Written by Bryse Thornwell On July 23, 2025, in a significant update for the evolving intersection of intellectual property and blockchain technology, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a unanimous opinion affirming critical trademark principles as they apply to non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) and digital assets. See Yuga Labs, Inc. v. Ripps, et al, Case No. 24-879.[1] The opinion, written by … Continue reading Yes, Virtual Goods Are Still Goods for Trademark Purposes
Written by Albina Gasanbekova and Lucy Holmes Plovnick, AIGP, CIPP/US On February 20, 2025, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York recognized that online tracking technologies that collect IP addresses may fall under California’s “Pen Register” law, known as Section 638.51 of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”), which prohibits the use of physical recording devices for telephone communications without … Continue reading Navigating “Pen Register” Law in the Digital Age: Court Rules the Law Applies to Website Tracking Technologies
In the September 18, 2017 Federal Register notice (see 82 FR 43556) , U.S. Citizenship and Immigration made clear it will now routinely require those applying to enter the U.S. to provide social media handles. As such, the obvious starting point for these tips must be a reminder that Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) officers may require arriving travelers to provide the unlock code to their electronic devices and user names/passwords to gain access to programs, including social media accounts, so make sure all your programs are closed when you cross the border! The contents on your devices can be examined, and that is true whether or not you are a U.S. citizen, and regardless of your profession. If you are selected for such an inspection, you can expect this two page summary may be handed to you.
The national security concerns of protecting the homeland allow CBP officers to inspect passengers and their belongings without meeting the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. A CBP officer is not required to articulate why he or she directs you to secondary or why you or a particular device is of interest. Continue reading “Tips for Traveling with Electronic Devices”
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