On February 12, 2021, the General Assembly of the State of Maryland enacted legislation imposing the Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax, overriding a prior veto of the legislation by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. The Act imposes a tax, at rates of up to 10%, on gross revenues “derived from digital advertising services in the state.”
Legislative Developments
NY Passes Law Governing Automatic Renewals
In recent years, a number of states have passed laws governing automatic renewals. New York is the latest state to jump on this trend. Its current law only applies to certain contracts “for service, maintenance, or repair to or for any real or personal property.” The new law, which will become effective in February 2021,…
That Was Then, This Is Now: Trump Administration Proposes Section 230 Reforms
Continuing its intense focus on internet platforms’ role in political debate and the liability protections they receive under the Communications Decency Act (CDA), 47 U.S.C. § 230, the Trump Administration this week submitted a legislative proposal that would substantially limit platforms’ Section 230 immunity. The Administration’s legislative proposal joins several other bills that take aim…
Senate Commerce Committee Republicans Include 13(b) Fix in New Privacy Legislation
Late last week, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), along with Senators John Thune (R-SD), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), introduced S. 4626, the Setting an American Framework to Ensure Data Access, Transparency, and Accountability (SAFE DATA) Act. The comprehensive privacy bill was years in the making and follows a discussion draft…
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Selling Online: How to Avoid Flattening the Curve of an Uptick in Website Traffic
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COVID-19 has increased the already dizzying amount of online sales, making the applicable marketing requirements increasingly important. These rules affect not just how companies advertise and promote products and services online, but also how they…
Executive Order Strikes at Section 230, But Legal Impact Likely to be Limited
In previous posts, we’ve written about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Like it or hate it, Section 230 has become integral to the internet, and it’s no exaggeration to say that social media probably couldn’t work without it.
As a refresher, Section 230 generally states that an online platform can’t be held…
Democrats Release Their Own COVID-19 Privacy Legislation
Following the Republican-sponsored COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act of 2019, Democratic legislators recently introduced the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Mark Warner of Connecticut and Virginia, respectively, and a group of Democratic Representatives, including Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and Anna Eshoo of California, introduced the measure.
While both measures…
Senate Republicans Release COVID-19 Privacy Bill
In light of concerns associated with attempts to use personal data to track the spread of COVID-19, a group of Republican Senators, led by Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, introduced the COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act of 2020 today.
The bill imposes specific requirements on entities seeking to process precise geolocation data, proximity data, persistent…
Briefing with the State Enforcers: From the ABA Virtual Antitrust Spring Meeting
Bill MacLeod and other panelists representing antitrust and consumer protection bureaus from across the country discussed recent enforcement activities and the ongoing missions of state enforcement agencies during the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section Virtual Spring Meeting.
Watch the replay here.
Ad Law Access Podcast: Automatic Renewal Plans
As we have discussed here on Ad Law Access, subscription plans that automatically renew at the end of a term have become more popular with companies and they’re also getting more scrutiny from regulators. On the latest episode of the Ad Law Access Podcast, partner Gonzalo Mon provides an update on some of
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