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User: Compulawyer

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Comments · 633

  1. Another step closer ... on Scientists Grow 'Mini-Brain On the Move' That Can Contract Muscle (theguardian.com) · · Score: 1
  2. Outer Space Treaty on VP Pence Lays Out Trump's Vision For Establishing a US Space Force (nbcnews.com) · · Score: 1

    Looks like someone figured out that there are some pretty big gaps in the OST. https://www.state.gov/t/isn/51...

  3. Just Walk Away on Retiring Worn-Out Wind Turbines Could Cost Billions That Nobody Has (energycentral.com) · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Cell tower companies already abandon obsolete equipment on towers at the end of their lease for tower space because it is cheaper than removing the equipment. They do this regularly despite clauses in the lease that require them to remove old equipment at their cost. The companies know that relatively few landlords will sue them for the cost incurred by the landlord to have the equipment removed themselves.

    If the cost of removing old wind turbines is so high, why wouldn't the operators adopt the same business model the cell companies have used successfully for decades?

  4. "Just" A Patent Application? on Samsung Patent Describes Holographic TV Technology (consumerist.com) · · Score: 4, Informative

    In this context, you can be sure there is more. The patent laws of the US and other countries require that the application (and consequently, any issued patent) describe the invention in sufficient detail so that someone of ordinary skill in the art area to which the invention most nearly pertains can make and use the invention. You don't have to build one, but you do have to provide enough detail so that someone else could build one.

  5. ... or rather, incredibly condescending. Given my occupation (and prior occupation in law enforcement), I am a huge advocate for catching criminals. I am also a huge advocate for the rule of law and respecting rights of people under law. By saying that the Bureau is collecting information so we can have an "adult" conversation, the clear implication is that those on the other side of the conversation from the Bureau have been having conversations that are immature or child-like. The tone of those comments is like that of a parent telling a child that it is time for the child to grow up. It indicates a lack of respect for the opposing views. The Bureau isn't doing itself any favors with that kind of approach.

  6. The Copyright Office is part of the Library of Congress and as such is part of the legislative branch of the US Government and ultimately reports to Congress. The federal agencies that most people think of and interact with, such as the Patent and Trademark Office or the Veterans Administration, are part of the executive branch which ultimately reports to the President. The PTO specifically is an office within the Department of Commerce. I suspect the inability to use is due to this separation.

  7. There Goes The Neighborhood on The United States Just Might Be Iran's Favorite New Nuclear Supplier · · Score: 1
    Certain items are classified as "dual use" for US export control laws because they have 2 major use classifications - military and non-military. The only way to ensure that goods sold for non-military purposes are not later used for military purposes is by monitoring and controlling.

    We all know how effective the US's monitor and control systems worked in Iran.

  8. Re:The Prequel Has Already Been Announced on Tetris To Be Made Into a Live Action Film · · Score: 2

    Starring Christopher Walken, of course.

  9. The Prequel Has Already Been Announced on Tetris To Be Made Into a Live Action Film · · Score: 2

    Pong: Trapped Between Extremes

  10. Unfair and Deceptive Business Practice on Ask Slashdot: AT&T's Data Usage Definition Proprietary? · · Score: 1

    One of the cardinal rules of contracts is that words are given their ordinary plain meaning. This rule is applied within the context of the transaction. If words have a usual or customary meaning within a particular industry, then that meaning is attributed to the word used. If you want to depart from that rule, you have to provide a definition in the contract.

    Hard drive manufacturers got into trouble with this principle when they quietly redefined a megabyte to be equal to 1,000,000 bytes instead of 2^20 bytes like everyone was used to.

    If I had AT&T as my service provider, I would be complaining to the Federal Trade Commission alleging this as a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. I would also be complaining to my state's Attorney General alleging a violation of my state's consumer protection laws.

  11. Isn't the Message Obvious? on WW2 Carrier Pigeon and Undecoded Message Found In Chimney · · Score: 1

    It says: Hello sweetie!

  12. It Says ... on Shake-up at Apple: Forstall Out; iOS Executive Fired For Maps Debacle? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...that Tim Cook has firmly taken the reins and is going to start running Apple the way he sees fit, with his team - not the team that was there when he took over.

  13. Patents Don't Get Invalidated on Eolas Sues Again: This Time, Facebook, Disney and Wal-Mart · · Score: 1

    Individual claims in each patent get invalidated. It is quite possible (and typical) for a patent to have some valid claims and some invalid claims. Typically this happens when broader claims are invalidated by prior art that was not located during examination.

  14. Not a "bizarre counterpoint" on Samsung: Android's Multitouch Not As Good As Apple's · · Score: 1

    The argument is simple and straightforward: The device does not have an inferior solution. It uses OUR (Apple's) solution.

  15. Re:Wrong Problem - More Unnecessary Legislation on Bill Would Force Patent Trolls To Pay Defendants' Legal Bills · · Score: 1

    Except that you have to make the initial investment, there is always a risk that you will lose, and there is always a risk that although you have been awarded costs, you will not actually be able to collect the money. Early settlement by taking a license provides financial certainty and eliminates the legal risk, which are two things that companies like a hack of a lot more than litigation.

  16. Re:Wrong Problem - More Unnecessary Legislation on Bill Would Force Patent Trolls To Pay Defendants' Legal Bills · · Score: 1

    "Highly questionable" doesn't mean the claims are invalid (although they may be). In this context, highly questionable means that the claims either do not fully describe the product or process accused of infringement or can only be characterized as fully covering it through unreasonable ("imaginative") interpretations of the claim terms.

  17. Re:Heh, the bill isn't bad on Bill Would Force Patent Trolls To Pay Defendants' Legal Bills · · Score: 2

    The cases interpreting Section 285 already do this. This legislation is unnecessary.

  18. Wrong Problem - More Unnecessary Legislation on Bill Would Force Patent Trolls To Pay Defendants' Legal Bills · · Score: 5, Informative

    Section 285 of the Patent Act of 1952 (35 U.S.C. 285) already permits judges to declare patent cases to be "exceptional" and award appropriate relief. From the defendant's perspective, a case can be declared exceptional if the plaintiff cannot show that at least one claim of the patent in suit covers the device or process accused of infringing the patent. This section is regularly used by defendants to obtain attorneys fees and costs.

    Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Section 1927 of Title 28 of the U.S. Code also provides bases for the same relief.

    The problem with patent trolls is not the inability of defendants to get costs. It is that trolls often wage licensing campaigns by bringing highly questionable claims but set the costs of licenses below the cost to defend an action in court. Companies typically choose to go the economical route and take a license.

  19. R10 Box on DirecTV CEO Scoffs At Competition From Apple TV · · Score: 1

    I have DirecTV and still have an R10 box. Two of them, in fact. One reason is that I own the box so I don't have to pay monthly rental fees (DTV gave it to me when I upgraded service). The main reason is because it has TiVo software. The DirecTV interface sucks! So -- what was that you said again, Mr. White?

  20. Surprise! Inconsistent Positions on FDA Cracking Down On X-ray Exposure For Kids · · Score: 2

    Because we all know that all the agencies of the US Government work together seamlessly to develop and implement policy:

    FDA: Protect the children from radiation

    TSA: Protecting the public from terrorists requires us to irradiate the public

    FDA: Radiation is bad

    TSA: Radiation is good

    FDA: Too much radiation for kids is bad

    TSA: Radiation is harmless

    FDA: Think of the children!

    TSA: The children might be terrorists

    Anyone else surprised?

  21. STOP! on Scientists Work Towards Naturally Caffeine-Free Coffee · · Score: 1

    This is an abomination of nature. What's next -- beer that is fermented without alcohol production? This madness must end.

  22. Re:I agree on Sale Or License? Sister Sledge Sues Over ITunes · · Score: 1

    Actually, courts are split on this. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has been consistently holding that licenses of copyrighted works are not sales and therefore not subject to the first sale doctrine. See Vernor v. Autodesk and Omega v. Costco (Omega deals with a license of copyrighted content and first sale but the content is not digital).

  23. Re:How "silly" is it, though? on Fracture Putty Can Heal a Broken Bone In Days · · Score: 1

    Rickrolling is the G-rated version of linking every comment to goatse.cx. Then Slashdot started putting [realdomainname.tld] after every link.

    Oh those goatse.cx linkers ... what will they think of next?

  24. I've Been Saying This for YEARS on Why Politicians Should Never Make Laws About Technology · · Score: 1

    See my sig. Of course, no one ever listens to me.

  25. Oh Great - Break More Cool and Useful Technology on US Bans Loud Commercials · · Score: 2

    Now how am I going to skip commercials? Doesn't TiVo use the volume difference to determine where the commercials begin and end?