Womble Perspectives

Today, we’re diving into a significant development in intellectual property law that’s making waves across the intellectual property sector. On November 28, 2025, the USPTO published new guidance on inventorship for AI-assisted inventions, and it’s a big shift from what we saw in early 2024. The main headline is simple but powerful: there will be no separate inventorship standard for AI-assisted inventions. The same legal standard that applies to traditional inventions applies here. And consistent with long-standing case law, only natural persons, that is to say human beings, can be listed as inventors. 

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• USPTO Replaces AI Inventorship Guidance

About the authors

• Alex Wharton
• Ben Bourke
• Chris Mammen

In this episode, we’re diving into a critical topic that deals with the future of energy: spent nuclear fuel, or SNF. And as of right now, the U.S. has more than 91,000 metric tons of SNF sitting in storage with no permanent solution.

 That’s a truly staggering number. Especially since about 95% of that material can actually be reused. And through reprocessing and recycling, we could turn what we call “waste” into new reactor fuel, which would dramatically reduce high-level waste.

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• Unlocking the Potential of Spent Nuclear Fuel – Renewed Interest in Reprocessing and Recycling in the United States

About the author

• Thomas J. Dougherty
  
  

Today we're breaking down a copyright decision out of the Southern District of New York. On January 8, 2026, the court granted Universal Music Group’s motion to dismiss in a case brought by hip‑hop legends Salt‑N‑Pepa. 

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• Universal Music Group’s Recent Success in Blocking Section 203 Termination Rights Could Pose a Threat to Artists’ Abilities to Reclaim Sound Recording Rights in the Future.

About the authors

• William T. Ramsey
• Mariam N. Stockton
• Dani Bhadare-Valente 

Today we’re diving into a health care policy and focusing in on the Make America Healthy Again Commission, or the MAHA Commission. It launched in 2025, and its recommendations reach deep into pharmaceutical marketing and prescriber engagement.

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• How the MAHA Commission Could Influence Pharmaceutical Marketing and Prescriber Education

About the author

• Matt Quinn, Ph.D. 

Today we’re unpacking a development from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. On January 16th, 2026, the Board released Notice 2026‑04, an important update for anyone with online gaming products outside Nevada. 

And when we say “online gaming,” the Board defines it really broadly. We're talking real‑money gambling over the internet, plus all the systems, platforms, content, and software that power it. Basically, if money moves digitally in a gaming environment, you should assume this applies to you.

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• Industry Guidance for Online Gaming Products

About the authors

• Karl F. Rutledge
• Glenn Light
• Donghyun Lee 

Today, we’re diving into a topic that impacts nearly every voice service provider in the U.S.: robocalls. As 2026 begins, the FCC and FTC are ramping up enforcement, and states are joining the fight. 

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• Don’t Leave Your Robocall Obligations Behind in 2026!

About the authors

• Jill Canfield, Esq
• Peter A. Gregory

Today, we’re taking a look at some changes in the way U.S. businesses invest abroad: the new outbound investment rules under the COINS Act. For decades, U.S. foreign investment laws were all about inbound investments aimed at protecting U.S. businesses from foreign control.

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• Historic Change in U.S. Foreign Direct Investment: New Restrictions on U.S. Outbound Investment Abroad

About the author

• David Vance Lucas

In this episode, we dive into the record-breaking $18.5 million Huntsman v. Southwest Airlines settlement, the largest USERRA class action recovery ever reported, and what it means for employers. From policy audits to training and risk management, learn how proactive measures can help avoid costly litigation while supporting employees who serve.

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• Soaring to Service: $18.5M USERRA Settlement and HR Takeaways – What HR Needs to Know About Military Leave Pay

About the authors

• Andreas Mosby
• Martha J. Zackin

In this episode, we unpack the EPA and Army Corps’ proposed changes to the definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act—a shift that could reshape federal jurisdiction and impact industries from construction to agriculture. With fewer permits and reduced oversight on the horizon, we explore what this means for businesses, environmental protections, and the regulatory landscape moving forward.

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• EPA and Army Corps Propose Narrower Definition of “Waters of the United States”

About the authors

• Lisa Rushton
• Ana Maria Gutiérrez
• Michael D. Miller
• Grace Hearn

Today, we’re cracking open a really significant resource in the world of high-stakes litigation. It's the updated White Collar Crime, Third Edition, 2025 Edition 9 volume legal treatise, edited by WBD’s Michael Clark and Luke Cass, published by Thomson Reuters.

About the authors:

• Luke Cass
• Michael Clark