Insights
Firm News

Big Tech Breathes Sigh of Relief After Justices' Terror Rulings

May 18, 2023 Media Coverage
Law360

Erik Olson spoke to Law360 for the article "Big Tech Breathes Sigh of Relief After Justices' Terror Rulings," covering the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to review whether Section 230 insulates online platforms from claims that their algorithms amplified the reach of terrorist groups by promoting their content to susceptible users. 

In the article, Erik said there is no circuit split on the question. And that means platform companies can continue to deploy algorithms that serve users targeted recommendations. "It's business as usual," he said.

He said the overall trend of courts interpreting Section 230 has been to read its protections broadly, especially for activity not personally taken by individuals within a company but instead by an automated function like the algorithms at issue here. The Twitter decision bolsters that trend because it suggests the court does not see the algorithmic recommendations as a basis to hold the platforms liable for knowledge of the content itself or intentional distribution of harmful content, he said.

Read the full article here (subscription required)

Firm Highlights

Publication

Failures Are Valuable IP: Protect Your Startup’s Negative Trade Secrets

Technology companies and start-ups are familiar with protecting inventions with patents, and protecting their secret formulas, source code, and algorithms as trade secrets. But tech companies may not be aware of another powerful form of...

Read More
Publication

How To Avoid Allegations of Trade Secret Misappropriation in California

When departing a company, an executive, founder, or employee with access to trade secrets or confidential information may face legal allegations around whether they will use or disclose their former employer’s trade secrets at...

Read More
News

Legal experts say Google, Twitter and other tech companies dodged a bullet at the Supreme Court

Erik Olson spoke to Silicon Valley Business Journal for the article "Legal experts say Google, Twitter and other tech companies dodged a bullet at the Supreme Court." The Supreme Court avoided taking a stand...

Read More
News

Justices Don't Appear Ready To Overturn Social Media Liability Law

Erik Olson, an intellectual property partner and co-chair of Farella's Platforms Group, spoke to the Daily Journal for the article "Justices Don't Appear Ready To Overturn Social Media Liability Law."  The article covered the U.S...

Read More
News

PNC Scores a Win in Battle With USAA Over Mobile Check Deposit Patents

Eugene Mar, intellectual property litigation partner and chair of the Technology Industry Group, spoke to American Banker for the article "PNC Scores a Win in Battle With USAA Over Mobile Check Deposit Patents." "My...

Read More
Publication

What Recent Rulings in 'hiQ v. LinkedIn' and Other Cases Say About the Legality of Data Scraping

LinkedIn obtained a permanent injunction on Dec. 6 in its six-year-old lawsuit against data scraping company hiQ Labs, which LinkedIn quickly cheered as a “final, decisive victory” that established an “important legal precedent.” While...

Read More
News

Farella Braun + Martel Announces 2023 New Partner Class

Read More
Publication

New Laws and Compliance Updates for California Employers in 2023

California has passed several new or amended employment laws covering topics ranging from off-duty marijuana use, reproductive rights, California Family Rights Act, COVID-19, criminal law and the workplace, new avenues of enforcement against employers...

Read More
Publication

Under FTC’s New Proposed Rule, Employers Will No Longer Be Able to Rely on Noncompete Agreements

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a rule that would prohibit the use of noncompete agreements in employment contracts. Noncompete agreements prevent employees and independent contractors from pursuing certain forms of employment &ndash...

Read More
News

WhatsApp and Facebook Take the NSO Group to Court

Kyle McLorg was interviewed for the  Shoot The Messenger: Espionage, Murder, & Pegasus Spyware  investigative podcast episode “WhatsApp and Facebook Take the NSO Group to Court” produced by Exile Media in collaboration with The...

Read More