The enforceability of restrictive covenants, particularly non-compete agreements, can be very difficult for employers to navigate, especially for companies in their “start-up” phase. Technology companies in particular face challenges in structuring non-competes that balance their need to attract talent with their need to protect confidential and sensitive information, while preventing unfair competition by former employees. … Continue Reading
This GT Advisory considers the application of state unclaimed property laws to cryptocurrencies, and the potential implications and challenges of such application for both industry participants and state unclaimed property administrators. The use of blockchain technology and the issuance of cryptocurrencies have grown considerably in recent years, inviting heightened scrutiny and regulation. While federal securities, … Continue Reading
On May 23, 2019, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 1024 (Florida Blockchain Bill) into law to establish the Florida Blockchain Task Force (Blockchain Task Force) within the Florida Department of Financial Services. The Blockchain Task Force will study if and how Florida’s state, county, and municipal governments can benefit from a transition to blockchain-based … Continue Reading
Greenberg Traurig Shareholder Todd Basile authored an article titled “Demystifying Legal Diligence in Tech Deals,” published June 3, 2019, on IPWatchdog.com. Click here to read the article.… Continue Reading
On January 4, 2019, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released new Patent Examiner Guidance (Guidance) for subject matter eligibility. The updated guidance could benefit any technology patent applicant who has a computer-related invention — from smartphones to artificial intelligence — and who has previously had difficulty acquiring patents under the USPTOʼs procedures … Continue Reading
Chinh Pham, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Emerging Technology Practice, was featured in a TechCrunch article as part of a series covering start-up lawyers who founders love to work with. In this piece, Chinh shares his insights about start-ups and discusses his beginnings in the legal profession. To read the article, click here.… Continue Reading
2018 was a year of transformation for the blockchain industry. While the market continued to see technological advancements in smart contracts, platform functionality, scalability and security, regulators took a firmer rein in pursuing those seeking to exploit the uninitiated or those engaged in outright fraud. In this issue of Greenberg Traurig’s Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Newsletter, … Continue Reading
The Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act, M.G.L. c. 149, § 24L, has been the law of the Commonwealth for almost four months. The statute only applies to agreements entered into between employers and certain employees and independent contractors on or after Oct. 1, 2018, so the law’s ramifications are still largely yet to be determined. Nevertheless, … Continue Reading
Greenberg Traurig LLP’s Boston Intellectual Property (IP) Group congratulates four of its clients – Cruzar Medsystems, Inc., Kaleidoscope, Platelet BioGenesis, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute – for being honored with the 2018 Boston Patent Law Association (BPLA) Invented Here! award for their patented innovations. Their innovations are among only 12 patents that were selected from numerous … Continue Reading
With the legendary success of technology giants born on campus, and the possibility that today’s college student could be tomorrow’s tech mogul, the academic world recognizes that it can be a catalyst in helping student entrepreneurs achieve commercial success. The past decade has seen a rapid rise in academic incubators designed to help student entrepreneurs … Continue Reading
Global Securities Shareholder Barbara A. Jones, who currently serves as co-chair Greenberg Traurig’s Blockchain Task Force, has been profiled in Authority Magazine as one of the women experts who work in the Blockchain industry. In the piece, Barbara discuss a bit about her career background and current projects as related to Blockchain as well as … Continue Reading
Navigating IP Ownership Issues that May Otherwise Delay, Devalue, or Derail Funding and Exits Many emerging tech companies focus only on the defensive nature of intellectual property – namely, deterring competitors from stealing technological innovations or copying creative branding. While these protections are important, it can be understandably difficult to justify the associated costs when … Continue Reading
Everybody is talking about blockchain as a disrupter in the banking and finance industries, but this emerging technology also has potential application for intellectual property (IP) protection. Blockchain creates the potential for an “open, distributed ledger” that permits the secure transfer and recordation of information and data, including digital assets, without the need for middlemen. … Continue Reading
David J. Dykeman authored an article titled “5 Tips to Protect Your Medtech Startup’s Innovations.” The article was published in Medical Design & Outsourcing as well as MassDevice. Continue Reading.… Continue Reading
In our Feb. 9th blog post, we highlighted some of the amazing technology being used at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. While awe-inspiring, the use of these technologies can give rise to legal challenges that may need consideration. AI, Robots and Drones – Oh My! Artificial intelligence (AI) abounds at this year’s … Continue Reading
Athletes are not the only ones competing at this year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. Spectators will encounter a number of competing technologies. From robot greeters and drones that improve the spectator experience, to smart helmets and tech suits to help Olympians, technology is the hidden star of the Winter Olympics. Below is a round-up … Continue Reading
Companies across many different industries are starting to look toward blockchain technology as a way to conduct business more effectively, efficiently, and securely. As a result, there are new blockchain technology startups and strategic partnerships being established at break-neck speed. And, like any burgeoning industry, there seem to be new innovations introduced almost every day.… Continue Reading
November was National Entrepreneurship Month in celebration of the country’s innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. As we close this important awareness month, we reflected on what it takes to be a successful tech venture, and we note some of the top traits and criteria in this blog post.… Continue Reading
On Nov. 9, Nataliya Rymer (Of Counsel, Philadelphia) presented an immigration workshop at The Garage at Northwestern University. The workshop focused on immigration law issues including non-immigrant and immigrant visa options and DACA, and discussed challenges and opportunities for international students, faculty, and staff looking to start or run a business in the United States. … Continue Reading
Each year, the Boston Patent Law Association (BPLA) Invented Here! award celebrates local and regional New England innovation communities by honoring select innovators, their inventions, and the stories behind them. Greenberg Traurig’s Boston Intellectual Property (IP) Group is proud to have four of its clients – GRIT, LuxCath LLC, The George Washington University, and IlluminOss Medical, … Continue Reading
David J. Dykeman, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Life Sciences & Medical Technology Group, and Todd Basile, associate at Greenberg Traurig, authored an article that was featured in Robotics Tomorrow entitled, “Patent Strategy is Critical for Robotics Innovations.” The article examines why patents are important for all robotics companies, both early stage or long-established, and how … Continue Reading
The rise of blockchain technology ventures raising money preternaturally through initial coin offerings and token generation events (collectively, ICOs) is a capital formation disruptor, one which has and will continue to spawn considerable futures, fortunes, failures — and frauds. Blockchain-based ICOs have, through 121 offerings closed during January-August 2017, raised over $1.78 billion, with an … Continue Reading
On 5 July 2017, the new German Data Protection Act (BDSG-new) was officially published in the Federal Gazette. BDSG-new will fully replace the current German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and is intended to adjust the German legal framework to the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Both BDSG-new and the GDPR will become … Continue Reading
On July 11, 2017 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is temporarily delaying the effective date of the International Entrepreneur Final Rule (the IE Final Rule). The effective date is delayed from July 17, 2017, to March 14, 2018, except for a minor provision which adds the Form FS-240, Consular Report of … Continue Reading
