NFL’s Collaboration with Digital Advertising Accountability Program Highlights Vital Role of Industry Self-Regulation Amid Shifting Regulatory Environment
McLean, VA – February 27, 2025 – The National Football League (NFL) has collaborated with BBB National Programs’ Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP) to enhance its privacy disclosures to follow the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (DAA) Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising (OBA).
The NFL, comprising 32 teams and attracting a vast consumer audience, averaging 17.5 million viewers per game in 2024 and over 120 million for this year’s Super Bowl, plays a significant role in the digital advertising landscape.
DAA’s Self-Regulatory Principles for OBA apply to entities engaged in interest-based advertising (IBA) to help ensure they adhere to consumer data privacy best practices. The OBA Principles were developed by leading industry associations to apply consumer-friendly standards to online behavioral advertising across the internet.
“Ensuring that organizations such as the NFL adhere to the DAA Principles is crucial for maintaining consumer trust in the digital advertising ecosystem,” said Mary K. Engle, EVP, Policy, BBB National Programs. “By implementing these best practices, the NFL now not only complies with industry standards but also demonstrates a commitment to protecting consumer privacy.”
According to DAAP, enhanced notice links with clear opt-outs, and, in the case of sensitive data such as precise location data, opt-in consent mechanisms, ensure consumers are fully informed about data collection practices and can make educated decisions about their privacy.
DAAP reviewed NFL-affiliated websites and mobile apps and found instances where disclosures were not made in the manner contemplated by the DAA’s OBA Principles and Mobile Guidance. While DAAP’s review found that the NFL’s privacy policy contained most of the requirements in the DAA Principles, DAAP recommended, and the NFL agreed, to revise disclosures to provide “enhanced notice” in the manner contemplated by the DAA Principles.
Key issues identified by DAAP include:
- Enhanced Notice for Website Data Collection: The investigation found that the 32 NFL team websites lacked the enhanced notice for data collection by third-party companies contemplated under the OBA Principles.
- Mobile Data Collection: Some of the apps collected precise location data without fully disclosing in the manner contemplated by DAA’s Mobile Guidance how such data could be shared with third parties for advertising. The DAA Principles require clear notice and opt-in consent for the sharing of such sensitive data for IBA.
In response to DAAP’s inquiry, the NFL conducted comprehensive reviews of the areas identified for improvement. The NFL collaborated with DAAP on the following:
- Updated Privacy Policies: Updated the NFL global privacy policy and team privacy policies to provide additional information about IBA and possible use of consumers’ precise geolocation data for advertising/IBA.
- Enhanced Notice Links: Added enhanced notice links on websites and apps, directing users to IBA-related information.
- Clear Consent Mechanisms and Disclosures: Implemented clearer and more prominent consent prompts – through the creation of new splash screens that provide strengthened notice and a clickable link to the IBA section of the privacy policy – for precise geolocation data collection on mobile apps.
- Enhanced Notice of Use of Precise Geolocation Data: Certain NFL team apps now display a splash screen stating that precise geolocation data may be shared with third-party advertisers for IBA. Users can learn more via a link to the Privacy Policy.
- Opt-In Consent Requirements for Sensitive Data/Precise Geolocation Consent Prompts: NFL updated certain team apps to provide clearer notice and obtain user consent for collecting precise geolocation data for IBA. This includes a notice on the splash screen and a consent prompt when users click “Continue.”
- Enhanced Notice for Third-Party IBA – Mobile App Store Profile and Account Settings: Certain NFL team apps added enhanced notice links for precise location data at the point of collection and in in-app settings. The NFL’s global and team apps’ privacy policies now include a link to IBA-related information, which can be accessed through the “Privacy Policy” link in the app store. Additionally, certain NFL teams have updated their app settings pages to include an enhanced notice link (usually titled “Ad Choices”), which directs users to the IBA portion of the team’s privacy policy.
“In an evolving legislative and regulatory climate, industry self-regulation is crucial for protecting consumer privacy and digital advertising rights, ensuring transparency and accountability in the marketplace,” said Dr. Divya Sridhar, Vice President, Global Privacy Division and Privacy Initiatives Operations, BBB National Programs. “The changes the NFL has made to its apps and websites set an important precedent for other organizations within the digital ads ecosystem.”
The NFL stated, “At the National Football League (NFL), we are committed to providing a seamless user experience for our fans, as well as safeguarding their information. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Digital Advertising Accountability Program and appreciate their acknowledgement that we are compliant with the DAA Principles.”
A DAAP decision does not constitute a finding that the law has been violated, nor should the NFL’s modification of its IBA practices, in cooperation with DAAP’s self-regulatory processes, be construed as an admission of a violation of law.
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of DAAP decisions, visit the DAAP Decisions and Guidance webpage.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the Digital Advertising Accountability Program: The Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP), a division of BBB National Programs, was developed by the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) to enforce industry self-regulation principles for data privacy in online and mobile advertising, holding companies accountable to the DAA’s Privacy Principles. DAAP provides guidance to companies looking to comply with industry principles and responds to complaints filed by consumers about online privacy.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
LexisNexis and OpenAI Announce Plan to Deliver Custom AI Technology for Legal Professionals
LexisNexis and OpenAI are collaborating to swiftly deploy legal-specific AI solutions in flagship products like Lexis+ AI with Protégé to power personalized AI workflows and generative AI tasks
NEW YORK – LexisNexis® Legal & Professional, a leading global provider of AI-powered analytics and decision tools, and OpenAI, today announced their plan to deploy OpenAI’s APIs and fine-tuned models across the LexisNexis ecosystem of products like the Lexis+ AI® legal workflow solution and LexisNexis Protégé
personalized AI assistant that intelligently powers productivity, drives next-level work quality, and enables legal and business professionals to unlock economic value.
With the highest levels of enterprise security, compliance, and privacy, LexisNexis will directly leverage OpenAI’s latest models and jointly develop fined-tuned models for sophisticated legal workflows that depend on generative AI technology for enhanced “chain of thought” reasoning. As part of the company’s multi-model approach that selects the best AI model for each legal task, including custom LLMs, LexisNexis has leveraged OpenAI models in its products since 2022. This new collaboration enables LexisNexis to deploy the latest OpenAI models based on its cutting-edge research to best address the customer use case for personalized and highest-quality legal AI.
“At LexisNexis, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality, highly personalized AI innovation for legal and business professionals to achieve faster, enhanced outcomes,” stated Jeff Reihl, EVP and Chief Technology Officer at LexisNexis Legal & Professional. “As leaders in customer-focused legal AI, we prioritize selecting top-performing models and developing custom models for customers’ complex workflows and quickly integrating those models into our products. Our direct collaboration with OpenAI allows us to accelerate this innovation.”
“We’re thrilled to use our most advanced AI models to power new use cases that accelerate productivity, help gather legal insights faster, and simplify complex workflows for thousands of customers on LexisNexis’ platform,” said Brad Lightcap, Chief Operating Officer at OpenAI.
Additionally, as part of the agreement, LexisNexis global teams will expedite their own productivity benefits, including accelerating innovation to address customers’ core needs, via ChatGPT Enterprise.
The LexisNexis global technology platform seamlessly integrates each wave of AI innovation, including extractive AI, which finds relevant results within data and provides deep insights; generative AI, which excels at creating new content from data based on user-entered prompts or instruction; and agentic AI, which can intelligently and independently perform tasks on a user’s behalf. Because LexisNexis can swiftly deliver innovative, trusted tools, customers realize improved outcomes and tangible value faster.
For more information on the latest AI-powered offerings from LexisNexis, visit www.lexisnexis.com/ai.
About LexisNexis AI Development
LexisNexis customer-driven AI innovation focuses on analytics and decision tools that solve complex problems and enhance value. The company responsibly develops safe AI solutions with human oversight, backed by advanced encryption and privacy technology. Its global technology platform seamlessly integrates extractive, generative, and agentic AI within a scalable, multi-cloud infrastructure to drive rapid innovation and continuously improve answer quality, accuracy, and speed. A proprietary Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) platform grounds large language model (LLM) answers in a comprehensive repository of trusted legal content and metadata, delivering high-quality answers and validated citations. Its multi-model approach selects the best AI model for each use case, and model fine tuning ensures high performance of domain-specific, personalized LLMs, supported by partners AWS, Anthropic, Microsoft, Mistral, and OpenAI. The company employs over 2,000 technologists, data scientists, and experts to develop, test, and validate solutions in line with RELX Responsible AI Principles.
About LexisNexis Legal & Professional
LexisNexis® Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,800 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
Contact Information
Dana Greenstein
Director of Communications, North America & UK
LexisNexis Legal & Professional
212-448-2163
dana.greenstein@lexisnexis.com
Following Children’s Advertising Review Unit Inquiry, Buddy AI Comes into Compliance with COPPA and CARU’s Privacy Guidelines
McLean, VA – February 26, 2025 – BBB National Programs’ Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has concluded an investigation into the Buddy AI website and app, owned and operated by AI Buddy, Inc. The investigation, initiated through CARU’s marketplace monitoring activities, sought to determine if the Buddy AI website and app complied with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Children’s Online Privacy Protection.
The Buddy AI app is a generative AI tutor for kids under 12, creating instructional content in response to user prompts using the interactive, voice-based character Buddy the Robot. With 20 million downloads last year, it is the most popular language app for children on Google Play and one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Top EdTech Rising Stars of 2024.
Of concern to CARU was whether Buddy AI clearly and conspicuously discloses to parents/guardians, prior to use of the app by children, what personally identifiable information (PII) the app collects from children and how it uses and discloses this information. CARU was also concerned that Buddy AI collects, uses, and/or discloses PII without obtaining COPPA-required verifiable parental consent.
CARU determined that Buddy AI violated COPPA and CARU’s Privacy Guidelines by its failure to:
- Provide notice of its information collection and use practices that is clearly and understandably written, complete, and contains no unrelated, confusing, or contradictory materials.
- Make reasonable efforts, taking into account available technology, to ensure that parents/guardians receive direct notice of its practices with regard to the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information from children, including notice of any material change in the collection, use, or disclosure practices to which the parent has previously consented.
- Post a prominent and clearly labeled link to its online notice of its children’s information collection and use practices on the home or landing page or screen of its website or online service and at each area of the website or online service where personal information is collected from children.
- Obtain verifiable parental consent before collection, use, and/or disclosure of personal information from children.
During CARU’s investigation, Buddy AI addressed CARU’s concerns and made the necessary changes to the app to come into compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines. CARU is pleased that Buddy AI took the necessary steps to come into compliance and help protect children’s online privacy.
In its advertiser’s statement, Buddy AI stated that it “appreciated the diligence with which CARU performed its investigation” and “welcome this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to children’s privacy.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the Online Archive.
About Children’s Advertising Review Unit: The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), a division of BBB National Programs helps companies comply with laws and guidelines that protect children from deceptive or inappropriate advertising and ensure that, in an online environment, children’s data is collected and handled responsibly. When advertising or data collection practices are misleading, inappropriate, or inconsistent with laws and guidelines, CARU seeks change through the voluntary cooperation of companies and where relevant, enforcement action.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
National Advertising Division Finds Certified Angus Beef’s “Best Practices” and “Highest Standards” Claims for Beef Quality Assurance Program Supported
New York, NY – February 26, 2025 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by Animal Partisan, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division found that Certified Angus Beef‘s claims that the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program represents “best practices” and “highest standards” are supported.
Animal Partisan is a nonprofit organization whose stated mission is improving animal welfare and combating the suffering of animals in agriculture. Certified Angus Beef, also a nonprofit organization, owns the Certified Angus Beef® logo and promotes the BQA program to beef producers.
Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited challenge process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to the National Advertising Division (NAD). At issue is whether claims on Certified Angus Beef’s website, social media, and in marketing materials are unsupported given Animal Partisan’s claims that other standards for cattle care, such as those set by Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) and Global Animal Partnership (GAP), are considered more rigorous.
Certified Angus Beef promotes the BQA program as ensuring “best practices in animal handling, animal care, and responsible antibiotic use.” The organization claims BQA provides educational resources, supports humane care practices, and helps farmers maintain high standards and stay updated with animal welfare practices.
NAD determined that Certified Angus Beef’s references to “best practices” and “highest standards” in the context of the challenged advertising do not convey the message that BQA represents the most superior level of care available for cattle in the beef industry and does not convey a message of objective superiority over all other standards. Rather, “best practices” generally refer to techniques developed through a structured process to represent a trusted standard. The advertising conveys that BQA is a high standard recognized by the industry.
Therefore, NAD determined that the challenged claims are substantiated as they appear in the context of the challenged advertising.
In its advertiser statement, Certified Angus Beef stated it is “pleased that the NAD recognized the high standards for cattle care set by the program.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB procedures, this release may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
In National Advertising Division Challenge, Kevin Hart Modifies Social Media Posts to Disclose Material Connections to JPMC and Fabletics
New York, NY – February 20, 2025 – As part of its routine monitoring program, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division inquired about celebrity influencer Kevin Hart’s relationship with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMC) and Fabletics, Inc. As a result of its inquiry, Kevin Hart modified his social media posts to include clear and conspicuous disclosures of his material connections to the brands.
Hart, an investor in Fabletics Men and a paid endorser for JPMC, has 177 million Instagram followers, where he posts about the brands he supports.
At issue for the National Advertising Division (NAD) was whether Kevin Hart’s social media posts disclosed his material connections with JPMC and Fabletics, focusing on the sufficiency and placement of disclosures on his Instagram profile.
Although Kevin Hart stated that his followers are likely aware of his connections due to his long-standing endorsements, NAD found that a significant minority of the audience might not be aware of Hart’s affiliations due to varying levels of engagement with athletic brands or celebrity endorsements.
Therefore, NAD recommended a clear and conspicuous disclosure of Hart’s relationship with JPMC and Fabletics.
In response to NAD’s inquiry, Hart’s team advised NAD that the posts have been updated to include disclosures of these material connections and noted that Hart and the team are committed to complying with the Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides.
In its advertiser statement, Kevin Hart said that he will comply with NAD’s decision.
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. The National Advertising Division reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
Lawyers impatient for firms to invest in technology and innovation
Clients need their firms to be fast, cost-effective and agile. However, 70% of private practice lawyers said their firm is adequate, slow or very slow at implementing new technology while 67% said the same about responding to change.
LONDON, 20 February 2025 – Today, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional, a leading global provider of AI-powered analytics and decision tools, released a new report – Innovating the client experience: Law firms can offer much more than legal expertise – which reveals a sharp demand from lawyers for greater tech investment.
The survey of 800+ UK legal professionals found in-house legal counsel will need their external counsel to be cost-effective (74%), responsive and agile (67%), and offer specialist legal expertise (44%), all of which require an investment in new technology and innovation.
However, the survey revealed only 18% of private practice lawyers believe their firm is fast or very fast at implementing new technology. Nearing three-quarters (70%) said their firm is adequate, slow or very slow. Responding to change and making use of data and analytics are also areas in need of greater innovation. Two-thirds (67%) of legal professionals said their firm is adequate, slow or very slow at responding to change, while more than half (58%) said the same about data and analytics.
The survey also revealed many firms are being slowed down by sluggish systems and processes. When asked how quickly their firm conducts legal research, more than half (52%) of private practice lawyers rated their firm as adequate, slow or very slow. Drafting and reviewing legal documents was also considered a challenging area by many, with 45% saying their firm is adequate, slow or very slow. Concerningly, more than a third (35%) said their firm is adequate, slow or very slow at delivering legal work in general. As a potential solution, more than half (57%) of private practice lawyers expect their firms to become more reliant on AI for legal research and document review in the next one to three years, which could streamline processes.
Another potential downside to failing to invest in innovation is a loss of talent. If a firm failed to embrace AI, a quarter (25%) of all lawyers said it would negatively impact their careers, and 11% said they would consider leaving. This escalated at larger firms, with one third (36%) of lawyers saying it would negatively impact their career, and one in five (19%) saying they would consider leaving.
Stuart Greenhill, Senior Director of Segments at LexisNexis UK, commented “To remain competitive, firms will need to deliver a superior, data-driven legal service, at the same cost or lower, and at pace – and to keep clients informed of any legal or regulatory developments.
Achieving all this without the help of modern technology will be difficult. To secure client relationships, firms will need to invest in a streamlined, data-driven client offering.”
Notes for editors
- This press release is embargoed until 00:01 GMT on Thursday 20th February 2025
- The report can be accessed here: www.lexisnexis.co.uk/research-and-reports/innovation-as-a-competitive-edge.html
Contact Information
Name: Matthew Leopold
Email: matthew.leopold@lexisnexis.co.uk
Job Title: Head of Communications
National Advertising Review Board Recommends GuruNanda Discontinue Pulling Oil Teeth Whitening Claims
New York, NY – February 18, 2025 – A panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising body of BBB National Programs, recommended that GuruNanda, LLC discontinue “natural teeth whitening” claims for its pulling oil product.
GuruNanda’s pulling oil, a mouthwash-type product, is based on a traditional Ayurveda practice that involves swishing oils, such as coconut, sesame, and sunflower oil, between the teeth to promote oral health.
The advertising at issue had been challenged by The Procter & Gamble Company before BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD). Following NAD’s decision (Case No. 7377), GuruNanda appealed NAD’s recommendation to discontinue the “natural teeth whitening” claim.
The NARB panel determined that NAD’s decision should be affirmed because the two clinical studies submitted by GuruNanda in support of its claim were not sufficiently rigorous to meet the standard of competent and reliable scientific evidence applicable here.
The NARB panel further noted that while the results in these exploratory studies may well point to a possible whitening effect for swishing oil, the research to date does not satisfy the standards for scientific claim support.
Therefore, the NARB panel recommended that GuruNanda discontinue the claim “natural teeth whitening.”
In its advertiser statement, GuruNanda stated that though it “strongly disagrees with NARB’s analysis,” it will “comply with NARB’s recommendation.” GuruNanda further stated that “additional scientific studies were already underway…that will continue to demonstrate” the product’s whitening abilities.
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB procedures, this release may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Review Board (NARB): The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) is the appellate body for BBB National Programs’ advertising self-regulatory programs. NARB’s panel members include 85 distinguished volunteer professionals from the national advertising industry, agencies, and public members, such as academics and former members of the public sector. NARB serves as a layer of independent industry peer review that helps engender trust and compliance in NAD, CARU, and DSSRC matters.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations
LexisNexis Announces “Top 100 Global Innovators” for 2025, Recognizing Leading Companies Driving Innovation in the Global Economy
Top 100 Global Innovators Identified by LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions Across Database of ~16 Million Patent Families Using Patent Asset Index Methodology
New York, NY – February 18, 2025 – LexisNexis® Legal & Professional today announced the “Top 100 Global Innovators” for 2025, the prestigious roster of companies around the world that are driving innovation in the global economy, based on exceptional shifts in patent portfolio quality over the last two years. The top 100 companies were identified through an analysis by LexisNexis® Intellectual Property Solutions across a database of nearly 16 million global patent families using its proven Patent Asset Index methodology.
“Measuring and comparing innovation across different industries, technologies, and geographies may seem an impossible task, but the LexisNexis® Patent Asset Index provides a trusted methodology to identify 100 companies that are leading innovation globally,” said Marco Richter, Senior Director of IP Analytics and Strategy for LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions. “From trillion-dollar giants to start-ups whose entire team could fit in a movie theater, this year’s Top 100 Global Innovators span the spectrum, but they share a common commitment to pushing the frontiers of research and advancing human knowledge. We commend all of this year’s honorees on their leadership in creating a better world, and we look forward to watching their continued innovation in the future.”
Top 100 Global Innovators by Industry Sector
For the fourth consecutive year, the U.S. dominated the Top 100 Global Innovators list with 47 companies, including the majority recognized in industries like Pharmaceuticals, Information Technologies, and Medical Technologies. Other countries with notable number of Top 100 innovators include Germany (12), China (7), Japan (5), and Korea (7).
There were 18 new entrants among this year’s Top 100 honorees, including Chengdu Qinchuan IoT, Coupang, CXMT, Henkel, International Flavors & Fragrances, JFE Holdings, Kokusai Electric, L’Oréal, Novocure, Novonesis, RTX Corp, Siemens, SK Innovation, Topsoe, Wave Life Sciences, Willow Laboratories, ZF, and ZTE. Five of the new entrants are US-based, while three new entrants each are from Germany and China.
The Top 100 Global Innovators list was released as part of the Innovation Momentum 2025: The Global Top 100 report. The report also focused on the blurring boundaries between traditional stand-alone industries and technologies as innovations like digitization, wireless connectivity, and mobile devices have started to erase boundaries that once seemed clear. The report illustrated the growing overlap in areas like autonomous and electric vehicles, 5G technologies, and biotechnology/pharma.
The report also explored the contribution of AI-related patents to the total portfolio strength, as measured by the Patent Asset Index, of Top 100 companies in the four largest industries represented in the list. Unsurprisingly, the Information Technologies industry stands at the forefront of AI innovation with roughly 15% of the total strength of the aggregate portfolios of companies represented in the industry derived from AI-related inventions.
The following are this year’s Top 100 Global Innovators:
Top 100 Global Innovators in Alphabetical Order with
Global Headquarters and Industry Sector
| Patent Owner | HǪ | Industry |
| 10x Genomics | US | Biotechnologies |
| Acuitas Therapeutics | CA | Pharmaceuticals |
| Align Technology | US | Medical Technologies |
| Alnylam Pharmaceuticals | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Alphabet | US | Information Technologies |
| Amazon | US | Information Technologies |
| Amgen | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Apple | US | Electronics |
| Applied Materials | US | Semiconductors |
| ARAMCO | SA | Chemicals and Materials |
| Arvinas | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| ASM | NL | Semiconductors |
| ASML | NL | Semiconductors |
| AutoStore | NO | Information Technologies |
| BASF | DE | Chemicals and Materials |
| Becton, Dickinson | US | Medical Technologies |
| BioNTech | DE | Pharmaceuticals |
| Bosch | DE | Automotive |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| British American Tobacco | GB | Consumer Goods |
| CATL | CN | Chemicals and Materials |
| Chengdu Ǫinchuan IoT | CN | Technology R&D |
| Coupang | US | Information Technologies |
| CureVac | DE | Pharmaceuticals |
| CXMT | CN | Semiconductors |
| Daikin | JP | Appliances |
| Deere & Co | US | Engineering |
| DSM-Firmenich | CH | Chemicals and Materials |
| Edwards Lifesciences | US | Medical Technologies |
| Eli Lilly | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Ericsson | SE | Information Technologies |
| Gilead Sciences | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Henkel | DE | Chemicals and Materials |
| Huawei | CN | Information Technologies |
| Hyundai Motor | KR | Automotive |
| IBM | US | Information Technologies |
| Illumina | US | Biotechnologies |
| Incyte | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Infineon | DE | Semiconductors |
| International Flavors & Fragrances | US | Chemicals and Materials |
| Intel | US | Semiconductors |
| InterDigital | US | Technology R&D |
| Intuitive Surgical | US | Medical Technologies |
| Japan Tobacco | JP | Consumer Goods |
| JFE Holdings | JP | Engineering |
| Johnson & Johnson | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Juniper Networks | US | Information Technologies |
| KLA | US | Semiconductors |
| Kokusai Electric | JP | Semiconductors |
| KT&G | KR | Consumer Goods |
| L’Oréal | FR | Consumer Goods |
| Lam Research | US | Semiconductors |
| LG Chem | KR | Chemicals and Materials |
| LG Electronics | KR | Electronics |
| Magic Leap | US | Electronics |
| Masimo | US | Medical Technologies |
| MediaTek | TW | Semiconductors |
| Medtronic | IE | Medical Technologies |
| Meta | US | Information Technologies |
| Moderna Therapeutics | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Nike | US | Consumer Goods |
| Novartis | CH | Pharmaceuticals |
| Novocure | CH | Pharmaceuticals |
| Novonesis | DK | Biotechnologies |
| Nvidia | US | Semiconductors |
| Ocado | GB | Information Technologies |
| Ofinno | US | Technology R&D |
| OMV | AT | Chemicals and Materials |
| Procter & Gamble | US | Consumer Goods |
| Pfizer | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Philip Morris | US | Consumer Goods |
| Ǫualcomm | US | Semiconductors |
| Regeneron | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| ResMed | US | Medical Technologies |
| Revolution Medicines | US | Pharmaceuticals |
| Rolls-Royce | GB | Engineering |
| RTX Corp | US | Engineering |
| Saint-Gobain | FR | Chemicals and Materials |
| Samsung | KR | Electronics |
| Samsung SDI | KR | Chemicals and Materials |
| Sanofi | FR | Pharmaceuticals |
| Siemens | DE | Engineering |
| SK Innovation | KR | Chemicals and Materials |
| Smoore | CN | Consumer Goods |
| Snap | US | Information Technologies |
| Stryker | US | Medical Technologies |
| Techtronic | HK | Appliances |
| Tesla | US | Automotive |
| thyssenkrupp | DE | Engineering |
| Tokyo Electron | JP | Semiconductors |
| Topsoe | DK | Chemicals and Materials |
| TRUMPF | DE | Engineering |
| TSMC | TW | Semiconductors |
| VW Group | DE | Automotive |
| Wave Life Sciences | SG | Pharmaceuticals |
| Willow Laboratories | US | Medical Technologies |
| Yantai Jereh Oilfield Services | CN | Chemicals and Materials |
| ZEISS | DE | Semiconductors |
| ZF | DE | Automotive |
| ZTE | CN | Information Technologies |
While the report focused on corporate patent owners, a parallel analysis was done of academic and public research innovators to recognize their achievements as well. Among those institutions, Broad Institute, Fraunhofer, Harvard, MIT, Stanford University, University of California, and Zhejiang University were recognized for demonstrating exceptional Innovation Momentum, while developing relevant and high-quality patent portfolios.
The full report is available for download at https://www.lexisnexisip.com/innovation-momentum-report.
About the Methodology
LexisNexis® conducted an analysis across its database of nearly 16 million global patent families to identify companies that are leaders in global innovation. The methodology was based on the LexisNexis Patent Asset Index, which was used to measure the strength and quality of a company’s patent assets. The analysis tracked exceptional shifts in patent portfolio quality over the last two years to identify the companies named as the “Top 100 Global Innovators” in this year’s “Innovation Momentum 2025” report.
About LexisNexis® Legal & Professional
LexisNexis® Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,800 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
About LexisNexis® Intellectual Property Solutions
LexisNexis® Intellectual Property Solutions bring clarity to innovation for businesses worldwide. We enable innovators to accomplish more by helping them make informed decisions, be more productive, comply with regulations, and ultimately achieve a competitive advantage for their business. Our broad suite of workflow and analytics solutions (LexisNexis® PatentSight+
, LexisNexis® Classification, LexisNexis® TechDiscovery, LexisNexis® IPlytics, LexisNexis PatentOptimizer®, LexisNexis PatentAdvisor®, and LexisNexis TotalPatent One®, LexisNexis® IP DataDirect), enables companies to be more efficient and effective at bringing meaningful innovations to our world. We are proud to directly support and serve these innovators in their endeavors to better humankind.
LexisNexis | Intellectual Property Solutions
Bringing clarity to innovation
Contact Information
Name: Andrew Weinstein
Email: Andrew.Weinstein@LexisNexis.com
Job Title: PR Consultant
New BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A tire helps drivers own the road
- Ultra high performance summer tire joins the g-Force Family
- g-Force Phenom T/A tire engineered to excel on both wet, dry pavement
- Phased launch begins in U.S. with 20 sizes available Feb. 14
GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 13, 2025 – BFGoodrich Tires has unleashed the g-Force Phenom T/A tire: an ultra high performance summer tire that looks and plays the part by delivering excellent performance in both wet and dry conditions.
“We’re thrilled to launch the g-Force Phenom T/A tire, which was built to be the easiest upgrade enthusiasts can make to boost the performance and look of their cars,” said Andrew Besancon, Senior Director of Recreational Brands. “BFGoodrich has been engineering category-defining tires for more than 150 years. With this new tire, we’re offering consumers strong performance and a smart value from a race-proven brand.”
The g-Force Phenom T/A tire provides the following features and benefits:
Designed to corner: Stiff sidewalls, shallow shoulder blocks and offset shoulder grooves are designed to provide better feedback at the limit and enhance cornering stability.1
Engineered for grip: A dual-zone tread design features an optimized wet zone for water evacuation and a dry zone for maximum road contact for ultimate confidence and control.2
Built for braking: Its new summer silica-infused compound is tuned for ultimate performance and delivers wet grip, outperforming leading competitors.
- The BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A tire has better wet braking distance than the Yokohama ADVAN Apex V601 tire and other leading competitors.3
Sizes and availability
BFGoodrich will roll out 50 sizes during the next two months, with 20 sizes available Feb. 14 and 30 additional sizes coming in April. The phased launch will continue with additional sizes later in 2025 and into spring 2026.
To find your size, availability and pricing, visit bfgoodrichtires.com or your local BFGoodrich dealer.
The g-Force Phenom T/A tire, the newest entry in BFGoodrich’s g-Force Family of tires, carries a 60-day consumer satisfaction guarantee.
Skip Barber Racing School’s tire choice
The g-Force Phenom T/A tire is the official tire of the Skip Barber Racing School. Stay tuned for collaboration between the world’s largest racing school and BFGoodrich.
For now, here’s a sneak peek!
1 Based on internal Braking Distance, Autocross in Wet Handling, and Dry Analytical Adherence results using a 2019 Genesis G70 vehicle with BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 tire in size 245/40ZR18 93W versus BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A tire in tire size 245/40R18 XL 97Y. Actual on-road results may vary.
2 Based on internal Braking Distance, Autocross in Wet Handling, Max Handling, and Dry Analytical Adherence results using a 2019 Genesis G70 vehicle with BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 tire in tire size 245/40ZR18 93W versus BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A tire in tire size 245/40R18 XL 97Y. Actual on-road results may vary.
3 Based on internal wet braking tests at 50 mph comparing the BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A tire in tire size 245/40ZR18 XL 97W versus the Yokohama ADVAN Apex V601 tire in tire size 245/40ZR18 XL 97Y, the Falken Azenis FK 510 tire in tire size 245/40ZR18 97Y, the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tire in tire size 245/40R18 XL 97W, and the Hankook Ventus V12 EV02 tire in tire size 245/40ZR18 XL 97Y, using a 2019 Genesis G70 vehicle. Actual on-road results may vary.
About BFGoodrich Tires
BFGoodrich Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 50 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences from ultra-high-performance street to off-road terrain with one common theme – extreme performance. Come upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at BFGoodrichTires.com and BFGoodrichRacing.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram at @BFGoodrichTires and TikTok at @BFGoodrich.
Media contact:
Andrew Festa
BFGoodrich Tires | andrew.festa@michelin.com
National Advertising Division Recommends Total Wireless Modify Monthly Pricing and Free Phone Offer Claims
New York, NY – February 13, 2025 – National Programs’ National Advertising Division recommended that Total Wireless, a brand of Tracfone Wireless, a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc., modify its ads to avoid suggesting customers get both four lines for $25/month and four free 5G phones.
Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited challenge process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to the National Advertising Division (NAD). At issue was whether Total Wireless made an unsupported claim that its customers can get both four lines of wireless service for $25 per month and four free 5G phones.
Total Wireless aired a commercial claiming it “has your back every day,” unlike other prepaid brands such as Metro by T-Mobile. The spokesman says, “Fact them,” with screen text restating the qualifying conditions for each offer: “We run on the network with America’s fastest 5G speeds for as low as $25 a month. They don’t,” that Total Wireless offers a five-year price guarantee, as well as “and to top it all off, we’ll give you up to four free 5G phones,” with text on screen that qualifies the four free phones is applicable “When you switch to the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan.”
After review, NAD found that though the visual cues in the commercial delineate the offers, the audio does not.
In addition, when presenting the last offer, NAD determined that the phrase, “and to top it all off, we’ll give you up to four free 5G phones,” implies the last part of a single offer. However, the audio does not indicate that Total Wireless offers different plan tiers and that the available benefits may depend on the particular plan that the consumer selects.
Therefore, NAD determined that the commercial conveys the unsupported message that Total Wireless customers can get both four lines of wireless service for $25 per month and get four free 5G phones regardless of the plan they select, and recommended Total Wireless modify its advertising to avoid conveying such a message.
In its advertiser statement Total Wireless stated that while it, “disagrees with the decision, it supports industry self-regulation and will comply with NAD’s recommendations in its future advertising.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
Contact Information
Name: Jennie Rosenberg
Email: jrosenberg@bbbnp.org
Job Title: Media Relations