Cobalt LLP

Breaking: FTC settles PRIME lawsuit with Amazon and two co execs, including payment of $2.5B for civil penalty and restitution to 35MM affected PRIME customers.
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FTC Votes on Negative Option Rule Deadline Today the Federal Trade Commission voted to defer the compliance deadline for the amended Negative Option Rule by 60 days.

Unprecedented for the FTC to drop a press release (late on a Friday) without an email, but maybe the details reveal the devil. Want the TL;DR? “We’re delaying the Negative Option Rule 60 days. We might even amend it, because compliance is hard.

www.ftc.gov/news-events/...

Proud to stand with my colleagues in re-taking my ethical oath to uphold the rule of law. Resistance is not only warranted, it's mandatory.

'National Law Day of Action; May 1, 2025; Oath of Admission to the Bar" with the Oath written out beneath. As taken in Tucson, AZ today

For some of us, it has been many decades since we took an oath we continue to hold sacred, and today, we re-affirmed it nationwide. Lawyers are the last line of defense. It is an honor to uphold the rule of law and stand on the front line.

Attorneys and Staff at the Rule of Law Rally, Oakland CA

Rule of Law Rally in Oakland, California

Cobalt LLP participating on both coasts today.

Attorney Marc Roth holding up a sign that reads "The Rule of Law is Not For Sale" at a Rally in NYC.

Cobalt LLP is proud to Stand for the Rule of Law today with its colleagues nationwide. Today we join together to re-take our ethical oath and stand against the tyranny and lawlessness of the Trump Administration.

FTC Takes Action Against Uber for Deceptive Billing and Cancellation Practices The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit today against Uber, alleging the rideshare and delivery company charged consumers for its Uber One subscription service without their consent, failed to

The FTC has sued Uber for engaging in unfair and deceptive acts and practices in marketing and operating its Uber One subscription service. See press release below for details. Unclear whether the FTC actually cares about enforcing its rules or is just selectively targeting #BigTech (Amazon, Meta).

FCC Stays New Revocation Rules Until April 2026 FCC Stays New Revocation Rules Until April 2026

The #FCC just stayed its new Consent Revocation Rule for one year. It requires companies to apply a STOP or END reply to a text msg to all future related and unrelated calls/texts using regulated (automated) technology or pre-recorded calls. Read more on our blog.
www.cobaltlaw.com/fcc-stays-ne...

Brad Karp’s defensive explanation has as much integrity as a lawn chair in a hurricane. If this were The Godfather, he’d be Fredo with a LinkedIn profile: “Experienced in spinelessness and passionate about selling out his legal family for short-term gain.” Thank you, Perkins!

Defendant Meta came out swinging this week, against claims it stole authors' works to train its LLMs. Meta, it seems, hopes to broaden the scope of Google v. Oracle. Are we on the cusp of a historic ruling allowing Facebook to legally steal your rom-com fanfic script, or will peace break out?

Infringement or nah? Sam Smith’s “Dancing with a Stranger” case gets another look by the 9th Circuit. It’s not Sam’s first Copyright Infringement Rodeo. Maybe he should change his name to Vanilli and be done with it.

The thing we take with us as lawyers is our ethics. When we bend the knee for the almighty dollar, we should stop practicing law. #YouKnowWhatYouDid. #ShameOnOurProfession #EthicsMatter

North Carolina AG pushes back on ByteDance Motion to Dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company knowingly addicted kids to TikTok. You might want to ask your teens about it, when they return from their TA meeting.

Trump Fires Democrats on Federal Trade Commission The decision to fire the two Democratic members of the traditionally independent regulatory body is likely to face a legal challenge.

Precedent matters, or at least it should. For 90 years, the SCOTUS Humphrey's Executor v. US decision -- that a president cannot fire the head of an independent agency -- has been settled law. #RuleofLaw

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/t...

“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” Not exactly the fire & brimstone we’d like, but we’ll take it, Johnny!

New Report Shows FTC Returned $337.3 Million to Consumers in 2024 As a result of the agency’s law enforcement actions, the Federal Trade Commission sent $337.3 million in refunds to consumers in 2024, according to the FTC’s annual report on refunds released today

Trump’s FTC takes credit for consumer protection actions under Commissioner Khan and the Biden Administration. Sounds about right.

www.ftc.gov/news-events/...

California’s CAADCA shelved amid First Amendment challenged. If passed, the Act would have required companies who potentially offer products and services to children, to consider their specific needs. “Click here for the extended warranty on your Dora backpack, Susie!"

Honda fined $632 million by the CPPA for requiring more consumer personal data than necessary and making it tough for consumers to exercise their privacy rights. Pro-Tip: The US is moving to more GDPR-like privacy policies. Stop asking for mom’s snack schedule, folks. Unless you need it.

When is a Jesuit like a Honey Badger? When Ed Martin tries to silence a person with actual integrity! @georgetownlaw.bsky.social don’t care! And we are here for it. Ethics matter. Thank you, Dean Treanor!

Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. The

We have been across the table from our esteemed colleagues at Perkins Coie, but today we stand in solidarity. Gloves are off and we’re ready to fight! When you go after them, you go after us! #HoldOurEarrings

www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Consumers smell blood in the water with class action suit against Shark Tank LLC for sending text ads after users replied STOP. ProTip: The TCPA contains a private right of action and statutory damages of up to $1500 per violation, so learn the rules and honor the opt out.

Utah is poised to be the 1st state to force minors to get parental permission to download apps, thus making it roughly as difficult for 16 year olds to access PBSKids as to marry a third cousin. ProTip: if passed, companies may need to revisit their advertising and online data collection practices.

Organized Crime, but make it cute! Shein, fast fashion’s John Gotti, is facing over 100 lawsuits for stealing IP, including a RICO claim.
Pro-Tip: register designs! Damages can be hard to prove, but copyright registration allows US entities to sue in federal court and get statutory damages.

With the President hitting the pause button on enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, expect Stephen Miller’s hair transplant to be free. Unrelated, Lake Huron has been renamed the gulf of Istanbul.

German court rules Birkenstock sandals aren’t “art” protected by copyright (just comfy footwear), upsetting the entire city of Berkeley. Thank goodness. Now, innovative, fashion-forward Balenciaga designers can put the slavish copies they made of the iconic sandal back in their store front windows.

NOPE! "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

Law360 reports today that John Squires is Trump’s pick for Director of the PTO. Time will tell whether this represents a Bigly makeover, or if the place will be renamed the Perfect and Tremendous Office and issue the “greatest trademarks ever."

Is it fascism? Or just cowardice from a weak man not qualified to lead? Cobalt stands firm with the non-partisan @americanbar.org, and against Ferguson's cowardly attempt to silence FTC attorneys from the free exchange of ideas.

www.ftc.gov/system/files...

Judge sides with UC students, blocks DOGE from Education Department loan data A federal judge grants UC students a short-term win, blocking Elon Musk's DOGE team from Education Department loan data.

Judge blocks fake govt entity, DOGE, from unfettered access to student records, pursuant to lawsuit filed by UC Berkeley students. Pro-Tip: to avoid privacy breach lawsuits, don’t hire Elon Musk.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

“A smart man knows when he is right; a wise man knows when he is wrong. Wisdom does not always find me, so I try to embrace it when it does — even if it comes late, as it did here.” Judge Bibas’ graceful preamble to find copyright infringement by ROSS, which trained its product on Westlaw’s tools.