A Look at the Controlled Substances Act and Cannabis

August 21, 2019

Rob Griffitts

By: Rob Griffitts and Kathryn Jones The free-spirited attitude of the 1960s counterculture, in part, fueled the crackdown of illicit substances by the following decade’s legislature. The Nixon Administration officially began its “War on Drugs” with the passing of...

The Implications Behind New York’s Decriminalization of Marijuana

August 6, 2019

Steve Masur

By: Steve Masur and Armando E. Martinez On June 19, 2019, the New York State Legislature in Albany rejected a cannabis legalization bill, which had enjoyed wide-ranging popular support, leaving many to wonder why. New York is the second...

Decriminalization in New York: A Half-Baked Measure?

July 11, 2019

Rob Griffitts

By: Rob Griffitts and Jordan M. Steele Passed in the twilight hours of New York’s last legislative session, months of negotiations produced a reform that will further decriminalize possession of marijuana. Advocates celebrate the bill for providing vital relief to individuals...

Blockchain and Insolvency: How Blockchain Can Make Matters Easier for Creditors, Debtors, and Bankruptcy Courts

June 25, 2019

Rob Griffitts

Digital currencies on a blockchain ledger provide enormous flexibility when conducting commercial transactions. In the capital markets, lenders and borrowers can structure credit transactions at arms-length since the lending amount need not be examined by a financial institution. On...

Can Blockchain be the Driving Force for Autonomous Vehicles?

May 22, 2019

Sarah Siegel

A key issue in today’s automotive industry is that many processes and data storage are manual and paper-based, leading to inaccuracies, disputes, and high transaction costs. Out of 1,314 automotive executives surveyed across 10 countries, 62% of these executives...

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...