Cyberattacks on Cars Coming in 2016 and Beyond

(November 22, 2015) Cyberattacks on automobiles will increase in 2016 and beyond, “likely resulting in lost lives” according to McAfee Labs’ 2016 Threats Prediction. The problem is acute because there has been a rapid deployment of hardware in cars connected to the internet and much of the hardware is “built without foundational security principles,” leaving […]
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FTC Targets Marketer of Supplements to Help Overcome Opiate Addiction

(November 17, 2015) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is continuing its crackdown on dietary supplement marketers who cannot substantiate their health claims. The latest target is Sunrise Nutraceuticals, LLC. The company markets supplements that “purportedly increase the likelihood that a person will complete opiate withdrawal successfully and overcome opiate addiction.” However, the FTC alleges in […]
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New Defense: I Didn’t Write That Email Response, Google Did

(November 6, 2015) Don’t have time to draft a response to your emails? No need to worry. Gmail will draft a response for you. Google is rolling out a new Gmail feature called Smart Reply, which determines what emails need an answer and then gives you three suggested responses based upon the emails you receive. […]
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Amazon May Use Trademark Search to Push Competitor’s Products

(October 28, 2015) After apparently suffering its own confusion, the Ninth Circuit has withdrawn its opinion finding that Amazon.com’s search results caused initial interest confusion and now believes there is no confusion when the online retailer did not disclose that it does not offer the brand being searched. In its original opinion issued in July […]
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Yoga Sequence Is Not Copyrightable

(October 9, 2015) A sequence of twenty-six yoga poses and two breathing exercises by Bikram Choudhury is not copyrightable because it is an unprotected system or idea. The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling throwing out a lawsuit brought by the self-proclaimed “Yogi to the stars.” According to the appellate court, Choudhury developed over […]
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Judge Posner Won’t Cut Down Chicago’s Weed Ordinance

(September 30, 2015) One man’s weed is another man’s native plant, which caused Appellate Court Judge Richard Posner to write a 16-page opinion on whether Chicago’s weed ordinance is unconstitutional. Discount Inn, Inc. sought to have the city’s weed ordinance, which allows the city to fine a property owner when the average height of weeds […]
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This Weight Loss Supplement Gags Negative Comments: FTC

(September 29, 2015) Customers who say anything negative about a weight-loss supplement marketer would find their wallets a lot thinner as a result of a gag clause in the sales contract—a deceptive practice according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC sued Roca Labs, Inc. and Roca Labs Nutraceutical USA, Inc. alleging that the […]
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Selfie Monkey Files Copyright Lawsuit (With Human Help)

(September 22, 2015) Naruto is not monkeying around with his famous selfie. The crested macaque who gained world-wide fame with his monkey selfies has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against David Slater, the photographer whose camera was used to take the picture, and his publisher. Actually, the lawsuit was filed by the People for the […]
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Blogger Made Fair Use of ‘Ugly’ Photo of Tycoon

(September 21, 2015) The copyright holder of an unflattering and embarrassing candid photograph cannot stop the use of his image in several scathing blog posts because it is a fair use. Raanan Katz is a minority investor in the Miami Heat basketball team and a commercial real estate tycoon who owns and operates shopping centers […]
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Here’s a List of the Most Hackable Cars

(September 17, 2015) Here’s a list you probably don’t want your car to be in the top five: the most hackable cars on the road. PT&C LWG Forensic Consulting Services compiled a list of cars with the highest risk of being hacked. The top five and the reasons are: 2014 Jeep Cherokee, which it said […]
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