Legal Tech
Legal technology products, platforms, tools, and vendor/market developments
Court Considers Blocking ChatGPT User After Harassment Lawsuit Targets OpenAI
A California court may force OpenAI to restrict ChatGPT use after harassment claims, spotlighting legal obligations around AI safety and company liability.
Partner Billing Rates Top $1,000 as AFA Adoption Inches Up, Per CounselLink
New CounselLink data shows law firm billing rates continue rising in 2024, while corporate legal departments slowly increase use of alternative fee arrangements.
StubHub Settles FTC Fee Disclosure Case With $10M Refund to U.S. Consumers
StubHub will pay $10M to settle FTC charges over hidden ticket fees, marking the first enforcement under the FTC’s Fees Rule. Legal, compliance, and in-house teams face new risks.
FinCEN Proposes Overhaul of U.S. AML Rules
FinCEN proposes new rules to reform AML/CFT compliance, signaling upcoming regulatory changes for U.S. banks and financial institutions.
Anodot Breach Exposes Rockstar Games, 14 Others to Extortion by ShinyHunters
14 companies, including Rockstar Games, had data exposed in the Anodot breach. Legal teams face new litigation and compliance risks tied to third-party analytics vendors.
Lafarge Convicted in France for Financing Terrorist Groups in Syria
A French court convicted Lafarge SA and former execs for funding ISIS and al-Nusra to operate in Syria, setting a global precedent for corporate counterterrorism compliance.
Orbital launches UK real estate law firm Farringdon to integrate tech, legal service
Orbital has launched Farringdon, a UK law firm focused on real estate, aiming to blend AI tech and legal service for faster, more transparent transactions.
Italian Regulator Fines Bakeca for Exposing Phone Numbers in Sex Work Ads
Italy's Garante fined Bakeca S.r.l. for publishing sex work ads with personal phone numbers without consent, signaling stricter platform compliance expectations under EU data law.
Superior Court Voids Will Over Undue Influence in Elder Friendship Case
A Superior Court ruling invalidates an elderly widow's will due to undue influence by a close friend, offering guidance for elder law practitioners on assessing relationship dynamics.
Fifth Circuit Tosses 158-Year Federal Ban on Home Distilleries
The Fifth Circuit invalidated a 158-year-old federal ban on home alcohol distilling, citing limits on Congress’ taxation powers—a decision with broader regulatory implications.
Anthropic debuts Claude for Word AI add-in, targeting legal document drafting
Anthropic has launched Claude for Word in beta, giving legal professionals an AI assistant for drafting and editing directly in Microsoft Word. Premium plans required.
Why Legal AI Adoption Stalls: Trust, Training, and Governance Gaps
New analysis uncovers why legal teams struggle to adopt AI—trust, training, and governance gaps top the list, offering actionable guidance for law firm and legal tech leaders.
Roblox Seeks Dismissal of Iowa Child Predator Suit on Section 230 Grounds
Roblox moves to dismiss an Iowa lawsuit alleging child safety risks, citing Section 230 immunity. The case could shape the future of platform liability and content moderation.
Alabama Supreme Court Narrows Reporter Privilege in Defamation Cases
Alabama Supreme Court limits journalists' privilege in defamation lawsuits, making some source-related discovery mandatory. Ruling impacts media law and litigant rights.
Federal Judge Halts Arizona’s Prosecution of Kalshi Prediction Market
A federal judge paused Arizona's prosecution of Kalshi, reinforcing federal oversight of prediction markets and highlighting jurisdictional boundaries for fintech compliance.
Audit: AI Hallucinations Pose Ongoing Risks in Legal Research Platforms
Independent reviews confirm AI hallucinations are common in legal research tools, raising risks of errors and sanctions as firms add these systems to core workflows.
U.S. Steel, Union Seek Antidumping Duties on Tin Mill Imports
U.S. Steel and United Steelworkers petition for antidumping duties on tin mill products from China, Taiwan, and Turkey, marking a key development for the steel industry and trade lawyers.
Florida's accreditation fight heads to 11th Circuit, challenging college oversight
Florida's legal battle against federal college accreditation rules escalates to the 11th Circuit, questioning private gatekeepers' control over $112B in student aid.
Fifth Circuit Curtails FTC's In-House Adjudication on Deceptive Ads
A Fifth Circuit ruling finds FTC's administrative process unconstitutional, disrupting the agency’s ability to penalize deceptive advertising and reshaping enforcement strategies.
Valtrus Sues Five Data Center Operators Over Chicago Cooling Patents
Valtrus Innovations sues Netrality, Lumen, CoreSite, NTT, and Prime Data Centers in Chicago for alleged patent infringement of key cooling technology.