Legislation, Regulation Posts

One revision, two revisions … three revisions or more?: The California Attorney General Releases A Second Round of Edits to its Draft CCPA Regulations

Mar 17, 2020

One revision, two revisions … three revisions or more?: The California Attorney General Releases A Second Round of Edits to its Draft CCPA Regulations

While the world is uni-focused on the Corona virus, companies doing business in California and impacted by the California Consumer Privacy Act must face another dizzying round of revisions to the California Attorney General’s draft implementing regulations. The AG released its latest set of revisions on March 11, providing an additional notice and comment period…

Putting the Brakes on Swift and Sweeping Adoption of Facial Recognition Technologies

Nov 12, 2019

Putting the Brakes on Swift and Sweeping Adoption of Facial Recognition Technologies

When it is not clear which way to go, don’t. This is the upshot of an article by Wojciech Wiewiorowski: Facial recognition: A solution in search of a problem? Wiewiorowski is the Assistant Supervisor at the European Data Protection Supervisor (the E.U.’s independent data protection authority), which published his article on their site in late…

No More Bait and Switch: Subscription-Based Businesses Need to Refine Their Pitch Under California Law

Jul 13, 2018

No More Bait and Switch: Subscription-Based Businesses Need to Refine Their Pitch Under California Law

Effective July 1, companies that offer free gift or trial periods for their products or services can no longer bill California consumers automatically at the expiration of the gift or trial period. Companies will be required to provide a “clear and conspicuous” explanation of the price that will be charged—or how the pricing will change—at…

The California Consumer Privacy Act: The Who, What, When, Why…and How.

Jul 10, 2018

The California Consumer Privacy Act: The Who, What, When, Why…and How.

Make room Europe: California is taking on the data privacy challenge. For the last year or so, the privacy world has been abuzz with how to implement the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation. The buzz died down once GDPR went into effect in late May. But no rest for the weary. A little over a…

Supreme Court Rules Online Businesses Now Subject to Sales Tax

Jun 21, 2018

Supreme Court Rules Online Businesses Now Subject to Sales Tax

In a ruling announced today, the Supreme Court held that online businesses can be subjected to sales tax even in states where they do not have any brick-and-mortar operations. The case, South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., overturns longstanding precedent requiring “physical presence” to subject a seller to state sales tax, representing a big change for…

Congress Saves Consumer Arbitration

Oct 25, 2017

Congress Saves Consumer Arbitration

In July 2017, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (“CPFB”) announced a new rule broadly barring arbitration provisions in a wide swath of consumer contracts.  See 12 CFR part 1040.  To go into effect next Spring, the final rule would have prohibited providers of certain consumer financial products and services from using an agreement with…

A Giant Demanding Piece of … Restrictiveness: Do you need to pay attention to the coming GDPR?

Aug 28, 2017

A Giant Demanding Piece of … Restrictiveness: Do you need to pay attention to the coming GDPR?

GDPR. If you see those letters and think it is an acronym for Gosh Darned Pain in the Rear (or an edgier equivalent) you are in large-part correct.  But if you don’t know any more than that, and you are a company with any ties to Europe, then you need to read further. GDPR, the…

You Can’t Handle the Truth! … in Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act

Oct 27, 2016

You Can’t Handle the Truth! … in Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act

As Halloween has people thinking of ghosts and ghouls, creative plaintiffs’ attorneys have turned an arcane New Jersey law into a true source of fright for virtually anybody who offers services that are even potentially available within the Garden State. The law at issue is the New Jersey Truth in Consumer Contract, Warranty, and Notice…

The Blacklisting Rules Are Coming: What Federal Contractors Need to Know

Oct 13, 2016

The Blacklisting Rules Are Coming: What Federal Contractors Need to Know

The Federal Acquisition Regulation final rule implementing the “Fair Play and Safe Workplaces” Executive Order 13673 was issued on August 25, 2016, and the rule goes into effect on October 25, 2016. This new regulation presents a significant change – and potential challenge – for major government contractors. President Obama signed Executive Order 13673, often…

Arbitration Under Fire: Brace Your Company for Less Contract Freedom and More Class Actions

Mar 31, 2016

Arbitration Under Fire: Brace Your Company for Less Contract Freedom and More Class Actions

Since the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) of 1925, the United States has had a policy preference for arbitration, even when an arbitration provision includes language barring class action litigation.  We saw this most recently in December 2015 when the Supreme Court reversed a decision by a California Court of Appeal to invalidate a class-arbitration waiver…