This week, we’re providing an overview of (i) the year-over-year increase in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuits, (ii) New York’s employee intellectual property (IP) law, and (iii) the collaborative agreement between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

EEOC Lawsuits Increase

For fiscal year 2023, the EEOC reported a 50 percent increase in lawsuits filed by the agency compared to the previous year. The end of the fiscal year typically brings a spike in EEOC-filed lawsuits, but in 2023, that jump added to an already bustling year of EEOC litigation.

New York Law Protects Employee IP

On September 15, 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a new section of the New York Labor Law that restricts the assignment of employee IP. The new law makes unenforceable any provision in an employment agreement that requires an employee to assign to the employer certain inventions developed on the employee’s own time. 

FTC and DOL Sign Collaborative Agreement

On September 21, 2023, the FTC and the DOL announced a new memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU outlines possible areas of collaboration between the two agencies, including information sharing, training, and investigations and enforcement activity.