Social media sites are transforming not only the daily lives of consumers, but also how companies interact with consumers. Here at Morrison Foerster, across all of our practice groups, we are seeing complex, cutting-edge legal issues arising out of social media. As with the Internet boom during the mid-to-late 1990s, social media is generating new legal questions at a far faster pace than the law’s ability to provide answers to such questions. In an effort to stay on top of these emerging issues, and to keep our clients and friends informed of new developments, Morrison Foerster publishes this blog devoted to the law and business of social media.<h2>ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Aaron is the chair of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group and co-chair of the Interactive + Digital Media Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals.Aaron’s practice focuses on advising both established and emerging companies in a variety of data- and technology-intensive sectors, including software, SaaS, cloud-based technology, digital media (social media, AR/VR, gaming, streaming media, AdTech), AI, healthcare, consumer electronics, e-commerce, other online business models, and mobile applications. He also maintains an active practice counseling companies on branding and marketing, trademark licensing, and content-related transactions, as well as the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions, asset spin-offs, and private equity investments.He has represented clients such as Autodesk, Meta, OpenAI, Splunk, Konami, Kaiser Permanente, SoftBank, Visa, and Yahoo, among others.Aaron has been recognized by numerous publications for his work on market-defining technology transactions. He is currently ranked by Chambers USA for “Technology Transactions.”Aaron also serves as co-editor of Socially Aware, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics. Aaron is also a sought-after speaker on new and emerging areas of law, and is a frequent presenter and panelist at conferences and legal services programs. In addition to his active practice, Aaron regularly provides pro bono assistance to various nonprofit and charitable organizations such as Common Sense Media and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. He is a member of the board of directors of California Lawyers for the Arts.While in law school at the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Aaron served as executive editor of the California Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Following law school, Aaron served as law clerk to the Honorable William H. Orrick and the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins, both United States District Judges for the Northern District of California.

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Aaron is the chair of our Technology Transactions Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals. Aaron’s practice focuses on advising both established and emerging companies in a variety of data– and technology–intensive sectors, including software, SaaS, cloud computing, AR/VR, AI, gaming, healthcare, consumer electronics, social media, e–commerce, other online business models, and mobile applications. He also maintains an active practice counseling companies on the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions, asset spin–offs, and private equity investments.

Aaron P. Rubin

Lawrence Gallick is of counsel in the firm’s Austin office and a member of the Technology Transactions Group.Lawrence focuses his practice on technology transactions and licensing matters. His diverse experience includes advising on SaaS agreements, cross-licensing agreements, research and collaboration agreements, development agreements, and distribution agreements. He counsels a broad range of companies across the software, hardware, life sciences, biotech and FinTech spaces, as well as other entities including universities.He advises clients in connection with general corporate matters including contract negotiations, and leasing and technology placement agreements.Lawrence also serves as co-editor of <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/" target="_blank">Socially Aware</a>, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics.Prior to joining the firm, Lawrence was counsel at another major law firm. Before earning his law degree, Lawrence was a web consultant, project manager, and web developer in Portland, Oregon, where he managed and consulted on projects using industry methodologies and performed custom development and integration of content management systems.Lawrence was named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2015 and 2018–2022, and is licensed in both California and New York. Lawrence earned his J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he was the electronic systems editor for the Buffalo Law Review and awarded the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law.

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Lawrence Gallick

Anthony Ramirez is a partner in the Technology Transactions Group in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.Anthony advises clients on general commercial and transactional matters. He regularly advises companies on the IP aspects of their M&A transactions. His clients include technology, digital media and content for television and music, financial services, and communications companies with diverse intellectual property assets and issues.His practice focuses on the legal aspects of developing, licensing, and commercializing technology and intellectual property, as well as negotiating general commercial contracts, including outsourcing transactions, as well as content and data licenses. He regularly assists clients with legal issues relating to licensing and commercialization of digital media and content, digital content that is distributed over the Internet or streamed, mobile applications and social media, as well as the licensing of recorded music for distribution via digital platforms. Anthony is also experienced with issues relating to open-source software, software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud-based technology, and protection of proprietary information.Anthony has extensive experience working on matters involving disruptive technologies, such as blockchain. He has helped fintech clients with general intellectual property issues in connection with terms of service for online financial products and services.Anthony is an integral part of the outside pro bono legal team for nonprofit organizations based in New York, including advising clients on legal issues regarding entertainment, social media, privacy rights, and the negotiation of outsourcing and service agreements. Anthony received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2009. He received his B.S. from Cornell University in 2004.

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Anthony Ramirez is a partner in the Technology Transactions Group in the New York office of Morrison Foerster. He advises clients on general commercial and transactional matters. His clients include technology, media, and communications companies with considerable intellectual property assets. His practice focuses on the legal aspects of licensing and commercializing technology and intellectual property, as well as negotiating general commercial contracts. He also regularly assists clients with legal issues relating to mobile applications and social media.

Anthony M. Ramirez

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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.

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As the use of social media continues to grow, social media is likely to play an increasingly more prominent role in proxy contests. In this context, the recent 

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Social Media and Proxy Contests | Socially Aware

As the use of social media continues to grow, social media is likely to play an increasingly more prominent role in proxy contests. In this context, the recent Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations issued by the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance provide helpful clarifications on how social media outlets can be used in proxy contests in compliance with SEC regulations.SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON PROXY CONTESTSActivist investors have used social media and have at times been able to “move the market” through social media statements in support of or against a public company. <a href="https://twitter.com/Carl_C_Icahn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carl Icahn</a> first used Twitter to express his concerns against Dell Inc.’s buyout in 2013, referencing his interest in Dell in his first Twitter posting. Icahn also made extensive use of social media in the recent eBay, Inc proxy contest, in which Icahn pressured eBay to add two of Icahn’s nominees to eBay’s board of directors and to spin off eBay’s PayPal division. Icahn made multiple statements related to the eBay proxy contest through his personal Twitter account, including a link to an article about eBay’s corporate governance problems, links to letters on Icahn’s website supporting his position and criticizing eBay, and short jabs at eBay that could stand alone within the 140 character limitation of a Twitter post. Similarly, members of eBay’s board also used Twitter to announce their positions against Icahn in the proxy contest (In April 2014, Icahn and eBay reached an agreement that put one of Icahn’s nominees on the eBay board).In the general effort to inform and persuade shareholders during a proxy contest, social media can be a powerful tool, and it can grab the attention of a larger audience. As Carl Icahn’s example suggests, social media can be used to make statements with a length and tone tailored to a specific social media platform, and to share links to information and analysis that provide more depth and greater disclosure to an interested reader.SEC GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN PROXY CONTESTSIn April 2014, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued new Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations to provide guidance on applying the SEC’s rules regarding communications made under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) when statements are made utilizing social media channels. Under the Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, the SEC addressed two concerns related to the use of social media in proxy contests: (1) the use of a hyperlink to information required by certain rules when a character-or text-limited social media platform like Twitter is used for communication or disclosure and (2) a third party’s re-transmission of a communication made by the company. Although the SEC has provided guidance on re-transmission of electronic communications made under Rule 134 and Rule 433 of the Securities Act, which apply to communications made Carl Icahn, in connection with prospectuses, and did not specifically extend the guidance to Rule 14a-12 and proxy solicitations, we believe that the same principles under the Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations would apply to any re-transmissions of electronic communications made in connection with proxy contests under Rule 14a-12.Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that certain information, such as plain language disclosing a proxy contest participant’s direct or indirect interests and a prominent legend advising investors to read the proxy statement, must be included in proxy contest solicitations and other regulated statements and communications to shareholders. Recognizing the growing use of social media, the SEC’s Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations clarify that a hyperlink may be used to satisfy the legend requirements of Rule 14a-12 in limited circumstances when the digital communication is being made on an electronic platform that limits the length of one posting so the posting cannot fit both the statement and the required legend or other information together (Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations 110.01, 164.02, and 232.15), such as Twitter’s limitation of 140 characters per post. Such required information must be linked through an active hyperlink that “prominently conveys, through introductory language or otherwise, that important or required information is provided through the hyperlink.”The Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations also address the impact of a third party’s re-transmission of statements or communications made by an issuer on social media platforms. The Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations clarify that an issuer that makes a regulated statement or communication on social media bears no responsibility for subsequent re-transmission of the issuer’s statement by a third party as long as they are unconnected (Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations 110.02 and 232.16.), meaning as long as the third party is not acting on behalf of the issuer and the issuer has no involvement in the third party’s re-transmission of the issuer’s statement.Social media statements are given no less scrutiny than statements in other media. In thinking about how to utilize social media in a proxy contest, companies and investors should understand the SEC’s requirements for statements and communications made through such platforms. For instance, the party issuing a statement through social media will still need to file solicitation materials with the SEC on the same day they are first used or disseminated. This does not change when the solicitation is contained in social media communication such as a Twitter post or hyperlinked information.As for the new SEC guidance permitting the use of hyperlinked information, a question remains as to what presentations of a hyperlink will be deemed to qualify as prominently conveying that important or required information is provided through the hyperlink.It can be expected that as the use of social media in proxy contests becomes increasingly more widespread and participants push the limits of social media communications, the SEC will offer additional guidance and clarification through additional Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations and published reports.