Welcome to Socially Aware

Socially Aware is devoted to the law and business of social media, proactively addressing emerging issues and keeping our clients informed of new developments. We cover fields such as artificial intelligence, privacy and data security, Section 230, intellectual property, and much more.

February 17, 2015 - Status Updates
Status Updates: Social media for minimalists; Pinterest’s plans; Super Bowl XLIX on social
By: Aaron P. Rubin
Social media for minimalists. These days, the information flooding the news feeds on some social media platforms can feel overwhelming and redundant. Take Twitter, for example—a medium whose popularity has resulted in a user experience that technology futurist Nova Spivack compares to “a crowded
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February 17, 2015 - FTC, Terms of Use, Privacy, Event
Social Media 2015: Addressing Corporate Risks
Social media is transforming the way companies interact with consumers. Learn how to make the most of these online opportunities while minimizing your company’s risk at Practicing Law Institute’s (PLI) 2015 Social Media conference, chaired by Socially Aware editor John Delaney. This year’s program features speakers
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February 03, 2015 - IP
EU Copyright: No Resale of Digital Content Except for Software?
By: Kristina Ehle
How Does the European Court of Justice Decision on Exhaustion of the Distribution Right upon First Sale Impact the Resale of Digital Copies? The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has decided that the rule of exhaustion of the distribution right upon first sale (in
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February 02, 2015 - Internet of Things, FTC
FTC Issues Landmark Report on Internet of Things
The FTC has released its much anticipated report on the Internet of Things (“IoT”) – a topic that has been top-of-mind for many companies. The FTC’s report, “Internet of Things: Privacy & Security in a Connected World” (the “Report”), discusses the benefits and risks
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January 16, 2015 - Wearable Computers
Narrow Vision: Did Anti-Glass Hysteria Contribute to the Demise of Google Glass?
Once the hottest new technology innovation around, Google Glass was put out to pasture yesterday , at least for the near future. In the tech industry, we generally assume that a game-changing product like Glass will somehow find a way to thrive, especially with
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January 15, 2015 - Privacy
Looking Ahead in 2015: Obama Announces Push for Privacy Legislation in Final Term
President Obama provided a preview of his State of the Union address next week which will propose comprehensive data privacy legislation, including a nationwide data-breach notification law, a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, and limitations on the use of student data. The announcement comes
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January 12, 2015 - M&A
Good Rep: Social Media Assets in M&A Transactions
By: Aaron P. Rubin
As we previously reported, a company’s social media pages and profiles, and the associated followers, friends and other connections, may constitute valuable business assets. In our experience, however, social media assets often receive little attention in M&A transactions. Purchasers in such transactions generally require
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January 12, 2015 - Terms of Use, Cloud Computing
Shorter and Simpler, Yes – But Is IBM’s New Cloud Services Agreement Any Sweeter?
By: Anthony M. Ramirez
IBM has been receiving rave reviews in the media for simplifying its Cloud Services Agreement to a mere two pages in length. And yes, the Agreement also boasts healthy margins and a normal font. But does the Agreement’s reasonable length equate to reasonable terms?
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December 23, 2014 - FDA Regulations
Post Wisely
From our sister blog, MoFo Tech : Two FDA Guidelines Help Life Sciences Companies Solve Social Media Conundrums Social media presents new challenges for life sciences companies. Companies that post about their products on space-constrained social media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook don’t
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December 18, 2014 - Online Promotions
What Are the Rules of the Advergame in the UK?
Advergames are online video games that are created in order to promote a brand, product or organization by immersing a marketing message within the game. They are typically accessed via an organization’s website or app, or via a social media platform. Advergames are not
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