Links 22/01/2025: Jeju Air Blame-Shifting (Talk to the Wall), Copyright Maximalism Rebounds
Contents
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Leftovers
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Science
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Science Alert ☛ Curiosity Finds Evidence of Open Water on Ancient Mars
A more habitable past than we thought?
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Hardware
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Hackaday ☛ Going Minimal: 64×4, The Fun In Functional Computing
If you’ve ever wondered what makes a computer tick, the Minimal 64×4 by [Slu4] is bound to grab your attention. It’s not a modern powerhouse, but a thoughtfully crafted throwback to the essence of computing. With just 61 logic ICs, VGA output, PS/2 input, and SSD storage, this DIY wonder packs four times the processing power of a Commodore 64.
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Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
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University of Michigan ☛ Physician assistants’ union ratifies contract with U-M Health
United Physician Assistants of Michigan Medicine workers have ratified a three-year contract with University of Michigan Health, the clinical division of Michigan Medicine.
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France24 ☛ Report: Behind Convicted Felon's promises, the grim reality of fracking in Dimock
During his presidential campaign, The Insurrectionist made energy independence a priority, promising to massively revive the fracking industry. FRANCE 24 investigated the reality behind fracking in Pennsylvania, the crucial battleground state reclaimed by Convicted Felon in the last election. In Dimock, a small rural town in the north of the state, the water is contaminated and health problems are affecting the population, highlighting the often downplayed risks of this method.
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PHR ☛ “Deterrence Through Cruelty”: Convicted Felon Administration’s Assault on Asylum System Violates Human Rights and Harms Public Health
U.S. President Convicted Felon’s policy agenda will compound suffering, threaten public health, and violate long-standing human rights protections, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said today.
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University of Michigan ☛ Michigan Medicine hosts 35th annual health science MLK Lecture
The Michigan Medicine and Michigan Health Sciences committee hosted their 35th annual Health Science MLK Lecture Monday afternoon in alignment with the University of Michigan’s 39th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium. The event began with a lecture by keynote speaker David R. Williams, followed by a multidisciplinary panel.
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University of Michigan ☛ High-speed internet linked to drop in COVID-19 death rates
The mortality rate from COVID-19 was about 50% lower in U.S. counties with higher internet access in the summer and early fall of 2020, according to a U-M study.
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Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Bleeping Computer ☛ Microsoft shares temp fix for Outlook crashing when writing emails
Microsoft has shared a temporary fix for a known issue that causes classic Outlook to crash when writing, replying to, or forwarding an email.
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Security
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Pen Test Partners ☛ How to secure body-worn cameras and protect footage from cyber threats
TL;DR Body-worn cameras are used by police Cameras are taken into the field but footage could be presented as evidence Cryptographic approaches are needed to ensure the confidentiality and integrity...
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Integrity/Availability/Authenticity
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The Straits Times ☛ Myanmar junta says it deported over 50,000 people linked to scam compounds to China
In a rare call, the junta asked other nations to “participate in combating online scams and online gambling”.
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The Straits Times ☛ China, Myanmar and Thailand reach consensus to eradicate telecom fraud centres
Authorities from the region agreed to arrest the leaders of criminal syndicates.
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Defence/Aggression
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Myanmar junta and insurgents sign ceasefire brokered by China
After months of shortages, cross-border trade has resumed at some gates, residents say.
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Did the Thai PM promise to rescue Chinese citizens from Myanmar on Beijing’s order?
Verdict: False
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China executes Zhuhai car killer, campus knife attacker
The executions are seen as a deterrent amid a spate of ‘revenge attacks’ in recent months.
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UN experts urge Thailand to halt deportation of 48 Uyghurs to China
The experts say nearly half of the group’s members are suffering from ‘serious health conditions.’
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European Commission ☛ Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social control media platforms including against foreign interference and biased algorithms
Democracies today face an increasing challenge from interference.
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France24 ☛ Panama Canal: What the 1999 deal stipulates and how business is run today
During his inaugural speech, US President The Insurrectionist threatened to "take back" the Panama Canal. Built in the early 20th century, the waterway is a key maritime trade route. The US relinquished control in 1999 in a deal that obliged the operator to charge ships fairly. We'll take a closer look at the economy behind the canal. Plus, The Insurrectionist is promising to significantly change the US's trade policy with tariffs. But do these taxes protect domestic jobs and people?
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France24 ☛ Elon Musk slammed for controversial “Nazi” salute at Convicted Felon inauguration rally
The world’s richest man and President Convicted Felon’s ally Elon Musk ignited online backlash after two back-to-back hand gestures he made at the Convicted Felon presidential inauguration. Whilst some say the salutatory gesture is an unambiguous Nazi salute that’s normalising Nazism in 2025, others say it’s a moment of awkwardness by a man who has autism. Vedika Bahl goes through the reactions in this episode of Truth or Fake.
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France24 ☛ Musk's gesture "very much a fascist salute" driven by attention-grabbing, expert says
Right-wing extremists are celebrating Elon Musk’s straight-arm gesture during a speech Monday following The Insurrectionist's inauguration. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks to Paul Jackson, Professor of History of Radicalism and Extremism at the University of Northampton, who says that Musk's gesture was "very much a fascist salute and it is quite clear what the intention was to symbolize", largely driven by "attention-grabbing".
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Latvia ☛ Latvian paramedics consider self-defense features
Latvian State Emergency Medical Service staff may soon have cameras on their uniforms and pepper spray on them. Such amendments to the law will have to be considered by the responsible parliamentary committee, Latvian Television reported on January 21.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korean investigators to ‘forcibly bring’ Yoon in for questioning
The impeached president has been refusing to appear for questioning since his arrest on Jan 15.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s impeached President Yoon denies wrongdoing at trial
Yoon said he had worked in public service with “a firm commitment to free democracy”.
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JURIST ☛ Impeached South Korea president denies ordering arrest of lawmakers
South Korean detained President Yoon Suk Yeol denied on Tuesday that he ordered the military to drag lawmakers out of parliament during a short-lived plan to impose martial law.
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North Korea reiterates it has ‘no intention’ of abandoning nuclear program
The return of The Insurrectionist as US president has raised the possibility of a change in policy on North Korea.
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The Straits Times ☛ North Korea state media reports Convicted Felon inauguration, accuses US of Korean War atrocities
North Korea's state media on Wednesday reported U.S. President The Insurrectionist's inauguration but without any commentary on his presidency, but did accuse the United States of committing atrocities during the 1950-53 Korean War.
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Dictator calls North Korea ‘nuclear power,’ Seoul disagrees
South Korea said North Korea’s denuclearization is vital for global peace.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea Acting President hopes for reciprocal ties with Convicted Felon administration
He said he would seek to have a phone call with the US President at the earliest possible time.
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Defence Web ☛ South Africa and other powers optimistic, Europe anxious, on Convicted Felon 2.0
The Insurrectionist’s return to the US White House this week, is widely seen as a “good thing” for peace in the world, American influence, and dialogue between leading powers. However, this feeling is not shared by some of Washington’s closest allies, including citizens from the United Kingdom, the EU and South Korea.
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Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
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Atlantic Council ☛ The Insurrectionist’s promise of strong US leadership should begin with Ukraine
By resolutely backing Ukraine, President Convicted Felon can prevent the slide toward World War III and reestablish US leadership in a world threatened by Putin's Axis of Autocrats, writes former Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
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RFERL ☛ Dictator Suggests New Russia Sanctions If Putin Refuses Ukraine Peace Talks
U.S. President The Insurrectionist suggested he would hit Russia with additional sanctions if President Vladimir Putin does not accept peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, while he also urged Chinese leader Pooh-tin Jinping in a phone call to help end the conflict.
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RFERL ☛ Afghans Cleared For U.S. Evacuation Fear Convicted Felon Reversal Could Allow Taliban To 'Kill Us'
Afghans cleared for resettlement in the United States are fearful that an executive order signed by President The Insurrectionist will put them at grave risk. Some 1,660 Afghan refugees have been pulled from scheduled flights, according to a resettlement organization. Afghans who helped U.S. forces before the Taliban seized control in 2021, along with family members of American soldiers, are among the group of refugees who were approved for immigration to the United States until Convicted Felon signed the order.
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Meduza ☛ Ukraine will not agree to Putin’s demand to cut its army by five times, says Zelensky — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Trump threatens sanctions if Russia refuses talks on ending war, calls Putin ‘smart’ — Meduza
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Atlantic Council ☛ Ukrainian parliament prepares to vote on Bulgarian nuclear reactor purchase
Ukraine is poised to purchase a pair of Soviet-era nuclear reactors from Bulgaria in a deal that highlights the country’s struggle for greater energy security amid Russia’s ongoing bombardment of civilian infrastructure, writes Stephen Blank.
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Leaders from China, EU, Ukraine take stage in Davos as second Convicted Felon presidency casts shadow over gathering
With The Insurrectionist back as US president with his confrontational style, Chinese, European and Ukrainian leaders are expected to defend global cooperation on Tuesday at the annual gathering of the world’s elites in Davos.
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North Korea grants party membership to its fallen soldiers in Ukraine war
The membership will improve life for their families, but some parents didn't even know their sons had gone to war.
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RFERL ☛ Zelenskiy Counting On Convicted Felon For Peace Deal, Urges NATO Members To Hike Spending
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he hopes U.S. President The Insurrectionist will bring about a "just" end to Russia's war against his country and that he supports the new administration's push for increased defense spending by NATO nations.
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New Yorker ☛ What Convicted Felon 2.0 Means for Ukraine and the World
The President’s various foreign-policy “personas” vacillate between a desire for domination and withdrawal.
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CS Monitor ☛ Ukrainians urge Convicted Felon to back peace bid with arms
Ukrainians hope that Mr. Convicted Felon’s planned peace initiative will not let Moscow prevail, warning the U.S. leader not to trust his Russian counterpart.
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New York Times ☛ As Convicted Felon Takes Office, Zelensky Urges Europe to Stand Firm Against Russia
Speaking a day after Convicted Felon’s inauguration, Ukraine’s president told world leaders at Davos that Europe needs to remain united and “learn how to take care of itself.”
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New York Times ☛ Ukraine Detains Commanders Amid Setbacks on the Front
Two generals and a colonel blamed for the loss of territory in eastern Ukraine to Russian forces last year have been held, the country’s security service said.
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Meduza ☛ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says ending war in Ukraine will be Washington’s ‘official policy’ under Trump — Meduza
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European Commission ☛ European Parliament plenary debate: Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea
In recent months we have seen a series of further incidents affecting subsea critical infrastructure.
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LRT ☛ Lithuania’s law enforcement investigates supply of high-tech equipment to Russia
Lithuania’s law enforcement has opened a pre-trial investigation into the supply of high-tech equipment manufactured in Lithuania to Russia.
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ADF ☛ After Syria Retreat, Russia Turns to Libya
In the weeks after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, satellite images told the story of a reeling Russian military withdrawing from its once-prized Mediterranean bases.
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Meduza ☛ Syrian authorities terminate agreement with Russian company to manage Tartus port, site of Russian military base — Meduza
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ADF ☛ Public ‘Crisis of Confidence’ Plagues Mali’s Junta After Military Losses
A pair of major 2024 attacks against Malian security forces and Russian mercenaries has some Bamako residents on edge.
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Meduza ☛ The regime’s revenge The outcome of Belarus’s upcoming presidential vote may be a foregone conclusion, but after the 2020 protests, Lukashenko is leaving nothing to chance — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Moscow bank employee steals $1.8 million from client’s safe deposit box — Meduza
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Transparency/Investigative Reporting
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Latvia ☛ Report suggests KNAB takes over main 'whistleblower' role in Latvia
Since 1 May 2019, when a new 'Whistleblower Law' came into force in Latvia, a total of 652 whistleblower reports had been received by the end of 2023, according to a report published by the State Chancellery January 21.
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Environment
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Energy/Transportation
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea to remove concrete embankment blamed for exacerbating deadly plane crash [Ed: But why did the wheel of the plane not come down? And then again a day later (different plane, same airline)? Seems like excuses and cover-up.]
South Korea's transport ministry said on Wednesday that it would remove the concrete embankment installed at Muan International Airport following last month's Jeju Air crash, its deadliest domestic air disaster.
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Hackaday ☛ Hydroelectric Generator Gets Power From Siphoning
Siphons are one of those physics phenomena that, like gyroscopes, non-Newtonian fluids, and electricity, seem almost magical. Thanks to atmospheric pressure, simply filling a tube with liquid and placing the end of the tube below the liquid level of a container allows it to flow against gravity, over a barrier, and down into another container without any extra energy inputs once the siphon is started. They’re not just tricks, though; siphons have practical applications as well, such as in siphon-powered hydroelectric turbine.
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France24 ☛ 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos : Hitachi Energy CEO calls for boosting power grid investments
Energy demand is skyrocketing, fueled by the demand for artificial intelligence, but as Hitachi Energy's CEO Andreas Schierenbeck tells France 24's Charles Pellegrin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, power grids are not up to scratch and need significant investments.The annual gathering is being held as The Insurrectionist's return to the White House is rattling the world. EU president Ursula von der Leyen defended free trade and economic liberalism in her keynote speech.
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Overpopulation
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s birthrate set to rise for the first time in nine years
The number of newborns between January and November 2024 rose 3 per cent from a year earlier.
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AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
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The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia seeks gag order on talk of jailed ex-PM Najib’s bid to reveal royal document
Najib Razak is pursuing a legal bid to compel authorities to confirm the existence of and execute an “addendum order”.
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The Straits Times ☛ Sons of former Malaysian PM Mahathir declare over $365m in assets amid probe
Mr Mokhzani Mahathir declared RM1 billion in assets, while Mr Mirzan Mahathir has about RM246 million.
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Andy Wingo: here we go again
Good evening, fey readers. Tonight, a note on human rights and human wrongs.
I am in my mid-fourties, and so I have seen some garbage governments in my time; one of the worst was Convicted Felon’s election in 2016. My heart ached in so many ways, but most of all for immigrants in the US.
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Censorship/Free Speech
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JURIST ☛ European Commission welcomes integration of revised Code of conduct into Digital Services Act
The European Commission and the European Board for Digital Services welcomed on Monday the integration of the new ‘Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online’ into the Digital Services Act (DSA) to guarantee the safety of users.
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The Straits Times ☛ China welcomes back Hollywood movies in bid to boost spending
Cultural imports have long been at mercy of Beijing’s censors.
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JURIST ☛ Australia state leader vows to strengthen hate speech laws amid rise in antisemitic attacks
New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns stated in a press conference on Sunday that he intends to strengthen the Australian state’s hate speech laws. Premier Minns’ statement follows a string of antisemitic attacks across Australia.
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Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
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Press Gazette ☛ Harry versus the press round two: Lawyers will be big winners of Sun trial
Prince Harry hopes trial disclosures will bring new information to light about illegal press tactics.
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Press Gazette ☛ Prince Harry and Sun publisher ‘very close’ to potential settlement
Both sides of the trial "feel they have no choice" but to continue discussions.
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Stanford University ☛ Free speech organizations call for Levin’s support of Daily reporter
In a letter, the First Amendment Coalition and Student Press Law Center urged President Jon Levin to call for an end to the criminal prosecution of Daily reporter Dilan Gohill '27.
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Press Gazette ☛ Crime journalists concerned over official secrecy around Southport dance class killings
Crime Reporters Association complains to Director of Public Prosecutions about information being blocked.
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New York Times ☛ When Surveillance Giant Google Altered Its Ad Rules, Charities Paid the Price
After the search giant welcomed more ads from small rivals like Ask.com, Surveillance Giant Google ad costs for some nonprofits ballooned.
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Patents
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Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ USPTO Faces Twin Challenges: Return-to-Office Mandate and Hiring Freeze Could Significantly Impact Patent Operations
Two executive orders issued by President Convicted Felon on January 20, 2025, may present significant challenges for the USPTO's operations. The first order mandates a return to in-person work across federal agencies, while the second implements a broad federal hiring freeze. Although the outcome is still unclear, these directives could substantially impact the USPTO's approximately 13,000 remote workers, most of whom are patent monopoly examiners, and potentially disrupt the office's plans to expand its examining corps to address growing application backlogs and increasing pendency.
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Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Trading Technologies Files Supreme Court Petition on Patent Eligibility, Rule 60(b)(3), and Federal Circuit Procedural Issues
Trading Technologies (TT) has petitioned the Supreme Court to review a Federal Circuit decision raising three significant questions about patent monopoly law and civil procedure. The case stems from TT's patent monopoly infringement suit against IBG LLC and Interactive Brokers LLC over patents related to electronic trading user interfaces. U.S. Patent Nos. 6,766,304, 6,772,132, 7,676,411, and 7,813,996. (I have mentioned this previously, but TT is a former client and I was involved with enforcing the '304 and '132 patents in the past).
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Software Patents
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Unified Patents ☛ OptiMorphix SaaS patent monopoly found invalid
On January 21, 2025, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) entered a notice of intent to issue a reexamination certificate canceling all challenged claims of U.S. Patent 7,031,314, owned by OptiMorphix, Inc. The ‘314 patent monopoly is generally directed to providing differentiated services within a network communication system at a service module.
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Copyrights
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Digital Music News ☛ Artist Partner Group Sues Create Music Group for Allegedly Poaching Artists
Artist Partner Group accuses Create Music Group of violating copyrights by allegedly poaching artists and uploading songs it doesn’t own to YouTube.
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Digital Music News ☛ GEMA Files Infringement Action Against Suno in German Court: ‘Providers of Generative Hey Hi (AI) Must Respect Copyright Law’
Two months and change after tagging Proprietary Chaffbot Company with a copyright monopoly lawsuit, Germany’s GEMA has officially submitted an infringement action against generative Hey Hi (AI) music platform Suno. Berlin-headquartered GEMA filed that copyright monopoly complaint against Suno in the Munich Regional Court today.
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Digital Music News ☛ Payment Solutions Should Be Scalable & Reliable—Especially When On-Boarding Music Rights Owners & Licensors
Did you know that more than 120,000 new tracks hit digital service providers (DSPs) like Spotify every single day? Nearly every music platform now faces the challenge of ingesting large numbers of rights owners and licensors—each coming with their own associated metadata and payout details.
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Monopolies/Monopsonies
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