CONTENT CENTER
Patenting Considerations for Artificial Intelligence in Biotech and Synthetic Biology
By Terri Shieh-Newton, PhD, and Marguerite McConihe
Artificial Intelligence (AI) inventions have aided development in nearly every industry, but perhaps none more so than synthetic biology. For synthetic biology researchers, AI has developed into a vital tool to create cutting edge applications.
Recap of Federal Register Notice on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Patent Issues
By Marc T. Morley, Michael T. Renaud, Paul S. Brockland
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming important across a diverse spectrum of technologies and businesses. As AI grows in importance in business and technology, so too grows the number of patent applications and the potential for uncertainty.
Why You Should Consider Incorporating Your Start-Up in Delaware
By Michael Ginzburg
Start-ups often ask what is the most beneficial jurisdiction in which to incorporate. Most of the time we advise our clients that incorporating in the State of Delaware is the most advantageous for the following reasons:
California Law Impacts All Categories of Independent Contractors – Not Just Gig Workers – What Your Business Needs to Do Now
By Jennifer B. Rubin & Audrey Nguyen
California Governor Gavin Newsom has now signed AB 5 into law, effectively ban nearly all categories of independent contractors – not just gig economy workers. AB 5 will become effective on January 1, 2020 for all businesses that contract with individuals who perform services in California.
Creating a Board of Directors: Key Considerations for Startup Companies
By Keunjung Cho
One of the most important decisions that a startup entrepreneur can make is creating a board of directors that will assist the entrepreneur in growing and governing the business. A company’s board of directors is tasked with overseeing and advising management, making key decisions about the company’s business strategies, and representing the interests of the company and its stockholders.
Five Common Equity Incentive Plan Mistakes
Equity Incentive Plans (aka, Stock Option Plans) are a standard feature in nearly every start-up. Although the basic concept (granting an equity interest to an employee or other service provider) is simple enough, there are a few administrative and legal technicalities that need to be respected. Below is a list of five common mistakes that start-ups make when administering their Equity Incentive Plans.
Does Delaware Corporate Law Permit Director Proxy Voting?
By Ashna Pai
Proxies are common in the world of shareholder voting. But, can directors also vote by proxy at board meetings under Delaware corporate law? No, they cannot. Following relevant Delaware case law, directors are prohibited from voting by proxy at board meetings.
You’ve Got Mail! Emails May Be Subject to Stockholder Books and Records Requests
By Zachary Liebnick and Zane Polston
Delaware corporations have always been required to provide certain information to their stockholders under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL), but the scope and form of that information has naturally changed as technology advances.
Why You Need Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreements
By Daniel Marden
Protecting your company’s intellectual property rights is essential during all stages of your company’s growth. One of the first steps you can take to protect your company’s intellectual property rights is to have all advisors, consultants, contractors and employees of your company enter into Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreements (“PIIAs”), also known as Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreements.
California’s Privacy Act—Watch for an Expanding Private Right of Action
By Joshua Briones, Esteban Morales, Matthew Novian
The California Consumer Privacy Act takes effect on January 1, 2020, but amendments are expected. In an article recently published by Bloomberg Law, Mintz attorneys Joshua Briones, Esteban Morales and Matthew Novian discuss the April 9 hearing on SB-561, a bill that would expand the private right of action and remove compliance opportunities for businesses, and explain why the bill should be closely watched.
Musical.ly’s COPPA Failure Falls Flat at the FTC; Will Pay Note-Worthy Fine
By Cynthia Larose and Elana Safner
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has handed down its largest civil penalty ever for violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). Musical.ly, now known as TikTok after a 2018 merger, agreed to a fine of $5.7 million for its violations. The settlement was significant not only because of its record amount, but also because it includes a specific agreement on how the website will operate going forward.
Employers Beware: Judge Greenlights Employee’s Privacy Lawsuit Over Dropbox Access
By Cynthia Larose, Katharine Beattie, and Jennifer Budoff
Many employers maintain policies limiting their employees’ expectation of privacy in the workplace, including policies that eliminate any expectation of privacy when using company-issued electronic devices. While employers may think that having such a policy would protect them from invasion of privacy claims under the Fourth Amendment or state law, a recent federal court decision may cause employers to think otherwise. This post examines this decision and provides best practices for avoiding issues with employees’ privacy interests.
The Impact Terms Project: Defining the Standard for Impact
By Verna Krishnamurthy
The Impact Terms Project (“ITP”) was launched as a platform intended to provide guidance on best practices to entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders in the rapidly-evolving social enterprise space
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): What Startups Should Know
By Brian Lam
Privacy and data security is a serious concern for many startups. They understand that end users, consumers, partners, and investors are now concerned like never before about how data is collected, used, stored and transferred. A bad data event quickly turns into a bad news story, can turn off users, discourage investors, and bring regulatory scrutiny and enforcement.
The SEC Confirms the Limited Scope and Nature of Utility Tokens
By Marine Bouaziz and Dan DeWolf
On April 3, 2019, Finhub, the SEC’s Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology, released the “Framework for ‘Investment Contract’ analysis of digital assets” (the “Framework”) providing principles for analyzing whether a digital asset[1] constitutes an investment contract, and thus a security. The same day, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (the “Division”) published its first No-Action Letter on digital tokens.
Can I Raise Venture Capital as a Public Benefit Corporation?
By Ben Stone
As societies and markets increasingly insist that corporations generate positive social impact alongside profit, investors have taken notice. The global impact investing market alone, for instance, doubled from $114 billion in 2017 to $228 billion in 2018, and will almost certainly continue to accelerate. [1]
10 Shortcuts Entrepreneurs Should Not Take When Starting a Company
By Robert Giachetti and Mark Higgins
Congratulations - you have done it! You had an idea, you built a product, you figured out how you want to go to market, and you created a company. With that tedious process complete, you are ready to find your first customer, iron the bugs out of your product, and start making money.
Is Your Commercial Co-Venture in Compliance in all 50 States?
Commercial co-venture arrangements are a great way to blend philanthropy and commercial activities, but the parties in such an arrangement need to be mindful of the rules in each of the 50 states that govern commercial co-venture arrangements. If a person or for-profit company joins forces with a charitable organization to benefit the charitable organization, usually via donations, the parties have entered into a commercial co-venture arrangement for a charitable sales promotion.
How to Distribute Equity in Your Start-Up
By Patrick Elahmadie
The purpose of granting equity to management, employees and certain consultants is to align the interests of the parties pivotal to the growth of your company with the interests of investors. There are a number of different ways to grant equity in a start-up, the most common of which is stock options
CAUTION: Director Veto Rights in Financing Documents May Constitute “Disproportionate Voting”
By Lewis Geffen
Section 141(d) of the Delaware General Corporations Law (DGCL) allows the certificate of incorporation (COI) of a Delaware corporation to confer upon one or more directors voting powers greater than or less than those of other directors, thus resulting in “disproportionate voting” rights amongst the Directors.
Sort by Topic:
Form a Company
Raise Capital
Build Your Team
Protect Your Idea and Data
Grow Your Company
Exits
View our full collection of blogs from Mintz by topic