The Department of Justice is seeking public comment on possible updates to the regulations under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, it said in an advance notice of proposed rulemaking. DOJ is considering whether it should issue "new regulations to clarify the meaning of the term 'political consultant,' including, for example, by providing that this term is generally limited to those who conduct 'political activities'" and the role of political activities "on behalf of foreign principals other than state-owned enterprises." Other issues mentioned include labeling requirements for informational materials and changes to the e-filing system for FARA registrations.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Japan's trade minister and the European Union's trade commissioner said their staffs will be working to identify problems caused by non-market practices, to identify gaps in existing enforcement tools and to think about what work is needed to develop rules to address trade-distorting non-market practices. Japan, the EU and the U.S. will also discuss cooperating on using existing trade remedies. The three nations were supposed to have met on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization's 12th Ministerial Conference, but had to meet virtually because of its postponement (see 2111300028). Their joint statement also said that WTO reform is important.
Cloud-based software company LogMeIn launched GoToConnect Legal, a version of its collaborative communications service specifically for the legal industry, the company announced Oct. 26. The new platform will streamline collaboration "with clients and colleagues to maximize billable hours," LogMeIn said. Among the features, law firms will be able to track billable time through integrations with other practice management suites and services including Outlook, Google, Chrome, Fastcase, Westlaw and Casetext.
The Biden administration is likely to increase export controls and sanctions enforcement in the next few years, Gibson Dunn lawyers said during a webinar this week. They also said the administration is likely to pursue enforcement in creative ways, including sometimes through disclosures with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.
The State Department released the 2020 Digest of United States Practice in International Law, detailing developments in the field for the 2020 calendar year. The publication provides a record of the “views and practice of the U.S. Government in public and private international law,” the State Department said Aug. 18. The publication discusses key court decisions on topics ranging from nationality, citizenship and passports to international crimes. A section on international trade covers investment disputes under free trade agreements, World Trade Organization developments and intellectual property and Section 301 proceedings.
The International Trade Commission voted Aug. 4 to start a Section 337 investigation into certain optical encosures, components thereof, and products containing the same (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1274) made by Criterion Technology, Inc., which filed the complaint of patent infringement on July 2, alleging that products made by Velodyne Lidar USA, Inc., and Fujian Fran Optics Co., Ltd. of Fujian, China, make use of Criterion trade secrets. Criterion requests that the ITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against Velodyne and Fujian Fran.
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 28 denied Montana and Wyoming's bid to challenge the state of Washington's rejection of a key permit to build a coal export facility. The Washington state Department of Ecology denied a water quality certificate for the facility in 2017, citing irreparable environmental damage that would flow from the facility. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito would have allowed the motion to proceed, according to the Supreme Court's website.
Crowell and Moring will merge with Chicago-based intellectual property boutique firm Brinks Gilson in July, the two announced. Brinks Gilson's 27 partners, 11 senior counsel, 23 counsel and associates, five registered patent agents and two scientific advisers will join Crowell and Moring. Crowell and Moring will add offices in Chicago and Indianapolis as a result, and has kicked off a process to add an office in Shenzhen, China, to join Brinks professionals already based there. This will lead the firm to become “among the most active technology protection firms in the nation, as measured by patent activity tracked by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,” a news release said. Brinks also brings to Crowell and Morning its practice's experience litigating before the International Trade Commission, including its work on Section 337 and IP enforcement. Brinks also has helped with forfeiture and seizure actions before CBP.
The Commerce Department is working with a police agency in rural Texas to help investigate illegally exported goods, an unorthodox relationship that has sparked concern among industry lawyers and led to disputed seizures.
Steptoe & Johnson launched its "Supply Chain University" -- a series of short of videos discussing the various complexities around supply chains, the firm said in a May 28 blog post. In the series, partner Jeff Weiss interviews industry and legal professionals along with academics to discuss supply chain topics such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence and explore how supply chain issues overlap with nearly every industry.