Is Ethereum a Security?

April 16, 2019

Steve Masur

SEC Chairman Jay Clayton recently confirmed in a letter that Ethereum and similar cryptocurrencies are not securities. This letter was in response to Representative Ted Budd’s letter asking the SEC to clarify the criteria used in determining whether a...

Wyoming’s New Frontier for Blockchain and Digital Assets

March 20, 2019

Steve Masur

Wyoming, generally known for its great skiing and cowboy culture, is also quickly becoming an oasis for blockchain technology-based companies. The Wyoming legislature recently passed three blockchain-friendly laws—totaling 13 in the past two legislative sessions—that allow corporations structured under...

FaceCoin: Facebook to Launch a Private Stablecoin for Whatsapp Users

March 13, 2019

Sarah Siegel

Facebook is reportedly working on making a digital coin called FaceCoin for users of Whatsapp, a messaging application owned by Facebook. Its value would be derived from that of several different fiat currencies, not only the U.S. dollar. FaceCoin...

Can Roland Claim Trade Dress Protection for its TB-303 and TR-808 Designs?

March 11, 2019

Lauren Mack

Photo credit: fr4dd under Creative Commons License. Roland, an electronic musical instrument manufacturer, recently registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office the design used in two of their signature products – the TB-303 synthesizer and TR-808 drum machine....

CES 2019: Trends in Technology Cause Regulatory Action For Data and Privacy

January 23, 2019

Steve Masur

CES 2019, recently concluded in Las Vegas and Masur Griffitts + LLP was asked to moderate several panels pertaining to intellectual property and virtual reality at the Digital Hollywood event. Serving as the global stage for innovation, CES introduced...

CBD Between the Lines

December 5, 2018

Steve Masur

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has been making headlines the past few years for its potential to deliver many health benefits. Proponents claim that CBD can, among other things, relieve pain, ease anxiety and depression, and even benefit pets. This summer,...

Are STOs the New ICOs?

November 28, 2018

Sarah Siegel

As the SEC continues to crack down on noncompliant ICOs and token exchanges, many investors and crypto developers are expected to embrace the trend of adopting security token offerings, or STOs, due to the surer regulatory framework in which...

Bill Ottman, Co-Founder & CEO of Minds Talks About Transparent, Private and Decentralized Social Media on Blockchain

October 30, 2018

MG+

Bill Ottman is Co-Founder and CEO of Minds, an open-source social network which leverages blockchain. The social network provides a censorship-resistant, transparent communication platform with more than 1.25M registered users. Minds has just raised $6 million in Series A funding....

ISO vs. NQSO Stock Options: Which is Right for Your Business?

October 22, 2018

Sarah Siegel

Companies planning to offer options of its stock as a form of compensation generally have two choices: an incentive stock option (ISO) plan, or a nonqualified stock option (NQSO) plan. The most notable differences between ISOs and NQSOs are...

New Sexual Harassment Prevention Laws Are in Effect in New York

October 17, 2018

Sarah Siegel

On April 12, 2018, Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, signed into law the most comprehensive anti-sexual harassment legislation in the country. Following a public comment period, on October 1, the New York State Department of Labor issued...

Legally Defining Blockchain

October 10, 2018

Sarah Siegel

The lack of U.S. federal regulations governing blockchain and the crypto industry has led some states to adopt their own interpretations of these technologies. A recent New York Times article compared the diverging regulatory theories stemming from various federal...

The Music Modernization Act: Bringing Copyright Law into the Twenty-First Century

October 3, 2018

Steve Masur

On September 25, Congress unanimously passed H.R. 1551, the Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act. Called “the biggest update to music legislation in the past 40 years,” the bill  significantly amends the Copyright Act in several ways: The Music...