Social media sites are transforming not only the daily lives of consumers, but also how companies interact with consumers. Here at Morrison Foerster, across all of our practice groups, we are seeing complex, cutting-edge legal issues arising out of social media. As with the Internet boom during the mid-to-late 1990s, social media is generating new legal questions at a far faster pace than the law’s ability to provide answers to such questions. In an effort to stay on top of these emerging issues, and to keep our clients and friends informed of new developments, Morrison Foerster publishes this blog devoted to the law and business of social media.<h2>ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Aaron is the chair of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group and co-chair of the Interactive + Digital Media Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals.Aaron’s practice focuses on advising both established and emerging companies in a variety of data- and technology-intensive sectors, including software, SaaS, cloud-based technology, digital media (social media, AR/VR, gaming, streaming media, AdTech), AI, healthcare, consumer electronics, e-commerce, other online business models, and mobile applications. He also maintains an active practice counseling companies on branding and marketing, trademark licensing, and content-related transactions, as well as the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions, asset spin-offs, and private equity investments.He has represented clients such as Autodesk, Meta, OpenAI, Splunk, Konami, Kaiser Permanente, SoftBank, Visa, and Yahoo, among others.Aaron has been recognized by numerous publications for his work on market-defining technology transactions. He is currently ranked by Chambers USA for “Technology Transactions.”Aaron also serves as co-editor of Socially Aware, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics. Aaron is also a sought-after speaker on new and emerging areas of law, and is a frequent presenter and panelist at conferences and legal services programs. In addition to his active practice, Aaron regularly provides pro bono assistance to various nonprofit and charitable organizations such as Common Sense Media and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. He is a member of the board of directors of California Lawyers for the Arts.While in law school at the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Aaron served as executive editor of the California Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Following law school, Aaron served as law clerk to the Honorable William H. Orrick and the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins, both United States District Judges for the Northern District of California.

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Aaron is the chair of our Technology Transactions Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals. Aaron’s practice focuses on advising both established and emerging companies in a variety of data– and technology–intensive sectors, including software, SaaS, cloud computing, AR/VR, AI, gaming, healthcare, consumer electronics, social media, e–commerce, other online business models, and mobile applications. He also maintains an active practice counseling companies on the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions, asset spin–offs, and private equity investments.

Aaron P. Rubin

Lawrence Gallick is of counsel in the firm’s Austin office and a member of the Technology Transactions Group.Lawrence focuses his practice on technology transactions and licensing matters. His diverse experience includes advising on SaaS agreements, cross-licensing agreements, research and collaboration agreements, development agreements, and distribution agreements. He counsels a broad range of companies across the software, hardware, life sciences, biotech and FinTech spaces, as well as other entities including universities.He advises clients in connection with general corporate matters including contract negotiations, and leasing and technology placement agreements.Lawrence also serves as co-editor of <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/" target="_blank">Socially Aware</a>, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics.Prior to joining the firm, Lawrence was counsel at another major law firm. Before earning his law degree, Lawrence was a web consultant, project manager, and web developer in Portland, Oregon, where he managed and consulted on projects using industry methodologies and performed custom development and integration of content management systems.Lawrence was named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2015 and 2018–2022, and is licensed in both California and New York. Lawrence earned his J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he was the electronic systems editor for the Buffalo Law Review and awarded the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law.

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Lawrence Gallick

Anthony Ramirez is a partner in the Technology Transactions Group in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.Anthony advises clients on general commercial and transactional matters. He regularly advises companies on the IP aspects of their M&A transactions. His clients include technology, digital media and content for television and music, financial services, and communications companies with diverse intellectual property assets and issues.His practice focuses on the legal aspects of developing, licensing, and commercializing technology and intellectual property, as well as negotiating general commercial contracts, including outsourcing transactions, as well as content and data licenses. He regularly assists clients with legal issues relating to licensing and commercialization of digital media and content, digital content that is distributed over the Internet or streamed, mobile applications and social media, as well as the licensing of recorded music for distribution via digital platforms. Anthony is also experienced with issues relating to open-source software, software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud-based technology, and protection of proprietary information.Anthony has extensive experience working on matters involving disruptive technologies, such as blockchain. He has helped fintech clients with general intellectual property issues in connection with terms of service for online financial products and services.Anthony is an integral part of the outside pro bono legal team for nonprofit organizations based in New York, including advising clients on legal issues regarding entertainment, social media, privacy rights, and the negotiation of outsourcing and service agreements. Anthony received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2009. He received his B.S. from Cornell University in 2004.

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Anthony Ramirez is a partner in the Technology Transactions Group in the New York office of Morrison Foerster. He advises clients on general commercial and transactional matters. His clients include technology, media, and communications companies with considerable intellectual property assets. His practice focuses on the legal aspects of licensing and commercializing technology and intellectual property, as well as negotiating general commercial contracts. He also regularly assists clients with legal issues relating to mobile applications and social media.

Anthony M. Ramirez

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Socially Aware is devoted to the law and business of social media, proactively addressing emerging issues and keeping our clients informed of new developments. We cover fields such as artificial intelligence, privacy and data security, Section 230, intellectual property, and much more.

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Lawrence W. Gallick

Social Links: Statehouse v. Smartphone

Federal Court Enjoins California Teen Privacy Law . . . Again

All Your Sale Are Belong to Us - Mitigating IP and Payments Risk in In-Game Economies (Part II – User-Generated Content and In-Game Payment Models)

A New California Digital Content Law Establishes New Requirements for Advertisers and Vendors

California’s Assembly Bill 587 Loses Key Provisions After Legal Challenge from X

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Google is cracking down on mobile pop-up ads by knocking down the search-result position of websites that use them.The National Labor Relations Board decided <a href="http://www.bna.com/chipotle-worker-social-n73014446651/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a social media policy that Chipotle had in place for its employees violates federal labor law</a>.A group of lawmakers plans to introduce <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/bill-to-criminalize-revenge-porn-coming-after-recess/458160/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislation that would criminalize revenge porn</a>—explicit images posted to the web without the consent of the subject—at the federal level.The Truth in Advertising organization <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2016/08/kardashian-media-empire-under-legal-scrutiny/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent the Kardashians a letter </a>threatening to report them for violating the FTC’s endorsement guides. This <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-sends-warning-letter-after-kim-kardashian-touts-morning-sickness-drug-1439401985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">isn’t the first time</a> the legality of the famous family’s social media posts has been called into question. If only Kim would read <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/12/21/influencer-marketing-tips-for-a-successful-and-legal-advertising-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our influencer marketing blog posts</a>.According to one study, <a href="https://contently.com/strategist/2016/08/16/study-68-of-publishers-use-editorial-staff-to-create-native-ads/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">68% percent of publishers</a> use editorial staff to create native ads.Twitter launched <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2016/08/24/twitter-launches-button-letting-you-send-direct-messages-from-any-website/?utm_content=buffer67be7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a button that a company can place on its website</a> to allow users to send a direct message to the company’s Twitter inbox.The Center for Democracy & Technology criticized the Department of Homeland Security’s proposal to ask visa-waiver-program applicants to disclose their social media account information.UK lawmakers issued a report calling on the big social media companies to do more to <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/tech/social-media-giants-must-more-police-sites-uk-134051320--finance.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">purge their platforms of hate speech</a> and material that incites violence.<a href="http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/aug/20/social-media-playing-bigger-role-in-nor/?news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social media is playing bigger role in jury selection</a>, Arkansas prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers say.A day in the life of <a href="http://digiday.com/publishers/the-economist-denise-law/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Economist‘s head of social media</a>.Seven things smart <a href="http://www.inc.com/melanie-deziel/7-things-smart-entrepreneurs-do-on-instagram.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entrepreneurs do on Instagram</a>.Four ways to get busy people to <a href="http://time.com/money/4461991/get-people-to-read-emails/?xid=soc_socialflow_facebook_realsimple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read the email</a> you send them.Want to know how Facebook views your political leanings? <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/us/politics/facebook-ads-politics.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here’s the way</a> to find out.

Aaron is the chair of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group and co-chair of the Interactive + Digital Media Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals.

Aaron Rubin

Social Links: Google penalizes sites with pop-up ads; proposed Federal legislation to criminalize revenge porn; ad industry group questions Kardashians’ social media posts

Google is cracking down on mobile pop-up ads by knocking down the search-result position of websites that use them. The National Labor Relations Board decided a

Social Links: Google penalizes sites with pop-up ads; proposed Federal legislation to criminalize revenge porn; ad industry group questions Kardashians’ social media posts

Facebook introduced technology that disables ad blockers used by people who visit the platform via desktop computers, but <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/08/facebook-adblock-plus-work-around" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adblock Plus has already foiled the platform’s efforts</a>, at least for now.A look at Twitter’s 10-year <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/a-honeypot-for-assholes-inside-twitters-10-year-failure-to-s?utm_term=.fx6KOMDxrL#.ytjwx67GJ4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failure to stop harassment</a>.Are mobile apps killing the web?<a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/282274/linkedin-sues-to-shut-down-scrapers.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn sues</a> to shut down “scrapers.”The FTC is planning to <a href="http://adage.com/article/digital/ftc-cracking-social-influencers-labeling-promotions/305345/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">police social media influencers’ paid endorsements more strictly</a>; hashtags like #ad may not be sufficient to avoid FTC scrutiny. <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d200d8c2-5fef-11e6-b38c-7b39cbb1138a.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Officials in the UK</a> are cracking down on paid posts, too.Dan Rather, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/08/dan-rather-reporting-for-facebook/495431/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook anchorman</a>.The U.S. Olympic Committee sent letters to non-sponsoring companies <a href="http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/17120510/united-states-olympic-committee-battle-athletes-companies-sponsor-not-olympics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warning them against posting about the games</a> on their corporate social media accounts.How IHOP keeps winning the love & affection of its 3.5 million Facebook fans.A Canadian woman whose home was designated a Pokémon Go “stop” is <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pokemon-go-canada-class-action-lawsuit-gym-home-torrington-alberta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suing the app’s creators</a> for trespass and nuisance. We <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2016/07/21/pokemon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saw that</a> coming.There’s a website dedicated to helping Snapchat users fool their followers into thinking they’re out on the town.Facebook has been wooing premium content owners, but <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/tv-companies-resist-facebook-video-deals-1470823203" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TV companies are reportedly resisting</a>.PETA got a <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160805/16593335170/primatologist-tells-court-that-macaque-monkeys-are-like-super-smart-so-they-should-totally-get-copyrights.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">primatologist to submit an amicus curiae brief</a> supporting its suit alleging a monkey who took a selfie is entitled to a copyright for the image.

Social Links: Facebook’s anti-ad-blocking software; LinkedIn’s “scraper” lawsuit; FTC’s upcoming crackdown on social influencers

Facebook introduced technology that disables ad blockers used by people who visit the platform via desktop computers, but Adblock Plus has already foiled the pl

Social Links: Facebook’s anti-ad-blocking software; LinkedIn’s “scraper” lawsuit; FTC’s upcoming crackdown on social influencers

Social media has upended a number of industries. Is <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/social-medias-next-disruption-the-investment-industry-2016-06-09" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street next</a>?Facebook is getting into the video game live-streaming business.Steven Avery’s defense attorney is <a href="http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2016/06/07/avery-attorneys-social-media-strategy-questioned/85233596/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">keeping her 163,000 Twitter followers abreast of her ongoing defense work</a> on behalf of the “Making a Murderer” documentary subject, and some lawyers think it’s a bad idea.Five quick and easy ways to <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/276564" target="_blank" rel="noopener">double your social media following</a>.Fake Internet traffic schemes will become the second-largest market for criminal organizations behind cocaine and opiate trafficking.<a href="http://adexchanger.com/featured-2/bots-and-fraudsters-are-feasting-on-political-ad-dollars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bots and fraudsters</a> are feasting on political ad dollars.People are spending <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/06/people-are-spending-much-less-time-on-social-media-apps-said-report.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less time on social media apps</a> these days? With <a href="http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/snapchat-twitter-pinterest-us-users-2016-1201791237/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snapchat on pace to have more than 58 million active users</a> this year, we’re skeptical.The man who created the Internet wants to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/08/technology/the-webs-creator-looks-to-reinvent-it.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">create a less centralized web</a> with more privacy and less government and corporate control.Should Twitter <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2016/06/this-simple-tweak-could-fix-twitter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">limit the number of tweets</a> users can send each day? <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/02/17/status-updates-85/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Other platforms</a> see the value in limiting posts.In the UK the number of arrests over <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3624059/Arrests-offensive-social-media-posts-soar-police-target-internet-trolls.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offensive social media posts</a> is soaring.Research shows an alarming number of people in the UK <a href="https://www.research-live.com/article/news/misleading-social-media-marketing-putting-businesses-at-risk/id/5008012" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can’t distinguish between marketing and non-commercial content on social media</a>, indicating potential breaches of the CAP Code (the UK’s version of the <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/12/21/influencer-marketing-tips-for-a-successful-and-legal-advertising-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FTC’s Endorsement Guides</a>). Here’s how social media marketers in the UK can stay on the <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/10/05/how-uk-brands-that-use-vlogger-endorsements-social-media-for-marketing-can-stay-on-the-right-side-of-the-law/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">right side of the law</a>.Google co-founder Larry Page is <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/9/11893032/google-co-founder-larry-page-is-secretly-building-flying-cars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secretly building flying cars</a>.Our attention spans are decreasing. Here’s how that should affect your brand’s <a href="http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/john-stevens-guest-post-decreasing-attention-spans/640539" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website and social media strategy</a>.In a massive recent theft of Twitter usernames and passwords, “123456” was the most commonly used passcode by far. Sigh.

Social Links: Social’s potential to upend the investment industry; online ad fraud; a proposal to fix Twitter

Social media has upended a number of industries. Is Wall Street next? Facebook is getting into the video game live-streaming business. Steven Avery’s defense at

Social Links: Social’s potential to upend the investment industry; online ad fraud; a proposal to fix Twitter