Privacy Plus+ News
Stay informed with our latest insights on privacy and technology trends, along with key updates from our firm.
When Atlas Shrugs – FTC Faults Amazon for Alexa and Ring
This week, let’s highlight the latest privacy enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission — two cases against Amazon; and also discuss the developing trend of holding company executives directly responsible for data protection.
The Implications of Varying "Opt-in" and "Opt-out" Requirements in New State Privacy Laws
This week, let’s examine a surprising topic: the variations among new state privacy laws regarding the obligations for "opt-in" and "opt-out" consent.
The State-by-State of Data Privacy Laws
This week, let’s consider the worldwide privacy landscape and the consequences of having a kaleidoscope of varying state privacy regulations.
Royal Ransomware Strikes Dallas – What Can be Learned?
When a library website goes down, it should not also disable police services. Let’s reflect on what we can learned from the Royal ransomware attack on the City of Dallas.
Fifth Circuit Weighs in on Privacy in Texas
This week, let’s consider “the importance of personal privacy to Texas’s legal framework” as expressly recognized by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in its recent per curium opinion, Amin v. UPS.
Five Eyes Issues Guidance for the Deployment of “Smart City” Technologies
This week, let’s review the new “smart city” cybersecurity guidance issued by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, and offer some perspective accrued over time as long as this guidance is overdue.
Kate Morris to Speak at UT Law’s Corporate Counsel Institute
Hosch & Morris co-founder will speak at UT Law’s 45th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute on May 4th.
Taking the Path Less Traveled: Why Tech Companies Might Think Twice Before Litigating a Breach of Contract
This week, let’s consider why a technology company might be better served by not immediately suing a customer for breach of contract, and examine some alternatives.
D Magazine Names Hosch & Morris Co-Founders on 2023 Best Lawyers in Dallas List
Kate Morris and Charles Hosch have been recognized as 2023 Best Lawyers in Dallas, each in the area of Digital Information & Technology.
Joint IP Ownership: Addressing Challenges and Deallocating Rights
Joint ownership of intellectual property (IP) often seems like an attractive idea to parties at the beginning of a relationship, but what happens later? This week, let’s examine the challenges of joint IP ownership and the importance of addressing deallocation in contracts.
All the Talk About Chat-GPT
This week, let’s talk about Chat-GPT as Italy’s Data Protection Authority blocks it and Elon Musk and others call for freeze amidst warnings related to privacy and the existential risk posed by too-powerful AI.
Kate Morris to Speak at HYFN Blockchain Transaction Conference
The State Bar of Texas will host its 2023 Handling Your First (or Next) Blockchain Transaction (Think Bitcoin & NFTs) Course in Austin on April 19. There, Kate Morris will appear on a panel covering cybersecurity, cyberinsurance, and privacy issues associated with blockchain technologies.
April Fools or Just Another Week in Data Privacy?
This week, as California approves its privacy regulations and Iowa enacts a new state privacy law, we consider suggestions about federal action.
Russ Pearlman selected as a “2023 Texas Rising Star”
Russ Pearlman has been selected as a “2023 Texas Rising Star” by Super Lawyers.
A New Trade-Secret Protection Act
This week, let’s consider the new “Protecting American Intellectual Property Act of 2022,” signed into law in January.
Cybersecurity Whistleblowers
This week, let’s highlight the recent uptick in cybersecurity whistleblowers, including those from the Dallas Independent School District and Twitter, and consider how to deal with cybersecurity whistleblower complaints.
Mental Health Data is For Sale
This week, let's consider banning the sale of mental health data in light of a new study published by Duke, and actions by the FTC against BetterHelp (for sharing mental health data with Facebook and others targeted advertisers) and Kochava (for selling sensitive geolocation information).
Section 702, the Supreme Court, the European Parliament, and Congress
This week, we invoke Sherlock Holmes while discussing the latest news regarding Section 702 of the National Security Act, the GDPR and cross-border data transfers.
Kate Morris to Speak at Advanced Intellectual Property Law conference
The State Bar of Texas will host its Advance IP Conference in Houston from February 23rd-24th. There, Kate Morris will present on data privacy.
SEC Proposes New Rule on Safeguarding Client Assets
This week, let’s consider the SEC’s release of a Proposed Rule regarding Safeguarding Advisory Client Assets, which specifically addresses a standard of care for security and cybersecurity related to custodial crypto assets.