Blackletter

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap tackles the first charge against someone for insider trading with NFTs. Tom breaks down how an employee of OpenSea, the largest market for NFTs, purchased NFTs, then picked those digital assets to be featured on the platform’s homepage, therefore increasing their value. This is another instance of how law is playing catch up to current technology–insid...

Today on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap discusses the recent case of a 21-year old National Guard member who allegedly leaked classified documents onto Discord. Tom breaks down the Espionage Act and another section under the US Code: their origins, what they mean, and what their sentencing would entail. As the National Guard member put the documents online, this further complicates the matter. Tune in...

How can people market themselves to achieve more professional opportunities? On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap sits down with Jason Levin, author of "Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch" and founder of the firm Ready, Set, Launch. He is also the programming chair of the National Capital Local Steering Committee for the Legal Marketing Association,...

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently ruled in a case regarding severance agreements. In the case,  McLaren v. Macomb , management at a hospital offered severance agreements to furloughed employees that included a clause prohibiting them from speaking negatively about their employer and disclosing the agreement's terms. The NLRB ruled this was unlawful, and that the ruling also a...

In this special episode of the Blackletter podcast, we celebrate the trailblazing women who have spoken on the show over the years. Through their impactful stories and insights, these female leaders have demonstrated what it takes to succeed in the legal and business worlds. Tune in to hear their inspiring tales of overcoming challenges, breaking down barriers, and making a difference in their fie...

The Copyright Office has launched an initiative to examine the copyright law and policy issues raised by artificial intelligence (AI), including works generated using AI tools. These technologies raise questions about whether the material they produce is protected by copyright, whether works consisting of both human-authored and AI-generated material may be registered, and what information should...

What leadership advice can support the success of any organizational team? On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap concludes his three-episode interview with the President and CEO of Veterans Moving Forward, Gordon Sumner. As the leader of a nonprofit organization and a former army officer, Gordon is no stranger to the demands that come with leadership positions. In this episode, he...

The U.S. Supreme Court was recently asked to decide if AI can be a patent 'inventor'. Stephen Thaler petitioned the high court to review an appeals court's decision that patents can only be issued to human inventors and that his AI system cannot be the legal creator of inventions it generated. This week Tom dives into this patent rabbit-hole and discusses from legal perspectives as well...

A promoter's lawsuit against FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation can proceed toward trial after a lower-court judge had thrown it out, a federal appeals court ruled recently. In its refusal, the USSF had cited a 2018 FIFA policy that its ruling council "emphasized the sporting principle that official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association." Today To...

What business challenges can one expect when running a non-profit organization? While non-profits can differ from for-profit businesses, these organizations still have their fair share of challenges. On this episode, Gordon shares the significant challenges he faced running Veterans Moving Forward during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the organization rearranged its plans to overcome o...

Last week, A U.S. appeals court denied requiring a minimum airplane seat size rule necessary for passenger safety. Therefore, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cannot be forced to adopt minimum requirements, the court found. FAA has no compelling evidence that the tight seating slowed down emergency exits and caused medical risks like blood clots. Listen to this week's...

The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in  Gonzalez v. Google,  which   questions conflicting appellate court interpretations of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The law shields interactive websites from legal responsibility for harms third party content may cause. Listen to this week's episode as Tom discusses why this is a really important decision t...

What lengths would you go to support a cause you were passionate about? On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap chats with Gordon Sumner, a former Army officer and current President and CEO of Veterans Moving Forward, a nonprofit organization that provides service and emotional support dogs to veterans. After serving in the Department of Defense for the Obama administration, Gordan d...

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap chats about the infamous trademark case of the “Satan Shoes” which feature a pentagram and allegedly a drop of human blood in the sole. Nike is suing MSCHF for designing the shoe with their recognizable swoosh. To counter, MSCHF have argued that their shoes are a work of art, and therefore protected under the First Amendment. Tune in to hear how the ca...

This week on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap continues on classified documents. In particular, he examines the legality around presidents and former presidents storing classified documents, and who would enforce these laws. To understand the complexity of this situation, Tom explains the Federal Records Act, the Presidential Records Act, and the Freedom of Information Act, under which are storage requi...

The Blackletter Podcast has covered a wide range of subjects during its eighth season, from legal advice for the Federal Aviation Administration to licensing in the medical marijuana industry, as well as technology business transformation and more. On this final episode of the season, we look back at the critical topics tackled within these past fourteen shows and the insights and knowledge reveal...

This week on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap breaks down the six different levels of classified documents. He explains how documents are categorized, what constitutes sensitive information, and who has clearance for what. Next week, he will continue the discussion by examining if presidents and former presidents can and should access classified information.

The Supreme Court will not hear a case from New York gun owners, leaving Second Amendment law to be settled in lower federal courts across the country. The court declined to intervene on procedural grounds, giving the Second Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals the chance to weigh the case. Listen to this week's episode as Tom provides details what to expect from the reject...

What is the most valuable career advice for finding professional success? On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap concludes his three-segment interview with Marc Nichols, the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. On this final episode, Marc and Tom talk about careers, including Marc’s pathway into his profession and his personal career advice for those starting in th...

The Supreme Court is set to review a pair of cases that could significantly affect the power and responsibilities of social media platforms. On this episode, Tom will dive into more detail on both cases. The first case is Gonzalez v. Google, which argues that recommendations can count as their own form of content produced by the platform, removing them from the protection of Section 230. The secon...

How do you enforce control in a post-COVID world? On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap is joined by Marc Nichols, the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. In this second part of the three-segment interview, Marc and Tom discuss the challenges that Marc faced as a federal workforce leader in the aftermath of COVID-19. As a senior executive and manager to many empl...

Adidas failed to show luxury brand Thom Browne's use of stripes on its clothing infringed the sportswear giant's signature three-stripe trademark. Adidas, which was seeking almost $8 million in disgorgement and damages, indicated that it may push back on the decisions. The designer’s lawyers suggested Adidas was an affordable sports brand worn by people all over the world, while Thom Bro...

Would you change your career path to contribute to your society? On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap interviews Marc Nichols, the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. In his role, Marc provides legal advice for the FAA and works closely with professionals on issues of national significance to the aviation industry. He shares with listeners his career path and de...

This week the Federal Trade Commission proposed a sweeping rule that would ban the use of non-compete provisions in employment contracts and require employers to nullify any existing non-compete clauses within six months. Listen in as Tom discusses the proposal and how it could increase wages and expand career opportunities for Americans.

How do you report on controversial law topics while remaining impartial for your audience? On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap sits down with Jeremy Conrad, writer for the Washington DC Bar Journal. As a former practicing lawyer and now a full-time committed journalist in the field of law, Jeremy has a unique perspective on the topics he reports on. He explains what it is like be...