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Expert Analysis

• Appellate Guidance Needed On California Chatbot Litigation

  

  There is wide variation in how courts are applying the California Invasion of Privacy Act against website owners that allegedly help third parties spy on visitors via chatbots — and the lack of appellate rulings creates uncertainty, especially as these cases move toward the summary judgment stage, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

• Calif. Bar Exam Fiasco Shows Why Attys Must Disclose AI Use

  

  The recent revelation that a handful of questions from the controversial California bar exam administered in February were drafted using generative artificial intelligence demonstrates the continued importance of disclosure for attorneys who use AI tools, say attorneys at Troutman.

• Opinion

  Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts Must Hold China Accountable

  

  As the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development drafts guidelines for combating counterfeit goods, U.S. representatives must be frank about the need to hold Chinese platforms accountable for their role in counterfeiting — and specific about the changes that will be required, says Eli Clemens at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

• Securing IP Protection For AI Avatars

  

  As artificial intelligence avatars play an ever-expanding role in sales, operations and entertainment, companies must plan for intellectual property protection for these brand assets as their control will turn on the nuances of their creation and use, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

• In 2nd Place, Va. 'Rocket Docket' Remains Old Reliable

  

  The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was again one of the fastest civil trial courts in the nation last year, and an interview with the court’s newest judge provides insights into why it continues to soar, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

• CIPA May Not Be Necessary To Protect Ad Tech Plaintiffs

  

  A California bill designed to protect businesses from advertising technology claims under the California Invasion of Privacy Act by amending the act retroactively has been highly contested by various consumer advocacy groups, but other existing law may sufficiently protect any plaintiff who suffers actual harm from such tech, says Justin Donoho at Duane Morris.

• Parsing A Lack Of Antitrust Info-Sharing Enforcement Clarity

  

  Information sharing among competing firms has recently faced dramatic changes in antitrust agency guidance, while courts grapple with the permissible scope of pricing algorithms, leaving companies in limbo, but potential Trump administration changes could offer some reprieve, say attorneys at Axinn.

• How Attorneys Can Become Change Agents For Racial Equity

  

  As the administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and law firms consider pulling back from their programs, lawyers who care about racial equity and justice can employ four strategies to create microspaces of justice, which can then be parlayed into drivers of transformational change, says Susan Sturm at Columbia Law School.

• Public Cos. Must Heed Disclosure Risks Amid Trade Chaos

  

  Ongoing uncertainties caused by President Donald Trump's shifting stances on tariffs and trade restrictions have exponentially escalated financial reporting pressures on public companies, so businesses must ensure that their operations and accounting practices align with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's standards, say Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block and Edward Westerman at Secretariat Advisors.

• Opinion

  9th Circ. Shopify Decision Gets Personal Jurisdiction Wrong

  

  The Ninth Circuit's recent opinion in Briskin v. Shopify, rejecting the differential targeting requirement for personal jurisdiction, not only deviates from long-standing jurisprudence, but it also significantly expands the reach of internet-based claims under California law, says Matthew Pearson at Womble Bond.

• Digital Equity Act Grant Terminations Raise Key Legal Issues

  

  The Trump administration's move to cancel grant programs created under the Digital Equity Act yields key legal and policy questions facing the executive branch, Congress and the courts, including how the administration plans to implement the cancellation of the Digital Equity Act's appropriations in the first place, say attorneys at Akin.

• Robinson-Patman Enforcement May Fizzle Out After PepsiCo

  

  After securing an early Robinson-Patman Act victory against the largest wine and spirits distributor in the U.S., the Federal Trade commission's voluntary dismissal of its own enforcement action against PepsiCo throws into doubt the future of the federal statute that prohibits price discrimination and other anticompetitive practices, say attorneys at V&E.

• Series

  Running Marathons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

  

  After almost five years of running marathons, I’ve learned that both the race itself and the training process sharpen skills that directly translate to the practice of law, including discipline, dedication, endurance, problem-solving and mental toughness, says Lauren Meadows at Swift Currie.

• Series

  Law School's Missed Lessons: Supporting A Trial Team

  

  While students often practice as lead trial attorneys in law school, such an opportunity likely won’t arise until a few years into practice, so junior associates should focus on honing skills that are essential to supporting a trial team, including organization, adaptability and humility, says Lucy Zelina at Tucker Ellis.

• Lessons From FTC Action On Dark Patterns In User Interfaces

  

  The Federal Trade Commission's recent complaint against Uber for its billing and cancellation practices comes amid other actions addressing consumer confusion and deception, so it is paramount to deploy tools that assess customers' cognitive states of mind to separate lawful marketing from misconduct, says Ceren Canal Aruoba at Berkeley Research Group.