Buzko Legal

Lawyers for builders and founders

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

The turning point was recognizing that Apple was no longer looking at one app's metadata. It was looking at the whole account and the process behind it.

See the full case study, including the mistakes we see most often in pending-termination appeals: https://t.co/AXM62ttPke.

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

Apple restored 499 accounts out of 10,127 termination appeals in 2025, or about 5%.

Robert Lynch has written up how we recently helped a mobile game developer land in that 5% after Apple rejected their first appeal under Section 3.2(f) of the Developer Program License Agreement.

[Roman Buzko @roman_buzko]

I hacked together a small weekend project: TopDisputes[.]com (link below).

It's a directory of the top 50 commercial disputes in the world right now. I mostly built it for myself — I follow the big cases in my profession anyway. It will mainly interest other lawyers, and still a work in progress. If it picks up, I'll keep building.

Four things about it:

1/ It's opinionated. I curated the list myself — amounts at stake, precedent value, how much the outcome matters beyond the parties. Reasonable people may disagree with the picks.

2/ It's detailed. Each case comes with a timeline and key documents. Counsel are listed where available.

3/ It's alive. Only active cases make the list. When a case settles or ends, it drops off and another takes its place.

4/ It's autonomous, mostly. An AI agent runs a couple of times a week and drafts the updates. I then review and sigh off.

If a case deserves a spot, suggest it. If one of these is yours and I got a detail wrong, tell me. I'll fix it.

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

Read the full guide here: https://t.co/tTdWPepO22

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

Football has its own supreme court. FIFA earns billions and pays next to nothing in tax. Beckham turned a $25M contract option into a $1.45B club.

10 legal secrets of the World Cup in our visual guide 👇

[Roman Buzko @roman_buzko]

My partner Evgeny Krasnov is the biggest football fan I know, so there was zero chance the firm would sit the World Cup out.

We just published a visual guide to the hidden law of football: FIFA's taxes, Beckham's $1.45B contract clause, faces sent offshore, and the "Budweiser Bill."

Link below 👇

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

A couple hours ago, the White House released its AI Executive Order.

It's mostly a cybersecurity & procurement order, engagement with frontier-model developers is voluntary, and it bars any government licensing of AI.

Our 8-min visual breakdown 👇 https://t.co/WgYB5sfnkd

[Paul Mit @pmitu]

Hey people 👋

We are launching new thing on PH today ✨

https://t.co/xJdJkOvn4h

@Skala is built for this new wave: global, remote-first, and unconstrained by legacy systems:

1. Standard legal workflows
2. AI guidance
3. Real lawyers in the loop

That’s what we’re launching today on @ProductHunt

Support us & join the journey

🙌

[Degoverned @Degoverned]

Here's a brief overview of tax filings in three states that can be excellent alternatives to Delaware:

👇

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

Godspeed!

[Roman Buzko @roman_buzko]

Our NewSpace Startup Legal Guide has been added to the wonderful library of space-related resources maintained by @orbitalindex! Thanks @tectonic! 🚀

https://t.co/8PpZ3pzYXk

[Roman Buzko @roman_buzko]

Top-10 Crypto Law Highlights 2023

As the year wraps up, it's a good tradition to reflect on the significant events that shaped the past 12 months. Here is a our joint take by @BuzkoKrasnov and @Degoverned on the most important legal developments in the cryptocurrency sphere for the year 2023.

This year was nothing short of eventful. Drawing from the famous saying, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," it’s clear that crypto has been deep in the "fighting" stage for some time.

Among the notable events of the year were the arrests of the developers behind the Tornado Cash privacy protocol, a targeted crackdown on crypto banks in the U.S., the CFTC's lawsuit against a DAO and its anonymous members, and a wave of restrictive measures from lawmakers.

On a brighter note, American courts have been cautious of the regulatory overreach, often siding with the crypto industry. This includes decisions like refusing to label XRP as a security, compelling the SEC to allow converting GBTC into an ETF, and throwing out a class-action lawsuit against Uniswap.

As we look ahead to 2024, this momentum is expected to persist. A key event to watch is the SEC vs. Coinbase lawsuit, with the first hearing set for January 17, 2024. This case is poised to impact the crypto's trajectory.

Additionally, with the US presidential election in full swing and crypto becoming a hot topic among candidates, the landscape is set to evolve further. The new President’s appointment of the SEC chair will undoubtedly shape regulatory approaches for the foreseeable future.

Download the full presentation here (no email required): https://t.co/vdeGX5tmT4. And, of course, share with your crypto friends!

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

Happy to support @seraleev and the team in their quest to get @sarafanmobile reinstated in App Store!

[Viktor Seraleev @seraleev]

@Apple closed our developer account and removed all apps

→ Apple has not paid us $108,878 revenue (this amount is for 3 months).
→ Our 6 applications had a total of $33,680 MRR as of September 20, 2023.
→ One day before removal, we had 1209 active trials.
→ We are left without means of existence. The applications were our sole source of income. I cannot convey the challenges that we and our families have faced due to the account termination.

We hired a lawyer and are currently filing a pre-trial claim against Apple. Please, read our story and sign the petition https://t.co/D6HqaHghcV

#buildinpublic #iosdev #apple #indiehackers

[Roman Buzko @roman_buzko]

We've just released a series of insightful articles on SAFE, or Simple Agreement for Future Equity — the go-to instrument for securing funding for early-stage startups in the U.S.

Check them out on the website of Buzko Krasnov 👇

1/ SAFE: Should’ve Asked For an Explanation is our primer that demystifies key terms, outlines various SAFE structures (Valuation Cap, Discount), and delineates the conversion process with clarity. For added utility, we've included a bespoke SAFE template and a handy Excel calculator.

https://t.co/FCXQtAJAOo

2/ Next, explore the specific events that trigger the conversion of SAFE into equity (shares).

https://t.co/o9O5ZKvUxl

3/ Lastly, drawing from years of advising investors and founders, we delve into the types of conflicts that escalate to litigation and share insights on judicial perspectives.

https://t.co/jgOxFvBfgG

Finally, do not forget to check out our vital legal guides:

👉 Legal Guide for Startup Founders in the USA 2023 (PDF): https://t.co/4HWKhnNSj7

👉 Crypto Startup Legal Playbook 2022 (PDF): https://t.co/cyGmlm2Qo4

Visit https://t.co/RSVsWxQCuw for handy tools to craft various SAFE agreements (including YC and our custom template) and other fundraising documents, tailored for both domestic and offshore entities (BVI/CY).

[Roman Buzko @roman_buzko]

What happened in the crypto industry last week?

1/ Sam Bankman-Fried Verdict: The jury found Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) guilty on all seven counts of fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for March 2024, with SBF potentially facing up to 110 years in prison.

2/ New UK Crypto Roadmap: On October 30, 2023, the UK government released a roadmap for the regulation of crypto financial services. This preliminary framework outlines the legal regime for crypto lending, DeFi tools, and regulated activities, aligning closely with Europe's approach under MiCA.

3/ @coincenter vs. OFAC Dismissed: The lawsuit filed by Coin Center against OFAC regarding @TornadoCash was dismissed. The court did not support the plaintiff’s claim that the US Treasury's OFAC overstepped its authority by adding the mixer to the sanctions list.

4/ @PayPal Subpoenaed Over PYUSD: The SEC issued a subpoena to PayPal, requesting documentation related to the PYUSD stablecoin.

5/ @safemoon Accusations: The SEC has accused SafeMoon’s leadership of orchestrating a $200 million fraud.

6/ Hong Kong Tokenization Rules: Hong Kong has established rules governing the asset tokenization process.

7/ Marshall Islands DAO Legislation: The Marshall Islands have amended legislation to regulate DAO registration. @MIDAODS 👋

[Roman Buzko @roman_buzko]

Simple legal services don't have to be expensive. Check out these free and low-cost tools in various jurisdictions. If you are an international startup founder, bookmark these resources for your next venture.

🇺🇸 US: Cooley GO (https://t.co/H05hTL8gNe) by @CooleyLLP and @degoverned (https://t.co/7gCGnEbf0Q), everything from company formation to legal templates in one place

🇬🇧 UK: High Growth Startup Pack 2.0 (https://t.co/EhcsS6H9TH) by @DLA_Piper and many tools and docs from @seedlegals

🇸🇬 Singapore: free legal templates from @techlawnz (https://t.co/ci5h1I8Fi2)

🇳🇱 Netherlands: model financing documents by Capital Waters Foundation (https://t.co/Ez43Weqs4q)

🇫🇮 Finland: standardized term sheet, shareholders’ agreements and investment agreement (https://t.co/PtIvlnKSmA)

🇪🇪 Estonia: almost 30 model legal docs from from @startupestonia (https://t.co/11k0MlGLxs)

🇸🇪 Sweden: startup legal docs (https://t.co/F00g1t5X3y)

🇩🇰 Denmark: similar documents but for Danish companies (https://t.co/JtQPTmjUuL)

🇳🇴 Norway: SHA, term sheet, NDAs and many other useful docs (https://t.co/Yvukv6Zjx6)

🇮🇸 Iceland: https://t.co/1h7VNCQGFF

🇱🇹 Lithuania: 11 templates, including investment documents and privacy policy (https://t.co/zYkqJP411V)

🇮🇳 India: some basic stuff from @IndiaFilings (https://t.co/RvHRP08eLU)

Share with your fellow founders, and feel free to add more resources in the comments. Don't forget to subscribe to @roman_buzko for updates on startups, emerging tech and law.

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

Save this checklist and be prepared next time:

https://t.co/3sw3pWZOnS

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

We've just published a new article on conducting legal due diligence for startups. This guide is a must-read for both investors and founders. We've also included a handy checklist for your convenience.

https://t.co/d6mV8K9HQU

[Buzko Legal @BuzkoLegal]

9. No Employment or Services Agreements Are Signed with the Team
10. The Company Plans to Acquire Investments Through SAFEs and Convertible Notes While Being an LLC