Announcements

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.

March 03, 2020 - Privacy + Data Security
Fake News & Paid Reviews: FTC Seeks Comments on its Endorsement Guides
By: Julie O'Neill
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) appears to be using its ongoing review of current rules and guides to revisit its approach to driving home the message that the relationship between a social media “influencer” and the brand he or she is endorsing must be disclosed. As
... ›
February 19, 2020 - Mergers + Acquisitions
FTC Uses "Study Authority" to Review Prior Non-HSR Reportable Tech Transactions
By: Megan E. Gerking
On February 11, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it issued Special Orders to five large technology companies requiring them to submit information related to their acquisitions during the past decade that were not reportable under the HSR Act. According to FTC Chairman Joe Simons,
... ›
February 18, 2020 - Regulatory, Litigation, Intellectual Property
New USPTO Rule Likely to Increase Spam
By: Muzamil Huq
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) just issued new rules that directly affect trademark owners. Going forward, trademark applicants, registrants, and parties to a proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board will need to provide their email address in USPTO filings.
... ›
February 13, 2020 - Artificial Intelligence + Robotics, European Union
Can AI Be an Inventor? Not at the European Patent Office.
By: Alistair Maughan and Anna Yuan
The European Patent Office has denied two patent applications on the grounds that an AI system cannot be listed as the inventor. For the first time, the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued a ruling on its approach to patent applications that designate artificial
... ›
February 12, 2020 - Privacy + Data Security
California Attorney General Issues Modified CCPA Draft Regulations
By: Mary Race
On Friday, February 7, the California Attorney General’s office published a modified set of draft regulations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). These are not the Attorney General’s final CCPA regulations but rather are a modified set of draft regulations that are subject
... ›
February 06, 2020 - Privacy + Data Security
Not with a Bang but a Whimper: As the UK Bows Out of the EU, What's Next for UK Data Protection?
By: Annabel Gillham
It all happened quite quietly in the end. The legislation that governs the UK’s exit from the EU became law and the UK left the EU at 11 p.m. UK time/midnight CET on January 31, 2020. Read our client alert.
... ›
January 30, 2020 - Privacy + Data Security
Why the Three Lines of Defense Model for Risk Management is Not Fit for Digital Innovation
By: Lokke Moerel
Morrison & Foerster senior counsel Lokke Moerel authored an op-ed for IAPP’s Privacy Perspectives that discusses why risk management best practice is not fit for digital innovation. Lokke argues that innovation requires a culture of openness and transparency where joint decisions about the design
... ›
January 28, 2020 - European Union
Un-Levelling the Playing Field: The UK Declines to Implement the New EU Copyright Law
By: Sana Ashcroft and Alistair Maughan
The UK has announced that it will not implement a key change in the EU copyright regime after Brexit. As a result, for affected businesses, consistent Europe-wide digital compliance in the post-Brexit era just became a little bit harder. The EU Digital Copyright Directive
... ›
January 27, 2020 - Privacy + Data Security
Webinar - Ransom Proof: Hard Lessons and Best Practices for Responding to Ransomware Attacks and Cyber Extortion
By: Alex Iftimie
From hospitals to media companies to manufacturing plants, ransomware attacks have become increasingly prevalent and caused far-reaching impacts. As more and more of our valuable data is only stored digitally, the impact to a business from their data being rendered inaccessible is greater than
... ›
January 21, 2020 - Intellectual Property, Financings
SEC Staff Issues Guidance on Technology, Data and Intellectual Property Risks in International Operations
By: David M. Lynn
On December 19, 2019, the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance issued guidance outlining the Staff’s views about disclosure obligations that companies should consider with respect to technology, data and intellectual property risks that could arise when operations
... ›