This week, Nintendo shocked the gaming industry when it announced a partnership with DeNA, a company that makes free-to-play games for mobile phones. Historically, Nintendo has been resistant to releasing their well-known games on mobile devices, so the partnership represents a possible shift away from games that are exclusive to…
Each year, the Virginia Serious Game Institute invites applicants to reside in the business incubator located on the George Mason University – Prince William Campus in Prince William County, Virginia. Each application requires the submission of a business plan summary, or company one-page summary. Applications are considered on how well…
On February 27, 2015, California Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, chairman of the state’s Banking and Finance Committee, introduced Assembly Bill 1326, which would prohibit a person from engaging in California in the business of “virtual currency” without a license from the California Department of Business Oversight, unless such person otherwise qualifies for…
Former Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale bankers have announced a new futures and options derivatives-trading platform for bitcoin. The derivatives, tied to the price of bitcoin, will enable businesses and investors to hedge their digital currency exposure. Will this be a turning point for bitcoin? http://www.cnbc.com/id/102456187
A mobile app that collects users’ location data while the mobile app is not in use should clearly disclose such practices and provide users with choices. Failure to do so could give rise to an FTC claim of deceptive practices. For more information, please read our Client Alert.
The University of Amsterdam’s Institute for Information Law will be holding its third annual Summer Course on Privacy Law and Policy from July 6-10, 2015. The course will focus on privacy law and policy related to the Internet, electronic communications and online and social media. It will feature a faculty…
UPDATE: On February 24, the Colorado Senate passed House Bill 1047 with no amendments, and on March 13, 2015, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed this bill into law. Colorado House Bill 1047 would make internet sweepstakes cafés illegal under Colorado law. The law declares that internet sweepstakes cafés and similar establishments in…
Further to the early 2014 policy that relaxed the restrictions on the foreign equity ratio in value-added telecommunications business in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (“Shanghai FTZ”), on January 15, 2015, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) promulgated a new policy, i.e., the Opinions on Lifting Restrictions on…
Unlike New York, Kansas, and Texas, which have either published proposed regulations or formal guidance, some states, such as California, have indicated that they are still trying to determine whether Bitcoin and other virtual currency activities are subject to licensure and regulation under their money transmitter laws. On January 27th,…
The founder of Silk Road, the black market website where illegal goods were bought with bitcoin, was found guilty on all 7 counts, including money laundering, drug trafficking and computer hacking. While this is an unfortunate result for Ross Ulbricht, who faces life in prison, the enforcement against illegal uses…