Links 17/01/2024: New COVID-19 Strains, China Stressed Over Taiwan
Contents
- Distributions and Operating Systems
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Distributions and Operating Systems
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Leftovers
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Public Knowledge ☛ Emerging Tech 2024
Emerging Tech 2024 is coming up fast! Fill out this form to be notified when registration opens and to receive updates on the event date, venue, and panel topics. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Hackaday ☛ Need A Refresher On RMS?
If you mostly deal with DC current, you might not think much of root mean square or RMS measurements. Sure, you’ve seen meters that have “true RMS” settings, but what does it mean? If you don’t know — or you want a refresher — watch [Prof MAD’s] recent video explaining the topic.
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Science
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Science Alert ☛ JWST Reveals Young Star Beta Pictoris Has a Surprising Second Disk
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Science Alert ☛ Experts Confirm: Icelandic Faultline Has Awakened After 800 Years
A new episode of plate separation.
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Hardware
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Tom's Hardware ☛ Analysts warn China's aggressive chip fab expansion could lead to future price war
China's aggressive fab expansion can create oversupply of mature process technology capacity.
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Hackaday ☛ Kinetic Clock Is A Clean Modern Way To Tell Time
Hackers and makers aren’t usually too interested in basic round analog clocks. They tend to prefer building altogether more arcane and complicated contraptions to display numbers for the telling of time. [alstroemeria] did just that with this nifty kinetic clock build.
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Hackaday ☛ Ask Hackaday: Why Are Self-Checkouts Failing?
Most people who read Hackaday have positive feelings about automation. (Notice we said most.) How many times have you been behind someone in a grocery store line waiting for them to find a coupon, or a cashier who can’t make change without reading the screen and thought: “There has to be a better way.” The last few years have seen that better way, but now, companies are deciding the grass isn’t greener after all. The BBC reports that self-checkouts have been a “spectacular failure.” That led us to wonder why that should be true.
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Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
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Science Alert ☛ A Cloned Rhesus Monkey Is Still Alive After 2 Years
The longest yet.
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New York Times ☛ Migrant Costs Help Push New York State’s Budget to $233 Billion
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new spending plan, unveiled on Tuesday, also called for investments in mental health care and for an important change to the way that cannabis is taxed.
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Latvia ☛ New children's psychiatric clinic in high demand
The Children's Clinical University Hospital children's and young people's mental health center has started work recently. The demand for help with mental health issues is high and continues to grow, Latvian Radio reported on Janaury 16.
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Mexico News Daily ☛ New wave of COVID-19 infections hits Mexico
There were almost 200,000 active cases nationwide on Jan. 11, with the most infections reported in Mexico City and Baja California Sur.
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Mexico News Daily ☛ New wave of COVID-19 infections hits Mexico
There were almost 200,000 active cases nationwide on Jan. 11, with the most infections reported in Mexico City and Baja California Sur.
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teleSUR ☛ Palestinian Journalist Al Dahdouh to Get Health Care Abroad
He has become a global benchmark for commitment to journalism given that almost his entire family was killed in Israeli bombings.
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teleSUR ☛ Zambia: Vaccination Against Cholera Begins, Outbreak
The vaccine will also be given to health workers who have been at the forefront of the fight against cholera.
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Mexico News Daily ☛ New wave of COVID-19 infections hits Mexico
There were almost 200,000 active cases nationwide on Jan. 11, with the most infections reported in Mexico City and Baja California Sur.
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Science Alert ☛ Textbooks Need to Be Re-Drawn: Discovery Upends Understanding of Water's Organization
Fascinating.
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Security
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Privacy/Surveillance
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Techdirt ☛ Bulk Suspicion: Typo In Geofence Warrant Created Two-Mile Long Dragnet
We’ve expressed our displeasure with geofence warrants multiple times. I’ve often referred to them as “reverse” warrants, a term that implies how these warrants invert probable cause. Those in the business of protecting rights (ACLU, EFF) aren’t fans of that term, but it is useful shorthand. Rather than show a court probable cause exists to search a place for evidence of a crime because investigators have found suspects worth searching, investigators simply tell courts they have probable cause to believe Google (and it’s almost always Google) holds the cell site location data sought by law enforcement.
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Defence/Aggression
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RFA ☛ S Korea implements new sanctions amid Pyongyang threats
They mark the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s 15th set of unilateral sanctions against the North.
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ADF ☛ Nigerian Navy Adds Drones for Gulf of Guinea Anti-Piracy Patrols
The kidnapping of crew members from a tanker ship traveling between Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon on January 1, 2024, is a stark reminder that piracy remains a concern in the Gulf of Guinea. In response, the Nigerian Navy has added to its arsenal of ship-based drones to help monitor coastal waters.
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ADF ☛ RSF Advances, But No End in Sight to Sudan’s Civil War
As Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to claim territory from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), experts are warning of a protracted civil war with disastrous regional implications.
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ADF ☛ Kidnappings for Ransom an Increasing Threat in Northern Cameroon
ADF STAFF Five people were kidnapped on the Mayo Djarendi-Madingring road in northern Cameroon in early September. The abductors, known for their activity in the Mayo-Rey department, demanded a 40,000,000 Central African CFA francs (almost $67,000) ransom to release the hostages, according to the Actu Cameroun newspaper.
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JURIST ☛ North Korea to no longer pursue reconciliation with South, calls for change in constitution
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced Monday that North Korea will no longer pursue reconciliation with South Korea and called for a constitutional change to identify South Korea as the “number one hostile state,” according to the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
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New York Times ☛ Malaysian Prisoners Plead Guilty to Conspiring in 2002 Bali Bombing
The men, who have been held by the United States for two decades as lieutenants to a Southeast Asian terrorist, entered pleas at Guantánamo Bay.
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The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia to review migrant labour deals to stamp out exploitation
Malaysia will review bilateral agreements with 15 nations from which it sources labourers in a bid to address exploitative practices and manpower imbalances that have left thousands of migrant workers stranded without jobs, officials said.
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The Straits Times ☛ China to support Togo in safeguarding its sovereignty, security: Wang Yi
China will continue to firmly support Togo in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while visiting the African country, according to a ministry statement on Wednesday.
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The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia debates controversial fixed term law to prevent PM Anwar’s govt from being toppled
Govt allies want a new law to ensure the ruling coalition can govern for a full term, which the opposition says is undemocratic.
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RFA ☛ Chinese warships leave Cambodia’s Ream naval base
The two People’s Liberation Army corvettes were the first foreign vessels to dock at the newly developed base.
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France24 ☛ China’s Pacific charm offensive pays off as Nauru drops Taipei for Beijing
The island nation of Nauru’s shock announcement that it was severing ties with Taiwan in favour of Beijing has brought China’s charm offensive across the Pacific into sharp relief – and highlighted the limited options available to micro-states desperate for a way out of economic dead-ends.
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RFA ☛ What role did China play in a rebel group’s victory in northern Myanmar?
Ethnic-minority armies couched their campaign as an effort to rid the region of criminal organizations that had frustrated China.
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RFA ☛ Online pastor in China's Dalian gets 14 years for 'superstition'
Kan Xiaoyong, his wife and 4 members are jailed. The unofficial church had gained a wide following.
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[Repeat]Vice Media Group ☛ Everything We Know About 'Timhouthi Chalamet,' the Yemeni Influencer Celebrating Red Sea Ship Raids [Ed: Fentanylware (TikTok) rewards terrorism]
A handsome Yemeni influencer's account vanished from Fentanylware (TikTok) after posting a tour of a captured cargo ship.
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JURIST ☛ US Navy seizes Iran missile parts destined for Houthis, alleges violation of arms embargo
US Navy SEALs boarded a vessel and seized Iranian-manufactured missile components destined for Houthi rebel forces in Yemen during a flag verification mission in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Somalia, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday, claiming the components were being transported in violation of a UN Security Council arms embargo.
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Environment
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Energy/Transportation
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Stanford University ☛ What’s Next for Earth: Meeting Essential Community Needs Exhibition
This is the 18th What’s Next for Earth online exhibition based on Think Resilience, a free online course written by Richard Heinberg and produced by Post Carbon Institute.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Stationary Cathay Pacific aircraft ‘struck’ by Korean Air plane in Japan, Hong Kong airline says, no injuries reported
A Cathay Pacific plane parked at New Chitose Airport in Sapporo was “struck” by a Korean Air aircraft on Tuesday, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier has said.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific targets recruits from mainland China as 100 new flight attendants come aboard
Over 100 flight attendants from mainland China have joined Cathay Pacific’s cabin crew, as the Hong Kong airline steps up hiring across the border.
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New York Times ☛ 2 Planes Collide at Japan Airport Amid Heavy Snow, Weeks After Tokyo Episode
Nobody was injured in the episode on Tuesday, which took place on the country’s northern island of Hokkaido amid heavy snow.
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Mexico News Daily ☛ Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer to build plant in northern Mexico
Solarever Electric Vehicles consolidated its plans only months after Governor Esteban Villegas of Durango toured China to court investment.
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Overpopulation
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New York Times ☛ China’s Population Shrank Again in 2023 as Births Continue to Fall
Faced with falling births, China’s efforts to stabilize a shrinking population and maintain economic growth are failing.
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The Straits Times ☛ China's population drops for 2nd year in 2023, raises long-term growth concerns
It was a faster decline than in 2022, which was the first since 1961.
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Finance
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Off Guardian ☛ DISCUSS: Davos 2024 Gets Underway
This year’s World Economic Forum annual meeting kicked off in Davos, Switzerland yesterday and will be running until the 19th.
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New York Times ☛ China’s GDP Grew in 2023, but Economic Strains Lurk
Gross domestic product expanded 5.2 percent, as China worked to export more to make up for weak demand, high debt and a steep property contraction at home.
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Reason ☛ The Best of Reason: The Fiscal Hawks Were Right About Debt and Interest Rates
Rosy fiscal expectations based on eternally low interest rates have proven dangerously wrong.
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ADF ☛ Ethiopia Defaults Amid Financial Strains from War, Debt to China
Weighed down by the costs of war, the COVID-19 pandemic and billions of dollars in Chinese loans, Ethiopia defaulted on a loan payment recently, joining Ghana and Zambia on the list of African countries unable to pay their debts.
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YLE ☛ Thousands of Finnish firms unregistered, dodge taxes
The situation resulted in a tax gap of up to 120 million euros in 2021, according to the Tax Administration.
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AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
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CS Monitor ☛ Shunned by China, elected by Taiwan: What will Lai face in office?
Taiwan’s voters have spoken, picking Lai Ching-te for president and giving his pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party an unprecedented win. But the DPP’s loss of parliament may curb any bold moves – and provide some comfort to Beijing.
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The Strategist ☛ Lai’s victory comes with political risks for Taiwan, and its allies
On 13 January, Lai Ching-te of Taiwan’s independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was elected president of the raucously democratic island that China claims as its own.
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teleSUR ☛ China Rejects US Bill Supporting Taiwan as an IMF Member
Issues regarding the Taiwan's participation in international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, Mao said.
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Reason ☛ The Trump Train Rolls Through Iowa
Plus: A listener asks the editors if there are any bad laws that might discourage people from having kids.
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New Yorker ☛ For Iowa Voters, the Endless Caucuses Ended Too Soon
After months of G.O.P. candidates being photographed holding babies, eating ice cream, and gazing into hog pens, Donald Trump won the state with little effort.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Jimmy Lai national security trial: Hong Kong court to hear expert views on US sanctions against Chinese, city officials
A Hong Kong court will hear a law professor’s testimony on US sanctions against mainland Chinese and the city’s officials in media mogul Jimmy Lai’s closely-watched national security trial, the judges have ruled despite the defence’s objection.
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NYPost ☛ As Trump nears GOP nomination, elitist media again treats American voters like they’re stupid – it’s 2016 all over again
How can it be that their fellow Americans remain so stupid after they’ve repeatedly explained Trump’s flaws? Why do voters refuse to listen to their media masters?
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University of Michigan ☛ Democracy at a crossroads: The advancing threat of Christian nationalism
In 1954, the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance was altered for the fourth and seemingly final time. Signed into law by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the phrase “under God” was added to assert America’s religious background and stand firm in our ideals against the threats of “godless communists.”
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Misinformation and social control media
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France24 ☛ Tunnel found under a New York synagogue: Watch out for false claims
Police raided an important synagogue and religious complex in Brooklyn, New York on January 8, arresting nine people. The reason? Members of a fringe messianic faction of the Hasidic Jewish community had dug an illegal tunnel beneath several buildings. When an attempt was made to close up the tunnel, the young radicals resisted. Images of the police raid have been shared worldwide and rumours, especially that the tunnel was being used by child trafficking rings, have emerged online.
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BIA Net ☛ Journalist Altan Sancar reveals receiving threats on social control media
An Instagram user sent Sancar a photo featuring bullets on the Turkish flag.
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BIA Net ☛ Turkish court arrests adult content creator, cites ‘semi-naked’ photos on social control media
Sarem Uysal has become the third content creator to face “obscenity” charges within two months.
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Censorship/Free Speech
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong man accused of inciting wounding of police chief tells court he made Facebook (Farcebook) comment in anger
A Hong Kong man on trial for allegedly inciting others to wound with intent has told the court he made the Facebook (Farcebook) comment about the city’s top police chief out of anger.
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JURIST ☛ Editors Guild of India says new national broadcasting legislation could lead to unconstitutonal censorship of news outlets
The Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Monday issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) expressing concerns over the draft Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, stating that the provisions of the bill would lead to an overarching censorship framework for broadcasting services, including news broadcasting.
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University of Michigan ☛ Stop interacting with people you dislike online
On Dec. 18, 2023 comedian Ziwe Fumudoh sat down with recently-expelled congressman George Santos for a satirical-style interview to recap his short-lived career in Congress and inquire about what he plans to do in the future.
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Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
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Civil Rights/Policing
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Techdirt ☛ Court: Being Portrayed As A Bigot By An NBA Team, Yelled At By An NBA Player Isn’t Actionable
Even though the blog is now often given over to “Trump did nothing wrong” posts and suggestions that social media services engage in “censorship” of so-called “conservatives” (and don’t even think about wandering into the comment section), Eugene Volokh’s Volokh Conspiracy still surfaces some very interesting cases.
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YLE ☛ Unions step up pressure on government over proposed labour market reforms
Two of the country's biggest trade union federations plan to demonstrate against further cuts to unemployment benefits.
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CS Monitor ☛ When going to court – or the movies – leads to change
Progress roundup: A tragedy and an Italian film about domestic violence lead to new laws. And in Ecuador, a court ruling may lead to more Indigenous rights.
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TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ Minnesota man wrongfully imprisoned in wife’s death sues former Ramsey County medical examiner
“I have gained my freedom,” he said Tuesday. “I now look forward to justice.”
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Internet Policy/Net Neutrality
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Techdirt ☛ Techdirt 2023: The Stats
Every year a little after New Years, I do a post about the previous year of Techdirt traffic and comments, looking at what people were interested in, what commenters were highly rated, etc. I know most sites put this out towards the end of the year, but I remain a purist and wait until after the new year begins to get all the stats. I usually try to do it a few days after New Year’s, but it’s a long process, and this year I’ve had a very busy start to the year (though, looking back, last year’s also came out about two weeks after the new year started as well).
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WhichUK ☛ BT and EE confirm broadband and mobile price rises: find out if you’re affected
BT has ignored calls to cancel inflation-based price rises in April, but does say more transparent prices are on the way
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Patents
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Software Patents
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Masimo tells CAFC that CBP Ruling for Fashion Company Apple Removes Danger of Irreparable Harm
Masimo’s legal team told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in a January 15 filing that the Exclusion Order Enforcement Branch (EOE) of U.S. Customs and Border Protection has cleared a redesigned version of the Fashion Company Apple watches that were banned by the International Trade Commission (ITC) in late October. The CBP’s decision has not been made public.
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Trademarks
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TTAB Blog ☛ In 2023, What Was The Rate of TTAB Affirmance of Section 2(d) Refusals to Register?
Yours truly, the TTABlogger, has once again taken on the unenviable task of estimating the percentage of Section 2(d) likelihood-of-confusion refusals that were affirmed by the Board in the past calendar year. I counted 219 decisions, of which 188 were affirmances and 31 were reversals. That's an affirmance rate of just under 85%.
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Copyrights
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Public Domain Review ☛ The Afterimage of Death: Dr. Berkeley's Discovery (1889)
A science fiction novel about optography — the scientific belief that images could be recovered from the eyes and brains of the dead.
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Monopolies/Monopsonies
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* Gemini (Primer) links can be opened using Gemini software. It's like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter.