Leftovers

• Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Gay Games Hong Kong generated HK$200 million for local economy, organisers say

  Organisers of the Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK) have said that its event last year generated HK$200 million for the local economy, with contributions made to sectors from retail to entertainment.

• Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Trial run for Hong Kong’s waste tax will ‘test’ how people understand the policy, leader John Lee says

  A trial run for Hong Kong’s pay-as-you-throw waste tax will inform the government of how the public understands the new policy, the city’s leader John Lee has said.

• University of Michigan ☛ I have no regrets

  If I were you, after reading that title, I would simply shut down my device in a huff or flap the pages of my newspaper closed in emphatic distaste. No regrets? Come on, what a load of C-R-A-P. And to have the gall to write about it, no less?

• Hackaday ☛ Night Vision The Old Way

  Solid state electronics have provided lighter weight night vision units that work better than the old-fashioned gear that used photomultiplier tubes, but there was an even older technology as [Our Own Devices] shows us in a recent video. The Metascope Type B was a first-generation passive night vision viewer that relied on moonlight.

• Ruben Schade ☛ Rubber Soul’s album cover

  I was 15 when I realised they’re called The Beatles because it has the word Beat in it. It also took me reading Wikipedia to realise it was their first album that doesn’t mention their name anywhere on the front.

  I’m still coming to terms with this.

• Ruben Schade ☛ Wandering around the Melbourne Botanic Gardens

  The Melbourne Botanic Gardens are Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens just south of the Melbourne CBD, hence the name. Sometimes I worry the stuff I write here is too clever… but then I raise something completely pointless like this.

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ The Moon Has a Curious Effect on The Sounds Emanating From Coral Reefs

    Listening could help save them.

  • New York Times ☛ ‘Dune’-like Sandworm Existed Millions of Years Longer Than Thought

    Researchers examined fossils of the predatory worm and found a new species that persisted for 25 million years after it was believed to have become extinct.

  • New York Times ☛ Orcas Are Considered One Species. Should They Be?

    A new study suggests that two killer whale populations in the North Pacific are distinct enough to be considered separate species.

• Hardware

  • CNX Software ☛ Quectel KG200Z LoRa module is now secured by The Things Stack

    In January of this year, Quectel launched the KG200Z LoRa Module, an Arm Cortex-M4-based module boasting a self-proclaimed range of 2-5 kilometers in urban settings and 10-15 kilometers in suburban areas. At that time, it was just another LoRa module with some additional features. However, in the latest development, Quectel and The Things Industries have announced a partnership that ensures this LoRa module comes integrated with “Works with The Things Stack” and “Secured by The Things Stack” certifications, enhancing its value and utility.

  • CNX Software ☛ Renesas AIK-RA4E1 and AIK-RA6M3 reference kits are designed for accelerated AI/ML development

    Renesas AIK-RA4E1 and AIK-RA6M3 are two new development boards based on RA-series 32-bit microcontrollers. These new dev boards have multiple reconfigurable connectivity functions to accelerate Hey Hi (AI) and ML design and development time. Both boards appear similar, but the AIK-RA4E1 uses the R7FA4E110D2CFM MCU, features three Pmod ports, and has no Ethernet support. On the other hand, the AIK-RA6M3 utilizes the R7FA6M3AH3CFC MCU, has six Pmod ports, and includes Ethernet support.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ TSMC's 3nm node will reportedly account for over 20% of its revenue in 2024, as Apple, AMD, and defective chip maker Intel adopt the technology

    TSMC's 3nm process technology will reportedly account for over 20% of TSMC's revenue in 2024, as more client adopt the node.

• Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Software Engineering Training in the Age of Generative AI [Ed: There is "Age of Generative Hey Hi (AI)", it is a buzzword, a meme, and brainwash/propaganda for marketing purposes, false narratives]

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Techdirt ☛ Feds Now Adding Dragnet Searches Of YouTube Users’ Video Watching To Their Investigative Arsenal

      All you need is Google. That’s how things have been going in the law enforcement world. If you don’t know who you’re looking for, just ask Google to do it for you. A variety of warrants that demand Google search its data stores for personal information (that might lead investigators to find potential suspects [who can then be properly targeted with more normal warrants]) have been standard operating procedure for years.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Michael Geist ☛ Tweets Are Not Enough: Why Combatting Relentless Antisemitism in Canada Requires Real Leadership and Action

    The Jewish holiday of Purim over the weekend sparked the usually array of political tweets featuring some odd interpretations of the meaning of the holiday and expressing varying degrees of support for the Jewish community.  But coming off one of the worst weeks in memory  - cancelled Jewish events due to security concerns, antisemitism in the mainstream media, deeply troubling comments on the floor of the House of Commons, and the marginalization of some Jewish MPs in government - the time for generic statements of support does not cut it.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korean delegation visits Vietnam

    Pyongyang seeks to expand its diplomatic engagement after Covid-19 lockdowns.

  • New York Times ☛ Israeli Hostage Says She Was Sexually Assaulted and Tortured in Gaza

    Amit Soussana is the first former hostage to publicly say she was sexually abused in captivity. A U.N. report has said it found “clear and convincing information” that some hostages suffered “conflict-related sexual violence.”

  • JURIST ☛ New York appellate panel reduces $464M Trump civil fraud bond to $175M

    An appeals court in New York lowered the $464 million bond imposed on former President Donald Trump in his civil fraud case on Monday. The five-judge panel ordered the bond be reduced to $175 million, and the payment date extended another ten days.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • RFERL ☛ Turkmenistan To Repatriate University Students Studying In Russia After Terror Attack

      Turkmen authorities are exploring how to bring Turkmen students studying at Russian universities back home, amid fears of an anti-immigrant backlash in the wake of last week’s terrorist attack on Moscow’s outskirts.

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian Radio in Ukraine: airBaltic ready to fly when airspace is safe

      Latvian national airline airBaltic was one of the last to leave Ukraine before the start of the full-scale invasion, and would like to be among the first airlines to resume flights to the country when it is safe to do so, said company chief Martin Gauss in Kyiv on Monday, March 25.

    • RFERL ☛ Imprisoned Russian Politician Kara-Murza's Wife Backs Prisoner Swap

      Yevgenia Kara-Murza, the wife of imprisoned Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, has said she would support a possible prisoner swap between Russia and the West to save her husband and other political prisoners in Russia whose lives might be in danger.

    • Latvia ☛ Old elevators still a pressing issue across Rīga

      Keeping elevators in technical order has been a challenge since Russia invaded Ukraine. Almost all the old elevators in the houses built during the Soviet Union are made in Belarus. “Riga House Manager” says the long-term answer would be a replacement, but most apartment building residents can't afford it, Latvian Television reported on March 25.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Is the US Congress finally poised to pass Ukraine aid?

      After almost eight months of deadlock, the US Congress may finally be moving toward a political solution that can unlock desperately needed US aid for Ukraine, writes Doug Klain.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Ukraine paves way for green energy future amid Russia’s escalating attacks

      Ukraine has lifted restrictions on the export of biomethane in a move that could make the country one of Europe's biggest green energy suppliers, writes Aura Sabadus.

    • France24 ☛ Euro 2024: Georgia, Ukraine and Poland all heading to competition after respective wins

      Ukraine found another late winning goal in another comeback win. Georgia and Poland held their nerve in penalty shootouts. All are going to the European Championship.

    • France24 ☛ Russia blames Ukraine, the West over Moscow concert hall attack

      Russia on Tuesday sought to shift blame for the Moscow concert hall attack onto Ukraine and its Western backers, despite the Islamic State group claiming responsibility for the massacre of at least 139 people.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania proposes EU ban on scrap imports from Russia

      Lithuania, supported by the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Estonia, has proposed that the European Union ban imports of ferrous metals, copper, and aluminium waste and scrap from Russia, saying that Moscow is using the proceeds to finance its war against Ukraine.

    • LRT ☛ Blinken calls Baltics ‘leaders in NATO’ for military spending

      US Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised the Baltic countries for their defence budgets and support for Ukraine, calling them “leaders in NATO”. He met the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia on Monday.

    • LRT ☛ Why do Lithuanians still go to Russia’s Kaliningrad?

      Although Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine has entered its third year, Lithuanian citizens are still travelling to Kaliningrad. The Russian exclave can only be reached on foot through Lithuania’s Panemunė. Last year, the border checkpoint was crossed 80,000 times.

    • RFERL ☛ U.S. Targets Russian Fintech Operators For Alleged Ukraine Sanctions Evasion Work

      The U.S. Treasury Department on March 25 said it had imposed sanctions on Russian financial services and technology players for developing or offering services in virtual assets aimed at evading Ukraine war-related sanctions on Russia.

    • RFERL ☛ Zelenskiy Replaces National Security And Defense Council Secretary In Latest Personnel Shake-Up

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on March 26 dismissed Oleksiy Danilov from the post of secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, replacing him with Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who has served as Ukraine's foreign intelligence chief.

    • teleSUR ☛ Russia Repels Ukrainian Attacks on Belgorod

      According to the governor of Belgorod, Viacheslav Gladkov, there is a wounded man who suffered damage and is being treated by the Russian health services.

    • New York Times ☛ ISIS Claimed the Moscow Concert Hall Attack. Russian Officials Blame Others.

      Russian narratives served to deflect attention from the failure to prevent the deadly attack while rallying the country behind the war in Ukraine.

    • Meduza ☛ Kremlin spokesman, asked how Ukraine could be involved in attack committed by ISIS, says Zelensky is ‘specific kind of Jew’ — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ 143 Latvian businesses continue cooperation with Russia

      More than 140 Latvian companies continue cooperation with the Russian Federation, offering their products for trade in the Russian market. Compared to 2022, exports decreased by only 2%. Who are these companies and are they going to cut ties with Russia? Latvian Television attempted to find out.

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian-Russian border fence construction to resume early April

      State JSC “State real estate” (VNĪ) has entered into 16 agreements with six construction contractors regarding the construction of the fence and infrastructure on the Latvian-Russian border. The first works will begin in early April, according to VNĪ's information on March 26.

    • Latvia ☛ Stopping trade with Russia debated in Latvia

      Along with discussions on the need to exclude manganese ore from Latvian transit, talks have started on whether Latvia should abandon trade with aggressors altogether. But how much would it cost Latvia, how many people would lose their jobs, and what impact would such a step have on the Latvian economy? Latvian Television surveyed a few experts on March 25.

    • France24 ☛ Two Moscow attack suspects travelled 'freely' as no arrest warrants issued, Turkish official says

      A Turkish security official on Tuesday said two of the Moscow concert hall attack suspects travelled "freely" to Russia as no arrest warrants were issued against them.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Soyuz Spacecraft With 3 Aboard Docks At Space Station

      A Russian Soyuz spacecraft with three passengers has successfully docked at the International Space Station.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Rejects U.S. Legal Claim To Arctic Seabed

      Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejected a U.S. claim to a vast territory of seabed under the Arctic Sea, accusing Washington of violating international law.

    • YLE ☛ Russia still a threat to Finland, Supo says

      Funnelling people to the eastern border is Russia's way of bullying Finland, according to the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.

    • New York Times ☛ Who Is Blowing Up Russia?

      There are two plausible theories for who’s behind the terrorist attack in Russia. Both are terrifying.

    • New York Times ☛ Display of Battered Men Was Russia’s Warning to the Public, Analysts Say

      Videos showing the torture of four men, accused of Russia’s deadliest terror attack in decades, have circulated widely in what analysts call a sign of the Russian state’s growing tolerance for public violence.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia Extends Evan Gershkovich’s Detention for a Fifth Time

      The ruling means that Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, will spend more than a year in custody awaiting trial on a spying charge.

    • Meduza ☛ ‘If you’re Tajik, cancel the order’: Central Asians in Russia face new wave of threats and discrimination following Moscow terrorist attack — Meduza

    • LRT ☛ Belarusians celebrated Freedom Day in Vilnius, hoping to one day do it in Minsk

      Belarusians celebrated Freedom Day in Vilnius on Monday, saying they hope they will one day mark the day in their home country. They also hope that Lithuania will continue to provide shelter to Belarusians fleeing the Lukashenko regime.

    • Off Guardian ☛ Global CBDC Rollout Continues Apace

      Terror attacks in Moscow, ongoing genocide in Gaza, and cancer in the Royal family are dominating the headlines. Meanwhile, on the financial back pages, all over the world the implementation of Central Bank Digital Currencies draws nearer.

    • New York Times ☛ Turkey Details Visits by Accused Moscow Attackers to Istanbul

      A Turkish official said two of the suspects had made recent trips to Turkey, but were radicalized earlier.

    • Meduza ☛ Lukashenko says terrorists turned toward Ukrainian border because of Belarusian roadblocks — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Russian FSB director says America, Britain, and Ukraine ‘were behind’ Moscow concert hall terrorist attack — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Zelensky dismisses Ukraine’s Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Russian security council secretary says Ukraine, not ISIS, behind Moscow terrorist attack — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘Sticking to his principles’: Kremlin insiders on Putin’s next moves as he embarks on his fifth presidential term — Meduza

    • teleSUR ☛ Russian President Asks Prosecutor's Office to Punish Terrorists

      The U.S. is trying to convince everyone that there is supposedly no Ukrainian trace in the bloody attack, Putin said.

    • RFERL ☛ Putin Blames 'Radical Islamists' For Concert Massacre, But Still Points To Ukraine, U.S.

      Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 25 said the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow was committed by radical Islamists.

    • RFERL ☛ Tajik Authorities Detain, Question Relatives Of Suspected Moscow Gunmen

      Tajik authorities detained relatives of four Tajik men accused of storming a Moscow-region concert hall and gunning down scores of people, questioning the relatives as the investigation into Russia's worst terrorist attack in decades widens.

    • RFERL ☛ Lukashenka Contradicts Putin's Claim About Concert Hall Attackers' Escape Plan

      Belarusian authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka said on March 26 that the gunmen who attacked a concert hall near Moscow last week tried to flee into his country but were unable to because of additional security measures.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • Federal News Network ☛ Justice Department’s new whistleblower program

    The Justice Department recently said it would test a new rewards program for whistleblowers, who report "significant corporate misconduct."

  • LRT ☛ Parliament commission indicts Lithuanian president in ‘whistleblower case’

    The Lithuanian parliament commission that carried out a parliamentary inquiry into the State Security Department’s (VSD) whistleblower case has concluded that the intelligence agency rendered favours to President Gitanas Nausėda when he was running for the post in 2019.

  • France24 ☛ Wikileaks' Assange can take appeal to fresh hearing, UK judges rule

    Two UK judges delayed a decision Tuesday on whether to grant WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a last-ditch appeal against extradition to the United States, giving Washington three weeks to provide further "assurances" in the case.

  • JURIST ☛ UK High Court says Assange will not face extradition after inadequate assurance from US he will not face death penalty

    WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange “lives to fight another day” according to his brother Gabriel, as the UK High Court halted his potential transfer to the US on Tuesday due to inadequate assurances on his treatment if extradited to the US.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Assange must have death penalty assurance from US say judges considering appeal bid

    The United States must give assurances that Julian Assange will not face the death penalty before judges will consider dismissing the Wikileaks founder’s bid to bring an extradition appeal, the High Court has ruled.

  • New York Times ☛ Julian Assange Extradition On Hold Until U.S. Gives More Assurances

    British judges asked the United States, which wants to try the WikiLeaks founder on espionage charges, for more guarantees about his treatment.

  • New York Times ☛ Julian Assange Extradition Decision: What to Know

    On Tuesday, two British judges will decide whether the WikiLeaks founder can appeal his extradition order to the United States.

  • Security Week ☛ UK Court Says Assange Can’t be Extradited on Espionage Charges Until US Rules Out Death Penalty

    UK Judges said the U.S. must guarantee that Assange, who is Australian, “is afforded the same First Amendment protections as a United States citizen, and that the death penalty is not imposed.”

  • Reason ☛ Greater Protections for Assange

    Plus: Abortion pill case, another fatal subway crime, China's Cultural Revolution, and more...

  • teleSUR ☛ Assange Faces Further Wait for Appeal Against Extradition to US

    The London High Court seeks assurances from the U.S. that he would not be sentenced to death if convicted.

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ High Court Decision May Pose New Challenges to Julian Assange Prosecution

    To get approval to extradite Julian Assange, the US would need to provide assurances regarding Assange's ability to rely on a First Amendment defense. That may pose a dilemma for the US.

• Finance

  • Ericsson to lay off 1,200 staff amid challenging mobile telecoms market

    Ericsson said it expects a challenging mobile networks market in 2024 with customer volume contraction as customers remain cautious.

    To manage lower customer volumes, Ericsson is implementing staff reductions in Sweden as part of global initiatives to improve cost positions.

  • Tencent, Other Chinese Companies Follow Western Counterparts In Laying off Staff As Economic Slowdown Weighs

    Latest layoffs have extended to the companies' core businesses following China's stringent Covid lockdown as opposed to the previous ones, which focused on restructuring loss-making industries and non-core segments.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • JURIST ☛ New York judge sets April 15 start date for Trump in falsified business records case

    A New York judge set an April 15 start date on Monday for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s criminal case against former US President Donald Trump.

  • Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

    • New York Times ☛ Rocked by Deadly Terror Attack, Kremlin Amps Up Disinformation Machine

      Conceding that the Islamic State alone carried out the assault on a Moscow concert hall would mean admitting to a security failure, and risk diluting Vladimir Putin’s narrative war with the West.

    • ADF ☛ Russian Health Disinformation Effort Puts Lives at Risk

      A dengue fever outbreak killed nearly 600 people in Burkina Faso in October 2023. A stream of disinformation followed. Social media users, including many believed to be backed by the Russian government, began attacking work by Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research organization that fights mosquito-borne illnesses.

    • Techdirt ☛ If You’re Worried About How Elections Might Play Out This Year, We Can Help You Prepare With Threatcast 2024

      There are a lot of elections worldwide, and these events invariably raise significant concerns regarding potential manipulation, particularly in light of emerging technologies such as generative AI. To help address these concerns, we are reintroducing our innovative “election threatcasting” game, Threatcast 2024, which has been designed to help users anticipate and counteract such threats.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • RFERL ☛ Iranian Court Overrules Academic Purge, Reinstates Med School Professors

    Iran's Court of Administrative Justice has ordered the reinstatement of nearly 40 faculty members of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences who had been either dismissed or pressured into retirement in recent years, a professor at the university said on March 25.

  • Reason ☛ Free Speech Unmuted: Free Speech, Government Persuasion, and Government Coercion

    Prof. Jane Bambauer and I discuss Murthy v. Missouri (the former Missouri v. Biden).

  • JURIST ☛ US federal judge dismisses lawsuit by X against nonprofit anti-hate speech organization

    A federal judge in California dismissed Monday a lawsuit brought by X (formerly known as Twitter) against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit organization that researches digital hate speech and campaigns for social control media reform.

  • New York Times ☛ Judge Imposes Gag Order on Trump in Manhattan Criminal Trial

    The order limiting the former president’s speech came after Justice Juan M. Merchan set an April 15 trial date for the case, which involves a sex scandal cover-up.

  • Reason ☛ Inventing Anna Defamation Case Against DRM spreader Netflix Can Go Forward

    From today's decision in Williams v. Netflix, Inc. by Chief Judge Colm Connolly (D. Del.), which denies Netflix's motion to dismiss (for more backstory, see here): Plaintiff Rachel DeLoache Williams has sued Defendant Netflix, Inc. based on Netflix's portrayal of Williams in its docudrama series Inventing Anna….

  • Reason ☛ Private Employee's Claim That She Was Fired for Peacefully Attending Jan. 6 Events Can Go Forward,

    under California statutes that protect private employees' political activity; the plaintiff claimed that "[s]he listened to speeches being made and walked to the Capitol, and then she left," and "did not participate in any rioting."

  • Reason ☛ More on Coercion, Social Media, and Freedom of Speech: Rejoinder to Philip Hamburger

    Prof. Hamburger continues to conflate coercion and voluntary choice.

  • Techdirt ☛ Elon Discovers When Content Moderation Makes Sense: When He Can Use It To Protect Racist Bigots From Being Called Out

    Right after Elon took over Twitter, we published what we had hoped would be a useful “speed run” through the content moderation learning curve that most platforms figure out along the way. We’ve seen other “free speech!” platforms learn these basic lessons, though not always quickly enough to survive.

  • Silicon Angle ☛ US judge tosses Elon Musk’s lawsuit against anti-hate speech group citing free speech concerns

    A judge in California today dismissed Elon Musk’s lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, CCDH, a nonprofit that has chronicled what it says is an increase in hate speech on X since Musk took over the platform in 2022.

  • RFA ☛ China steps up checks for people bypassing the ‘Great Firewall’

    Police are stopping people in public and checking their phones for apps used to get around censorship.

  • New Yorker ☛ The Aftermath of China’s Comedy Crackdown

    Standup flourished during the pandemic. Now performers fear the state—and audience members.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• JURIST ☛ European Commission investigates Google, Fashion Company Apple and Meta for non-compliance with Digital Markets Act

  The European Commission on Monday initiated non-compliance investigations against tech giants Google, Fashion Company Apple and Meta under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These investigations mark the first cases following the compliance deadline set by the DMA in early March.

• Patents

  • Unified Patents ☛ Emerging Automotive e-Keys patent monopoly challenged

    On March 25, 2024, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 11,738,659, owned and asserted by Emerging Automotive LLC. The ‘659 patent monopoly generally relates to systems and methods for generating and sharing electronic keys (e-Keys) with users and cloud-based processing systems making e-Keys sharable for enabling shared use of a vehicle. It has been asserted against Toyota and Kia.

    View district court litigations by Emerging Automotive.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Quest for a Meaningful Threshold of Invention: Atlantic Works v. Brady (1883)

    Atlantic Works has had a profound impact on the development of patent monopoly law, particularly in shaping the doctrine of obviousness, but more generally providing theoretical frameworks for attacking “bad patents.”  As discussed below, I believe the case also provides some early insight into the new Hey Hi (AI) inventorship dilemma.

    The case addressed the validity of a patent monopoly granted to Edwin L. Brady for an improved dredge boat design.  The Supreme Court ultimately reversed the lower court’s decision upholding the patent monopoly and found instead that Brady’s claimed invention lacked novelty and did not constitute a patentable advance over the prior art.

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • JUVE ☛ Carpmaels steps up for Curio as 10x Genomics challenges competitor at UPC [Ed: UPC is illegal and unconstitutional, but JUVE bagged lobbying money to help legitimise this crime of a "court"]

      At the Unified Patent Court, US-based company 10X Genomics accuses Curio Bioscience of infringing its European patent monopoly EP 2 697 391 which protects a method and product for localised or spatial detection of nucleic acid in a tissue sample.

  • Software Patents

    • Unified Patents ☛ IP Investments Group entity, DataCloud Technologies, cloud networking patent monopoly found invalid

      On February 29, 2024, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) entered a final rejection of all challenged claims of U.S. Patent 8,762,498, owned by DataCloud Technologies, LLC, an NPE and an IP Investments Group entity.

• Trademarks

  • Techdirt ☛ Take-Two Interactive Opposes New Logo For Business Partner Remedy Entertainment Over ‘R’

    Take-Two Interactive has already established itself as an IP bully. There are plenty of examples of this from the past several years, but my favorite remains the company’s opposition of a trademark for Rockstar Axe Throwing merely because it had the name “Rockstar” in it. No concern was given to how similar the logos and names in total were, nor the simple fact that the axe-throwing industry and the video game industry aren’t terribly related to one another.

  • TTAB Blog ☛ USPTO Proposes Trademark Fee Hike for FY 2025

    The USPTO is proposing to increase many trademark fees in Fiscal Year 2025. The proposal is set forth in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to be published today (pdf here). Comments are due by May 28th.

• Gemini* and Gopher

  • Personal/Opinions

    • disability isolation

      My pain in the last few months has been a lot and that has meant i've been able to do less and less. today especially i am feeling really isolated from the world.

      even leaving my room is a lot of energy so i have seen the outside of my room. once today? when i got breakfast.

      right now with many of my online friends asleep due to timezones, and the ones who aren't asleep due to timezones are busy. and i feel really alone!

    • cartesian

      Welp I find myself with a bunch of books again, this time on what? numerology, occultism, Tarot, the I Ching, Carl Gustav Jung, Niklas Luhmann, systems theory, and a sundry on classical Greek society and science. Okay, I am not going to read half of these, but I have a nice selection to peruse from. I've already disposed of a few, and yet others.... Well, I added some old topics like computer arithmetic and number theory; starting to see a pattern here?

  • Technology and Free Software

    • quark_theme_for_HamsterCMS

      To use the template, create a quark folder in the templates folder, upload the index.html file, open the admin panel, select the site page to edit, and specify this template in the settings below to change the footer, edit footer.txt in the includes folder. Using the same principle, edit about.txt and replace the information there with your own.