The New Crowdfunding Registration Exemption: Good Idea, Bad Execution

16 Pages Posted: 24 May 2012

See all articles by Stuart R. Cohn

Stuart R. Cohn

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Date Written: May 24, 2012

Abstract

Title III of the JOBS Act, signed by President Obama on April 5, 2012, sets forth a new exemption from federal and state securities registration for so-called "crowdfunding" promotions. Crowdfunding is an increasingly popular form of raising capital through broad-based internet solicitation of donors. Many promotions simply seek charitable or other donations. But the lure of raising funds through the internet has also led to promotions for potentially profitable ventures that offer an economic return to donors. These efforts invoke the federal and state securities laws, as there are no de minimis standards protecting even the smallest of offferings. Registration exemptions under the 1933 Securities Act and those created by the Securities & Exchange Comission have not been useful for such small offerings and certainly cannot be used for internet-based offerings. In the face of SEC inaction with regard to such small-scale promotions, Congress took it upon itself to create a new exemption. Unfortunately, as described in the article, despite good intentions, the newly-created exemption is fraught with regulatory requirements that go beyond even existing exemptions and raise transaction costs and liability concerns that may substantially reduce the exemption's utility for small capital-raising efforts.

Keywords: securities, crowdfunding, JOBS Act

Suggested Citation

Cohn, Stuart R., The New Crowdfunding Registration Exemption: Good Idea, Bad Execution (May 24, 2012). Florida Law Review, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2066016

Stuart R. Cohn (Contact Author)

University of Florida Levin College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 117625
Gainesville, FL 32611-7625
United States

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