BitCoin Legal Issues

[LegalEagle]

Hello everyone.  I am a law student in the United States, and I work on my school's Law Review, which is an academic legal publication.  We are required to write an article on an unresolved legal issue, and BitCoin seems like it could possibly present some novel legal issues.

It turns out someone has already written on the general legality of BitCoin (which is questionable).  If anyone is interested in that, the following link has a copy of the article:

http://hstlj.org/articles/bitcoin-an-innovative-alternative-digital-currency/2/

I was wondering if anyone is curious about any other legal issues that BitCoin presents.  It would help me with my article, and I would provide the BitCoin community with thorough, well-researched legal information.  Naturally I will post a copy of the article on this website when it's written.

Keep in mind that I'm restricted to writing about US law.  Any and all suggestions/comments are appreciated.

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[Stephen Gornick]

Any and all suggestions/comments are appreciated.

You might want to check into CLAG:

 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Cryptocurrency_Legal_Advocacy_Group

Also:

 - http://www.lextechnologiae.com/2011/06/26/why-bitcoin-isnt-a-security-under-federal-securities-law/
 - http://surprisinglyfree.com/2012/01/31/reuben-grinberg/

[Severian]

There's also a lawyer that hangs here from time to time. He might be a resource:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=66720

[LegalEagle]

Any and all suggestions/comments are appreciated.

You might want to check into CLAG:

 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Cryptocurrency_Legal_Advocacy_Group

Also:

 - http://www.lextechnologiae.com/2011/06/26/why-bitcoin-isnt-a-security-under-federal-securities-law/
 - http://surprisinglyfree.com/2012/01/31/reuben-grinberg/

Thanks for this!  Yes, that Reuben Grinberg guy is the person who wrote the article about general legality that I referred to.  I almost wish he hadn't written it, because it would make my search for a topic that much easier.   

[BookofNick]

There was an episode of the Good Wife devoted to Bitcoin. Of course it's a drama but they do "put it on trial," so it might be entertaining if you've never seen it.

[Mausini]

There is also a Swiss publication about that.. It's in german however. I hope it helps anyway

http://www.epartners.ch/images/publications/1338882576_Bitcoin.pdf

[SimpleMan]

good luck, would love to see what you come up with.

[Malophor]

Give the folks at FinCEN a call and get their thoughts on how it might relate to the Patriot Act and Bank Secrecy Act. The EFF might have something prepared already as well. I'd love to read your finished project. Would you mind posting it after you're done?

[Mattster28]

Keep us updated, I would like to see what you find on this matter.

[LegalEagle]

I will definitely be sure to post the article here when I finish it. 

The sources/tips posted so far have been great!  Keep 'em coming!