Software Application Insufficient to Substantially Transform Existing Hardware Components Into a Visitor Management System
Client Alert | 1 min read | 05.19.17
In a Final Determination published in the Federal Register today, Customs & Border Protection held that application software installed on existing computers and on an ID scanner manufactured in China did not substantially transform the individual elements (IS scanner, labels, printer and barcode scanner) of the Visitor Management System. The scanners and printers functioned as such when imported, and the software, while defining a specific use, did not change the basic function of the hardware. Although the FAR contemplates that an “end product” offered under a TAA-covered contract should have a single country of origin, the CBP found each element of the VMS retained its individual country of origin, two of which were from China, a non-designated country.
Contacts
Insights
Client Alert | 6 min read | 03.06.26
Tri-Agencies Release Fourth Mental Health Parity Report to Congress
On March 3, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of the Treasury (TREAS) — collectively, the “Tri-Agencies” — published their fourth annual report to Congress on enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The 2025 Report demonstrates a shift in approach by the Tri-Agencies in its tone and content and suggests that federal regulators, and the DOL in particular, are not as active as they previously were in MHPAEA enforcement. However, federal enforcement remains ongoing, and state enforcement of mental health parity laws continues to grow. Plans and issuers must continue to maintain comprehensive compliance processes and documentation for MHPAEA compliance.
Client Alert | 4 min read | 03.05.26
Client Alert | 8 min read | 03.05.26
Client Alert | 4 min read | 03.04.26
Sixth Circuit Finds EFAA Arbitration Bar to Entire Case — Not Just Sexual Harassment Claims
