Richmond Journal of Law and Technology

The first exclusively online law review.

Tag: JOLT Page 1 of 5

AI and Inventorship: Navigating the Uncertain Future of Patent Law

By

On February 5, 2026

In Blog Posts

AI and Inventorship: Navigating the Uncertain Future of Patent Law

By: Lara Miller

The expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in society has been accompanied by significant concerns and unanswered questions across numerous sectors. One sector in which these questions have become particularly apparent is the patent system, where AI’s influence has begun to challenge longstanding doctrinal foundations. The patent law system was designed to provide exclusive rights to inventors for their novel, useful, and non-obvious inventions.[1] One of the primary requisites needed to obtain a patent is that the applicant must be the actual inventor of the invention that they are trying to get patented.[2] As a result of the increasing use of AI during the inventive process, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has been confronted with numerous questions and challenges about how AI-assisted inventions should be treated.

Read More

The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Creators and the Role of the Fair Use Doctrine

By

On January 28, 2026

In Blog Posts

The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Creators and the Role of the Fair Use Doctrine

By: Georgina Michelle

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly integral part of life, with many benefits that ease daily tasks.[1] These developments are viewed simultaneously as a leap forward in human innovation and ingenuity by proponents, and as a stifling of creativity by opponents.[2]  On one hand, the use of AI tools can lead to greater efficiency, leaving redundant tasks to be completed on autopilot, creating space and allotting time for projects that require greater effort.[3]  On the other hand, the rise of AI unleashes a host of ethical and moral dilemmas, issues regarding personal privacy, and various forms of cybercrime.[4] Among these ethical issues grows the increasing concern for protecting intellectual property, with opponents calling for the prevention of content farming by AI in order to optimize its operation.[5]

Read More

Calls for Change: How Interactive Voice Response Technology Aims to Eliminate Harmful Traditional Practices in Ethiopia

By

On January 28, 2026

In Blog Posts

Calls for Change: How Interactive Voice Response Technology Aims to Eliminate Harmful Traditional Practices in Ethiopia

By: Reagan Steirn

 

 

Advocacy efforts in the prevention of child marriage and female genital mutilation (“FGM”) in Ethiopia have increased with the testing and implementation of Interactive Voice Response (“IVR”) technology.[1] With 40% percent of girls married before the age of eighteen and 65% percent of women and girls aged 15-49 having undergone FGM[2], IVR technology aims to strengthen young girls’ knowledge and skill sets in the opposition of these harmful traditional practices.[3] IVR allows for the delivery of information, such as the life skills training programme, to reach girls without the need for a live agent by utilizing either pre-recorded messages or text-to-speech technology with a dual-tone multi-frequency (“DTMF”) interface.[4] While interactive in nature, IVR technology requires minimum literacy.[5] The goal of IVR is to equip adolescents with the tools needed to oppose child marriage and FGM, understand the generational impacts of these harmful traditional practices, become informed about support services for targeted individuals, and encourage increased reporting of such incidents.[6]

Read More

Virtual Infidelity: Is Cheating with an AI Girlfriend Considered Adultery?

By

On November 28, 2025

In Blog Posts

Virtual Infidelity: Is Cheating with an AI Girlfriend Considered Adultery?

By: Carolyn Potts

Her, a film about a man who falls in love with a virtual assistant, was released in 2013.[1] When the movie came out, virtual affairs may have seemed like science fiction, but now, twelve years later, “virtual infidelity” has become a harsh reality for a growing number of couples. For many people, Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) is seen as a tool to answer questions or to manage tasks, but for some, it provides a sense of romantic companionship. Platforms generating AI girlfriends are experiencing a massive growth in popularity, with millions of users.[2] While most of these searches are initiated by young single men, many users engaging in relationships with AI chatbots are married to real life people.[3] The recent rise in AI love affairs begs the question, how do these virtual relationships factor in to divorce cases?

Read More

How Would Drones Piloted by A.I. Affect Our Fourth Amendment Rights?

By

On November 28, 2025

In Blog Posts

How Would Drones Piloted by A.I. Affect Our Fourth Amendment Rights?

By: Joseph Coyle

In January 2025, drone manufacturer Red Cat announced a partnership with Palladyne AI to integrate Palladyne Pilot AI software into Red Cat’s Black Widow drones.[1] These drones are designed to be able to identify, prioritize, and track targets with little to no human direction.[2] Red Cat first unveiled the Black Widow drone in 2024.[3] These drones are already in use in the United States Military.[4] The Black Widow drone is fitted with a GPS system, camera, electro-optical sensors, infrared sensors, and has a flight time of over forty-five minutes.[5]

Read More

Labubu vs. Lafufu: Pop Mart’s Battle for IP Protection and the Tech Behind Authenticity Verification

By

On November 28, 2025

In Blog Posts

Labubu vs. Lafufu: Pop Mart’s Battle for IP Protection and the Tech Behind Authenticity Verification

By: Anneliese McInnis

Labubus, the grinning, wide-eyed plush dolls, have grown exponentially in popularity among young Americans, capturing their hearts and wallets. The collectible doll generally retails for $20 to $30, but rarer figures sell for thousands; the most expensive Labubu sold for $150,000 at an auction in Beijing.[1] Pop Mart has capitalized on their popularity by introducing the viral “blind-box” model that fuels suspense in customers eager to find out which Labubu doll they will unwrap.[2] This unique model, however, has made the company susceptible to counterfeit products on the market copying the plush dolls’ distinct features.[3]

Read More

You Got a Snap! How Snapchat Became a Child Predator’s Playground and How AI Can Help

By

On October 8, 2025

In Blog Posts

You Got a Snap! How Snapchat Became a Child Predator’s Playground and How AI Can Help

By: Jessica Huynh

Since its launch in September 2011, Snapchat has skyrocketed to dominance as a leading social media platform.[1] Currently, Snapchat has 453 million daily users worldwide, with U.S. teenagers ranking it the second most important social media network of their generation.[2] The app allows users to share photos, videos, and messages known as “snaps” with friends.[3] What differentiates Snapchat from other social media platforms is its unique feature that makes snaps disappear after the recipient opens the snap.[4] Snapchat transformed social media by redefining message deletion, turning it from a drawback into a key feature.[5] While this key feature has allowed for more candid conversations, it has also presented new dangers: the increased creation and distribution of child pornography.

Read More

The Genius Act and The Rise of Federally Regulated Cryptocurrency

By

On October 6, 2025

In Blog Posts

The Genius Act and The Rise of Federally Regulated Cryptocurrency

By: Kira Johnson

I.           Overview

On July 18, 2025, President Trump signed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, known as the GENIUS Act (the “Act”), into law.[1] Now, federal and state regulators are tasked with creating the rulemaking necessary to implement the Act, including capital requirements and risk management policies.[2] The GENIUS Act will become effective on the earlier of two dates: (1) eighteen months after the date of enactment or (2) 120 days after a primary federal payment stablecoin regulator issues final implementing regulations.[3]

Read More

Gifford v. Sheil: Can an Influencer Own an Aesthetic?

By

On September 28, 2025

In Blog Posts

Gifford v. Sheil: Can an Influencer Own an Aesthetic?

By: Shoham Lewin

As an increasing number of companies use social media influencers as part of their marketing strategy, the influencer industry is valued at approximately $250 billion.[1] Within this multi-billion dollar industry, influencers compete for lucrative brand deals, each using their aesthetic to distinguish themselves.[2] A recent case out of Texas has raised the question of whether these creators legally own their social media aesthetic and, consequently, whether they can utilize intellectual property law to stop other creators from using that same aesthetic.[3]

Read More

Page 1 of 5

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén