J.R.McHale

+ A **Summary** at **The Verge**: [**SEC Proposes Rules to Allow Anyone to Invest in Startups**](http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/23/4947382/sec-proposes-rules-to-allow-anyone-to-invest-in-startups)

+ **The SEC’s press release and fact sheet**: [**SEC.gov webpage**](http://www.sec.gov/News/PressRelease/Detail/PressRelease/1370540017677)

+ **The Proposed Rules**: [(**pdf**](http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2013/33-9470.pdf) – 585 pages – so much for simplicity)

+ **More:**
>[Trepidation and Restrictions Leave Crowdfunding Rules Weak](http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/trepidation-and-restrictions-leave-crowdfunding-rules-weak/?partner=rss&emc=rss) **(New York Times)**: “Crowdfunding is becoming a reality, but the question is whether it will thrive or become largely a vehicle for fraud.”
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>[BackTrack Reports’ Randy Shain: JOBS ACT For Small Businesses Could Lead To Big Fraud](http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/29/backtrack-reports-randy-shain-jobs-act-for-small-businesses-could-lead-to-big-fraud/)

At Reuters, Felix Salmon responds to a reader’s question as to why backers of Kickstarter projects don’t benefit when the companies behind backed projects subsequently raise equity from venture capitalists. A good reminder of what Kickstarter projects are and are not.

**The JOBS Act Turns One, and Let’s Be Honest, It’s a Failure** by Zachary M. Seward at **Quartz**.

Europe’s other problem: where are all the tech startups? European leaders want you to ‘test your own wings,’ but there are systemic headwinds getting in the way – at The Verge:

As noted in The Verge article, regulatory fragmentation is a big part of the problem in Europe – the need to comply with a patchwork of diverse regulations across the continent. This is also increasingly becoming a problem here in the United States with, for example, both federal and state-by-state privacy, data and similar regulations, which impose significant legal, compliance and related costs on startups.

Want To End The Litigation Epidemic? Create Lawsuit-Free Zones – LawProf Eric Goldman at Forbes.com:

”[F]inding ways to dial down litigation might be the best ‘jobs stimulus’ effort our legislators could undertake. The way to create lawsuit-free zones is through ‘immunities’ and ‘safe harbors.’ Immunities categorically eliminate legal liability in the specified contexts. Safe harbors allow defendants to avoid liability if they take the specified steps. Both help motivate socially beneficial and job-creating activity.”