Telecommunications

  • March 29, 2024

    AT&T Call Center Workers Lose Cert. Bid in OT Suit, For Now

    Call center workers looking to hold AT&T liable for failing to pay them overtime wages were denied collective certification, with an Illinois federal judge ruling they needed to propose a narrower group definition because there was not enough evidence to support a nationwide collective.

  • March 29, 2024

    Vidal Offers 'Peace Of Mind' For MDL Rivals Heading To PTAB

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Kathi Vidal has set new boundaries on interpreting the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's discretionary denial precedent for follow-on petitions, making clear that defendants can work together in multidistrict litigation without giving up the right to file separate patent challenges.

  • March 29, 2024

    US Trade Report Excludes Barriers With 'Legitimate' Purposes

    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative left out foreign trade barriers that the Biden administration believes serve "legitimate public purposes" from this year's National Trade Estimate report Friday, rejecting pressure from domestic industry associations.

  • March 29, 2024

    8 States Seek $122M After Robocaller Allegedly Ignored Ban

    Attorneys general from eight states urged a federal judge to modify an existing injunction barring a businessman from engaging in robocalling or telemarketing campaigns, asserting he has violated that order, should be held in contempt and must pay $122 million.

  • March 28, 2024

    Telecom Co. Wants Rival Sanctioned In Contract Row

    Florida telecom Local Access LLC is again seeking sanctions against the Chicago-based rival it's suing over a contract dispute, claiming that Peerless Network destroyed records and refuses to turn over revenue information it's been seeking since 2017, even after a Florida federal judge directed the company to do so.

  • March 28, 2024

    FCC Lacks Legal Power To Collect Blackout Info, Stations Say

    TV network affiliates and their national lobbying arm say the Federal Communications Commission lacks legal authority to collect data on impasses between broadcasters and cable and satellite providers that lead to programming "blackouts."

  • March 28, 2024

    India Can't Dodge $132M Award To Deutsche Telekom

    India must pay Deutsche Telekom AG the $132 million an arbitrator has said the country owes the telecom after a massive satellite licensing deal went sour, a D.C. federal judge has ruled, waving away arguments that the district court can't enforce the award due to sovereign immunity.

  • March 28, 2024

    Texas Judge Lifts Discovery Stay On Google's Bidding Deals

    A Texas federal judge agreed to lift a discovery stay in the Texas-led antitrust suit challenging Google's ad technology, allowing the 16 plaintiff states and Puerto Rico access to additional information about a network bidding agreement between Google and Facebook that they claim stymied competition in the digital advertising market.

  • March 28, 2024

    Advocates Push For More Hot Spot Options If E-Rate Expands

    The Federal Communications Commission needs to consider a tech-neutral approach to funding wireless hot spots in schools to make sure that low-income and rural areas do not get left out if mobile carrier signals aren't adequate, an advocacy group said.

  • March 28, 2024

    Meta Says Speech Immunity Dooms Instagram Addiction Case

    Meta on Thursday asked a Massachusetts judge to toss a lawsuit alleging it has intentionally misled users about Instagram features purportedly designed to addict children and teens, saying it is shielded both by federal law and the First Amendment.

  • March 28, 2024

    Walmart Gives Enforcers More Time On $2.3B Vizio Deal Probe

    Walmart is giving the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission more time to complete their initial review of the retail giant's plan to boost its advertising business through the $2.3 billion purchase of smart television maker Vizio.

  • March 28, 2024

    FCC Urged To Reject T-Mobile Network 'Slicing' Proposal

    The Federal Communications Commission shouldn't heed T-Mobile's call to craft network slicing rules that would essentially allow any mobile service provider to escape the agency's net neutrality rules against paid prioritization, according to one advocacy group.

  • March 28, 2024

    Steptoe Taps McDermott's Fintech Head To Be NY Partner

    A longtime partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP who led the firm's fintech and blockchain transactions practice has joined Steptoe LLP in New York, where she will focus her practice on blockchain, crypto, derivatives and fintech.

  • March 27, 2024

    Amazon Can't Block DSA Ad Repository Requirements

    A European court reversed a ruling temporarily exempting Amazon from a set of regulations for large digital platforms, ruling Wednesday that — like Apple's App Store, Facebook and Instagram — Amazon will have to maintain a publicly available repository of advertising information, as mandated by the European Union's 2022 Digital Services Act.

  • March 27, 2024

    Roblox Needs To Face Calif. Law Claims Over Illegal Gambling

    A California federal judge on Tuesday allowed proposed class claims that the Roblox Corp. gaming company broke California unfair competition law and was negligent for luring minors to gamble to proceed, but tossed other claims brought under racketeering and New York business law.

  • March 27, 2024

    T-Mobile Can Appeal Refusal To Toss Sprint Merger Case

    An Illinois federal court granted T-Mobile's request on Wednesday to immediately appeal a ruling refusing to toss a proposed class action from AT&T and Verizon subscribers who have alleged their prices increased because of T-Mobile's 2020 merger with Sprint.

  • March 27, 2024

    PenFed Must Face W.Va. Consumer 'Pay-To-Pay' Fee Action

    Pentagon Federal Credit Union can't duck claims that it is flouting West Virginia law by charging a $5 fee to anyone seeking to make their auto loan payment over the phone after a federal judge declared that the lender and loan servicer is a debt collector.

  • March 27, 2024

    Make Sure Internet Stays Affordable, House Dems Tell NTIA

    A dozen House Democrats urged a key Biden administration official on broadband policy to ensure high-speed internet projects across the country lead to affordable service as a federal low-income subsidy draws to a close.

  • March 27, 2024

    CBD Retailer Used Spyware, Recorded Online Chats, Suit Says

    Charlotte's Web Inc., a CBD retailer, is secretly recording conversations of those who visit its website in violation of a California privacy law that is simple to follow, according to a proposed class action removed to federal court on Monday.

  • March 27, 2024

    T-Mobile Gets COVID Vax Bias Suit Narrowed

    A Michigan federal judge cut down but ultimately kept alive a former T-Mobile worker's suit Wednesday alleging the company illegally denied his request for a religious exemption to its COVID-19 vaccine requirement, ruling that a jury needs to review the claim.

  • March 27, 2024

    New England Patriots Defeat Stadium Wi-Fi Patent Case

    A patent-holding entity behind nearly a dozen infringement suits focused on Wi-Fi solutions for sports stadiums suffered its latest defeat Wednesday as a Boston federal judge dismissed its case against the New England Patriots and found the purported invention unpatentable.

  • March 27, 2024

    FCC To Block Provider's Traffic Over Robocall Concerns

    The Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday it will block call traffic from a voice service provider because the company failed to show that it was tracing the source of unwanted robocalls.

  • March 27, 2024

    Google Fires Back At JD Vance's Input In Common Carrier Suit

    Google says it deserves the chance to respond to arguments made by Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, on the last day of summary judgment briefing in a state-brought case seeking to declare the tech behemoth a common carrier and its search engine a public utility.

  • March 27, 2024

    Piracy Claims Against Bankrupt ISP Frontier Can Go Forward

    A New York bankruptcy judge Wednesday said a group of copyright holders can go to trial with claims internet service provider Frontier Communications is liable for failing to cut off customers who downloaded pirated music and movies.

  • March 27, 2024

    Everbridge Investor Seeks To Block $1.8B Thoma Bravo Deal

    A shareholder in Massachusetts-based emergency management platform Everbridge Inc. is asking a state court to intervene in a pending $1.8 billion acquisition by private equity firm Thoma Bravo LP, alleging in a Wednesday lawsuit that investors are being misled about the true value of shares and the motives of those promoting the deal.

Expert Analysis

  • Schumer Framework May Forge US Model On AI Governance

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    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's proposed SAFE Innovation Framework may have the potential to generate thoughtful understanding and governance of artificial intelligence within a meaningful time frame, say Alan Charles Raul and Rimsha Syeda at Sidley.

  • The Basics Of Being A Knowledge Management Attorney

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Michael Lehet at Ogletree Deakins discusses the role of knowledge management attorneys at law firms, the common tasks they perform and practical tips for lawyers who may be considering becoming one.

  • Pros And Cons Of Top-Four Network Rule In The Digital Age

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    In the era of streaming, broadcasters have recently urged the Federal Communications Commission to remove the top-four network rule — which prohibits common ownership of any two major network stations — in some or all markets, but others argue the rule preserves competition and diversity, say Gregg Skall and Ashley Brydone-Jack at Telecommunications Law Professionals.

  • 3 Areas Look Ripe For New SEP Licensing, Litigation

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    As we wait for standard-essential patent litigation over 5G, data compression and several other technologies have quietly developed elements that make them attractive to SEP holders, turning them into areas to watch for increased licensing and litigation in the near term, say Brian Johnson and Michael O’Mara at Axinn.

  • To Hire And Keep Top Talent, Think Beyond Compensation

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    Firms seeking to appeal to sophisticated clients and top-level partners should promote mentorship, ensure that attorneys from diverse backgrounds feel valued, and clarify policies about at-home work, says Patrick Moya at Quaero Group.

  • Perspectives

    More States Should Join Effort To Close Legal Services Gap

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    Colorado is the most recent state to allow other types of legal providers, not just attorneys, to offer specific services in certain circumstances — and more states should rethink the century-old assumptions that shape our current regulatory rules, say Natalie Anne Knowlton and Janet Drobinske at the University of Denver.

  • Identifying Trends And Tips In Litigation Financing Disclosure

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    Growing interest and controversy in litigation financing raise several salient concerns, but exploring recent compelled disclosure trends from courts around the country can help practitioners further their clients' interests, say Sean Callagy and Samuel Sokolsky at Arnold & Porter.

  • 9th Circ. Ruling Shows Int'l Arbitration Jurisdictional Snags

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    While the Ninth Circuit sidestepped the thorny and undecided constitutional question of whether a foreign state is a person for the purposes of a due process analysis, its Devas v. Antrix opinion provides important guidance to parties seeking to enforce an arbitration award against a foreign sovereign in the U.S., say attorneys at Wiley.

  • Data Lessons For Tech Cos. After Class Cert. In Reuters Suit

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    A district court's recent decision that granted class certification to California residents in a data privacy suit against Reuters sends a direct message to companies that aggregate personal information — the collection of someone's data without consent, even if it is not sold, is a concrete harm, says James Ulwick at DiCello Levitt.

  • Opinion

    Congress Needs Better Health Care Fraud Data From DOD

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    The U.S. Department of Defense does not collect enough data to prevent health care and service contractor fraud and waste, so Congress should enact benchmarks that the DOD must meet when gathering and reporting data, enabling lawmakers to make better-informed decisions about defense appropriations, says Jessica Lehman at Verizon.

  • Series

    The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Elrod On 'Jury Duty'

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    Though the mockumentary series “Jury Duty” features purposely outrageous characters, it offers a solemn lesson about the simple but brilliant design of the right to trial by jury, with an unwitting protagonist who even John Adams may have welcomed as an impartial foreperson, says Fifth Circuit Judge Jennifer Elrod.

  • FCC Inquiry Signals Exploration Of AI For Spectrum Goals

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    The Federal Communications Commission's recent notice seeking input on the definition of "spectrum usage," uniformity of band requirements and data collection marks the beginning of the agency's interest in leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning analytics to improve its spectrum management practices, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • Upcoming High Court ADA Cases May Signal Return To Basics

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    Recent cases, including Acheson Hotels v. Laufer, which will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in October, raise a fundamental question of whether Americans with Disabilities Act litigation has spiraled out of control without any real corresponding benefits to the intended beneficiaries: individuals with true disabilities, says Norman Dupont at Ring Bender.

  • 4 Business-Building Strategies For Introvert Attorneys

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Introverted lawyers can build client bases to rival their extroverted peers’ by adapting time-tested strategies for business development that can work for any personality — such as claiming a niche, networking for maximum impact, drawing on existing contacts and more, says Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein.

  • Opinion

    'US Cyber Trust Mark' Program Threatens Privacy, Innovation

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    The Federal Communications Commission's recently announced plan to create a "U.S. Cyber Trust Mark,” which would voluntarily affix to smart devices to boost consumer confidence and industry security standards, could lead to an erosion of consumer privacy, competition, innovation, and any firewall between the government and the individual, says attorney Donna Etemadi.

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