Links 13/07/2024: Patent Trolls in UK Court of Appeal, Eric Schmidt Continues so Show Womanising at Google
Contents
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Leftovers
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New York Times ☛ The End of the Affair? Not for Eric Schmidt.
While Mr. Schmidt was chief executive of Google, he had an extramarital relationship with Marcy Simon, a public relations executive. A decade after they split, things are still messy.
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Reason ☛ Great Moments in Unintended Consequences: DoorDash, Surveillance Giant Google AI, and French Wikipedia (Vol. 16)
Good intentions, bad results.
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Science
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New York Times ☛ Chandra Observatory Captures Two Supernovas in (Slow) Motion
For the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, NASA produced ghostly time-lapse videos of two centuries-old stellar explosions.
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New York Times ☛ SpaceX Rocket Fails in Orbit
The malfunction, the first since 2016, ended a streak of more than 300 successful launches for the Falcon 9 rocket.
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Science Alert ☛ Study Shows One Drug Performs Better Than Ozempic For Weight Loss
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Science Alert ☛ NASA Thinks This Radical Mars Rocket Could Revolutionize Space Travel
A round-trip to Mars in just two months.
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Science Alert ☛ Gobsmacking Study Finds Life on Earth Emerged 4.2 Billion Years Ago
The moment everything changed.
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Science Alert ☛ Scientists Weighed a Neutron Star to Glimpse The Strange Physics Inside
What happens when matter is squashed to the brink of collapse?
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Science Alert ☛ Radical New Therapy Could Rapidly Reverse Sepsis in The Brain
"I have never seen such a dramatic response."
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Science Alert ☛ A Once-in-a-Lifetime Explosion Is About to Reveal a 'New Star' in The Sky
An amazing thing to witness!
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New York Times ☛ Why Is the U.S. Pretending to Know Gender-Affirming Care Works?
With children’s health and well-being at stake, effective, evidence-based and compassionate health care must be accepted.
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Education
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RFA ☛ Hong Kong sees a sharp fall in the number of schoolchildren
The drop follows an exodus sparked by a crackdown and comes in the midst of a campaign for 'patriotic education.'
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Hardware
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CNX Software ☛ Ugoos SK1 8K Android TV box with Dolby Vision comes with Amlogic S928X-K SoC, 8GB LPDDR4, 128GB eMMC flash
Ugoos SK1 8K Android TV box is based on the Amlogic S928X-K penta-core Cortex-A76/A55 SoC with 8GB LPDDR4, a 128GB eMMC flash, and support for Dolby Vision HDR. The SK1 model follows the Ugoos AM8 model introduced last year with the Amlogic S928X-J processor, 4GB LPDDR4, and 32GB eMMC flash.
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Hackaday ☛ Holy Keyboard Case, Batman!
Whoever thought a keyboard could look so sinister? Well, [rain2] aka [AffectionateWin7178], that’s who. Vengeance is the sixth keyboard they’ve designed, and let’s just say we wouldn’t mind seeing the other five.
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Tom's Hardware ☛ Game publisher claims 100% crash rate with defective chip maker Intel CPUs – Alderon Games says company sells defective 13th and 14th gen chips
Frustrations are running at an all-time high regarding Raptor Lake stability issues. Game studio Alderon Games reports that nearly all of its Raptor Lake machines are either crashing or suffering from stability issues.
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Hackaday ☛ Iron Man Arc Reactor Clock Is A Stylish Piece
Iron Man was the film that kicked off the Marvel craze, and is widely regarded to be better than a lot of the movies that followed. If you’re a big fan of the OG, you’re probably already drowning in Iron Man helmets and arc reactor doo-dads, but here’s one more for you. After all, you probably don’t have an arc reactor clock yet.
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Hackaday ☛ Home Automation Panel Looks Industrial
Modern tech is great, but we have to admit that we sometimes miss when electronic things looked complicated. A modern computer looks dull compared to, say, an IBM 360. Control rooms now look no different than a stock trading room, instead of being full of indicators, knobs, and buzzers. [BorisDigital] must have some of those same feelings. He built a very cool control panel for his Home Assistant setup. He based it somewhat on a jet cockpit and a little on a nuclear plant control room, and the result, as you can see in the video below, is great.
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Hackaday ☛ Tiny Transceiver Gets It Done With One Transistor
When we first spotted the article about a one-transistor amateur radio transceiver, we were sure it was a misprint. We’ve seen a lot of simple low-power receivers using a single transistor, and a fair number of one-transistor transmitters. But both in one package with only a single active component? Curiosity piqued.
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Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
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RFA ☛ Chinese shoppers panic buy pressed cooking oil amid safety fears
Lines form at stores selling artisanal oils after contaminated tankers reportedly move cooking oil.
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Science Alert ☛ One Chronic Disease Is Shockingly Common Among Olympic Athletes
It's not one you might expect.
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BIA Net ☛ Queues at İstanbul’s affordable ‘canteens’ get longer as living costs rise
During our visit to a ‘city canteen’ we saw people from all walks of life—police officers, civil servants, construction workers, security guards, retirees, and students. The common thread among them all is the struggle to make ends meet.
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Kluwer Patent Blog ☛ “This may hurt a bit…” – Moderna paves the way for COVID-19 vaccine damages claim against Pfizer and BioNTech in the UK
Moderna secured a double victory in the Patents Court last week (2 July 2024) in proceedings against Pfizer and BioNTech. In the first decision, Meade J found its modified mRNA patent monopoly to be valid and infringed by Pfizer and BioNTech’s “Comirnaty” vaccine.
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RFA ☛ North Korea orders return of workers in China stranded by pandemic
Experts say the order targets women who are needed home for marriage and child-rearing.
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Pseudo-Open Source
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Openwashing
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Dolphin Publications B V ☛ OpenELA automates enterprise Linux source delivery
Tracking down the latest Linux version is becoming easier than ever for developers. A few days after new RHEL versions are released, new resources appear from OpenELA.
Currently, packages are available through GitHub for users of the most recent RHEL releases, namely 9.4 and 8.10. Those who have the latest enterprise Linux version once can start building their own builds as soon as possible. Now that Red Hat has shielded off its own Linux distribution, this path is considered a way to receive the sources for any new enterprise Linux version just after Red Hat Enterprise Linux hits customers.
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Defence/Aggression
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ACLU ☛ Pop Quiz: How Much Do You know About America’s History Of Rejecting Kings?
The Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. United States means that any president can now use their official powers to commit crimes under the assumption they are now presumptively immune. A future president could turn the armed forces against their opponents, turn government agencies against their critics, or reenact some of America’s worst mistakes.
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The Straits Times ☛ North Korea denounces declaration at Nato summit: KCNA
Pyongyang criticised US moves to expand military blocs with Nato countries and Asian partners.
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France24 ☛ Israeli military says it 'failed' in mission to protect kibbutz from Hamas attack
The Israeli military on Thursday released the results of its first internal investigation into the Hamas attacks on October 7, admitting to major failings in the defence of Kibbutz Beeri, a town on the Gaza border. More than 100 people were killed in the attack on Beeri and 32 were taken as captives to Gaza, 11 of whom are still being held there. The report stated that the military was unprepared and slow to respond to the attack but fell short of holding individual commanders to account, leaving key questions unanswered.
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Defence Web ☛ Maintaining law and order a key part of Solidarity’s plan for SA’s economic recovery
Law and order must be maintained in order for South Africa’s economy to flourish, as crime stifles business confidence and general confidence in the country, trade union Solidarity maintains in its new Economic Recovery Plan for South Africa.
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Defence Web ☛ Government is actively working to improve cyber security – Minister in The Presidency
Cyber security is one component of South African Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s responsibilities with her “assuring” the country it is receiving the necessary attention.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Philippines will ‘stand its ground’ in South China Sea dispute with Beijing, official says
By Cecil Morella The Philippines will “stand our ground” in a dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, a top security official said Friday, eight years after an international ruling against China in the territorial contest.
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JURIST ☛ Western governments criticize controversial South Sudan security bill for undermining open political and civil space
Nine Western embassies, including the US, criticized a controversial security bill in South Sudan that allows the government to detain people without warrants on Thursday.
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RFERL ☛ Fake Security Officer Who Extorted Bribes From Foreigner Arrested In Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz authorities said on July 12 that a man who impersonated an officer for the State Committee for National Security was arrested two days earlier while reportedly accepting $3,000 from a Chinese national.
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Digital Music News ☛ Confidential Fentanylware (TikTok) Congressional Transcript Released to DOJ As Ban Looms
A U.S. House committee voted to release a Congressional transcript from a classified hearing held in March regarding national security threats posed by TikTok. The transcript was released to the DoJ to support its defense of a law that would require Chinese owner ByteDance to divest from the app.
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Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
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RFERL ☛ Daghestani Man Reportedly Commits Suicide In Austria Before Deportation To Russia
Austrian media reported on July 11 that a native of Russia's North Caucasus region of Daghestan who was suspected of being a member of the Islamic State's Khorasan branch committed suicide hours before being deported to Russia.
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Reason ☛ Ukrainian President…Putin?
Plus: How Biden's handlers influenced journalists, nepo baby COVID-19 hysteria, NYC's war on shampoo bottles, and more...
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Environment
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Wildlife/Nature
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New York Times ☛ Early Wildfires in Brazil Threaten Pantanal Wetlands and Cerrado Savanna
Huge blazes are spreading hundreds of miles across some of the most biodiverse parts of Brazil, with the worst of the annual fire season still weeks away.
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NYPost ☛ Tourist appearing to toss a plastic bag into hippo’s mouth sparks outrage: ‘Sickening’
A tourist has sparked outrage after a video was shared of them appearing to throw a plastic bag into the mouth of a hippo while visiting a wildlife sanctuary.
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Finance
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China’s uneven economic recovery continues in June as exports rise but imports fall
By Sébastien Ricci and Luna Lin China’s exports rose sharply in June while imports declined unexpectedly, official figures showed Friday, in further evidence that the world’s second-largest economy is charting an uneven recovery. Officials in China are grappling with a real estate debt crisis, weakening consumption, an ageing population and geopolitical tensions overseas.
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TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ Met Council AFSCME workers vote for strike authorization
AFSCME Local 668 represents more than 700 workers in the metro area.
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AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
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RFA ☛ New UK government raises question of change in South China Sea policy
London needs a clear, consistent policy towards China and related issues like the South China Sea – analysts.
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Censorship/Free Speech
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Michael Geist ☛ Why the University of Windsor Encampment Agreement Violates Antisemitism and Academic Freedom Standards
The University of Windsor this week reached agreement with protesters in a campus encampment that raises serious concerns of antisemitism and infringement on academic freedom.
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New York Times ☛ A Fiery Biden, Ignoring Critics, Attacks Trump to Chants of ‘Lock Him Up’
Facing rising frustration in his party, the president brushed it off in an energetic speech in Michigan. Inside the room, at least, the Democratic mood was defiant, with cheers of “Don’t go, Joe.”
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Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
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Press Gazette ☛ News media job cuts 2024 tracked: Staff at CNN, LAist and BDG latest affected
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BIA Net ☛ Kurdish journalist dies after injury in suspected Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq
A vehicle carrying journalists was hit by a drone strike while traveling on the Sinjar-Mosul road.
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Press Gazette ☛ Mather Economics and InsurAds combine to help publishers boost revenue
Combined offering will help combat publisher challenges on search and social.
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Press Gazette ☛ Telegraph sale: DMG Media blames ban on foreign investment as it exits race
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Press Gazette ☛ UK media facing ‘extreme legal hurdles’, top lawyer warns
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC praises recent investigations by the FT, Sunday Times and Evening Standard.
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Civil Rights/Policing
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong police to replace US-made service revolver with Chinese-made pistols
Hong Kong police will gradually replace US-made revolvers with mainland Chinese-made pistols as their service weapons, with the first batch expected as early as later this month.
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France24 ☛ Polish MPs reject bill seeking to ease strict abortion law
Poland's lower house rejected a bill on Friday that sought to decriminalise the act of helping someone get an abortion. The vote – in which 218 MPs voted against the bill and 215 were in favour – highlighted the divisions in the ruling coalition over easing one of Europe's most restrictive abortion laws.
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New York Times ☛ 50 Years Ago, ‘Jaws’ Hit Bookstores, Capturing the Angst of a Generation
The novel became the beach read of the summer, with the shark at its center embodying the unease of an era of political and social upheaval.
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New York Times ☛ Judge Dismisses Giuliani’s Bankruptcy Case
The decision means that the former New York City mayor and lawyer for Donald Trump will face his creditors without protection from federal bankruptcy laws.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong’s new child abuse reporting law too lenient but prompted ‘real debate’, lawmaker says
Hong Kong’s new law that mandates certain professionals to report suspected cases of child abuse was too lenient but it prompted “real debate” in the city’s opposition-free legislature, a lawmaker has said.
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NYPost ☛ Amazon must comply with US agency’s probe on claims that company discriminated against pregnant warehouse workers
Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson said the company has cooperated with the investigation since it began three years ago and disagreed with the EEOC's characterization of its conduct. Amazon is proud of the benefits and time off it offers to workers who are pregnant or whose partners have given birth, he said.
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RFA ☛ Vietnamese activist’s health suffers after prison discipline
Political prisoner Hoang Duc Binh was shackled and now has difficulty walking.
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Reason ☛ Louisiana Federal Court Affirms the Right To Peacefully Protest
Nearly eight years after it was filed, the vexatious lawsuit against protester DeRay Mckesson has been dismissed with prejudice.
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Reuters ☛ US lawmakers raise worries about China in Abusive Monopolist Microsoft deal with Emirati Hey Hi (AI) firm
Republican lawmakers asked the Biden administration for an intelligence assessment of Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in UAE-based artificial intelligence firm G42 over concerns about transfer of sensitive technology and G42’s historic ties to China.
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Patents
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JUVE ☛ UK Court of Appeal: Lenovo must pay more money to InterDigital
Lenovo must pay more money for a FRAND licence to InterDigital than was previously determined. The decision was handed down this morning by the UK Court of Appeal under the lead of presiding judge Richard Arnold.
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Trademarks
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TTAB Blog ☛ TTABlog Test: How Did These Three Section 2(e)(1) Mere Descriptiveness Appeals Turn Out?
So far this year, the Board has affirmed just over 90% of the Section 2(e)(1) mere descriptiveness refusals reviewed on appeal. Here are three more. How do you think they came out? [Results in first comment].
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Copyrights
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Digital Music News ☛ Music Hey Hi (AI) Upstarts Udio, Suno, Lawyer Up with Latham & Watkins as Major Label Legal Battles Gear Up
Two music Hey Hi (AI) startups hire Latham & Watkins, the firm representing Open Hey Hi (AI) and Anthropic, as legal battles with the major labels start heating up.
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Monopolies/Monopsonies
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