On November 15, 2024, the U.S. Trademark Office issued a final rule that will not only cost trademark owners more in 2025, but also change the way applications are filed going forward. The new rules and fees are set to go into effect on January 18, 2025, (except for the new Section 66 filing fee, which does not go into effect until February 18, 2025). In this alert, we share the three things you need to know, along with responsive strategies to implement right away ...
When must controllers respond to DSARs with more than just a copy of personal data? Is it enough to point to a privacy notice to satisfy the extra GDPR requirements? UK and EU courts are increasingly saying that it's not enough. Handling data subject access requests (DSARs) is an ongoing compliance burden for many organisations. In this series, we consider how different strategies can cut the task down to size ...
The domestic implementation of NIS2 continues to advance at pace. In this note, we outline Italy’s formal adoption of NIS2, highlight the key dates you need to know for registration, compliance and enforcement. For further information about NIS2, including sector-specific guidance, please visit our Resiliency page ...
The Krogerus Data Symposium 2024 brought together hundreds of data and AI experts on 23 October at Lasipalatsi to discuss the upcoming changes brought by the Data Act and the AI Act. This year, the programme highlighted both the practical challenges and opportunities that technological advancements and the EU legislator's responses to them will present to companies' operations ...
In October of 2024, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) announced it had received two Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests to disclose EEO-1 Type 2 Consolidated Report data, which is filed annually by prime federal government contractors and first tier sub-contractors. The Type 2 report is one of the annual filings required for multiple-establishment covered contractors. The report includes demographic data for all U.S ...
On October 11, 2024, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) published a final rule implementing its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, which is designed to verify that defense contractors are adequately protecting sensitive information from cybersecurity threats. The CMMC applies to contractors who process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI), which is most DOD contractors ...
Resolutions and meetings of Guernsey Companies The articles of incorporation (the “Articles”) of a company must always be checked for specific requirements relating to general meetings. Note, however, that in certain circumstances the Articles may be overridden by The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) (the “Law”), which provides for certain basic shareholder protections in specific circumstances ...
By: Ruben Gotlieb, Esq. As many of you know by now, Donald Trump has won a second term as president. Additionally, Republicans in the U.S. Senate will have a small majority in Congress. It is still uncertain who will hold a majority in the House of Representatives. What does this mean for tax legislation set to expire, or “sunset,” at the end of 2025? To pass a permanent tax law, a majority of at least 60 senators is needed. Without this, the law can only last for 10 years ...
Integrating AI tools at work is not without danger. Three experts from the independent Belgian law firm, ALTIUS, explain how companies should best guard against ethical risks, data protection, intellectual property rights, and trade secrets. “It is essential that organisations teach their people to work with AI safely and responsibly ...
****Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!**** Since 2022 restrictions are imposed with respect to transactions with persons from “unfriendly” countries in the Russian Federation. Thus, for a certain number of transactions/operations (i.e. issuance/repayment of loans, execution of financial instruments, distribution of dividends/profits etc ...
SyCipLaw Partner and Head of Intellectual Property Department Vida M. Panganiban-Alindogan authored the Philippine chapter of the newly released International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) - Copyright Laws and Regulations 2025. Spanning 17 jurisdictions, the guide explores common issues in copyright laws and regulations, including copyright subsistence, ownership, exploitation, owners' rights, copyright enforcement, and criminal offenses ...
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has approved a new credentialing organization for certain healthcare workers for immigration purposes. USCIS approved the application from International Education Evaluations, LLC (IEE), which went into effect October 25, 2024 ...
Abstract “[I]t is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” 4 William Blackstone, Commentaries *358. “[I]t is better that ten innocent men suffer than that one guilty man escape.” Otto von Bismarck, Germany’s first chancellor, quoted in John W. Wade, Uniform Comparative Fault Act, 14 Forum 379, 385 (1979). Punishing the innocent is considered an “error” that the legal system must minimize ...
This is a meaningful Budget for the affordable housing sector, with positive signs that housing, particularly affordable housing, is being prioritised by the government. This reflects a recognition of how crucial community building is for social cohesion and the economy. As highlighted in the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission’s recommendations last week, a prompt rent settlement is essential for the affordable housing sector and for Registered Providers ...
By: Matthew Ginder, Esq. As the general election approaches in November, Florida voters will have the opportunity to decide on the state’s adult-use marijuana initiative identified on the ballot as Amendment 3. In the most expensive state marijuana legalization effort to date, there have been various narratives about Amendment 3. This blog is intended to clarify important aspects of Amendment 3 ...
Under 35 U.S.C. § 101, patent claims may be challenged if they are found to be directed to patent ineligible subject matter, such as laws of nature, natural phenomena, products of nature or abstract ideas. On September 9, 2024, in Contour IP Holding LLC v. GoPro, Inc., the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit provided additional clarity with respect to the application of § 101 ...
October 2, 2024 By: Manuel Fishman* Beginning on January 1, 2025, landlords of commercial properties – be they office, industrial or retail, will need to develop new procedures when entering into leases with a newly defined class of tenants, identified as “qualified commercial tenants ...
October 1, 2024 By: Braeden Mansouri and Alicia Guerra On September 29, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 98 (“AB 98”), which limits warehouses from being built near “sensitive receptors.” AB 98 establishes new standards for the construction warehouses of certain sizes and for warehouses located in certain parts of the state ...
On the 23rd August, 2024 a new set of regulations (the “Regulations”) were promulgated under Legal Notice 196 of 2024 enabling requests for the amendment or revocation of conditions imposed in the original deed of sale or emphyteusis concerning property transferred by the Government of Malta (the “Government”), the Lands Authority (the “Authority”), or any ecclesiastical entity which subsequently transferred the title to the Government ...
The UK Government has now enacted secondary legislation to reflect the new “go live” date of the Procurement Act 2023 (the “Act”) on 24 February 2025. On 16 September 2024, the Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No 3 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/959) (“Amendment Regulations”) were made ...
On 4 September 2024, the Cabinet Office published further guidance on the Procurement Act 2023 (the ‘Act’) which is now due to “go live” on 24 February 2025. The new guidance covers contract modifications under the Manage phase of the commercial pathway. Contract modifications may need to be made to reflect commercial reality, as demands and circumstances change throughout the lifetime of the contract ...
ALRUD has received information from various sources indicating that this increase is under consideration. Reports suggest that the exit tax could rise to as much as ****40% of the valuation**** of the relevant asset. Despite conflicting information circulating in public sources, our contacts within the authorities have stated that ****no official decisions have been made**** regarding this matter ...
By: Michael V. Capellupo, Esq. and Mark S. Fawer, Esq. The Federal Reserve last Wednesday voted to lower its target range for the federal funds rate by 50 basis points (from a range of 5.25%-5.50%, down to 4.75%-5.00%), marking the first decrease in this benchmark interest rate since rate hikes began in March 2022 ...
So far this year, three False Claims Act defendants have challenged judgments against them based on the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment. Remarkably, two were successful, as the District of Minnesota more than halved a large award, and the Eighth Circuit vacated and remanded a much smaller award in which the penalties substantially outpaced the actual damages ...
On 9 September 2024, Mario Draghi, former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank President, presented his highly anticipated report on «The Future of European Competitiveness» to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen [1][2]. This comprehensive report analyzes the challenges faced by European industries and companies in the Single Market and proposes strategies to enhance the EU’s competitiveness [2] ...
