Science and Technology Law Commons^™

Children’S Privacy In Xr Applications – A Rights-Based Approach, Witzleb, Normann

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

In the extended reality (XR) of Metaverse applications, several innovative technologies converge and interconnect to blur the lines between the digital and physical worlds. The seamless operation of XR applications requires the collection and processing of huge quantities of data, including personal data, to give users a truly immersive virtual experience. One of the major intended user groups of the Metaverse are children, who increasingly use XR spaces to learn, play, create content, and engage in a wide range of other activities. This article considers the challenges to safeguarding children’s privacy in this evolving digital landscape and makes recommendations for …

Your Data, Modern Times, And The Fourth Amendment: What Would Jefferson And Orwell Do?, Sterling, Ken

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

The ongoing challenge of balancing individual data privacy with the government's need for user data through national security efforts has long plagued courts and policymakers. This tension intensifies as technology advances, permeating daily life, and global uncertainty fuels government demand for additional data. This study explores this tension by examining the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures in the context of user data obtained by the government through third-party providers. I argue that the Fourth Amendment provides a sufficient framework to balance these competing interests. While acknowledging the government's responsibility for national security, we contend that this does …

Rogue Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction, And The Law, Macintosh, Kerry Lynn

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been labeled an existential threat. Proposals to combat this menace include industry pauses on the development of advanced AI, legislated moratoria, and creation of a new federal agency with the power to regulate and license advanced AI.

If such claims sound vaguely familiar, that is not surprising. For decades, science fiction movies and television series have featured computers, robots, and androids that disobey, rebel, malfunction, or evolve to the point where they kill human beings and/or attempt to exterminate the human species. This Article draws upon social science research to explain that such stories encourage audiences …

A Program To Improve The Efficiency And Quality Of Patent Examination, N. Hylton, Keith, Lynn Richards, Madisyn

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

In this article we suggest three novel amendments to U.S. patent law to increase efficiency and decrease costs. We first contend that while the assertion of invalid patents is detrimental because of anticompetitive effects, such competition concerns should place no duty upon applicants to disclose prior art at the outset. Additionally, we argue that to avoid resource waste, the USPTO should outsource prior art searches for certain applications, as in Japan. Finally, we propose a system where patentees have the option to elect to a patent box regime that reduces their taxes on patent profits substantially (e.g., from 21% to …

Cross-Border Limitations And Exceptions To Copyright: “Powered By Ai.”, Trimble, Marketa

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Businesses and institutions that wish to utilize copyright protected works in multiple countries face a multiplicity of national copyright laws; although national copyright laws have been harmonized in accordance with several international treaties and harmonized even more in the European Union member states by European Union legislation, countries’ copyright laws continue to vary. The multiplicity of national copyright laws raises costs of transnational operations, including for businesses and institutions that rely on limitations and exceptions to copyright (“L&Es”) in multiple countries. For example, AI companies might want to rely on L&Es to train and deploy their AI in multiple countries, …

Level Up Your Legal Knowledge: A Gamer’S Guide To Navigating Copyright Challenges For Video Game Music Covers And Sheet Music Arrangements., Lee, Aliza Jimin

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Video games are a significant part of many people’s lives, offering immersive worlds, memorable experiences, and music that stays with us long after the controller has been put down. Fans and players who love video game music often express their appreciation by creating music covers, arranging sheet music, and performing video game compositions. However, the legal complexities surrounding copyright are not always top of mind for these creators. This paper explores the intersection of copyright law and fan-created video game music, focusing on covers and sheet music arrangements. It outlines how ownership of music in the video game industry is …

Skinny Labels: Changing Scenario Of Induced Infringement And Public Policy, Sandhu, Amit Dhillon

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention to the inventor. However, when it comes to life-sustaining products, these exclusive rights have a negative impact on people’s lives. The government has tried to develop initiatives, such as the Hatch-Waxman Act, to compensate and speed up the entry of affordable medicines into the market. But when one patent addressing one medical condition (indication) blocks the entry of the generic, the use of skinny labels makes it possible for the generic players to carve out the label and enter the market only with indications that are off-patent. This helps bring …

Venture Capital Culpability: Potential Liabilities For Venture Capital Investment Of Fraudulent Portfolio Companies, Calzia, Kyle D.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Due to the possible detrimental effects of broadening liability for venture capitalists, any change would need to balance the dangers of limiting economic growth with the public policy motives of protecting shareholders. An expansion of securities law in Section 10b and Rule 10b-5 could open venture firms to liability as aider-abettors to securities fraud, specifically when venture firms continue to offer financial or directional assistance after having reason to know of securities fraud by their portfolio companies. Additionally, stricter examinations of agency relationships and director duties that are required from venture firm partners that sit on portfolio boards could see …

Non-Fungible Tokens (Nfts) And Copyright Law, Ochoa, Tyler T.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

The concept of using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to facilitate and authenticate sales of digital art dates back to 2014; but it took several years before the concept really captured public attention. Since copyright law governs the reproduction of works of art, including digital images, the connection to NFTs seems obvious. Yet, copyright law is only tangentially related to NFTs, for two reasons. First, buying an NFT does not, by itself, convey any rights to reproduce or display the work associated with that token. Instead, those rights are governed entirely by the contract that accompanies the sale. Second, minting and selling …

The Copyright Work Of Authorship, Hemnes, Thomas

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

The “work of authorship” lies at the heart of the Copyright Act of 1976. It is what copyright protects. Central though the concept is, the Act never defines what a work of authorship might be. According to the Act, it can be perceived in tangible fixations, but is distinct from the fixations. The Act also provides examples: writings, drawings, computer programs, but never describes how these might be distinguished from their fixations. Unlike the Patent Act, where “metes and bounds” of a patentable invention are defined by a patent’s claims, the Copyright Act provides no guidance as to what the …

Analysis Of Global Data Privacy Regulations And How Transnational Companies Are Impacted, Fujimori-Smith, Aska

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Privacy regulations are being developed and altered globally. An American company working transnationally will want to make sure to comply with the privacy regulations of each country in which the company either conducts business or otherwise utilizes that country’s citizens’ data. Currently, the GDPR has the strictest standards regarding data processing agreements between a primary organization and another data processor. While the CCPA/CPRA and the PDPA require DPAs, a company in compliance with the GDPR will likely comply with the CCPA/CPRA and the PDPA. Case law is evolving to address the extent of the reach of the extraterritorial legislation. However, …

Relying On Unreliable Tech: Unchecked Police Use Of Algorithmic Technologies, Fraerman, Ali

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

In the past two decades, police forces have come to rely on algorithm-based technologies for investigative leads. Several of these technologies are unreliable. They are prone to error, misidentifying suspects, and crimes. When relied upon, they lead to false arrests and unnecessary stop-and-frisks. Yet, there is no coercive mechanism, either regulatory or judicial, that meaningfully governs the use of these algorithmic technologies in law enforcement. As a result, law enforcement agencies are free to disregard potential errors and deploy emerging technologies against communities with little recourse.

This Article looks closely at three technologies—ShotSpotter gunshot detection, facial recognition technology, and rapid …

In Event Of An (Ai) Emergency: Interpreting Continuity Of Government Provisions In State Constitutions, Frazier, Kevin T.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

“Of this I am certain: If we prepare ourselves so that a terrible attack—although it might hurt us—could not destroy us, then such an attack will never come.” - Edward Teller, the “Father of the Hydrogen Bomb,” in an interview with Allen Brown of This Week Magazine in 1957.

Bad actors have already used or may soon use AI to disrupt critical infrastructure, influence elections, and upend economies. Those most concerned about the risks posed by AI argue that it is a matter of when and not if state governments will have to respond to threatened or realized acts of …

Human Reproductive Cloning, Heritable Genome Editing, And The Future Of Novel Reproductive Technologies, Macintosh, Kerry Lynn

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

This Article compares human reproductive cloning (HRC) and heritable genome editing (HGE) to identify factors that encourage bans on novel reproductive technologies. HRC drew legislative opposition in part because it involved asexual reproduction and was incorrectly associated with copying. HGE and other technologies that involve sexual reproduction do not have those problematic qualities. HRC also became entangled with research in which human embryos were cloned to be harvested for their stem cells. HGE did not because scientists learned how to create and edit pluripotent stem cells without creating embryos. However, the legal history of HRC predicts that reproductive technologies strongly …

A Promise Without A Remedy: The Supposed Incompatibility Of The Gplv2 And Apache V2 Licenses, Chestek, Pamela S.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

License “incompatibility” in free and open source software licensing means that, when two differently licensed pieces of software are combined, one cannot comply with both licenses at the same time. It is commonly accepted that the GNU General Public License version 2 is incompatible with the Apache License, version 2 because certain provisions of the Apache License would be considered “further restrictions” not permitted by the GPLv2. However, this article will explain why there is no legally cognizable claim for combining the two, either under a copyright infringement theory or a breach of contract theory.

Weisner V. Google Llc: An Effort To Provide Clarity Regarding Patent Subject Matter Eligibility, Poirot, Nicole

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“Federal Circuit”) recently issued a precedential two-to-one decision regarding patent subject matter eligibility under section 101 of the Patent Act.1 In Weisner v. Google LLC, the Federal Circuit held that U.S. Patent Nos. 10,380,202 and 10,642,910 are directed to abstract ideas of creating digital travel logs which are patent ineligible.2 Additionally, the Court held that U.S. Patent Nos. 10,394,905 and 10,642,911 are directed to both creating and using travel logs to improve computerized search results and are potentially patenteligible.3 The majority’s decision is an attempt to clarify the historically gray …

Algorithmic Auditing: Chasing Ai Accountability, Goodman, Ellen P., Trehu, Julia

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Calls for audits to expose and mitigate harms related to algorithmic decision systems are proliferating,3 and audit provisions are coming into force—notably in the E.U. Digital Services Act.4 In response to these growing concerns, research organizations working on technology accountability have called for ethics and/or human rights auditing of algorithms and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) audit industry is rapidly developing, signified by the consulting giants KPMG and Deloitte marketing their services.5 Algorithmic audits are a way to increase accountability for social media companies and to improve the governance of AI systems more generally. They can be elements of industry codes, …

The Nhk-Fintiv Rule: Patent Law’S Whack-A-Mole, Barbier, Janelle

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Since their inception in 2013, inter partes review proceedings have steadily gained in popularity, killing patents at an astounding rate. It is no wonder that defendants flee to the PTAB when staring down costly patent infringement suits in federal court. But an IPR institution is not a right––it is at the sole discretion of the USPTO Director. And despite increased petitions for IPR over the past few years, institution rates have declined. The reason for fewer institutions seemingly lies with the PTAB’s decision to employ certain factors in determining whether public policy weighs against IPR institution. This precedential doctrine—known as …

The Old And New Divides Of Patent Law: From The Theory Of Antedation To Defining Immediately Envisageable Limited Classes, Condon, Eamon M.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Recently, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“Federal Circuit”) ruled on a patent case involving the application of pre-America Invents Act (“AIA”) antedation and the issue of when a genus of compounds is narrowly limited enough to anticipate an individual compound found within the genus.1 On appeal, this case generally discussed why the claimant’s anticipation and obviousness claims failed.2

While the entire Federal Circuit decision will be discussed, this Comment will discuss in greater depth the reasons why antedation is no longer applicable under the AIA, and the implications of the Federal Circuit’s decision to not …

Placing A Bid: A Comparison Of The Traditional Marketplace (Stocks) And Non-Traditional Markets (Nfts), Nieh, Haley

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) are exploding in the marketplace and are not losing momentum anytime soon. Artists, athletes, celebrities, and even brands and luxury houses are rolling out NFTs. With this excitement, a great deal of profit is being generated; the market cap of NFTs is expected to grow from $3 billion in 2022 to $13.6 billion in 2027 (a compound annual growth rate of 35 percent).1

Blockchain technologies are an empowering platform for democratization of financial instruments and transactions. Cryptocurrency has received some regulation from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but clarity and regulation of NFTs have …

Intersection Of U.S. Patents And Space Law – How Infringement Exists Among The Stars, Perez, Erik I.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

With the recent proliferation of the commercialization of space, private entities are beginning to race towards the sky. Increased use of privatized money in space has greatly increased the probability of intellectual property used outside the bounds of the United States on the terrestrial Earth. Current literature has analyzed certain aspects of international space treaties but very few have proposed solutions to combatting space travel. Current literature has not proposed any solutions to the current evolution and explosion of space travel. This paper reviews the past historical analysis from previous authors, looks forward to the proliferation of privatized space travel, …

Biotechnology Patent Law Top Ten Of 2021. Experimentation, Blaze Marks, And Unspecified Ranges, Noonan, Kevin E., Torrance, Andrew W.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Biotechnology has never demonstrated its benefits to society more than in 2021. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the CoVID-19 pandemic met a formidable opponent in mRNA vaccines developed and supplied by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech. These vaccines are claimed in myriad – not Myriad – patents and patent applications, many of which are destined to be litigated over the coming years, not least inspired by the many billions of dollars that have been, and will continue to be, earned by their owners. While the world waits for this storm of patent litigation, federal courts continue to be busy with ownership, licensing, …

Data Insecurity Law, Stein, David

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

By broad consensus, data security laws have failed to stem a rising tide of data breaches. Lawmakers and commentators blame these failures on some combination of underenforcement and the laws failure to recognize the full range of data breach harms. Proposed solutions would augment or expand existing data security laws.

These proposed solutions share a fatal flaw: they are rooted in traditional theories of deterrence by punishment. Data security laws come in three forms: duties to protect data, duties to notify consumers after a breach, and post-breach remedies. Almost every data security law is enforced through sanctions, most of which …

The Major Questions Doctrine And The Threat To Regulating Emerging Technologies, Johnson, Walter G., Tournas, Lucille M.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Emerging technologies offer the potential to improve health and quality of life but also pose notable risks to safety, wellbeing, and equity. Law and technology scholarship posits that robust policy and regulatory strategies in the public interest are required to manage these complex benefits, risks, and uncertainties. At the same time, the Supreme Court in its recent jurisprudence appears eager to revitalize nondelegation legal norms, especially through the major questions doctrine—a shifting administrative law doctrine that increasingly appears to act as a clear statement rule when interpreting statutory grants of authority to regulatory agencies. This article argues the major questions …

Reconceptualizing Conception: Making Room For Artificial Intelligence Inventions, Villasenor, John

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Artificial intelligence (AI) enables the creation of inventions that no natural person conceived, at least as conception is traditionally understood in patent law. These can be termed “AI inventions,” i.e., inventions for which an AI system has contributed to the conception in a manner that, if the AI system were a person, would lead to that person being named as an inventor. Deeming such inventions unpatentable would undermine the incentives at the core of the patent system, denying society access to the full benefits of the extraordinary potential of AI systems with respect to innovation. But naming AI systems as …

Welcome To The Land Of Trademark Cancellation––Where Not All Fraud Is Created Equal, Barbier, Janelle

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

The intellectual property community is buzzing about a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit handing down a ruling on trademark cancellation under the Lanham Act. A divided panel grappled with whether the Agency had authority to cancel a trademark registration as a punishment for filing a false declaration. The majority held that the Agency was precluded from canceling the registration as a remedy for fraud unrelated to the issuance or maintenance of that mark. However, the dissent took aim at the majority’s reasoning, making a compelling argument that green- lighting any type of fraud …

Remedies For Universal Service Funding Compassion Fatigue, Frieden, Rob

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

Nearly every nation in the world has a government mandated program aiming to make telecommunications service more widely available and affordable. Universal service funding subsidies have garnered popular support largely based on the shared view that society and individuals benefit from progress in achieving ubiquitous and affordable access, initially to voice telephone service. Technological developments and changes in consumer requirements have generated support for expanding the universal service mission to include broadband access to the Internet, and to identify a growing number of subsidy beneficiaries, now including schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, telephone companies operating in high-cost areas, and people with …

Auris Health, Inc. V. Intuitive Surgical Operations: A New “Rigid Rule” For Patent Obviousness, Moawad, Jake

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

AURIS HEALTH, INC. V. INTUITIVE SURGICAL

OPERATIONS:

A NEW “RIGID RULE” FOR PATENT OBVIOUSNESS Auris Health, Inc. v. Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.,

32 F.4th 1154 (Fed. Cir. 2022)♦

Federal Circuit Declines To Find Patent Claims Indefinite For Broad Descriptive Words (And An Ode To 1l Civil Procedure), Barbier, Janelle

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

FEDERAL CIRCUIT DECLINES TO FIND PATENT CLAIMS INDEFINITE FOR BROAD DESCRIPTIVE WORDS (AND AN ODE TO 1L CIVIL PROCEDURE)

Niazi Licensing Corporation v. St. Jude Medical S.C., Inc., 30 F.4th 1339 (Fed. Cir. 2022)♦

A Proposed Analytical Framework For Resolving An Intra-Court Split On Claim Construction Ambiguity, Perez, Erik I.

Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal

The Federal Circuit was created to ensure patent law consistency by reducing inter-circuit splits.1 For decades, the Federal Circuit has oscillated between two standards associated with claim construction. This Article attempts to explain, analyze, and propose a solution to the intra-court split on claim construction. Part I examines the historical overview of patent litigation. This section briefly describes patent document sections, protectable patent rights, and patent interpretation shifts, from relying on the patent’s specification, to the patent’s claim. Part II examines current patent law. This section briefly describes how patent claims are interpreted and what role the specification aids in …