Worldwide: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

The Federal Communications Commission advances multiple regulatory proposals targeting national security concerns in telecommunications, including restrictions on entities identified on the Covered List and new equipment authorization requirements. Key developments include proposed exclusions from domestic Section 214 authority, enhanced cybersecurity controls for federal contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information, and updated technical frameworks for satellite spectrum sharing.

Amendments to the Texas mini-TCPA significantly expanded its reach by requiring certain businesses to obtain a registration certificate from the Texas secretary of state. Against this backdrop, one recent decision is a useful reminder of the statute’s significant exemptions.

Over the past few months, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a number of new steps to pursue what Chairman Brendan Carr first described in October 2025 as a “different approach” to illegal robocalls: targeting the problem “at every point of the call path” by placing more responsibility on voice service providers to police their networks and the traffic they accept from others.

Federal prosecutors and regulators have launched unprecedented enforcement actions against prediction market users, alleging insider trading and commodities fraud violations.

The CFTC has proposed comprehensive amendments to regulate event contracts on prediction markets, raising critical questions about where to draw the line between legitimate economic activity and activity contrary to the public interest.

On June 10, 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking public comment on proposed amendments to CFTC Regulation...

Taylor Swift faces a trademark dispute over her album title "The Life of a Showgirl" with performer Maren Flagg, who holds a 12-year registration for "Confessions of a Showgirl." The case centers on reverse confusion claims and whether Swift's global fame could overwhelm Flagg's earlier trademark rights, raising questions about brand dilution and the commercial impact of similar marks in the entertainment industry.

When Taylor Swift released her album 'The Life of a Showgirl,' she faced a trademark infringement lawsuit from Maren Flagg, who claimed the title violated her registered trademark CONFESSIONS OF A SHOWGIRL. The case explores the critical boundary between artistic expression and commercial trademark use, particularly when musical artists transform album releases into merchandise-driven business ventures.

The State of Colorado has taken a notable step in reshaping how creative businesses can be structured and financed with the introduction of the Colorado Artist Company Act (SB26 133).

Illinois has enacted a sweeping fiscal year 2027 budget that fundamentally reshapes state taxation for the digital economy, introducing new levies on targeted advertising, social media platforms, and digital asset transactions. The legislation also imposes volume-based taxes on fantasy contests and prediction markets while limiting corporate net operating loss deductions and expanding marketplace facilitator obligations to hotel booking platforms.

On Friday, the National Association of Consumer Advocates (“NACA”) filed a lawsuit against Polymarket, its CEO, and its CMO alleging that the company’s influencer campaigns violate consumer protection laws.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has unanimously ruled that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act does not shield Meta from state claims targeting Instagram's design features and deceptive marketing practices. This decision represents a significant shift in how courts interpret the scope of immunity for social media platforms, distinguishing between content-based claims and design-based liability. The ruling allows the Commonwealth's consumer protection lawsuit to proceed, potentially forcin