Womble Perspectives

Toppan Interamerica, a Georgia-based commercial printer, has sued Whalen Furniture in California for allegedly copying its copyrighted Fitzroy Pine and Bianco Oak wood grain patterns. U.S. copyright law protects original patterns like faux wood grains, granting creators exclusive rights for up to 70 years after death or 95 years after publication. Read the full article. About the authors: Andrew B...

As cyber threats continue to rise, universities involved in federally funded research are under increased scrutiny. It's not just about ticking boxes on compliance forms; it's about protecting sensitive info that, if compromised, could open up major vulnerabilities. Read the article Recent FCA Investigations at Universities: A Closer Look at Cybersecurity Compliance About the authors Sar...

When considering scientific evidence, it's often assumed that the most frequently cited articles appear in the most prestigious journals. However, this isn’t always accurate. Journals are ranked by their impact factor, which measures how often articles are cited in a given year. Surprisingly, junk science can be found in both esteemed peer-reviewed journals and lesser-known ones. This segment...

Construction projects can be as thrilling as they are challenging. For project owners, they represent creativity and progress—but they’re also a significant undertaking filled with uncertainty, tight deadlines, and high expectations.  There’s often an imbalance of expertise between project owners, who only engage in construction occasionally, and contractors, who live and breathe it daily. This im...

Welcome to a Womble Bond Dickinson podcast with Womble Data Center Team attorneys Of Counsel Barlow Keener and Partner Damian Georgino. They dissect how data center developers and investors are addressing the increasing significance and high-volume needs for resource-scarce water and waste water management in connection with data centers.  In today's digital economy, water has emerged as a st...

By now, we all know that Generative AI models are trained on massive amounts of data, much of which is collected from the Internet, as well as other sources. This AI is also generating tons of new content, much of which ends up online. But what happens when this AI-generated content is used again to train the AI models? Read the full article. About the author Dr. Christian E. Mammen

As the summer Olympic Games approach, we can expect to see some athletes being banned due to doping. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees American Olympic and Paralympic athletes, enforces stringent testing standards. Remember the female US track star banned from the Tokyo Games for testing positive for marijuana? Spoiler: she's back and faster than ever. Although marijuana remains ban...

Parkinson's Disease is a relentless neurological disorder that affects millions globally. Characterized by tremors, stiffness, and coordination difficulties, it severely disrupts daily life. For those living with it - and for their caregivers - finding effective symptom management strategies is paramount. This is where cannabis could come in. A plant often wrapped in controversy, cannabis see...

Recently, the quest for prolonging human life and enhancing the quality of our later years has gained substantial momentum. With advancements in aging biology, the dream of accessing the "fountain of youth" seems more achievable than ever. However, despite promising scientific breakthroughs, regulatory challenges continue to hinder the availability of anti-aging therapies to the general...

The combination of Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca as of January 2025 creates a powerhouse law firm that blends deep industry capabilities with a broad geographic reach. Together, we've grown into an Am Law 70 firm spanning the US and UK with 37 offices and 1,300+ attorneys. This combination delivers next-level legal solutions while maintaining transparency, collaboration, and respect fo...

T his episode is based on a May 5th Womble Bond Dickinson webinar featuring Kristina Moore and Veronica Renzi. The temperature is rising for the Renewable Energy Sector as well as related funding sources, such as green banks. The heat is coming from several sources, including: An expansive fight over obligated federal funding. Congressional investigations into companies receiving federal financial...

Small Modular Reactors (SMR) may be the Data Center Energy Solution: Legal Issues Ahead with Nuclear Reactors Powering Data Centers Join us for a conversation with the Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP Data Center Team members: Barlow Keener, Of Counsel - Data Center Team co-lead, Belton Zeigler, Partner – energy and utilities and David Beckstead, Of Counsel – energy and M&A transactions. Barlow,...

Today, we’re diving into a topic today that impacts everyone—from families buying groceries to food manufacturers trying to keep up with evolving rules. Food regulations—specifically the future of ultra-processed foods.   Read the full article The Changing Food Regulatory Landscape About the author L. Christine Lawson

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital infrastructure, data center developers face unique challenges and opportunities. This blog post delves into the intricacies of structuring investments and working with investors in the data center sector.   In this discussion, Womble Partner Tara Gorman engages with Womble Partner Tracy Bacigalupo to explore the legal considerations that data center dev...

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s critical for businesses operating in or connected to the UK. We’re discussing the UK’s Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, or ECCTA, which includes the new Failure to Prevent Fraud Offense set to take effect on September 1, 2025.    What does this mean? It expands corporate liability for fraud committed by employees and associated p...

The Salt Typhoon cyberattacks––perpetrated by a state-sponsored group linked to the People’s Republic of China––have placed a significant spotlight on vulnerabilities within the U.S. communications infrastructure. These attacks infiltrated at least nine U.S. communications companies and, more alarmingly, targeted providers near critical U.S. military facilities.   Today, we'll break down what...

In this episode of Womble Perspectives, WBD Partners Whit McGreevy and Tara Gorman provide a high-level overview of potential economic incentives for data center development. They delve into the significance of economic development incentives and the importance of engaging in early discussions and negotiations with state and municipal economic development decision makers. Key factors in site selec...

No business wants to be searched or raided by a federal agency, but it does happen, as we have seen repeatedly in the news and elsewhere. In this episode, Luke Cass and Claire Rauscher, members of WBD's White Collar team talk through the process of what exactly happens when ICE or the FBI knocks on the door of a business. About Luke. About Claire

The combination of Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca as of January 2025 creates a powerhouse law firm that blends deep industry capabilities with a broad geographic reach. Together, we've grown into an Am Law 70 firm spanning the US and UK with 37 offices and 1,300+ attorneys. This combination delivers next-level legal solutions while maintaining transparency, collaboration, and respect fo...

Construction projects can be incredibly exciting. But, with big investments come big responsibilities, and unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. The truth is, most project owners aren’t construction experts. They’re stepping into a world dominated by contractors who have years of specialized experience. This creates an imbalance of knowledge, which can make identifying problems early b...

Do you know what happens when the legal system meets cutting-edge technology and global commerce? Well, we get cases like Abitron Austria GmbH v. Hetronic International. It’s a recent Supreme Court case that seems straightforward on the surface but raises a lot of intriguing questions—especially as we think about the future of commerce in the metaverse.   Read the full article What in the [Meta]Wo...

Today, we’re breaking down a pivotal change in the regulatory landscape for Lab-Developed Tests—or LDTs. These tests are a vital part of modern healthcare, used every day for diagnosing and managing diseases, monitoring treatments, and more. Think COVID-19 tests, blood glucose testing, or even genetic screening like HIV or HPV testing. Read the full article FDA Broadens Oversight of Lab-Developed...

Have you ever wandered through the grocery store, faced with what feels like endless aisles of options, and stopped at a product labeled 'healthy' because you trusted what that word means? Well, turns out, things are a bit more complicated than they seem. The FDA has been at the forefront of defining what 'healthy' means on food labels, and they just released an updated definit...

Data center developers face a myriad of challenges when it comes to financing and debt issuance. In this episode, Barlow Keener delves into the intricacies of these topics with David Beckstead and Art Howson. The conversation covers essential aspects such as project finance models, revenue streams, and risk management. This comprehensive discussion aims to provide valuable insights for data center...

Today, we’re taking a closer look at Colorado House Bill 25-1040, or HB25-1040, which officially designates nuclear energy as a clean energy resource in Colorado. This bill might seem like a small legal adjustment, but it’s a big step toward reshaping the state’s energy future.    Read the full article The Third Time’s A Charm: Colorado Adds Nuclear Energy as a Clean Energy Resource About the auth...