Monthly Archives: January 2010

During the past seven years, 45 states have enacted laws mandating consumer notifications if there is a theft of personal data from the company computers that can be used by thieves to perpetrate identity theft.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also brought enforcement actions against companies for not properly protecting sensitive personal data.  The challenge, of course, is how to comply with 38 state laws and to avoid an FTC determination that a failure to protect personal data amounts to an unfair business practice in violation of 15 U.S.C. 45(a).  This article will provide an overview of these various … [ Continue reading → ]

By Nick Akerman and Lile Deinard In October, the federal government, with strong bipartisan support, reorganized its strategy and expanded the resources available to protect the nation’s intellectual property with the enactment of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act, known as the PRO-IP Act, 15 U.S.C 8101.  The legislation was formulated in response to the “billions of dollars in lost revenue for United States companies each year [caused by the theft of intellectual property] and even greater losses to the United States economy in terms of reduced job growth, exports, and competitiveness” and the concern that organized … [ Continue reading → ]