Leftovers

• Hackaday ☛ Remembering Memory: EMS, And TSRs

  You often hear that Bill Gates once proclaimed, “640 kB is enough for anyone,” but, apparently, that’s a myth — he never said it. On the other hand, early PCs did have that limit, and, at first, that limit was mostly theoretical.

• Standards/Consortia

  • [Old] PC Mag ☛ Definition of ASCII ribbon campaign

    An effort to eliminate HTML email in the days of analog modems. When Internet-based email became prevalent in the late 1990s and HTML email made its debut, the ASCII ribbon campaign attempted to encourage people to use only plain text in their messages. In those early days, not all email servers and email programs could render HTML email or attached files, and the campaign tried to discourage their use. See HTML email and ASCII.

  • [Old] The ASCII Ribbon Campaign ☛ The Ascii Ribbon Campaign official homepage

    Well, simply put: it opposes any and all HTML e-mail, and e-mail with proprietary attachments. Why? Actually, a number of reasons: [...]

• Science

  • The Strategist ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s science cuts threaten public research data

    US President The Insurrectionist’s cuts to scientific research create anxieties about the accessibility of research data. Scientists worldwide fear websites and data sets hosted in the United States will be deleted or decommissioned.

  • Science Alert ☛ Record Study Connects Hundreds of Genetic Markers With OCD

    This could improve the lives of millions.

  • Science Alert ☛ We Finally Know Why Ancient Roman Concrete Lasts Thousands of Years

    Mystery solved!

  • Science Alert ☛ The End of The Universe May Not Be as Far Off as Once Thought

    Well that's disappointing.

  • Science Alert ☛ Controversial New Study Links Parkinson's With Living Near a Golf Course

    Which came first?

  • Science Alert ☛ Is Matcha The New Morning Brew? Here's What to Know About This Ancient Superfood.

    Green is the new brown.

  • Science Alert ☛ These 3 Common Spices Could Be Interfering With Your Medication

    Here's what you need to know.

• Career/Education

  • University of Michigan ☛ Why UMich postdoctoral fellows are forming a union

    I am a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Michigan from the Mechanical Engineering Department. As a postdoc, I conduct academic research and provide instruction to students.

• Hardware

  • Hackaday ☛ Thermal Monocular Brings The Heat At 10X

    [Project 326] is following up on his thermal microscope with a thermal telescope or, more precisely, a thermal monocular. In fact, many of the components and lenses in this project are the same as those in the microscope, so you could cannibalize that project for this one, if you wanted.

  • Hackaday ☛ A Toolchanging Delta 3D Printer

    We’ve seen quite a few delta 3D printers, and a good number of toolchanging printers, but not many that combine both worlds. Fortunately, [Ben Wolpert]’s project fills that gap with a particularly elegant and precise delta toolchanger.

  • Hackaday ☛ A Web Based Controller For Your Garage Door

    Garage doors! You could get out of your vehicle and open and close them yourself, but that kinda sucks. It’s much preferable to have them raise and lower courtesy some mechanical contrivance, and even better if that is controlled via the web. [Juan Schiavoni] shows us how to achieve the latter with their latest project.

  • Hackaday ☛ What’s An LCR Databridge?

    [Thomas Scherrer] has an odd piece of vintage test equipment in his most recent video. An AIM LCR Databridge 401. What’s a databridge? We assume it was a play on words of an LCR bridge with a digital output. Maybe. You can see a teardown in the video below.

  • Hackaday ☛ You Wouldn’t Download A Helmet?

    Odds are, if you have ridden a bicycle for any amount of time, you have crashed. Crashes are fast, violent and chaotic events that leave you confused, and very glad to have a helmet. But what if there was another way of protecting your head? [Seth] decided to find out by taking a look at the Hövding airbag helmet.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • JURIST ☛ Rights group calls out Fentanylware (TikTok) for failing to protect children

    Amnesty International (AI) published a statement Monday condemning TikTok’s failure to address the previously identified risks to youth’s mental health. Hey Hi (AI) reported TikTok’s responses to previous inquiries into implemented changes since a 2023 report.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Health experts affirm slight increase in China’s Covid-19 cases reflects normal viral fluctuation

    There is no difference between this round of Covid-19 infection and previous ones, said an expert.

  • New York Times ☛ 3M to Pay New Jersey Up to $450 Million for Drinking-Water Contamination

    The state claimed “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS, contaminated groundwater from an industrial park where they were used for decades.

  • New York Times ☛ What the ‘Small Nodule’ Found on Biden’s Prostate Could Mean for a Man’s Health

    Some doctors say they are surprised the condition was found at all in the former president, given his age.

  • The Straits Times ☛ WHO warns of permanent impact of hunger on a generation of Gazans

    Malnutrition rates are rising in Gaza, emergency treatments to counter it are running out and hunger could have a lasting impact on "an entire generation", a World Health Organization official said on Tuesday.

  • LRT ☛ Lithuanian parliament debates free abortion bill

    A proposed Reproductive Health Law returned to Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday, reigniting debate over abortion access, public health spending, and reproductive rights. The bill passed the first reading on Tuesday.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China says fentanyl issue is responsibility of the US

    China has repeatedly said fentanyl is a US issue, said China's foreign ministry.

  • Science Alert ☛ Life Expectancy Has Barely Changed in Some US States For More Than a Century

    An alarming inequality.

  • Science Alert ☛ A Distinct New Form of Diabetes Has Been Officially Recognized

    Introducing type 5.

• Proprietary

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • Press Gazette ☛ Google Hey Hi (AI) Overviews leads to dramatic reduction in clickthroughs for Mail Online

      Mail director of SEO and editorial e-commerce Carly Steven reveals impact of Surveillance Giant Google Hey Hi (AI) Overviews.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s ‘unification’ comment was about US-China trade, says US mission in Taipei

    The remark caused concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Two Taiwan allies attend Beijing forum as China steps up diplomatic pressure

    Haiti's foreign minister was one of Taiwan's two diplomatic allies attending a forum on Tuesday in Beijing between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, as China steps up its pressure campaign against the diplomatically isolated island.

  • The Strategist ☛ The Lai Ching-te government shifts gears

    Complex developments in Taiwan’s domestic legislative politics may affect the regional security outlook over the next 12 months.

  • The Strategist ☛ Chinese pressure is a part of Solomon Islands’ politics. Other Pacific countries should take note

    The Chinese embassy in Solomon Islands has reportedly pressured newly appointed Minister of Rural Development Daniel Waneoroa to quit an international group that challenges China’s authoritarian regime.

  • JURIST ☛ US Homeland Security Department ends protected status for Afghans

    Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Monday announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from Afghanistan. Noem stated that the “conditions in Afghanistan” no longer warrant continuing the program and is “contrary to the national interest.”

  • New York Times ☛ In High-Stakes Negotiations, Convicted Felon’s Opponents Are Learning His Patterns

    Hell Toupée often takes maximalist positions, only to back down and declare a win. His opponents are catching on.

  • New York Times ☛ Wednesday Briefing: Israeli Officers Warn of Famine

    Plus, a Hollywood takeover at Cannes.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ Four energy deals Convicted Felon will look to make on his Middle East trip

    Hell Toupée’s upcoming trip to the Middle East will focus on advancing energy and commercial agreements, including securing Gulf investments in US manufacturing, increasing US LNG imports, deepening nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, and locking in oil production commitments. These efforts are ultimately aimed at advancing broader geopolitical objectives—countering Russian influence and strengthening US energy dominance.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • RFERL ☛ Russia Blamed By UN Body For 2014 MH17 Shootdown, Moscow Rejects Decision

      The UN aviation council on May 12 found that Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian commercial jet over Ukraine that killed all 298 passengers and crew, a ruling Moscow criticized as being "biased."

    • JURIST ☛ UN body finds Russia responsible for downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17

      The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN specialized agency, found that Russia failed in its obligation to uphold international air law in relation to the the shoot-down of Malaysian Airways flight MH17 in 2014, in a historic vote on Monday.

    • JURIST ☛ Poland accuses Russia of ordering Warsaw shopping center fire

      Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on Sunday that Russia was behind the fire at the Marywilska shopping center in Warsaw last year, warning that Poland will continue investigating the matter and hold the responsible individuals found accountable.

    • LRT ☛ Seimas speaker says no chance of returning to Vilnius-Beijing relations as before

      Lithuania will not rebuild the kind of relations it used to have with China, says Parliament Speaker Saulius Skvernelis, including because of Beijing’s support for Russia.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian logistics co raided over suspected sanctions violations

      Authorities carried out searches at Cargokodas, a Lithuanian transport and logistics company, in April over suspected violations of international sanctions related to the supply of goods to Russia and Belarus, 15min.lt reported on Tuesday.

    • RFERL ☛ Russia’s Ties With China, Iran Mean Conflicts Won’t Remain Local, US Military Leaders Say

      US military leaders are increasingly concerned that the United States faces the prospect of global flashpoints turning into prolonged, multi-front confrontations stoked by the United States' main adversaries -- Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

    • ADF ☛ Mali Junta, Russian Mercenaries Unleash Horrors Upon Civilians

      At a market in the town of Sébabougou, in a part of western Mali that has been contested by terrorists for years, the Army and its Russian mercenary partners on April 12 arrested 100 men, mostly ethnic Fulani, and took 60 of them to an undisclosed location.

    • Meduza ☛ Ten ex-convicts who signed Russian army contracts escape from training ground just before scheduled deployment — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘Tools of pressure, isolation, and repression’: Russia’s new migrant registry strips 'illegal’ immigrants of rights — and it’s easy to land on it by mistake — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Holy war games State Duma lawmaker accuses exiled anti-war priests of assaulting Russia’s ‘spiritual shield’ — Meduza

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian FM criticises Slovak PM’s visit to Moscow

      Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has criticised Robert Fico for attending the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow last week, calling the Slovak prime minister’s decision “completely incomprehensible”.

    • Meduza ☛ Top Zelensky adviser says Ukrainian president will meet only with Putin in Istanbul — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ 'I asked myself whether I was a psychopath': Confessions of a Meduza journalist who continues to report anonymously from Putin's Russia — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Trump's attendance at Russia–Ukraine talks in Istanbul will depend largely on whether Putin joins — CNN — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Diplomacy on a deadline Re: Russia analysts explain why Putin’s peace summit in Turkey poses enormous risks not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Putin not expected to attend Turkey summit in person, will send top aide and foreign secretary in his place — The Washington Post — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ Zelensky says any meeting with Putin must result in ‘political victory' such as prisoner swap or ceasefire, not just talk — Meduza

    • New York Times ☛ Zelensky Asks Convicted Felon to Attend Peace Talks, but Putin’s Plans Remain Unclear

      President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that if Hell Toupée attended the talks, it would put pressure on Russia’s leader, Vladimir V. Putin, to meet face-to-face.

    • European Commission ☛ Joint press release by the European Union and Ukraine on strengthening military industry ties at the EU-Ukraine Defence Industries Forum

      European Commission Press release Brussels, 13 May 2025 The second EU-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum took place in Brussels on 12 May to bolster cooperation and integration between the Ukrainian and EU defence industries.

    • Latvia ☛ Nordics, Baltics reaffirm support to Ukraine in joint statement

      The Baltic and Nordic countries (NB8) issued a joint statement on 12 May reaffirming their support for Ukraine's path to peace and calling for an immediate unconditional ceasefire in the war launched by Russia.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Drone superpower: Ukrainian wartime innovation offers lessons for NATO

      Today’s Ukraine is now a drone superpower with an innovative domestic defense industry that can provide its NATO allies with important lessons in the realities of twenty-first century warfare, writes David Kirichenko.

    • France24 ☛ Macron says France does not want to unleash 'World War III' over Ukraine

      President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that France does not want to spark “World War III” over Ukraine and pledged referendums on major reforms. In a lengthy TV interview, he outlined priorities for his final two years in office before stepping down in 2027 after reaching the constitutional term limit.

    • RFERL ☛ Zelenskyy Wants Face-To-Face Meeting With Putin In Turkey But Russian Leader's Participation Up In The Air

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will be waiting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, to hold a meeting on May 15 with President Vladimir Putin, and will only meet face-to-face his Russian counterpart, whose participation is still up in the air, and not other Russian officials.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ How much longer will Putin be allowed to continue stalling for time?

      Hell Toupée has made a legitimate effort to broker a generous peace, but the time has now come to acknowledge that Putin is not negotiating in good faith and will only respond to the language of strength, writes Peter Dickinson.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian official says Paris-Warsaw security pact should not cast doubts on NATO

      As Poland and France have signed a cooperation agreement that includes security guarantees, Lithuanian presidential adviser Deividas Matulionis says such initiatives are welcome but must not be allowed to raise doubts about trust in NATO.

• Environment

  • NYPost ☛ Powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes off coast of Greece, tsunami warning issued

    An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck off the island of Crete in Greece on Wednesday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ S. Korea Jeju Air crash families file criminal complaint against transport minister, 14 others

      The complaint alleges negligence in managing safety risks as well as violations of the Aviation Safety Act.

    • The Straits Times ☛ No drugs found in lorry involved in fatal crash causing 9 deaths: Malaysian police

      "There were rumours suggesting (the driver) had ketum, but we found nothing," said the police.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China lifts Boeing ban after US trade talks, report says

      China has lifted a ban on domestic airlines accepting new Boeing aircraft, a report said Tuesday, after Beijing and Washington agreed to temporarily lower tariffs in a major de-escalation of their trade war.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • France24 ☛ 🌟The Bright Side: The compassionate mission to rescue London’s pigeons

      Volunteers with the London Pigeon Rescue, Jennie Brennan and Jacob Peter, are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating pigeons affected by a common urban condition known as "stringfoot". Through their continuous efforts, the rescuers are restoring the health of the city's most overlooked birds while raising awareness on how littering affects urban wildlife.

• Finance

  • New York Times ☛ Beyond Tariff Truce, China Readies for a Rocky Time With U.S.

    Beijing is trying to win over other countries with vows of economic cooperation. But it won’t back down from its territorial claims, experts predict.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Jaded young Chinese reset lives with rural ‘retirement’

    Youth retirement homes selling a vision of respite from the urban grind have gone viral in China.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US to cut 'de minimis' tariff on China shipments, bolstering broader trade truce

    The United States will cut the low value "de minimis" tariff on China shipments, a White House executive order said on Monday, further de-escalating a potentially damaging trade war between the world's two largest economies.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China offers Latin America and the Caribbean billions in bid to rival US influence

    President Pooh-tin Jinping vowed on Tuesday to boost China's footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean with a new $9 billion credit line and fresh infrastructure investment, although Brazil warned the region not to become overly reliant on foreign funding.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China, Brazil pledge to defend free trade as presidents meet in Beijing

    China and Brazil pledged on Tuesday to defend free trade and multilateralism as the two countries signed 20 agreements in Beijing to strengthen their ties amid global trade uncertainties.

  • NDTV ☛ Microsoft Layoffs Fuel Debate On Job Security And Salary In Tech Versus Government Jobs

    A Google engineer based in Bengaluru responded to a post about a woman's brother being laid off from Microsoft in the US. The woman shared her cousin's brother's job loss, highlighting the instability of tech careers and the perceived security of government jobs. She noted that this experience reinforced her parents' advice to pursue government positions for better job stability. The user who goes by the name Sneha wrote, "My cousin brother working in Microsoft USA has been laid off, tech is not a stable place. That's why parents say to prepare for a government job. At least there is job security."

  • The Strategist ☛ No, Australian trade isn’t diversifying away from China

    Australia’s free-trade agreements with nations other than China have delivered diversification in neither exports nor imports over the past decade, leaving Australia more tightly bound by trade to China than any other advanced nation.

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Sheinbaum renews pact to freeze prices on essential grocery items

    Under the agreement, Mexico’s major food and grocery companies will cap a "basket" of the 24 most common grocery items at 910 pesos (US $46.8) for the next six months. 

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong lawmakers, councillors, residents oppose NGO’s plan to open homeless shelter in Cheung Sha Wan

    Hong Kong lawmakers, district councillors, and residents have opposed an NGO’s application to open a homeless shelter in Cheung Sha Wan, citing concerns such as “hygiene” and “security.”

  • Latvia ☛ Latvian central bank posts its annual results

    The Council of Latvia's central bank, Latvijas Banka, has approved its annual report for 2024, the bank said in a release May 13.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Straits Times ☛ Key promises by South Korea's conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo

    Seeking to build momentum in his campaign to win South Korea's presidency, former labour minister and conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo is pledging economic policies focused on deregulation, investments in Hey Hi (AI) and tax breaks for the middle class.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Asia Pacific trade envoys to discuss multilateral cooperation in tariff era

    Asia-Pacific trade envoys will gather this week in South Korea for discussions on multilateral cooperation, with talks taking place at a time when countries are scrambling to respond to U.S. President The Insurrectionist's sweeping tariffs.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean presidential frontrunner Lee Jae-myung's policy pledges

    South Korea's Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung is the frontrunner for the June 3 snap presidential election, vowing political and economic reforms to help the country recover from the shock of December's brief martial law.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Xi slams ‘bullying’ in veiled swipe at US as Beijing hosts Latin America leaders

    Beijing has stepped up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in recent years.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Chinese President Pooh-tin slams ‘bullying’ as Beijing hosts Latin American leaders

    Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping vowed Tuesday to deepen ties with Latin America and condemned “bullying” in a thinly veiled swipe at the United States, as he addressed regional leaders in Beijing.

  • New York Times ☛ Xi Woos Latin American Leaders With Promises of Cooperation on Technology

    The Chinese leader, Pooh-tin Jinping, has suggested expanding trade ties beyond buying commodities as he continues to rally nations in the face of Hell Toupée’s tariffs.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Duterte remains beloved in home province, where his dynasty is thriving

    The former Philippine president is almost certain to be elected mayor of his home city by a landslide.  

  • New York Times ☛ The Pope’s Florida Brother, a MAGA Disciple, Plans to ‘Tone It Down’

    Louis Prevost’s Facebook (Farcebook) posts — no longer publicly viewable — suggest that he has embraced some of the most common complaints and conspiracy theories of the right.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong enacts update to local security law: Up to 7 years jail for disclosing nat. security probe

    Hong Kong has enacted new laws under its homegrown security legislation, including the imposition of a maximum jail term of seven years for disclosing investigations by Beijing’s national security office.

  • Stanford University ☛ DoD introduces new policy to deal with security leaks: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

    The Department of Defense introduced the policy to ensure operational safety will not be threatened by unimportant matters like security leaks.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Press Gazette ☛ 2025 journalism job cuts tracked: Layoffs at two Los Angeles newsrooms

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • JURIST ☛ UN presses Egypt to rethink draft criminal code over rights concerns

    The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed serious concern on Monday over Egypt’s newly approved draft Code of Criminal Procedure, citing potential violations of international human rights laws. The draft law was recently passed by Egypt’s House of Representatives and currently awaits President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s approval.

  • OpenRightsGroup ☛ ORG RESPONSES TO DATA INTERMEDIARIES AND DATA BROKERS CONSULTATIONS

    ORG responses to DSIT consultations on “data intermediaries” and on “data brokers and national security”

• Digital Restrictions (DRM)

  • Digital Music News ☛ Spotify Says Its US Subscriber Levels Are Just Fine, Thank You — Though Latest Data Shows Early-2025 Declines

    DMN Pro first reported serious subscriber slowdowns at Amazon Music in 2024. Now, it’s Spotify’s turn: according to leaked figures, the mega-DSP shed stateside subscribers in early 2025. In response, Spotify told DMN that its paying subscribers are growing ‘in all regions,’ but declined to offer further details.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • MIT Technology Review ☛ A US court just put ownership of CRISPR back in play [Ed: 'Owning' life itself, as a concept]

    The CRISPR patents are back in play. On Monday, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier will get another chance to show they ought to own the key patents on what many consider the defining biotechnology invention of the 21st century.

  • Unified Patents ☛ $4,000 for IP Investments Group entity, Digimedia Tech, storage patents prior art

    Unified Patents added two new PATROLL contests, each with a $2,000 cash prize, seeking prior art on the list below. The patents are owned by DigiMedia Tech, LLC, an NPE and an IP Investments Group entity.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Formalism, Fictions, and Federalism: Post Expiry Royalties Return to SCOTUS

    I just read Atrium Medical's SCOTUS petition -- asking the court help resolve a circuit split involving the the Brulotte & Kimble doctrines that bars collecting royalties after a patent monopoly expires, even if agreed-to by contract.

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • JUVE ☛ Sanofi and Amgen still fighting for upper hand following Düsseldorf judgment [Ed: UPC is illegal and its judgments are not constitutional. JUVE is aware of it, but it is sponsored by the firms that actively promoted this illegality so that they can profit more from litigation. They broke laws, violated conventions and constitutions to be this system in place; if you commit crime to do something, then that something isn't legitimate, no matter the amount of sugar-coating and spinning which follows.]

      Amgen may continue selling its PCSK9 inhibitor Repatha with the active ingredient evolocumab in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. This is the result of a decision today by the local division under presiding judge Ronny Thomas.

    • JUVE ☛ UPC battle between 10x Genomics and Curio Bioscience moves to next stage [Ed: UPC is simply illegal; some companies already legally challenge its right to exist or rule in Europe]

      US company 10x Genomics alleges that competitor Curio Bioscience has infringed 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 ☛ Dynamic IP Deals entity, AK Meeting, groupware patent monopoly challenge instituted

      On May 12, 2025, three weeks after Unified filed an ex parte reexamination, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on the challenged claims of U.S. Patent 10,180,765, owned and asserted by AK Meeting, an NPE and Dynamic IP Deals entity.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ TTABlog Test: Which of These Three Section 2(d) Refusals Was/Were Overturned on Appeal?

    The TTAB affirmance rate for Section 2(d) appeals last year fell just under 90%. So far this year it's back to 90%. Here are three recent Board decisions, at least one of which reversed the refusal. How do you think they came out? [Answer in first comment].

• Copyrights

  • Scoop News Group ☛ Copyright office criticizes Hey Hi (AI) ‘fair use’ before director’s dismissal

    The register of copyrights cast serious doubt on whether Hey Hi (AI) companies could legally train their models on copyrighted material. The White House fired her the next day. 

  • Digital Music News ☛ Major Music Publishers Accuse Anthropic Hey Hi (AI) of ‘Hallucinating’ Citations In Ongoing Copyright Dispute

    The high-profile copyright monopoly lawsuit between major music publishers and Anthropic’s chatbot Claude just took a dramatic turn. Anthropic’s legal counsel is accused of submitting a court filing containing AI-generated hallucinations to an academic citation that does not exist.

  • Digital Music News ☛ SoundCloud Says It Doesn’t Allow Hey Hi (AI) Training on Artist Uploads — Though Their Hidden ‘Opt-Out’ Terms Say the Complete Opposite

    Is SoundCloud using your music to train generative Hey Hi (AI) models? The company says it “doesn’t allow Hey Hi (AI) training or scraping with music on our platform,” but questions remain in light of a controversial terms of service update.

  • Public Domain Review ☛ Charles Butler’s The Feminine Monarchie, or the History of Bees (1634 edition)

    The first full-length work of apiculture published in English.