Corporate & Commercial

Client Advisory: New Orders Issued Barring Imports into the US from Certain Xinjiang-Related Entities

By Brittany Prelogar, Meredith Rathbone, Gregory McCue & Nicholas Kimbrell

September 18, 2020

The US Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) announced on September 14 the issuance of five new withhold release orders (WROs) on entities allegedly using forced labor in or from China’s western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The WROs bar the import into the United States of various goods alleged to be produced by forced, indentured, and convict labor (“Forced Labor”), including cotton, apparel, hair, and technology products. CBP’s announcement is…

Global Supply Chain Law Blog

Cross Post from SDCE Supply & Demand Chain Executive: L.I.N.K. | The Delicate Balance of Negotiations with Scotwork, Squire Patton Boggs

By Sarah Rathke

September 18, 2020

This is a Cross-post from SDCE Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. This podcast interview led by SDCE Associate Editor Brielle Jaekel discusses surprising findings regarding buyer-supplier negotiations with Scotwork CEO Brian Buck and supply chain negotiation best practices with supply chain lawyer Sarah Rathke. You can listen to the podcast here.…

Start-up Group

USPTO Warns of Trademark Application Scammers

By gbogartdickinsonlaw-com-dickinson-mackaman-tyl

September 18, 2020

There is nothing more important to a successful business than its brand, and the scam artists are eager to take advantage of this fact. For those of you who are currently in the trademark registration process or simply are considering it as a great first step in brand protection, you may be at an increased risk of being scammed. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) warns specifically of emails, seemingly from legitimate government…

Trade and Manufacturing Monitor

U.S. Government Bans TikTok and WeChat Downloads Beginning Sunday

By Robert Slack & Jennifer Liu

September 18, 2020

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced new prohibitions on certain transactions involving the WeChat and TikTok mobile applications pursuant to two Executive Orders issued last month. The new restrictions, spelled out in Federal Register notices available here and here, restrict U.S. companies from providing certain services to Tencent and ByteDance that support the continued distribution and operation of the WeChat and TikTok mobile applications in the United States. As a result, beginning…

The Blockchain Monitor

U.S. Crypto Exchange Approved as Wyoming Bank; Firms Integrate Blockchain for Data Management; Multiple Enforcement Actions by Treasury, SEC, DOJ and CFTC

By Robert A. Musiala, Jordan R. Silversmith & Marc Powers

September 18, 2020

In this issue: • U.S. Crypto Exchange Approved as Wyoming Bank, MSB Regulations to be Simplified • Auto, Mining and Financial Firms Integrate Blockchain for Data Management • OFAC, DOJ, IRS and FATF Take Various Actions Against Cryptocurrency Crimes • SEC Charges ICO Issuers, DOJ and CFTC Charge Defendants in Crypto Fraud Schemes • DOJ, SEC and CFTC Charge Defendants Alleging Cryptocurrency Fraud Schemes U.S. Crypto Exchange Approved as Wyoming Bank, MSB Regulations to be…

Consumer Protection Review

FTC Enters Into $22 Million Settlement With Manufacturer of Willow Curve Regarding Unsubstantiated Pain Relief Claims and Deceptive Native Advertising

By Amanda J. Beane, Tiffany Lee & Mark S. Goodrich

September 18, 2020

On June 25, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a $22 million settlement with the marketers of a low-level light therapy device called Willow Curve to enjoin them from making unsubstantiated and deceptive claims about the device’s ability to treat chronic, severe pain and associated inflammation. The settlement comes amid ongoing attention from the FTC and state attorneys general regarding false and deceptive advertising relating to pain products (such advertising is largely reactive to…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

SEC Amends Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11 to Enhance Retail Investor Protections and Modernize Governing Quotations for Over-the-Counter Securities

By Michael T. Foley, Susan Light & Jack A. West

September 18, 2020

On September 16, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) Rule 15c2-11 to modernize the rule, including by recognizing advances in communications technology. The rule requires broker-dealers to review key, basic issuer information before initiating or resuming quotations for the issuer’s security in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

SEC Modernizes Disclosures for Banking Registrants

By Michael T. Foley, Susan Light & Jack A. West

September 18, 2020

On September 11, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had adopted rules that update and expand the statistical disclosures that bank and savings and loan registrants provide to investors while eliminating duplicative disclosures. The new SEC rules require disclosure about the following:…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

SEC Releases Report and Recommendations in Connection With The 39th Annual Small Business Forum

By Michael T. Foley, Susan Light & Jack A. West

September 18, 2020

On September 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission released its report and recommendations in connection with the Annual Small Business Forum.…

Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest

FINRA Issues Guidance on Public Offerings

By Michael T. Foley, Susan Light & Jack A. West

September 18, 2020

On September 15, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued guidance on public offerings, outlining the obligations of FINRA member firms under FINRA Rules 5110, 5121 and 2310.…