Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Joe Biden has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio recording of his interview. The action, reported by Axios and TIME, aims to keep the interview confidential amid political controversy.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Texas Business Court Highlights Risks to Trade Secret Ownership Arising From Joint Development Agreements
The Texas Business Court issued its second trade‑secret ruling in the Mesquite Energy Inc. v. Sanchez Oil & Gas Corp. case, focusing on ownership rather than misappropriation. The court concluded that the parties jointly developed the proprietary technology, creating co‑ownership of the trade secrets. Because the joint‑development agreement lacked explicit ownership language, neither side could claim exclusive rights. The decision underscores the danger of ambiguous contracts for businesses seeking to monetize or enforce trade secrets.
Prosecution Laches Before the Supreme Court
On March 2, 2026, inventor Gilbert Hyatt petitioned the Supreme Court to review the Federal Circuit’s use of the equitable doctrine of prosecution laches, which the USPTO applied to deny his patents despite compliance with statutory deadlines. The petition argues...
FCC Announces TV Translator Call Sign Changes
The FCC Media Bureau announced that it has completed the automatic modification of TV translator call signs to comply with the rule adopted on December 19, 2025. The new convention requires a K or W prefix, the channel number, two...
Pakistan Upholds Legal Acceptance of Digital ID with Official Guidance
Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has issued official guidance confirming that its digital identity credentials, including the Pak ID, are legally equivalent to physical CNICs. Under the NADRA Digital Identity Regulations 2025, public authorities and service providers are...
North Carolina BOE Attempting Mass Voter Purge; Public Comments Due TODAY
North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has proposed new rules that would use the federal SAVE database to flag and purge voters suspected of non‑citizenship. The SAVE system has a history of misidentifying citizens, with a Missouri audit showing 35 %...
Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order in Higher Ed Data Case
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on March 16, extending the deadline for colleges to complete the new ACTS survey to March 25, 2026, and halting enforcement of the original March 18 deadline. The order follows a lawsuit filed by a...
Emerging AI Laws in Asia Are Raising New Questions for ERP Systems
AI regulations are rapidly moving from voluntary guidance to binding rules across Asia, directly affecting how ERP systems incorporate artificial intelligence. Countries such as China, South Korea, and Vietnam have enacted laws covering AI‑generated content, high‑impact decision support, and governance...
Bank of America Settles over Epstein Claims
Bank of America agreed to settle a class‑action lawsuit alleging it facilitated Jeffrey Epstein’s sex‑trafficking operation. The settlement terms have not been disclosed and await court approval. It is the third major bank settlement after JPMorgan’s $290 million and Deutsche Bank’s $75 million...
The State of Regulatory Change Management
Regulatory change management remains a top hurdle for banks as they sift through hundreds of new rules each year. 2025 saw a mix of heightened enforcement actions, especially from OFAC, alongside evolving guidance on SAR filings and nascent AI frameworks....
FCC, DOJ Defend USF to Fifth Circuit
The FCC and DOJ are defending the $8 billion‑per‑year Universal Service Fund (USF) before the Fifth Circuit, arguing the program complies with the Constitution. The challenge, filed by Consumers’ Research, targets the “additional” and “advanced” service provisions that allow subsidies for...
From Braunschweig to Luxembourg: When Local Hospitality Constitutes Genuine Use
The General Court dismissed the appeal in Altendorfer v EUIPO, confirming that a single steakhouse in Braunschweig can satisfy the EU trademark genuine‑use requirement for hotel and catering services when combined with a robust online presence. Haus zur Hanse demonstrated use of...
BBC Urges Court to Dismiss Trump Panorama Lawsuit
The BBC has asked a Florida court to dismiss Donald Trump’s multi‑billion‑dollar defamation lawsuit, arguing the Panorama episode that allegedly edited his January 6 speech never aired in the United States. Trump claims the splice made it appear he encouraged the...
‘What Do They Have to Hide?’ Ministers Must Not Scrap Regulatory Watchdog
The article warns that the UK government is considering scrapping the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC), the independent body that quantifies the economic cost of new regulations. A recent Federation of Small Businesses survey shows small firms waste 379 million hours a...
Teens Allege Musk’s Grok Chatbot Made Sexual Images of Them as Minors
Teens allege that xAI’s Grok chatbot generated sexual images of them while they were minors, prompting a lawsuit filed by three plaintiffs, two of whom are underage. The complaint accuses the AI startup of producing, possessing, and distributing child pornography....
U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead
Congressional activity this week is dominated by a major banking reform vote, as the Federal Reserve, OCC and FDIC plan to adopt the final phase of Basel II on Thursday, modestly reducing capital requirements for large banks and eliminating duplicate...
Turns Out The DOGE Bros Who Killed Humanities Grants Are Kinda Sensitive About It
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) saw 1,477 Biden‑era grants abruptly cancelled after two junior staffers, Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh, used a simple ChatGPT prompt to flag projects as DEI‑related. Deposition videos released by plaintiff societies show the...
Meet the Former Feds Operating a ‘Shadow’ EEOC
Former EEOC officials formed the volunteer group EEO Leaders after the agency dismissed gender‑identity discrimination lawsuits under the Trump administration. The coalition of ex‑commissioners and senior staff provides private counsel, issues public statements, and counters EEOC guidance that threatens DEI...
Senate Divided on How to Fix TSCA
The Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee released a draft reform bill, the Toxic Substances Control Act Fee Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2026, aiming to streamline the EPA’s new‑chemical review process. Chemical manufacturers argue that the current EPA timeline...
Ontario’s Civil Rules at a Crossroads: Will Reform Make the Province a Leader?
Ontario is finalizing a sweeping overhaul of its Rules of Civil Procedure, a reform that could reshape the province’s civil justice landscape. The second phase of the civil rules review, chaired by Superior Court Justice Cary Boswell, opened a broad...
FTC Warns 97 Auto Dealership Groups About Deceptive Pricing
The Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 97 auto‑dealer groups, demanding that advertised prices include all mandatory fees. The letters cite illegal practices such as hidden fees, conditional financing offers, and advertising unavailable vehicles. FTC Director Christopher Mufarrige warned...
India’s Market Regulator SEBI Eases Settlement Guarantee Fund Norms for Commodity Exchanges
SEBI has introduced a new clause that eases settlement guarantee fund (SGF) norms for commodity exchanges by allowing adjustments based on prevailing market conditions. The regulator can now grant case‑by‑case exemptions after deliberation, aiming to reduce capital burdens while preserving...
Brussels Starts Caring About Startups — Finally!
The European Commission is set to unveil the EU Inc. proposal, a sweeping plan that would let founders register a company in under two days for a maximum of €100, entirely online, and launch EU‑wide employee stock‑option schemes. The initiative...
RESCHEDULED Retromark: The Conference – Now on 23 June 2026
The seventh annual Retromark conference has been shifted to Tuesday 23 June 2026 due to a London Tube strike. Attendees must re‑register as previous sign‑ups do not carry over, and tickets remain free but limited. The agenda features a keynote by EUIPO...
Britannica and Merriam-Webster Sue OpenAI for Content Theft
More OpenAI lawsuits -> Encyclopedia Britannica and its Merriam-Webster subsidiary sue OpenAI for allegedly misusing their reference materials to train its AI models "Britannica's lawsuit said that OpenAI unlawfully copied nearly 100,000 of its articles to train GPT large language models....
FDA Urges IRB Overhaul to Match China's 60‑day Trials
FDA commissioner Makary at a CMS conference today in Baltimore calls for “big and different” IRB reforms to catch China's speedy trial starts - pre-IND phase can run 380 days in the US, he said, while China is pushing for...
Snoop Dogg Told He Can’t Trademark ‘Smoke Weed Everyday’
Snoop Dogg’s attempt to trademark the phrase “Smoke Weed Everyday” was rejected by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The office cited that the phrase is a common, informational lyric and that cannabis remains illegal under federal law, making the...
Call for Regulation: AI Must Disclose Consent
It's so insanely disrespectful for an AI agent to talk to real people without consent or at least disclosure. This is the type of stuff I'm hugely supportive of government regulation. The FCC must expand the definition of robocalling and...
Legal Roundup: Judge's Odd Remark, Walmart Hire, Legora's $550M Raise
In the latest Judicial Notice, my legal news roundup: - Judge VanDyke writes about "swinging dicks" - Walmart hires a new legal leader, Erin Nealy Cox (pictured) - @WeAreLegora raises $550m (at $5.5b valuation) LINK: https://t.co/quEWhVTReH https://t.co/JpRzxQ0LSp
Celebrity Estates: Cross-Border Estate Planning Lessons with Martin Behn
The Wealth Management podcast “Celebrity Estates” featured Lathrop GPM partner Martin Behn discussing the intricacies of cross‑border estate planning. Using actress Catherine O’Hara’s estate as a case study, Behn emphasized the need to locate every asset worldwide and determine which jurisdiction’s laws...
Judge Reinstates Ted Gill, Extends $250M Payout Eligibility
NEW: he judge in the Subnautica 2 court case has ordered Ted Gill reinstated as CEO of Unknown Worlds and extended the period of eligibility for a performance based $250 million payout through September 2026. Also been given control over...
200,000 Immigrant Truck Drivers Lose Licenses Under New Trump Rule
Some 200,000 immigrant truck drivers will begin losing their commercial driver’s licenses under a Trump rule taking effect today . https://t.co/ZNgjoMy6L8
The New AI Regulatory Landscape: Proposed Legislation, Compliance Risks and Employer Readiness
Littler Mendelson is hosting a one‑hour webinar on April 14, 2026, to dissect emerging AI legislation targeting employers. The session will cover federal and state proposals, including rules for automated decision‑making, surveillance‑based wage setting, and chatbot transparency, with a focus...
Atlassian Says It Had Right to Fire Engineer for Suggesting CEO Is ‘Rich Jerk’
Atlassian Corp. terminated software engineer Denise Unterwurzacher after she publicly called CEO Scott Farquhar a “rich jerk” and challenged recent title changes. At a March 3 hearing in Austin, a National Labor Relations Board attorney argued the firing violates the National...
Audiovisuel : La Lobbyiste Des Producteurs Indépendants Plaide Pour « Une Régulation Forte en Faveur De La Diversité Culturelle »
La Commission européenne prépare la révision de la directive Services de médias audiovisuels (SMA), un texte clé depuis 1989 qui impose des quotas de productions européennes aux chaînes TV et aux plateformes VOD. Cette mise à jour, attendue début mai,...
Falcon Seeks $100M From Guinea in World Bank Court
Falcon Energy Materials has lodged a $100 million arbitration claim with the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, alleging Guinea illegally expropriated its Lola graphite project. The claim invokes the bilateral investment treaty between Guinea and the United...
U.S. Should Streamline Spectrum Allocation, Congressional Report Says
The U.S.-China Economic Security and Review Commission released a report urging Congress to direct the FCC and the NTIA to study ways to streamline spectrum allocation. It highlights China’s rapid 5G licensing—completed within months—versus the United States’ slower, auction‑driven process...
The Scoop: FCC Chair Threatens Media Could Lose Licenses over Iran War Coverage
FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned broadcasters that airing what the agency deems misleading coverage of the Iran‑Russia war could trigger license revocation. He posted on X that broadcasters must "correct course" or risk losing their FCC licenses, citing a public‑interest...
Accounting for the Incarcerated
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) cannot provide data on how many people are imprisoned for non‑payment of fines issued under England and Wales’ high‑throughput Single Justice Procedure (SJP). A Freedom of Information request revealed that the MoJ holds no statistics...
PPL Electric Reaches $275M Rate Case Settlement, Including Data Center Tariff
PPL Electric Utilities announced a $275 million settlement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that would raise average residential bills by 4.9% to roughly $184 per month. The deal introduces a new large‑load tariff for data centers and other customers consuming...
Mike Masnick Debunks Myths Behind Section 230 Vilification
Mike Masnick joined my section 230 mini series this week to break down how this one law became so villainized and debunk the most common myths about it https://t.co/vongG0sjkZ
The Aleb Judgment on ‘Safe Third Countries’ in Asylum Law: The CJEU’s Answer to EU Legislative Amendments?
On 5 February 2026 the Court of Justice issued its Aleb judgment, clarifying that the EU’s ‘safe‑third‑country’ presumption under the Asylum Procedures Directive is subject to cumulative substantive and procedural safeguards. The Court stressed that a genuine connection between the applicant and...
Delhi High Court Closes Celina Jaitly’s Petition over Brother’s Detention in United Arab Emirates
The Delhi High Court dismissed former actress Celina Jaitly’s petition seeking consular access and legal aid for her brother, Vikrant Jaitly, who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates since September 2024. The court noted that Vikrant has already...
FCC Chair Threatens TV Licenses over “Fake News” Claims
For Trump’s FCC Chairman, Trolling Liberals Is the Point in His Threat to Pull Licenses of TV Networks That Air ‘Fake News’ About Iran War https://t.co/IKR86ZvW81 via @variety
Europe To Launch Series Co-Production Convention at Series Mania Forum
On March 26 in Lille, the Council of Europe signed the first international convention dedicated to the co‑production of television and streaming series. Chaired by Secretary‑General Alain Berset, the ceremony took place during the Series Mania Forum’s Lille Dialogues summit....
Who May Sue: Patent Standing Issues and Implications for the Life Sciences Industry (Part I)
The article explains that standing is essential for filing patent lawsuits, especially for life‑sciences companies. It outlines the Federal Circuit’s framework and stresses that patentees must possess specific exclusionary, enforcement, and sublicensing rights to sue. The authors advise careful agreement...
Guardian to Appeal Ruling Which Said ‘Alt Right’ Description Is Defamatory
The Guardian News & Media (GNM) has been granted permission to appeal a pre‑trial libel judgment that found its description of influencer Andy Ngo as an “alt‑right agitator” defamatory. The High Court ruled the phrase implied active promotion of far‑right beliefs,...
John Risley’s CFFI Ventures Moves $1.4-billion Debt Restructuring to Federal Court After Creditor Pushback
John Risley’s CFFI Ventures Inc. has moved its $1.4 billion debt restructuring into federal court under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act after creditors rebuffed a provincial plan that would hand assets to its largest lender, HPS Investment Partners. The Nova Scotia...
Lawyers and Cybersecurity: Talk to An Experts. Before It’s Too Late
At Legalweek, Michel Sahyoun of NopalCyber warned that law firms are overlooking cybersecurity as generative AI becomes mainstream. He highlighted that the average time to exploit a breach is just 29 minutes, and AI tools can continuously scan for weaknesses....
Chatbot Risks Evolve: From Self‑Harm to Mass‑Casualty Threats
From me this weekend: Lawyer behind AI psychosis cases says the risk profile of chatbots may be shifting from self-harm cases to potential mass-casualty incidents. https://t.co/Gx2sqHpp7J via @techcrunch 1/
Creating a Redress System that Works Better for Consumers and Firms
The FCA announced a joint initiative with the Financial Ombudsman Service and the UK government to modernise the financial redress system, introducing a new complaint registration stage, updated dismissal grounds and clearer guidance on the fair‑and‑reasonable test. The reforms aim...