Section 365(n) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Title 11) protects the rights of intellectual property (IP) non-debtor licensees. Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code allows a debtor –in-possession, or a trustee (e.g., a software vendor) to: (a) assume, (b) assign, or (c) reject certain executory contracts – which would typically include software licenses. A debtor in possession’s decision to assume, assign, or reject an executory contract is subject to court approval, certain deadlines and other requirements detain Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Key Points

Earlier today, Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Judge David R. Jones (the “Court”) issued an oral ruling on motions for summary judgment regarding the propriety of Serta’s 2020 “uptier” liability management transaction (the “Transaction”). As described below, the Court ruled that the term “open market purchase” in the governing credit agreements was unambiguous, and that the Transaction “very clearly” was an open market purchase.

The sudden and spectacular failure of three regional banks within a week has pushed all other business stories off the front pages and has financial markets anxiously asking where the fallout stops. As unique as the underlying causes of each failure were, at their core these were all good old-fashioned bank runs triggered by liquidity issues.

In a decision that once again evidences the Fifth Circuit’s strong stance on the finality of asset sales in bankruptcy absent a stay of the applicable order, on March 8, 2023 the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas published a memorandum opinion and order affirming a bankruptcy court’s exercise of Bankruptcy Code provisions to strip subrogation rights of certain sureties (the “Sureties”) against an asset purchaser.

FTX. Blockfi. Voyager. Celsius Network. Genesis. Silvergate Capital Corp. Whether due to alleged corporate fraud or the waterfall effect of a downward spiraling industry, as the past year has unfolded more and more cryptocurrency giants—previously touted by pundits and celebrities as sound new age investments—have filed for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

Small business owners commonly guaranty certain obligations of their businesses. This stages a potential domino effect if the business is unable to satisfy its obligations. A failed business triggers a creditor to pursue the personal guaranty of the business owner, which can cause the business owner to file a bankruptcy petition if they do not have the ability to satisfy the guaranty. In those scenarios, the guaranty liability is a primary cause of the business owner’s bankruptcy and discharging that guaranty liability is the primary goal.

Debtors in possession or other estate representatives are required to pay U.S. Trustee fees during the pendency of the case. It is often assumed that other entities to whom estate property is transferred must also pay such fees until the case is closed. But as a couple of recent cases illustrate, it may be possible with careful drafting to curtail the reporting and payment of such fees once assets are transferred to a liquidating trust.

For at least the past decade, federal bankruptcy courts have routinely prohibited cannabis businesses from seeking protection under federal bankruptcy law, regardless of whether a cannabis business is legally operating under state law.

“Creative destruction” occurs when something new kills off whatever existed before it.

IPhone Example

Just think, for example, of all the creative destruction that the iPhone has wrought! It has destroyed businesses that provided telephones and phone books, cameras and film, audio recordings and players, newspapers and newsstands, and related services.