Inventorship Errors Can Undermine Patent Value: Practical Steps to Reduce Risk
A Federal Circuit ruling in Fortress Iron, LP v. Digger Specialties invalidated two patents after a co‑inventor was omitted, demonstrating that inventorship errors can destroy patent enforceability. The court held that Section 256 cannot correct the defect when the omitted inventor cannot be located for notice. The decision underscores the heightened risk in collaborative development environments where suppliers, contractors, or overseas partners contribute technical ideas. Companies are urged to adopt systematic, documented inventorship processes from project inception through issuance to safeguard patent value.
Connecticut 2026 Employment Law Update: Time for Some Spring Cleaning
Connecticut’s 2026 employment law rollout adds paid sick leave for employers with eleven or more workers, with a full expansion to all employers slated for January 1, 2027. The state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program raised its maximum weekly benefit...
Immigration Pathways for Biomedical Engineers: EB-2 NIW, EB-1A, and Employment-Based Options
Biomedical engineers seeking U.S. permanent residence can choose between the self‑sponsored EB‑2 National Interest Waiver and the high‑threshold EB‑1A Extraordinary Ability category, while temporary visas such as O‑1, H‑1B and TN remain options. The EB‑2 NIW hinges on demonstrating that...
US Department of Education Voluntarily Dismisses Appeal in DEI Guidance Litigation
The U.S. Department of Education has voluntarily dismissed its appeal in the Fourth Circuit case challenging its February 2025 diversity‑related Dear Colleague Letter. The district court’s ruling—finding the guidance unconstitutionally vague and in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act—remains in force,...
10th Circuit to Rehear Landmark DIDMCA Rate-Exportation Case
The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an en banc rehearing and vacated the November 2025 panel decision on Colorado’s opt‑out from the federal DIDMCA rate‑exportation framework. The case hinges on interpreting whether a loan is “made in” a state based...
USPTO Invites Patent Owner Input To Stem Tide Of Reexamination Proceedings
The USPTO announced a new procedure that lets patent owners submit a pre‑order paper before the agency decides on an ex parte reexamination request. The paper is limited to 30 pages and must be filed within 30 days of service,...
Overview of US Consumer Privacy Law Landscape State by State
The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued two new Corporation Finance Interpretations (CFIs) on March 23, 2026 that clarify timing rules for amended Form ABS‑15G filings under Rule 15Ga‑2. The interpretations introduce a 48‑hour waiting period for pool substitutions filed on Form ABS‑15G/A, while preserving...
The Compliance Tightrope: Balancing Uniformity and Precision Across U.S. State Consumer Privacy Laws
U.S. companies now navigate a fragmented landscape of more than twenty state consumer privacy statutes, each with distinct definitions, thresholds, and exemptions. California remains the most demanding jurisdiction, applying a $26.6 million revenue test and extending coverage to employee and B2B...
CFTC Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Prediction Markets: A Chance to Shape the Future
On March 12 2026 the CFTC published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (APNR) seeking input on event‑contract derivatives traded on prediction markets. The agency signals intent to assert exclusive jurisdiction, potentially overriding state gambling regimes, and classifies these contracts as swaps...
Department of Commerce Proposes ‘Space Commerce Certification’ Process
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce has issued a proposal for a voluntary “Space Commerce Certification” that would create a unified, light‑touch mission‑authorization pathway for novel commercial space activities such as in‑space manufacturing, satellite servicing and lunar...
ISO Publishes New Standard for Carbon Storage With Potential as Subpart RR Substitute
The International Organization for Standardization released ISO 27914:2026, a comprehensive standard for underground carbon‑dioxide storage that fills the reporting gaps of its 2017 version. The new standard could replace Subpart RR of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, enabling continued eligibility for the...
The “But For” Dilemma – How Proposed Texas Public Utility Commission Large Load Interconnection Rules Impact Government Incentives Strategies
The Texas Public Utility Commission has proposed Rule 16 TAC §25.194, imposing early‑stage site‑control documentation, a $50,000 per‑MW financial security, mandatory disclosure of similar interconnection requests, and a 30‑day deadline to sign an Interconnection Agreement for projects of 75 MW or larger....
EB-2 NIW Case Study: Neurologist From Colombia Approved to Expand Alzheimer’s Care in Underserved Rural Communities
Colombo & Hurd secured an EB‑2 National Interest Waiver for a Colombian neurologist specializing in Alzheimer’s disease, enabling him to expand affordable, non‑pharmacologic care in underserved rural U.S. communities. The petition was approved in just three days with premium processing...
German Federal Labor Court Emphasizes Case-by-Case Assessment of Release Clauses
The German Federal Labor Court ruled that blanket release clauses allowing employers to place employees on leave after any termination notice are an unreasonable disadvantage and therefore void under BGB §307. The decision emphasizes that an employee’s right to remain...
More on the Horizon: Setting Aside Judgments Obtained by Fraud in England and Wales
English and Welsh courts are revisiting the doctrine that allows judgments obtained by fraud to be set aside, a principle rooted in the 1956 Lazarus Estates case. 2025 saw a wave of claims, notably former sub‑postmaster Lee Castleton’s challenge to...
China’s Supreme People’s Court Releases Sixth Batch of Typical Cases of Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in the Seed...
On March 26, 2026, China’s Supreme People’s Court issued its sixth batch of typical seed‑industry IP cases, covering ten landmark disputes over plant variety rights. The rulings affirmed that core‑loci molecular tests are decisive, expanded joint and several liability to storage and...
Lessons From CalPrivacy PlayOn Order
California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) fined PlayOn Sports $1.1 million for illegal tracking of student data between January 2023 and December 2024. The company sold personal information to third parties without a functional opt‑out, used a cookie banner that forced consent, and ignored...
Indiana Prohibits Virtual Currency Kiosks
Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed House Bill 1116 on March 9, 2026, banning the operation of virtual‑currency kiosks across the state. The statute defines a kiosk broadly as any electronic terminal that facilitates cryptocurrency transactions for a third party in exchange...
The Doctor Is In—Breach: Five Pitfalls in Physician Employment Agreements
The article outlines five common pitfalls in physician employment agreements, ranging from overbroad restrictive covenants to vague compensation formulas, misclassification of physicians, unclear termination terms, and insufficient regulatory clauses. State-by-state limits on non‑competes—such as bans in Alabama and Rhode Island...
Should You Apply for an O-1 or EB-1A Visa?
Professionals with extraordinary ability must choose between the O‑1 temporary work visa and the EB‑1A immigrant visa that leads to a green card. The O‑1 offers a 93.8% approval rate and requires a U.S. employer or agent sponsor, while the...
EB-2 NIW RFE: What It Means and How to Respond
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a routine step in the EB‑2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) process, indicating that USCIS needs additional documentation or clarification before deciding. With EB‑2 NIW filings up nearly 190% in recent years, RFEs have become...
AI Product Liability: The Next Wave of Litigation
AI litigation is increasingly framed through product‑liability doctrine, as courts treat consumer‑facing AI systems as products rather than services. Early cases such as Garcia v. Character Technologies and Raine v. OpenAI illustrate plaintiffs focusing on design defects, inadequate safeguards, and...
Department of Justice Elevates Animal Welfare Enforcement, Possibly Targeting Companies Involved in Animal Testing
On February 18, 2026 Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a Department of Justice memorandum that elevates animal‑welfare enforcement across the Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition Act, Animal Welfare Act, Animal Crushing Statute, and Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act. The memo...
What Every Multinational Should Know About … How to Cope with New Court Decisions Expanding Supply Chain Integrity Risks: Six...
Recent U.S. jury verdicts in the Chiquita Brands and BNP Paribas cases show that violations of U.S. economic sanctions can serve as the factual backbone for civil liability, even though sanctions statutes lack a private right of action. Plaintiffs leveraged sanctions...
Carfax Motion to Dismiss Denied in DPPA Crash-Report Data Sales Case
A Maryland federal judge denied Carfax, Inc.'s motion to dismiss a proposed class action alleging the company sold DPPA‑protected driver information from a 2023 crash report. The court found the plaintiff’s allegations plausible that Carfax obtained and sold the data...
Don’t Undermine Daubert: Second Circuit Should Affirm Trial Court's Exclusion of Unreliable Expert Testimony
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether to uphold Judge Denise L. Cote’s exclusion of expert testimony in the Acetaminophen‑ASD/ADHD product liability case. Cote barred two plaintiff experts for cherry‑picking data, ignoring genetic confounding, and lacking subject‑matter...
Implications of the Rules of the Pharmaceutical Investment Promotion Committee in México.
Mexico published the Rules of the Pharmaceutical Investment Promotion Committee on February 23, 2026, implementing a 2025 decree aimed at boosting pharmaceutical investment and domestic health‑supply production. The rules tie participation in certain public procurement procedures, such as direct awards...
Supreme Court Recalibrates Sovereign Immunity for State-Created Entities
On March 4, 2026 the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in *Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corp.* that NJ Transit, a state‑created corporation, is not an “arm of the state” and therefore cannot claim New Jersey’s sovereign immunity. The opinion, authored by Justice Sotomayor,...
DOJ Eliminates Disparate-Impact Liability Under Title VI
On December 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a final rule that eliminates disparate‑impact liability under Title VI, limiting enforcement to intentional discrimination only. The rule rescinds several CFR provisions that previously barred neutral policies with disproportionate effects on...
Strikethrough Pricing Lawyer on Compliance With FTC and State Discount Pricing Laws
Strike‑through pricing, where a crossed‑out “regular” price precedes a lower sale price, remains under close scrutiny by the FTC and state regulators. The FTC’s Deceptive Pricing Guides demand that any former price be a genuine, regularly offered price for a...
Mixed-Use Governance: Forward Marketability
Mixed‑use projects require governance documents that differ markedly from traditional residential schemes, focusing on forward marketability for commercial buyers and long‑term lessees. The article argues that rigid residential‑style controls—such as unilateral declarant approvals—create friction and diminish liquidity, especially for early...
EPA Proposes to Extend Compliance Dates for PCE and CTC TSCA Risk Management Rules
The EPA announced a proposal to extend the compliance deadlines for the 2024 TSCA risk‑management rules covering perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC). For non‑federal entities, initial monitoring would move to June 21, 2027, with key milestones in September and December 2027. The...
Driving Home the Point – Accommodating Employee Commutes
Employers are increasingly confronted with requests for commuting accommodations under the ADA, a trend amplified after COVID‑19. Recent appellate decisions—Charter Communications (7th Cir., 2023) and Tudor v. Whitehall (2d Cir., 2025)—hold that schedule adjustments can satisfy disability‑related commute challenges. The EEOC’s February 2026...
CMS Considers New Ownership and Identity Verification Requirements for Medicare-Enrolled Providers and Suppliers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Request for Information seeking feedback on proposed rules that would tighten ownership and identity verification for Medicare‑enrolled providers and suppliers. The agency is weighing a citizenship or permanent‑resident requirement for...
Simplified Roadmap for OTC Markets Quotation
OTC Markets Group released a simplified roadmap outlining eligibility and reporting requirements for its four market tiers, with a focus on upcoming OTCQX rule changes effective April 6, 2026. The amendments raise the minimum market capitalization from $10 million to $25 million, increase required...
Insurance Coverage for Emerging AI and Social Media Liabilities
A Delaware court denied Meta coverage under its Commercial General Liability policy for thousands of lawsuits alleging that Facebook and Instagram were intentionally designed to foster addiction and mental‑health harms. The judge applied a narrow definition of “occurrence,” concluding that...
Luxembourg Financial Services Regulator CSSF Updates Its Position on Crypto-Assets in Investment Funds: What Has Changed Since 2022?
The Luxembourg regulator CSSF issued a revised FAQ on 4 February 2026, fully aligning its crypto‑asset rules with the EU Markets in Crypto‑Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and replacing the term “virtual assets” with “crypto‑assets.” For UCITS, indirect exposure to crypto‑assets remains allowed up...
KKDIK Update: Temporary Registration Pathways Clarified
The Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change clarified temporary registration pathways under KKDIK, allowing companies with pre‑registered substances but no lead registrant to file a temporary individual registration. All substances must have a full or temporary registration by...
PFAS Warning Labels On Consumer Goods – New Mexico Leads the Way
New Mexico enacted the PFAS Protection Act and approved a rule requiring warning labels on any consumer product containing intentionally added PFAS, becoming the first state to impose such universal labeling. The law sets a phased ban—cookware, food packaging, dental...
Washington Becomes Latest State to Ban Noncompete Agreements
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Substitute House Bill 1155 on March 23, 2026, banning all employee and independent‑contractor non‑competition agreements statewide. The law, effective June 30, 2027, voids existing non‑competes and prohibits new ones, while preserving narrow exceptions such as nonsolicitation, confidentiality, trade‑secret, certain...
False Claims Act Enforcement in 2026
The DOJ announced a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act settlements for FY 2025, the highest ever, alongside 1,297 qui tam filings and 401 investigations. Health‑care fraud accounted for more than $5.7 billion of recoveries, while cybersecurity, procurement, and emerging customs‑trade claims...
Sports and Head Trauma: Legal Rights and Protection for Injured Athletes
Head trauma in sports has moved from a neglected issue to a major legal and medical concern. Athletes at all levels now face defined duties from leagues and youth programs, including duty of care, informed consent, and strict return‑to‑play protocols....
Navigating Global Background Checks- Key Insights for Employers
Employers expanding globally face diverse restrictions on background checks. Criminal record inquiries are heavily limited, with many countries prohibiting access to spent convictions, while drug testing rules differ widely, often illegal in Europe and requiring consent elsewhere. Education verification remains...
The Future of the CA Age-Appropriate Design Code Act- What Remains, What’s Still Open to Be Contested, and What Companies...
The California Age‑Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA) faces ongoing constitutional challenges after NetChoice’s lawsuits. In March 2026 the Ninth Circuit ruled that the law’s broad coverage definition and age‑estimation requirement likely survive facial challenges, but found data‑use and dark‑pattern provisions unconstitutionally...
NYC Mayor Mamdani Administration Holds First Junk Fees Task Force Meeting
Mayor Mamdani’s administration convened the first Citywide Junk Fees Task Force on March 18, 2026, following Executive Orders 9 and 10 that target hidden consumer charges. Ten city agencies gathered at City Hall to coordinate data sharing, enforcement plans, and policy development aimed at...
Cookies, “Significant Risk,” And 2026 CCPA Assessments
California’s privacy law now mandates written risk assessments for any activity that constitutes a “sale” of personal data and presents a significant risk, including behavioral‑advertising cookies, sensitive data processing, and high‑risk automated decision‑making. The final CCPA regulations, released in September 2025,...
Trending in Telehealth: February 2026
State legislatures advanced a wave of telehealth measures in February 2026, including South Carolina's detailed teledentistry standards, Mississippi's telemedicine cannabis certification, and Tennessee's ban on gender‑affirming telehealth reimbursements. Washington issued emergency Medicaid rules expanding telemedicine for maternal support and clarifying...
Sweepstakes Gaming Banned in Indiana
Indiana Governor signed House Bill 1052, banning internet‑based sweepstakes‑style gaming products statewide effective July 1 2026. The law defines a sweepstakes game by its online availability, dual‑currency model, and simulation of casino, lottery or sports wagering. Violations attract civil penalties up to...
‘We Didn’t Know’ Is No Defense: Lessons for Construction Employers From a Cal/OSHA Appeals Board Decision
California’s Cal/OSHA Appeals Board reversed an ALJ ruling and upheld two serious citations against general contractor KPRS Construction for failing to inspect a roof where subcontractors worked, and for not guarding an opening that caused a worker’s fall. The Board...
April 2026 Visa Bulletin for Brazilians: EB-2 Current Despite Immigrant Visa Pause
The April 2026 Visa Bulletin lists Brazil’s EB‑2 category as Current on both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts, eliminating any priority‑date backlog for approved I‑140 petitions. While U.S.-based applicants can immediately file Form I‑485 and obtain an...