Sarah Reasoner

2 months ago | jdsupra.com | Anita Marinelli |Sarah Reasoner

For years, one of the world’s most popular online video games, Fortnite, profited from in-game purchases (or “microtransactions”) that, according to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), were unlawful and deceptive. [1] Although Fortnite is “free-to-play,” individuals playing Fortnite—many of whom, the FTC says, are minors—use real-life money to buy in-game currency. But the game’s interface and controls make it easy to accidentally make purchases using in-game currency.

Aug 20, 2023 | natlawreview.com | Sarah Reasoner

In a matter of first impression, the Michigan Court of Appeals held that municipalities may use tax dollars assessed under the Fire Fighters and Police Officers Retirement Act (a/k/a “Act 345”) to fund police and fire retiree healthcare benefits. Act 345 was passed in 1937 to create “a system of pensions and retirements” for retired firefighters and police officers.

Aug 4, 2023 | natlawreview.com | Sarah Reasoner

All property owners and possessors should be aware of a new legal framework from the Michigan Supreme Court that changes how premises liability cases are litigated. Michigan courts have long held that premises owners generally have no duty to protect invitees from “open and obvious” hazards based on Lugo v Ameritech, 464 Mich 512 (2001), and its progeny. But the Michigan Supreme Court concluded on July 28, 2023, that Lugo was wrongly decided and should be overruled in two respects.

Jun 26, 2023 | natlawreview.com | Sarah Reasoner

On June 23, the Supreme Court held that proceedings in federal district court must be stayed during an interlocutory appeal from an order declining to enforce an arbitration agreement. Such an order can be appealed immediately under section 16(a) of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 U.S.C §16(a). Coinbase, Inc. v. Bielski, ____ U.S. ____, No. 22-105. The appellant, Coinbase, Inc., is an online platform on which users can buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

May 22, 2023 | jdsupra.com | Kimberly Berger |A. Michael Palizzi |Sarah Reasoner

For the first time in almost 20 years, the United States Supreme Court has issued a ruling that has prompted vigorous debate over the future of the fair use doctrine under the Copyright Act. On May 18, 2023, in Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith, the Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision and held that Andy Warhol’s Prince series containing silkscreen renditions of preexisting photographs was not “transformative” under the first fair use factor.