Links 04/02/2025: Mass Layoffs at Salesforce, Economic Pressures, Trade Wars
Contents
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Leftovers
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University of Michigan ☛ To overpronounce or underpronounce?
On my flight back to Frankfurt, I sat next to another American living in Germany. He asked me where I was living, and, at first, I answered that I lived in “Freiburg” with a German enunciation. He hadn’t heard me the first time and asked me to repeat it.
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Science
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European Commission ☛ Europeans strongly support science and technology according to new Eurobarometer survey
European Commission Press release Brussels, 03 Feb 2025 The latest Eurobarometer survey on ‘European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology' released today shows more than 8 in 10 citizens (83%) think that the overall influence of science and technology is positive.
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Hardware
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Hackaday ☛ Keebin’ With Kristina: The One With The Keyboard Configurator
Have you ever wished you could experiment with different layouts super easily, just by adding or removing a few switches here and there and printing a new case? Well, [heyisjambo] says that it’s more than possible with menura, the modular keyboard system.
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Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
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BIA Net ☛ İstanbul grapples with high air pollution levels
Residents are advised to wear masks on days when pollution is severe.
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-28 [Older] Indian city faces rising cases of GBS disease
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-28 [Older] Is bird flu in livestock, poultry a global risk to humans?
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-28 [Older] Coca-Cola recall due to 'excessively high chlorate content'
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Poll results on child dental problems and oral hygiene habits
More than a third of parents say their child doesn't regularly brush teeth twice a day and many kids don't follow other dental recommendations like flossing.
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Fluoride Q&A: How it helps kids, its unique history in Michigan
Many kids in this country get fluoride from their drinking water, their toothpaste and the occasional treatment in the dentist's office. But what is it, and why does it support healthy teeth?
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TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ RFK Jr. misled the US Senate on measles deaths, Samoa’s health chief says
Kennedy denied that his 2019 visit to Samoa had fueled anti-vaccine sentiment.
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TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ Dakota County expands mental health services with new Crisis and Recovery Center
The West St. Paul center serves adults in need of mental health care, services, treatment and short-term residency.
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s fitness craze meets reality as gyms shut down in record numbers
In 2024 alone, 553 fitness centres closed – a 26.8% increase from the previous year.
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The Straits Times ☛ 10.7 tonnes of kimchi confiscated at South Korea’s Incheon Airport in 2024
Confiscated food items are either donated or discarded, the airport said.
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Proprietary
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Ghacks ☛ Microsoft Is Killing Its ‘Free’ VPN—And Raising Prices Too - gHacks Tech News
>Microsoft has announced that it will be shutting down the VPN feature in Microsoft Defender for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers later this month
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Ghacks ☛ Microsoft Removes Information about Windows 11 Bypass for Unsupported PCs - gHacks Tech News
Microsoft has quietly removed its official workaround that allowed users to bypass CPU and TPM requirements for installing Windows 11 on unsupported PCs.
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Salesforce Layoffs: US giant cuts over 1,000 jobs amid AI-focused hiring in 2025 [Ed: Using "hey hi" as an excuse for a failing business deep in debt]
While displaced employees will have the opportunity to apply for internal positions, it remains unclear which specific divisions will be impacted. Salesforce has yet to issue an official statement regarding the layoffs, which coincide with the beginning of its new fiscal year.
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The Straits Times ☛ Salesforce cutting 1,000 jobs while hiring salespeople for AI [Ed: There's no "AI" there; this is the media parroting pure BS to cover up for a failing business]
Salesforce is cutting jobs as its latest fiscal year gets under way, according to a person familiar with the matter, even as the company simultaneously hires workers to sell new artificial intelligence (AI) products.
More than 1,000 roles will be affected, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Displaced workers will be able to apply for other jobs internally, the person added.
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Social Control Media
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Security
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Integrity/Availability/Authenticity
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The Straits Times ☛ Thai woman arrested for allegedly aiding Nigerian scam ring
She had fled to Malaysia for work after a warrant was issued for her arrest.
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Defence/Aggression
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North Korea responds to US ‘hostility’ in its first criticism of the Convicted Felon government
The comments come a week after the US president said he would reach out to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
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The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia starts probe into coastal shooting incident that led to death of an Indonesian
The incident off Selangor state raises a rare diplomatic flap between the two close neighbours.
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New York Times ☛ Proud Boys Lose Control of Their Name to a Black Church They Vandalized
A judge awarded the trademarked name and symbols to a Washington church to help satisfy a $2.8 million judgment against the far-right group.
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Site36 ☛ Three antifas still underground in Budapest complex, which is keeping European courts busy this month
The annual Nazi show of honour is taking place again this weekend in Budapest. After this event two years ago, 18 antifas are alleged to have committed bodily harm. Three of those who went underground are still wanted from Hungary.
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RFERL ☛ U.S. Lawmakers Vow To Defend USAID After Agency's Employees Locked Out
Democratic members of Congress have challenged the Convicted Felon administration's apparent attempt to fold the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) into the State Department, a move that calls into question funding for aid programs around the world, including billions of dollars for Ukraine.
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New York Times ☛ State Dept. Fires About 60 Contractors Working on Democracy and Human Rights
The contractors helped enact programs that focus on building up civil society and democratic practices in authoritarian states such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba.
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Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
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Meduza ☛ ‘Lawmakers are acting like gangsters’: Starting next year, migrant children who don’t speak sufficient Russian will be barred from attending Russian schools — Meduza
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LRT ☛ Belaruskali demands €12bn in damages from Lithuania over transit sanctions
Belarusian potash fertiliser producer Belaruskali wants 12 billion US dollars (around 11.82 billion euros at today’s exchange rate) in compensation from Lithuania after it suspended transit shipments across its territory in 2022. The Belarusian company filed an international arbitration lawsuit against Lithuania on December 2 last year.
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Meduza ☛ At least one dead after explosion rocks Moscow apartment building — Meduza
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Site36 ☛ Three antifas still underground in Budapest complex, which is keeping European courts busy this month
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RFERL ☛ Explosion At Luxury Moscow Residence Kills Founder Of Battalion Fighting in Ukraine
An explosion at the Alye Parusa residential complex in a Moscow suburb on February 3 reportedly targeted Armen Sarkisian, founder of the Armenian Battalion fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Some Russian media reported he had been killed in the explosion, while others said he was injured but survived.
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New York Times ☛ Pro-Russia Ukrainian Is Killed in Moscow Blast, Russian Media Says
Armen Sarkisyan, the founder of a separatist battalion fighting in eastern Ukraine, died after an explosion in an apartment complex, according to reports citing the Russian authorities.
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New York Times ☛ Standoff at Ukrainian Agency Disrupts Arms Contracts, Suppliers Say
Ukrainian defense companies say they cannot sign new contracts or receive payment — potentially jeopardizing future supplies to already struggling troops.
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New York Times ☛ Dictator Urges Trading Ukraine’s Rare Earth Minerals for More U.S. Aid
Ukraine has already emphasized that by supporting its war effort, the U.S. could get access to the country’s wealth of critical minerals like lithium and uranium.
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Meduza ☛ Trump says talks with Ukraine and Russia are ‘scheduled’ but offers no details — CNN — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Former top Ukrainian commander Zaluzhnyi proposed a cross-border offensive into Russia's Belgorod region in 2022, former adviser says — Meduza
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Latvia ☛ Latvian State Security Service: Russia likely to target WWII commemorations
The State Security Service (VDD) has published its annual public summary report on its activities in 2024.
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LRT ☛ Employee of Lithuania’s major laser maker was selling tech to Russia
An employee of Optogama, one of Lithuania’s largest laser manufacturers, secretly sold lasers to Russian defence industry institutes, reports LRT RADIO.
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North Korea could send up to 25,000 additional troops to Russia: Zelenskyy
South Korea said in January the North was accelerating preparations to send more troops to Russia amid casualties.
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Latvia ☛ Latvia sends 100 more drones to Ukraine
Another 100 drones will be sent from Latvia to the Ukrainian army, purchased with public donations on the "Ziedot.lv" platform, Latvian Radio reported on February 3.
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Latvia ☛ Baltic, Polish, Finnish parliamentary speakers meet in Tartu
On Monday, 3 February, the Speakers of the parliaments of the Baltic States, Finland and Poland meet in Tartu, Estonia, to discuss the steps necessary to support Ukraine and fight against the hybrid threats originating from Russia. The Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine is also participating via video link.
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The Strategist ☛ Norway should cede its war windfall to Ukraine
Norway’s government has effectively become a war profiteer, we argued in a commentary in December. It is an opinion shared by a number of European politicians and by European and Norwegian media.
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JURIST ☛ UN experts document Russia increasing executions of Ukraine POWs
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (the mission) reported on Monday that captured Ukrainian soldiers are being executed at an alarming rate. The mission has recorded 79 executions in 24 separate incidents since August 2024. For all incidents, the mission obtained video and photo material showing executions or dead bodies.
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LRT ☛ LRT and partners launch 3rd Radarom! campaign to buy drones for Ukraine
LRT, together with Blue/Yellow, Laisvės TV and Stiprūs Kartu, is launching the third Radarom! campaign to fundraise for Ukraine. This year, the money will be used to procure drones and anti-drones for the country that has been at war for three years.
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Meduza ☛ Russia nationalizes 16 terminals from the country's largest warehouse operator — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Moscow apartment building blast reportedly kills Russian paramilitary leader — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Liar, liar iStories investigation uncovers activist who fabricated a backstory and embedded herself in Russia’s human rights community — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Russian lawmakers push to raise fines for failing to report address changes to military enlistment offices — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Trump administration briefly halts arms shipments to Ukraine before reversing course — Reuters — Meduza
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Meduza ☛ Trump says he wants Ukraine to give the U.S. rare earth metals in exchange for aid — Meduza
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-27 [Older] Sweden seizes ship suspected of Baltic cable sabotage
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-27 [Older] Latvia: Undersea cable likely damaged by external influence
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Environment
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Energy/Transportation
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The Straits Times ☛ South Korea wants to rebuild aviation safety system after crash, fire incidents
SEOUL - South Korea aims to rebuild its aviation safety system from scratch, the transport ministry said on Tuesday, launching a new committee to improve air travel in the country that suffered two major aviation incidents a month apart.
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-27 [Older] India tests first direct train linking Delhi and Kashmir
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-27 [Older] German auto industry braces for change as car crisis bites
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-29 [Older] South Sudan: Over dozen killed in plane crash
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DeSmog ☛ Global Football’s Dirty Climate Tackle
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DeSmog ☛ Russia ‘Spread Conspiracy Theories and Attacked Climate Scientists in Poland’
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Wildlife/Nature
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Finance
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-28 [Older] German economy in crisis: What can the next government do?
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Pro Publica ☛ How Climate Change Could Upend the American Dream
Houses in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades neighborhoods were still ablaze when talk turned to the cost of the Los Angeles firestorms and who would pay for it. Now it appears that the total damage and economic loss could be more than $250 billion. This, after a year in which hurricanes Milton and Helene and other extreme weather events had already exacted tens of billions of dollars in American disaster losses.
As the compounding impacts of climate-driven disasters take effect, we are seeing home insurance prices spike around the country, pushing up the costs of owning a home. In some cases, insurance companies are pulling out of towns altogether. And in others, people are beginning to move away.
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AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-27 [Older] Belarus: Exiled opponent slams Lukashenko's 'fake' win
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-27 [Older] DOJ fires federal lawyers involved in Cheeto Mussolini's criminal cases
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-28 [Older] Serbia: Prime minister resigns amid ongoing protests
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-28 [Older] Serbia protests: What's next after prime minister resigns?
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DeSmog ☛ Finger-Pointing Over Funding Freeze May Lead Trump to Drop Lawyer Linked to DOGE and Project 2025
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Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda
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China wields overseas influence via patriotic network
Beijing targets dissidents and rights activists with censorship, harassment and physical attacks on foreign soil.
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The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan bans government departments from using DeepSeek AI
There were also concerns about censorship on DeepSeek and the risk of data ending up in China.
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Censorship/Free Speech
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JURIST ☛ HRW urges Kazakhstan to release satirical blogger and protect free speech
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Monday that Kazakhstani authorities have arrested Temirlan Ensebek, a 29-year-old blogger and founder of the satirical Instagram account Qaznews24. The organization called for his immediate release, the dismissal of all charges against him, and respect for freedom of expression in Kazakhstan.
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University of Michigan ☛ SACUA discusses upcoming faculty censorship and research funding poll
The University of Michigan’s Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs met Monday afternoon to discuss building engagement with University executives, concerns over new executive orders and an upcoming Faculty Senate poll on censorship in teaching and federal funding for research.
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Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press
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Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Jimmy Lai denies concealing plan to meet with US officials when he applied to lift travel ban in 2020
Jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai has denied concealing a plan to meet American officials in mid-2020 when he applied to the court to lift a travel ban at that time, as prosecutors raised questions about his credibility during his high-profile national security trial.
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Civil Rights/Policing
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CBC ☛ 2025-01-29 [Older] Sobeys may cut pay and demand money back from Safeway workers in Alberta as tensions with union rise
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-28 [Older] Germany: Verdi union calls DHL strike
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Pro Publica ☛ Aid Workers Fear Closing a Camp on the Arizona Border Will Endanger Migrants
Pastor Randy Mayer skillfully maneuvers his SUV over rough dirt roads, dodging giant potholes and jostling up steep inclines in the predawn darkness. The rugged terrain in this remote stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border is familiar territory. Mayer, co-founder of the Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans, a nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid to migrants, has traveled here for nearly 25 years.
His destination on that Friday in January was a small encampment about 20 miles east of Sasabe, Arizona, where for the past two years his and other religious and humanitarian organizations have provided food, water and first aid to migrants stranded in the Pajarito Mountains.
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DeSmog ☛ Q & A: Jared Yates Sexton on the ‘Weaponized Abuse’ of Authoritarianism
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Simon Willison ☛ A computer can never be held accountable
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Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-01-27 [Older] Kolkata Book Fair spotlights Germany's literary diversity
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University of Michigan ☛ UMich celebrates 2025 Black History Month with opening ceremony
More than 100 University of Michigan students and community members attended an opening ceremony for Black History Month Monday evening in the Michigan Union. The Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs kicked off the month with a celebratory event including dinner, music, speeches and poetry readings.
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Patents
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Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Upcoming Trade Wars: Intellectual [sic] Property [sic] Rights [sic] at Center Stage
Recent Senate testimony from Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick provides a window into how intellectual property rights will likely become a central battlefield in escalating international trade tensions. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, Lutnick articulated an aggressive stance on protecting American intellectual property, particularly focusing on stated abuses by China.
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Kangaroo Courts
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Kluwer Patent Blog ☛ The second UPC FRAND decision in Huawei v Netgear: is it time for a new CJEU referral? [Ed: UPC is illegal and it should be abolished ASAP because it perpetuates profound institutional corruption inside the EU and now outside it too]
In another standard essential patents (SEPs) case from the Unified Patent Court (UPC), on 18 December 2024 the Munich Local Division (LD) issued an injunction in favour of Huawei (UPC_CFI_9/2023, available in German here). The order prohibited Netgear from selling Wi-Fi 6 routers in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Finland, France, and Sweden.
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Trademarks
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TTAB Blog ☛ TTAB Posts February 2025 Hearing Schedule
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (Tee-Tee-Ā-Bee) has scheduled eleven (11) oral hearings for the month of February 2025. All will be held virtually, except for the February 25th hearing, which will be "conducted in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and virtual participation." The in-person portion will be held at the USPTO's Madison East Building in Alexandria, Virginia. Briefs and other papers for each case may be found at TTABVUE via the links provided.
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Copyrights
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Torrent Freak ☛ MPA Shares Pirate Site Blocking 'Best Practices' at WIPO Meeting
MPA Senior Executive Vice President Karyn Temple will share the movie industry group's site blocking 'best practices' at a WIPO meeting. The insights arrive just few days after a new site blocking bill was introduced in the United States. Not surprisingly, the MPA's 'best practices' for site blocking largely align with proposed legislative amendments.
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Torrent Freak ☛ Publishers Ramp Up Pressure vs. Anna's Archive, Sci-Hub, Z-Library & Libgen
The world’s major publishers claim that unlicensed libraries cast a permanent shadow over authors’ ability to make a living from their work. In common with the movie and movie industry counterparts, site-blocking is one of the weapons of choice, albeit against well-prepared opponents.
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Monopolies/Monopsonies
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