Telecommunications

  • August 22, 2025

    USPTO Allows Discretionary Denials For 3-Year-Old Patents

    A top Patent Trial and Appeal Board judge Friday rejected challenges to GenghisComm Holdings LLC patents issued as recently as 2022, as part of the three discretionary review decisions issued over the last week. 

  • August 22, 2025

    Groups Say T-Mobile-UScellular Deal Needed Full FCC Vote

    Three telecom groups are not pleased with the FCC's decision to delegate to an agency bureau the responsibility of approving the license transfers T-Mobile needed to complete its $4.4 billion acquisition of UScellular wireless operations, calling it an "error of law."

  • August 22, 2025

    Startup Accelerator Backs Epic In Apple Case At 9th Circ.

    Startup accelerator Y Combinator is backing Epic Games as Apple asks the Ninth Circuit to nix an order blocking it from charging commissions on app purchases made outside its payment system, telling the appeals court Apple "blatantly violated" a previous order.

  • August 22, 2025

    Apple Users' Attys Near OK On $28.5M Fees For Privacy Deal

    A California federal judge indicated Friday he'll grant final approval to Apple's $95 million settlement with tens of millions of users who claimed its voice-activated software Siri eavesdropped on their conversations without consent, and called the plaintiffs' attorneys' request for a 30% cut amounting to $28.5 million "legally appropriate."

  • August 22, 2025

    Newsmax Says FCC Can't Ditch TV Ownership Cap

    Right-wing media outlet Newsmax Media said the only thing the Federal Communications Commission will get if it removes the national television ownership cap "is a permanent injunction," as it "lacks authority and a compelling reason to change the rule."

  • August 22, 2025

    FTC Can't Pause Order Blocking Media Matters Probe

    A D.C. federal court refused on Friday to pause an order blocking the Federal Trade Commission's investigation into left-leaning watchdog Media Matters for America, saying the group is likely to show the probe over potential collusion in the ad industry was retaliatory.

  • August 22, 2025

    Motorola Wins Contempt Order Over Hytera Subsidiary Sale

    An Illinois federal judge issued a contempt order against Hytera Communications on Friday, granting Motorola's request after its Chinese rival sold a subsidiary for €75.5 million while owing Motorola $489 million for a trade secrets theft judgment and under a court-ordered prohibition on transferring assets.

  • August 22, 2025

    Taxation With Representation: Kirkland, Weil, Fried Frank

    In this week's Taxation With Representation, private equity firm Thoma Bravo buys human resources software provider Dayforce Inc. in a take-private deal, Lowe's buys Foundation Building Materials, Nexstar Media Group Inc. acquires fellow media company Tegna Inc., and Soho House & Co. Inc. inks a take-private deal with hotel operator MCR.

  • August 21, 2025

    Google Got App Data Profits After Pledging Privacy, Jury Told

    A computer scientist testifying in a multibillion-dollar privacy lawsuit alleging Google LLC illegally collected data from 98 million cellphone users who had opted out of tracking told a California federal jury Thursday that the tech giant stores information about their app use in a "shadow account" and uses it to sell ads.

  • August 21, 2025

    FTC Warns Tech Cos. To Honor Data Vows In Foreign Dealings

    The head of the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday cautioned Meta, Google, Apple, Amazon and other major tech companies to refrain from weakening data security protections or censoring content in response to pressure from foreign governments, reminding them that reneging on promises they make to U.S. consumers could land them in hot water with the agency.

  • August 21, 2025

    FCC Seeks Feedback On New Pole Attachment Deadlines

    The Federal Communications Commission wants industry and interested parties to share what they think about a set of rule changes the agency has proposed to make pole attachment regulations less complicated and hopefully to speed up the deployment of broadband.

  • August 21, 2025

    Epic Says Google Can't Dodge App Store Trade Libel Claims

    Video game and software developer Epic Games Inc. has told a California federal court that Google LLC can't eschew remaining state law claims in a trade libel suit because the alleged harms are new, not resurrected from claims in a separate case.

  • August 21, 2025

    C-Band Payment Clearinghouse Officially Wound Down

    The C-Band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse has officially ceased operations after the Federal Communications Commission agreed back in June that the clearinghouse had done what it was intended to do.

  • August 21, 2025

    FCC Seeks Feedback Before Ditching Truth-In-Billing Rules

    The Federal Communications Commission is officially asking for opinions on whether the agency's slamming and truth-in-billing rules are outdated and, if so, where they should be cut, after voting earlier this month to propose eliminating some of them.

  • August 21, 2025

    FCC Dings NC FM Station For Unapproved Transfer Of Control

    The owners of a low-power Catholic FM station in North Carolina are entering into a consent decree with the Federal Communications Commission over allegations that its owners effectively gave control to another entity without authorization, agreeing to pay $2,000 and implement a comprehensive compliance plan.

  • August 20, 2025

    Supersede California's Voice Over IP Rules, FCC Urged

    California's new regulatory regime for internet voice call providers is a "power grab" and the Federal Communications Commission should make clear that its rules preempt those of the Golden State, a free market think tank is telling the agency.

  • August 20, 2025

    Google Duped App Users With 'Fake' Privacy Button, Jury Told

    A lead plaintiff in a multibillion-dollar privacy lawsuit alleging Google illegally collected data from 98 million cell phone users told a California federal jury Wednesday that the tech giant is "misleading" consumers with a "fake button" purporting to allow users to opt out of tracking.

  • August 20, 2025

    Civil Rights Org. Urges FCC Not To Ditch Nat'l Ownership Cap

    A civil rights group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton said it would be a bad idea for the Federal Communications Commission to strip away ownership regulations that cap how many television stations any one company can own.

  • August 20, 2025

    9th Circ. Told Apple, Google CEO Meeting Aids Antitrust Claim

    A California crane operator training school's attorney told a Ninth Circuit panel Wednesday that a lower court erred in dismissing his client's suit alleging an antitrust conspiracy between Apple and Google because a meeting between the companies' CEOs should have been taken into consideration as supporting the claim.

  • August 20, 2025

    Alaska Telecom Fights Changes To Buildout Rules

    A small Alaskan telecom is continuing its fight against a proposal from GCI Communication Corp. that would lower standards for carriers to receive Alaska Connect Fund support, telling the Federal Communications Commission that GCI should lose funding if it can't meet its commitments.

  • August 20, 2025

    Wash. 5G Provider Inks $1.2M Deal In Overtime Suit

    A Washington 5G provider has agreed to pay $1.2 million to end a proposed class and collective action in federal court accusing it of automatically deducting unpaid time for lunch breaks and not including per diems in workers' overtime calculations, a former technician said Wednesday.

  • August 20, 2025

    Google To Pay $35M For Australian Search Antitrust Violations

    Google has agreed to pay $55 million to settle antitrust claims brought by Australia's competition regulator over deals to preinstall its search engine on Australian phones.

  • August 20, 2025

    Verizon, Headwater Settle Dispute After $175M Patent Verdict

    Headwater Research and Verizon have agreed to a settlement after a federal jury last month put the telecommunications giant on the hook for $175 million in damages after finding it infringed a pair of wireless communications patents.

  • August 20, 2025

    FCC Denies Carrier's Bid To Avoid Rural Fund Clawback

    The Federal Communications Commission denied a Midwest broadband provider's request to waive a $24 million penalty for defaulting on its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund commitments, saying the company's due diligence was inadequate when it decided to pursue fund money for buildouts in areas that were already served by others.

  • August 19, 2025

    Trans Pilot Says Influencer Is Liable For Crash Comments

    A transgender Army National Guard pilot who says a social media influencer falsely accused her of deliberately causing a deadly collision over the Potomac River has told a Colorado federal judge the First Amendment and the state's anti-SLAPP statute don't protect the influencer from culpability.

Expert Analysis

  • Reviewing The High Court's Approach To Free Speech Online

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    As the U.S. Supreme Court began addressing the interplay between the First Amendment and online social media platforms, its three opinions from last term show the justices adopting a nuanced approach that recognizes that private citizens, public employees and online platforms all have First Amendment rights, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Top 10 Legal Issues This Year For Transportation Industry GCs

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    General counsel must carefully consider numerous legal and policy challenges facing the automotive and transportation industry in the year to come, especially while navigating new technologies, regulations and global markets, says Francesco Liberatore at Squire Patton.

  • Exploring Venue Strategy For Trump-Era Regulatory Litigation

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    Litigation will likely play a prominent role in shaping policy outcomes during the second Trump administration, and stakeholders have several tools at their disposal to steer regulatory litigation toward more favorable venues, say attorneys at Covington.

  • Searching For Insight On Requested Google Chrome Remedy

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    The potential for Google to divest its Chrome browser — a remedy requested by the Justice Department following a D.C. federal court’s finding the company is a monopolist — has drawn both criticism and endorsement, but legal precedent likely supports the former, say attorneys at Ballard Spahr.

  • How The UPC, ITC Complement Each Other In Patent Law

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    Attorneys at Ropes & Gray discuss the similarities and differences between the Unified Patent Court and the International Trade Commission, as well as recent matters litigated in both venues and why parties choose to file at these forums.

  • Series

    Playing Esports Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Competing in a global esports tournament at Wimbledon last year not only fulfilled my childhood dream, but also sharpened skills that are essential to my day job, including strategic thinking, confidence and networking, says AJ Schuyler at Jackson Lewis.

  • An Associate's Guide To Career Development In 2025

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    As the new year begins, associates at all levels should consider establishing career metrics, fostering key relationships and employing other specific strategies to help move through the complexities of the legal profession with confidence and emerge as trailblazers, say EJ Stern and Amanda George at Fractional Law Firm.

  • 10 Noteworthy CFPB Developments From 2024

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    In a banner year for consumer finance regulation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made significant strides in its efforts to rein in Big Tech and nonbank financial firms, including via rules regarding open banking, credit card late fees, and buy now, pay later products, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • Series

    Fixing Up Cars Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    From problem-solving to patience and adaptability to organization, the skills developed working under the hood of a car directly translate to being a more effective lawyer, says Christopher Mdeway at Kaufman Dolowich.

  • Making The Pitch To Grow Your Company's Legal Team

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    In a compressed economy, convincing the C-suite to invest in additional legal talent can be a herculean task, but a convincing pitch — supported by metrics and cost analyses — may help in-house counsel justify the growth of their team, say Elizabeth Smith and Roger Garceau at Major Lindsey.

  • 4 Trade Secret Pointers From 2024's Key IP Law Developments

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    Four significant 2024 developments in trade secret law yield practical tips about defending trade secrets overseas, proving unjust enrichment claims, forcing compliance with posttrial orders and using restrictive covenants to prevent employee leaks of confidential intellectual property, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • Data Privacy Landscape After Mass. Justices' Wiretap Ruling

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    In Vita v. New England Baptist Hospital, Massachusetts’ highest court recently ruled that the state’s wiretap law doesn’t prohibit all tracking of website user activity, but major financial and reputational risks remain for businesses that aren't transparent about customer’s web data, says Seth Berman at Nutter.

  • Gov't Scrutiny Of Workplace Chat Apps Set To Keep Growing

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    The incoming Trump administration and Republican majorities in Congress are poised to open numerous investigations that include increasing demands for entities to produce communications from workplace chat apps, so companies must evaluate their usage and retention policies, say attorneys at Orrick.

  • When US Privilege Law Applies To Docs Made Outside The US

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    As globalization manifests itself in disputes over foreign-created documents, a California federal court’s recent trademark decision illustrates nuances of both U.S. privilege frameworks and foreign evidentiary protections that attorneys must increasingly bear in mind, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • Notable 2024 Trademark Cases And What To Watch In 2025

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    Emerging disputes between established tech giants and smaller trademark holders promise to test the boundaries of trademark protection in 2025, following a 2024 marked with disputes in areas ranging from cybersquatting to geographic marks, says Danner Kline at Bradley Arant.

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