Internet platform providers rely upon developers of applications to populate their application stores. Some platform providers mandate app developers to use the platform’s in-app purchasing system as a condition to sell the apps on the platform. There have also been commission charges as high as 30% imposed on digital goods or services sold through their stores. The temptation to use their enormous leverage to gain further economic advantage is understandable, but governments, not to mention app developers, have taken an increasingly dim view of this behavior. A number of countries are considering legislation to prohibit such mandates by Internet platform providers. A leading example is the Republic of Korea, where its legislature has just voted to enact such a prohibition.
Continue Reading Legislatures Can Free App Developers from Platform Providers’ Mandates to Use Their In-App Purchasing Systems Without Violating WTO Principles
Hwan Kim
Hwan Kim is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. He also serves as a leader of the firm's International Litigation and Arbitration Team.
Seeking foreign investors for your tech startup? Congress says, “not so fast.”
By J. Scott Maberry, Reid Whitten & Hwan Kim on
Posted in CFIUS
The U.S. Congress is currently considering legislation that would tap the brakes on foreign direct investment in the United States, particularly on investments in sensitive industries like artificial intelligence, robotics, and semiconductors. We know: you’re saying we already have that in the form of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (known as CFIUS).
Continue Reading Seeking foreign investors for your tech startup? Congress says, “not so fast.”