Putin is Running a Destructive Cybercrime Syndicate Out of Russia
Welcome to the MoFo Tech Blog
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.
- As John Carlin notes in his op-ed for the New York Times , Russia has become “the world’s largest safe haven for cybercriminals.” John, chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Global Risk + Crisis Management Group and former chief of staff to Robert Mueller, explains... ›
Five Key Legal Risks for Data-Centric Technology M&A
By: Stephanie Lynn Sharron and Erin M. Bosman
Companies acquiring or selling businesses that leverage data through technology face special challenges and risks. Focus and prioritization can assist both business principals and lawyers effectively manage these concerns. This article offers answers to five key questions toward achieving that end. Read the full... ›European Parliament Voted 318 to 278 Against the Amendment Proposal for a Copyright Directive for the Digital Single Market
By: Kristina Ehle
On July 5, 2018, the European Parliament rejected the proposed amendments to the new Copyright Directive: Article 11, which attempts to protect press publications from impermissible digital use, and Article 13, which attempts to protect online content from impermissible use by online content-sharing service... ›Digital Single Market Update: Revision of the European Union’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive
By: Kristina Ehle
The European Union’s legislators have reached an agreement on the revision of the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). The reform aims at providing a uniform legal and market framework for different types of video streaming services provided via the Internet, and a more... ›Copyrights, Internet: YouTube Decision May Obligate Content Check on Upload
By: Christiane Stuetzle and Christoph Wagner
On June 6, 2018, the Commercial Court of Vienna decided in favor of private broadcaster Puls4 and determined that YouTube qualified as directly liable for copyright infringing video uploads of its users. If maintained, the decision would obligate YouTube (and indirectly other major online... ›U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Location Information Is Protected by the Fourth Amendment
By: Robert S. Litt
In a widely anticipated decision, the Supreme Court held 5-4 that the government must obtain a warrant to acquire customer location information maintained by cellular service providers, at least where that information covers a period of a week or more. The case, Carpenter v. United... ›If Algorithms Take Over Routine Work, This Also Kills our Expertise
By: Lokke Moerel
In this opinion piece, Morrison & Foerster Senior of Counsel Lokke Moerel challenges current predictions of the ways in which Artificial (AI) Intelligence is going to transform our jobs. Drawing a parallel with how using sat nav systems has impacted our navigation skills, she... ›The Journey from Security to Non-Security: SEC Director Comments on Mutability of Token Treatment
By: Spencer D. Klein, Alfredo B. D. Silva and Mark S. Wojciechowski
Many in the blockchain and cryptocurrency community were in a celebratory mood on June 14, 2018, following a landmark speech given by William Hinman, Director for the Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Director Hinman’s remarks addressed,... ›Why controllers are accountable for automatic decision making under the GDPR
By: Lokke Moerel and Marijn Storm
The GDPR explicitly requires controllers to inform individuals of decisions made about them by automated or artificially intelligent algorithmic systems. The controller must inform the individual up front about the existence of the decision making activity, as well as provide information about its underlying... ›Cashing in on a New Customer Base
In this article, Jake M. Robson and Nick Davies highlight how joint ventures or strategic M&A can often be the most effective way to roll out and scale up a fintech product offering in multiple jurisdictions in southeast Asia. The article was first published... ›