See You at the #Oscars: Social Media Guidance for Brands and Advertisers.
The 2022 awards season is upon us, and the savvy advertiser knows that a variety of intellectual property issues come into play when brands post about awards shows on social media. We all want to root for our favorite actor, film or director — but when do social posts cross the line and turn into legal trouble? Can my brand account show support for a particular nominee or film? Which hashtags can my brand use in posts? Can my brand repost a celebrity meme?
Answers to these questions will depend not only on the rules of the organization that administers the awards show, but also on laws governing trademarks, copyrights and rights of publicity.
Well-versed with Metaverse? An IP Perspective
Technology is evolving every second and change is the only constant. In a competition-driven and tech-powered ecosystem, it is imperative to be aware of where the future is headed and get the first-mover advantage. One such development where big businesses seem to be foraying is the Metaverse. Simply put, it is “a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users”. However, not that simple a concept from the legal standpoint, with the lack of any laws and regulations in this space with respect to data security, privacy and censorship, regulatory enforcement, tax reporting, cyber fraud and crime. Hence, it becomes even more imperative to understand this work in progress.
Consulting relationships have become increasingly prevalent in today’s growing tech and entrepreneurial economy. Whether for one’s main gig or side gig, the utilization of consulting arrangements has been further accelerated by exponential growth in accessible technology platforms, widespread shifts to remote work arrangements, and expanding availability and desirability of self-employment opportunities. While those entering into consulting agreements will find themselves generally excited to jump in and get to work, the parties must carefully consider the terms of the consulting agreement and intellectual property (“IP”) implications that may arise during the course of their work together. Whether engaging with an internal consultant, external consultant, or freelance consultant, businesses can avoid potential issues and litigation down the road by evaluating, negotiating, and agreeing upon terms and conditions in the following areas before entering into a consulting agreement.
President Biden Signs Bill Expanding Cybersecurity Reporting Obligations
President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 into law on March 15, 2022. Section Y of the new omnibus appropriations bill is titled The Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (“the Act”). Importantly, the Act significantly expands federal cybersecurity incident and ransom demand reporting requirements for critical infrastructure entities. In light of these new requirements, critical infrastructure entities who suspect that they may be subject to the Act should begin investigating how the Act will impact their business and consider establishing protocols which may be necessary to ensure compliance.
