Insights

Patent Eligibility Considerations Following the Supreme Court’s Myriad Ruling

June 17, 2013 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Daniel A. DeVito, James J. Elacqua, Edward V. Filardi, David W. Hansen, Douglas R. Nemec, P. Anthony Sammi, Andrew N. Thomases, James F. Brelsford, Stacey L. Cohen

In a long-awaited decision about the patent-eligibility of naturally occurring DNA segments, the Supreme Court has held that such segments are products of nature and therefore not patent-eligible. Although the decision in Assoc. for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics offers some guidance about the susceptibility of patent claims to challenges under Section 101 of the Patent Act, it fails to clarify the Court's prior jurisprudence on the section's limitations.

Activist Shareholders in the U.S.: A Changing Landscape

June 17, 2013 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Stephen F. Arcano, Richard J. Grossman

Shareholder activism in the U.S. has increased significantly over the past several years, with activist campaigns increasingly targeting large-cap companies. Public company boards and their managements should prepare ahead of time to reduce the risks related to activist shareholders.

SEC Releases Long-Awaited Money Market Fund Reform Proposal

June 14, 2013 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Thomas A. DeCapo, Kenneth E. Burdon

On June 5, 2013, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission released for public comment its proposal to further reform the regulatory structure governing money market funds and address the perceived systemic risks they present. The release represents the most comprehensive proposed rewrite of money market fund regulation in 30 years and could have far-reaching implications for money market funds and the broader industry.

Flaming Worms, Stuxnets et autres Cyber Menaces – La Réponse de l’Union Européenne

June 2013 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Pierre Servan-Schreiber, Shari L. Piré

Récemment, la Commission Européenne a publié un projet de directive pour la sécurité des réseaux et de l'information. Si elle est adoptée, la directive imposera d'importants changements dans la manière dont les entreprises européennes et toutes celles qui font des affaires en Europe utilise les technologies de l'information.

European Commission Issues Proposals on Private Antitrust Damage Actions and Collective Actions

June 12, 2013 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Patrick Heneghan, James A. Keyte, Gary A. MacDonald, Karyl Nairn QC, Ingrid Vandenborre, Tiffany Rider

On June 11, 2013, the European Commission issued proposals on private antitrust damages actions and collective actions. The proposals address how these actions should operate in the EU and also underscore the importance of having a global approach to antitrust and collective actions.

Removal of Parens Patriae Actions Under Class Action Fairness Act

June 11, 2013 | New York Law Journal | Shepard Goldfein, James A. Keyte

IRS Doesn't Waver When Interpreting REIT ‘Real Estate'

June 10, 2013 | Law360 | Edward E. Gonzalez, David Polster, John D. Rayis, Sarah Beth Berry

Supreme Court Rulings Affecting Employers

June 7, 2013 | New York Law Journal | John P. Furfaro, Risa M. Salins

With Iron Mountain Ruling, IRS Continues Consistent Approach to Defining REIT ‘Real Estate’

June 7, 2013 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Michael Beinus, Fred T. Goldberg, Jr., Edward E. Gonzalez, David F. Levy, David Polster, John D. Rayis

In an unusual press release issued on June 6, Iron Mountain said that the IRS had informed the company that the agency is “tentatively adverse” to Iron Mountain’s request that racking structures (the steel storage racks inside Iron Mountain’s warehouses that hold boxes stored by tenants) be considered “real estate” for REIT purposes. We believe the current heightened level of review is indicative of the agency’s continued desire to make careful decisions with regard to determining REIT status. We do not believe that the IRS has changed its position on the fundamental definition of what assets constitute real property.

White House Addresses Frivolous Patent Litigation

June 6, 2013 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Clifford H. Aronson, Simon Baxter, Jess Biggio, Alec Y. Chang, C. Benjamin Crisman, Jr., Frederic Depoortere, Daniel A. DeVito, Anthony J. Dreyer, James J. Elacqua, Jose A. Esteves, Edward V. Filardi, Shepard Goldfein, Bruce Goldner, Peter E. Greene, David W. Hansen, Matthew P. Hendrickson, Ian G. John, James A. Keyte, Karen Hoffman Lent, Stuart D. Levi, John H. Lyons, Gary A. MacDonald, Jeffrey A. Mishkin, John M. Nannes, Douglas R. Nemec, Kenneth A. Plevan, Sharis A. Pozen, Rita A. Rodin, P. Anthony Sammi, Neal R. Stoll, Steven C. Sunshine, Andrew N. Thomases, Ingrid Vandenborre, James S. Venit, Matthew B. Zisk, James F. Brelsford, Matthew Paik, Sean M. Tepe

On June 4, 2013, President Obama announced five executive actions and seven legislative recommendations designed to protect innovation and help make the patent system more efficient.