On August 30, 2018, Andrew MacArthur and Ralph Dengler published “How to conduct a blockchain IP audit” in World Intellectual Property Review. Here is an excerpt: The rise of blockchain technology and its many applications, including banking and supply chain, continues to disrupt business. Blockchain provides the benefits of being immutable and decentralized, among others. It integrates distributed networks, cryptography, and consensus algorithms in potentially new and complex ways, forcing companies to reconsider how IP—patents,…

While industry watchers in Washington, DC eagerly await the next fintech charter pronouncement from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has quietly established itself as one of the main federal fintech regulators. The FTC was not the first federal agency active in the space—that was the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) with Project Catalyst; and it has not been the splashiest either—the OCC probably has …

Companies involved in global supply chain services are becoming increasingly interested in blockchain technology and how the use of this technology can enhance efficiency and security within the supply chain. Blockchain-based applications have enormous potential to transform transportation and logistics operations in the United States and worldwide. Last month at Transparency 18 in Atlanta, approximately 40 companies performed demonstrations for supply chain stakeholders from around the world exhibiting how software using blockchain and other disruptive…

Blockchain is a transformative technology that already is altering the way business is done across many industries. The name “blockchain” refers to digital, decentralized and distributed ledger technology that provides a means to immutably record information (i.e., a “block”) and share and maintain the records of that information (i.e., a “chain”) within a public or private community. The underlying digital ledger technology relies on cryptographic principles and acts as a secure repository for the information…

The SEC Division of Investment Management recently published a letter to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) addressing the interest among sponsors in offering registered funds that would hold cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency-related products. The Division emphasized that flexibility to innovate is a key feature of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and reiterated that the Division seeks to “foster innovation that benefits investors and preserves the important protections that Congress…

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), responsible for enforcing U.S. economic sanctions, has taken its first steps to tackle the exploding use of digital currencies. On March 19, 2018, OFAC released a digital currency-related FAQ indicating that OFAC may include digital currency addresses on its Specially Designated Nationals (“SDN”) list of blocked persons, companies and entities. In its guidance, OFAC defines digital currency broadly to include “sovereign cryptocurrency, virtual currency (non-fiat), and a digital…

The Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investment held a hearing, “Examining Cryptocurrencies and ICO Markets,” this past Wednesday, March 14, 2018. The stated goal of the hearing was to achieve greater regulatory clarity in the cryptocurrency and ICO markets, especially as these markets continue to grow and attract attention from investors and enterprises in pursuit of capital. Members of the subcommittee indicated that achieving this regulatory clarity would be critical to ensuring that…