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1999

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Securities Law

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Full-Text Articles in Law

The Impact Of Securities Laws On Developing Companies: Would The Wright Brothers Have Gotten Off The Ground?, Stuart R. Cohn Jan 1999

The Impact Of Securities Laws On Developing Companies: Would The Wright Brothers Have Gotten Off The Ground?, Stuart R. Cohn

UF Law Faculty Publications

Suppose the Wright brothers, to pursue their dreams of manned flight, needed outside financing. Confronted with the intimidating regulatory requirements of today 's state and federal securities laws, would they ever have gotten off the ground? With historical illustrations, this Essay presents an entertaining look at the serious problems that would be encountered today by entrepreneurs who have ideas but need capital to develop them. It analyzes the regulatory maze and prohibitions of state and federal securities laws and concludes that, in today's marketplace, the Wright brothers probably would have violated several laws to obtain essential financing for their venture.