan

Michael G. O'Bryan

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Lauren Bellerjeau is a corporate partner in the Austin office of Morrison Foerster.

Lauren Bellerjeau is a member  of the firm’s corporate practice. She advises on corporate, securities, and  finance matters, with a particular focus on U.S. and cross-border mergers and  acquisitions,

Lauren C. Bellerjeau

Lauren Bellerjeau

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Anthony J. Carbone is a partner in our New York office and co-chair of the Tax practice.

Anthony J. Carbone

Anthony J. Carbone is a partner in our New York office and co-chair of the Tax practice. He also serves as co-chair of the Federal Tax practice. His practice focuses on tax planning strategies and the tax consequences of a wide range of business, investment and capital markets transactions in the U.S. and internationally.

Anthony Carbone

Accela's Sale to Berkshire Partners

Alpine Investors' Multiple Acquisitions

Altamont Capital Partners' Multiple Acquisitions

Crescent Cove Advisors' Investment in Kingsley Gate Partners

DigiCert's Sale to Clearlake Capital and TA Associates

GI Partners and Doxim's Multiple Acquisitions

Gryphon Investors' Acquisition of RegEd

HG Capital and CINC's Acquisition of ONR

Internet-Journals, Inc.'s Sale to Elsevier

Main Post Partners' Multiple Transactions

Palladium Equity Partners' Multiple Acquisitions

Presidio Investors' Acquisition of Golden Pear Funding

Rubicon Technology Partners' Multiple Acquisitions

San Francisco Equity Partners' Multiple Acquisitions

SoftBank's Acquisition and Sale of Boston Dynamics

Unilever's Acquisition of Dollar Shave Club

Vector Capital's Acquisition of Patron Technology

Virgo Investment Group's Investment and Asset Sale

Vision Ridge Partners' Investment in Guzman Energy Group

Windjammer Capital and Flinn Scientific's Acquisition of WhiteBox Learning

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Global Co-Chair of Private Equity Practice

Patrick is a partner in the Corporate Department of Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco office, specializing in Private Equity M&A.

Patrick is a partner in the Corporate Department of Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco office, specializing in Private Equity M&A.
Patrick has significant experience representing private equity firms

Patrick D. Huard

Patrick Huard

Key M&A Trends for 2019