Alphabet, Inc., the parent corporation of Google and its affiliated companies, recently held its annual shareholder meeting.1 Among the list of items that were voted on were twelve shareholder proposals.2 Some of these concerned important issues in corporate governance, including sexual harassment in the workplace and inequitable working conditions.3 These proposals, known as corporate social…
Category: Blog Articles
Blockchain technology: the next defense in the protection of intellectual property – a trade secret application
There has been an increase in the amount written in the popular press and in professional publications about the importance of intellectual property as a fundamental driver of economic value for companies. In fact, greater than 80% of the economic value of the Standard and Poor’s 500 companies is now linked to intangible assets.1 Consider…
The Effect of Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International: Developments Since the Ruling
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International in 2014, there have been many changes in both the software industry and patent litigation. Prior to the ruling, challenges regarding patent ineligibility under 35 U.S.C. Section 101 were rarely used or successful in courts.1 However, the landscape dramatically changed with Alice. 35…
Being “Green” is Not Always a Good Thing: Examining the Legality of CSR-based Executive Compensation Metrics
On August 19, 2019, the Business Roundtable1 released its “Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation.”2 This statement broadly articulates that a corporation’s purpose is to serve the interests of (1) its customers; (2) its employees; (3) its suppliers; (4) its communities, and (5) its shareholders.3 The statement concludes, “Each of our stakeholders is essential….
The Gig is Up: How the Future of the Modern American Economy Necessitates a New Class of Worker to Protect Employee Rights
The advent of short-term job placement facilitators, such as Uber and Task Rabbit, has drastically changed the employment landscape of modern America over the past 15 years. For decades, the average American worked at a so-called “traditional” job, received benefits from their employer, and retired after 40-some-odd years with a golden watch. With the advent…
When American Sexuality Became a National Security Threat
Grindr, the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans and queer people, recently became the center of attention in the U.S. – China “trade war.” In late March, a panel of U.S. governmental agencies titled the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), informed the owner of the app that its…
Worker’s Rights and For-Cause Employment.
Employment is a part of the foundation of American adulthood. In the nineteenth century, particularly for the working poor, peoples spent almost all their waking hours working. The conditions were bleak, with hundred-hour weeks, children working as soon as they were capable,1 and millions of Black Americans enslaved.2. Yet, many pushed forward in search of…
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: How a Mortgage Default May Now Have Affected the Classification of Debt Collector Status
The ordinary consumer may welcome the incurrence of debt in exchange for access to additional capital for opportunities, such as the purchase of a vehicle or the payment of tuition for a college education, that may otherwise be unattainable. However, the difficulties and frustrations in the event of default on the repayment of debt may…
South Dakota v. Wayfair: E-commerce Now Fair Game for State Sales Taxes
Last term, on June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, the first sales tax jurisdiction case heard by the Court in 25 years.1 The Court’s decision in Wayfair has significant implications for online retailers, as well as for the future of stare decisis.2 Background Wayfair overruled two prior Supreme Court decisions…
Digital Access Codes: An Overhaul of the Textbook Marketplace
The rising cost of higher education in the United States is well documented and is frequently the topic of discussion. The increase has been staggering, as the average tuition and fee prices at public four-year institutions have risen by over three hundred percent since the 1988-89 academic year.1 Another issue closely associated with the rising…