Insights

January

• 1/20/2021
  Have any Patents Issued under the USPTO’s COVID-19 Prioritized Patent Examination Program?
  In a previous IP Alert, we reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) introduced the COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program to accelerate examination of certain patent applications directed to products or processes related to the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.
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• 1/20/2021
  The Washington Privacy Act Gets its Third Bite at the Apple
  After failing to pass in 2019 and 2020, the Washington state legislature has introduced a comprehensive consumer privacy law for a third year in a row.
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• 1/20/2021
  Fifth Circuit Vacates HIPAA Penalty Against M.D. Anderson
  In a January 14, 2021 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (“Fifth Circuit”) vacated a $4.3 million Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) fine against the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (“M.D. Anderson”), finding the penalty "arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law."
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• Winter 2021
  • Nicholas M.J. Ray
  • Andrew E. DeBord
  • Lauren M. Johnson
  • Lindsay Doss Spillman
  • Hilary J. Houston
  • Steven L. Smiseck
  • John R. Conley
  • Megan Savage Knox
  • Anthony L. Ehler
  • David A. Froling
  • Scott J. Ziance
  • Steven R. Rech
  The Evaluator: 2021 Valuation Analyses
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• 1/19/2021
  Red State, Blue State, Green State: More States Legalize Marijuana on Election Day
  According to the latest Gallup Poll, 68% of Americans support legalizing marijuana.
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• 1/18/2021
  Surprise Medical Billing Protections Coming in 2022
  The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), signed December 27, 2020, will bring significant changes to group health plans in 2022.
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• 1/18/2021
  Patent Office Updates You Need to Know
  As part of our dedication to helping our clients stay up-to-date on the ever-changing landscape as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve compiled the following highlights of changes to patent, trademark, and copyright operations around the world. 
  Read more »
• 1/15/2021
  Federal Tax Bulletin: Congress Temporarily Expands Deductibility of Business Meals Through 2022
  The Covid-relief act (the Act) signed into law on December 27, 2020 includes a number of provisions meant to juice up the economy amidst the ongoing pandemic.
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• 1/15/2021
  Fifth Circuit Endorses One-Step Process for Collective Certification under FLSA
  In what will be welcome news for employers who have been on the receiving end of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action complaints, the Fifth Circuit (covering Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) recently issued an opinion adopting a more employer-friendly process for certifying a collective action.
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• 1/14/2021
  Ohio Enacts Important Changes to the Civil Rights Law
  On January 12, 2021, Ohio enacted House Bill 352, the Employment Law Uniformity Act (ELUA) to improve Ohio’s employment discrimination laws.
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• 1/13/2021
  Patent Office Proposal Seeks to Expand Applicability of Terminal Disclaimers in Joint Research Agreement Patent Filings
  As of December 30, 2020, the USPTO is seeking public comments on proposed changes to terminal disclaimer practice that would increase the ability to file a terminal disclaimer in limited circumstances to obviate a nonstatutory double patenting rejection.
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• 1/13/2021
  California Requires Child Abuse Training and Reporting For Supervisors and HR Managers
  California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Report Act (CANRA) requires individuals who are statutorily defined as “mandated reporters” to report known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect to law enforcement personnel and social service agencies.
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• 1/12/2021
  • Elizabeth Turrell Farrar
  • Adam L. Miller
  • Lauren A. Brown
  • Brian P. Baxter
  • Aaron S. Berke
  • Adam K. Brandt
  • Matthew D. Gutierrez
  • Jason L. Hodges
  • Roger E. Lautzenhiser, Jr.
  • Kimberly J. Schaefer
  • J. Bret Treier
  • Anthony D. Weis
  • Gregory J. Zelasko
  Evolving Disclosures in 2021
  Even in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff continued to update and streamline disclosure requirements applicable to public reporting companies.
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• 1/12/2021
  New Options for FSAs under the CAA
  The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), signed December 27, 2020, will bring significant changes to group health plans in 2022, including new limits on surprise medical billing, reporting and disclosures.
  Read more »
• 1/11/2021
  Patent Office Updates You Need to Know
  As part of our dedication to helping our clients stay up-to-date on the ever-changing landscape as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve compiled the following highlights of changes to patent, trademark, and copyright operations around the world.  The following are a few recent updates.
  Read more »
• 1/11/2021
  Ohio Adopts Modernized Limited Liability Company Act
  On January 7, 2021, Ohio adopted a new statute governing limited liability companies (LLCs) in Ohio.
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• 1/8/2021
  New York State Lawmakers Propose New Biometric Privacy Act
  On January 6, New York legislators introduced Assembly Bill 27, the Biometric Privacy Act (BPA).
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• 1/8/2021
  Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Virtual Posters
  The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the move to employees working remotely, whether temporarily or permanently.
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• 1/6/2021
  2021 Intellectual Property Primer: Cases to Watch this Year
  The United States Supreme Court has a full docket of intellectual property cases before it in 2021.
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• 1/6/2021
  Colorado’s Extensive Pay Equity Law is Now in Effect
  Colorado’s new Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (EPEWA) prohibits gender-based pay discrimination and imposes strict requirements for job postings and equal pay transparency.
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