In a significant shift for Poland’s restrictive abortion laws, the government introduced new guidelines last Friday aimed at facilitating legal abortions up to the 12th week of pregnancy. This development was announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna, and Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar. The guidelines were unveiled amid ongoing challenges…
In a recent hearing in federal court in Virginia, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema criticized Google’s longtime legal chief Kent Walker over a controversial 2008 memo. This memo, titled “Communication with Care,” advised employees to switch litigation-related chats to “history off” mode, potentially leading to the intentional destruction of evidence. The hearing is a precursor…
Six major book publishers, in collaboration with the Authors Guild, several prominent authors, two students, and two parents, have filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Education. The legal challenge targets a 2023 state law, HB 1069, which permits the restriction of books in school libraries based on their sexual content. The plaintiffs argue…
In a significant move amidst escalating political tensions, major Tanzanian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have restricted access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. This development has been confirmed by the internet monitoring group NetBlocks. The restrictions come as authorities issue warnings about potential actions by opposition parties aimed at freeing political…
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus led Bangladesh’s interim government in signing the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on Thursday. Yunus, holding the position of Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh, shared the Instrument of Accession for the Convention on his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the government was…
In a recent appellate decision, a US federal appeals court confirmed a prior 2023 ruling, safeguarding a Title IX exemption that allows religious post-secondary institutions receiving federal funding to engage in sex-based discrimination. This decision has substantial implications for religious freedom and gender-based equality in educational settings. Judge Milan D. Smith, Jr. of the US…
The state of Florida on Thursday executed Loran Cole, a 57-year-old man diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of a last-minute appeal. Cole, who argued that the progression of his Parkinson’s would make lethal injection inhumane, sought to halt the execution, emphasizing that his uncontrollable movements could hinder the correct placement…
The Brazilian Supreme Court on Friday suspended the operations of X (formerly Twitter). This move followed the platform’s non-compliance with Brazil’s legal requirement to appoint a local representative. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the order, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to this legal obligation, highlighting a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between Elon Musk’s…
The Hong Kong District Court on Thursday found Best Pencil (Hong Kong Limited), the parent company of Stand News, along with former chief editor Chung Pui-kuen and former acting chief editor Patrick Lam, guilty of “conspiracy to publish and/or reproduce seditious publications” under the now-repealed section 10(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance. The sentencing hearing is…
The California State Assembly has approved a bill that lays the groundwork for regulating artificial intelligence (AI) within the state. This landmark development, encapsulated in SB 1047, mandates that developers meet specific conditions before commencing AI model training activities. These prerequisites include safety protocols, shutdown capabilities, and cybersecurity protection measures. Senator Scott Weiner introduced the…
The UN Human Rights Office and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) have called for individuals responsible for alleged human rights violations in Tarhuna, Libya, between 2013 and 2022 to be held accountable. In a report released on Friday, the UN agencies warned that the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators could exacerbate instability and division…
A Miami gallery is facing legal trouble as it stands accused of selling over $6 million in counterfeit Andy Warhol artworks. The lawsuit claims that the gallery deceived a family of novice art collectors through an elaborate scheme promising “below-market prices” and involving fictitious representatives purportedly from the Warhol Foundation and a reputable New York…
The Federal Circuit recently faced a significant legal challenge regarding decisions made by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). According to a patent owner, a ruling that allows PTAB decisions to invalidate patent claims in subsequent U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proceedings is “contrary to the patent laws and congressional intent.” This controversy…
In a recent legal proceeding, Hytera Communications argued that its extensive radio redesign should demonstrate that it should not be held in contempt for allegedly continuing to use stolen trade secrets from Motorola Solutions. However, an Illinois federal judge questioned why Hytera did not seek the court’s guidance to better direct its redevelopment efforts. This…
The Ninth Circuit on Friday affirmed a lower court’s decision to deny a request by Proofpoint Inc. for exemplary damages following a $13.5 million trade secret theft verdict. The software company had hoped to see the damages doubled, but the appellate court ruled that any error made by the district court in denying these damages…
The United Kingdom has ceased its antitrust investigation into a school software company that was accused of making litigation threats against schools attempting to switch providers. Despite this development, the company asserts that it may still pursue claims against what it describes as the “misuse of its intellectual property.” The firm contends that the complaints…
The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a warning to a D.C. federal court that releasing audiotapes of President Joe Biden’s interviews concerning his handling of classified documents while serving as vice president could “cause significant harm to law enforcement interests.” This warning comes in response to demands from House Judiciary Committee Republicans for Attorney…
Appeals courts have awakened from their summertime slumber, scheduling significant arguments for the early autumn period. The new edition of Wheeling & Appealing from Law360 details these proceedings and highlights August’s most impactful appellate decisions. Additionally, it explores new polling data on U.S. Supreme Court opinions and offers insights into the history of the Fifth…
As autumn approaches, appellate courts are set to hear a series of high-profile cases that could have wide-reaching implications. This edition of “Wheeling & Appealing” by Law360 highlights the critical decisions expected in the coming weeks and offers a recap of August’s significant appellate rulings. Additionally, it delves into recent polling on U.S. Supreme Court…
Align Technology Inc. has agreed to a $27.5 million cash and coupon settlement to resolve antitrust claims brought by nearly 1.45 million buyers of SmileDirectClub teeth aligners. The consumers allege that Align colluded with the now-bankrupt SmileDirectClub to unlawfully limit competition in the market for teeth-straightening products. On Thursday, these consumers requested a California federal…
A Western District of Texas jury has rendered a $65.7 million verdict against Cisco Systems for infringing on Paltalk’s patent related to hybrid audio servers. The jury found that Cisco directly infringed on the patent and failed to invalidate certain claims. This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between the two…
Article Affirm, a fintech software platform specializing in buy-now-pay-later services, faces a class action lawsuit for allegedly failing to safeguard user data. The breach, involving its banking partner Evolve Bank & Trust, came to light when a known cybercriminal organization published client information on the dark web. Morgan & Morgan filed the complaint on Wednesday…
The union representing workers from Canada’s two largest rail companies has filed a court challenge against a labour board order requiring them to return to work. This directive was issued after the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference initiated a lockout on August 22, a move driven by accusations that Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas…
The Republican National Committee has urged a Georgia federal court to reject a request from the estate of Isaac Hayes to prohibit Donald Trump and other conservative groups from using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at events. The RNC claims that the song was properly licensed for use during the convention. Further details can…
Flo Health Inc., a popular menstrual cycle tracking app, is currently facing legal challenges as its users seek class certification in their lawsuit against the company along with Google and Meta. The plaintiffs allege that their personal health information was sold to these tech giants without their consent. This legal move aims to represent the…