The apprehension surrounding novel technology and the impact of it is not new; especially in cases where this introduction has had the tumult that Artificial Intelligence has endured. AI has served as an unnecessary boogeyman in the public consciousness. There is undoubtedly a potential unlike any other in this developing technology, yet we keep it at arm’s length. On the other hand, there is some warranted concern with such a powerful tool, but not from the tool itself. Like with any sea change in publicly available innovation, there will be those who abuse the gap between what is possible, and what has been legislated against. Inevitably, bad actors will use…

On April 1, 2024, the Syracuse University Journal of Internal Law and Commerce held their annual banquet for Volume 51. We spent time reflecting on our successful year, as well as discussing our vision for many more years to come! Additionally, we presented awards to individuals who displayed exceptional dedication to the Journal this past year. Congratulations to allow of our recipients. Award Recipients 2L of the Year: Sarah Smith 3L of the Year: Jennifer Arinze JILC Award: Michael Homme and Jessica Buffamonti L. Frederick E. Goldie Award: Andrew Castelletti, Leah Dawit, Eduardo Kreimerman Meyohas, and Lisa Phair Notes Selected for Publication: James Whitlow, Dana Krinsky, Emily Alexander, and Kurt…

Trademark is vital to the success of a business, protecting the recognizability and distinctiveness of a business’ name and preventing imitators from siphoning cash away from the original firm. But sometimes, quibbles over names, likenesses and branding can verge on absurd and drag on for years. The name Iceland has become synonymous with cold, fish and volcanic activity, making news with the latter recently. Situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and over the meeting of two tectonic plates, Iceland is renowned for its seismic and volcanic activity, as well as its bitter cold winters. When thinking of the name “Iceland,” most of the world rightfully associates it with the country above,…

With the dramatic development of technology, artificial intelligence has grown so big that it now transcends almost all areas of industries. Especially in the art industry, AI has emerged as a powerful collaborator in art as its algorithms generate intricate compositions and digital masterpieces. Following this trend, such attributions of AI-generated artworks have raised questions regarding ownership and protection issues, alarming awareness of the relationship between such works and copyright law. Companies like OpenAI and StabilityAI started to release AI-enabled text and image generators beginning in late 2022. Initially, the Copyright Office was not prepared to decide on these works’ eligibility as copyrighted works until 2022, when author Kris Kashtanova’s…

The on-going debate of whether student-athletes should be considered as employees continues to linger. One area particularly looked upon in consideration is the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) laws that allow student-athletes to profit from their personal brands. In recent years, the landscape of college-level sports has vastly transformed in accordance with the continuous growth in new NIL laws. However, there is one class of student-athletes whose accessibility to these sizeable opportunities has been specifically handicapped, and that is international student-athletes. Twelve percent of D-I athletes are international student-athletes who continue to face unique legal implications that intertwine visa regulations, work authorization, university policies, and tax considerations. Differential…

We have all heard the phrase, “once something is on the internet, it’s there forever.” Though this may be true, a new concern is not that an item is available in an easily accessible digital format, but more, who can say they own this digital format. As the world progresses and we change the way we trade, buy, and own items, a new way of owning and protecting digital objects has emerged. This new way is through Non-Fungible Tokens. Non-fungible tokens (NFT) are a new form of digital ownership. According to Forbes, NFTs are “a digital asset that can come in the form of art, music, in-game items, videos, and more.…

Beneath the surface of bustling global trade and commerce, there’s a subtle yet unmistakable signal: the approach of a global economic slowdown, a phenomenon reshaping more than just market trends. This deceleration, as projected by the UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects report for 2024, indicates a growth rate dwindling to just 2.4%. Yet, this figure is more than a cold statistic; it vividly portrays the deep-seated imbalances in a system that often tips the scales in favor of capital over labor. The numbers tell a story, not just of markets and economies, but of the lives and struggles of those who form the backbone of these systems​​. In developing…

As a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States, the G7, and other international partners have imposed unprecedented global economic sanctions on the Russian Federation with the goal of degrading its defense sector, its ability to extract energy resources, and its access to the global financial system. The aim of the economic sanctions against the Russian Federation is to inhibit Russia’s ability to manufacture sophisticated weapons and generate revenue to fund its war in Ukraine. At present, only the United States, the European Union, and a limited number of allies have imposed sanctions. This means that only western companies need to be concerned with their…

In October of this year, the Marshall Islands, situated in the Central Pacific, was the last of three island nations to renew their Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States, inking a $2.3 billion deal that continues a nearly eighty-year relationship.  The agreement was a win for U.S. national defense strategy as the tug-of-war for influence in the region continues between the U.S. and China.  After World War II, the territories that were formerly claimed by Japan became a United Nations strategic-area trusteeship administered by the U.S., known as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The Trust Territory included the over 2,100 islands of Micronesia divided between…