Tag: Law

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Lodsys is on suing spree again.

Lodsys filed more patent infringiment lawsuit against six companies as reported by FOSS Patents blog. The six companies are:

  • DriveTime Automotive Group
  • ESET
  • ForeSee Results
  • LivePerson
  • OpinionLab
  • The New York Times Company

ForeSee Results and ESET previously issued challenges against Lodsys’ patent portfolio.

Lodsys has filed lawsuits against numbers of iOS and Android developers. Apple has filed motion to intervene on Lodsys Patent Lawsuit against iOS Developers. Apple and Google are licensees of Lodsys’ patent portfolio, and might be contractually barred from challenging Lodsys’ patents.

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Amazon Terminates Associates Program in California.

Amazon.com sends termination notices to its California Associates program members as Governor Jerry Brown signed the law that requires online retailers to collect sales taxes even though they don’t have any physical presence in California.

Hello,
Unfortunately, Governor Brown has signed into law the bill that we emailed you about earlier today. As a result of this, contracts with all California residents participating in the Amazon Associates Program are terminated effective today, June 29, 2011. Those California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com.

Would you still purchase products from Amazon if they were charging Sales Tax?

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Lodsys also threatens Android Developers over patent. Google, it’s your move.

After gaining a lot of attention for sending lawsuit threat to numbers of iOS Developers, Lodsys is also going after Android Developers over in-app purchasing patent. Lodsys in its Q&A blog explained why its going after individual developers but not Apple, Google and Microsoft; that’s because the three companies have already licensed the four patents in question.

On May 23rd, 2011 Apple Legal sent a letter to Lodsys stating that Apple is licensed to all four patents in the Lodsys portfolio. Any iOS Applications published in iTunes App Store are essentially covered by the license.

Android Developers are hoping Google to do the same with what Apple did for its Developers.

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Apple Defends iOS Developers Against Threats From Lodsys.

“Good News iOS Developers!”

Actually it is good news for a lot more than iOS Developers. Apple has finally spoken out against Lodsys for threatening iOS Developers over some licensing issues.. MacWorld published the full text of the letter Apple Legal sent to Lodsys regarding its patent dispute with app developers.

Apple certainly took the time to review the matter, 10 days after Lodsys sent patent lawsuit threat to iOS Developers (Friday May the 13th, 2011). John Gruber of Daring Fireball seems to think that Apple is doing the right thing by carefully reviewing the matter and preparing an appropriate response.

This would be an interesting case to follow since Apple already licensed the patents in question from Lodsys.

First, Apple is licensed to all four of the patents in the Lodsys portfolio. As Lodsys itself advertises on its website, “Apple is licensed for its nameplate products and services.” See http://www.lodsys.com/blog.html (emphasis in original). Under its license, Apple is entitled to offer these licensed products and services to its customers and business partners, who, in turn, have the right to use them.

It would be interesting to know when Apple become licensed to Lodsys’ four patents; as Google and Microsoft do. Did Lodsys reach out to Apple, Google and Microsoft after iOS, Android and WP7 were released? How significant are these fours patents in the Lodsys portfolio?

It would be an even more interesting development if Apple, possibly joined by Google and Microsoft would seek to invalidate Lodsys’s patents in question.

If Lodsys were to prevail in their threats, it would set a scary precedence for Developers; Android, iOS and WP7.

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Anything Sorta Goes: GizmodoGate, Microsoft vs. Android, and South Park!

It has been a busy week and I somehow forgot to write anything for this site. As a matter of fact, everyone are busy with their day job, personal life, etc. I told myself that I should be the first to break the streak this time.

Anyway, huge story from last week, even though I don’t really want to talk about it. The GizmodoGate! The San Mateo DA issued a search warrant to seize evidence in the “lost” Apple 4th Generation iPhone Prototype. Jason Chen, Gizmodo and Gawker Media are yelling “FOUL!” and trying to hide behind the Journalist shield law. The evidence in a way is pretty damnig. Jason Chen is smart enough to have video of himself with the iPhone, which turned out to be considered a stolen item. In addition to that, Gizmodo admits that they paid some money for the iPhone from the person who “found” it. Jason Chen also smart enough to take the iPhone apart and document it; you can find the videos easily, Google is your best friend. Jason Chen has now hired a defense lawyer. The EFF for sure scrutinizing the conduct of the San Mateo and the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT). EFF is great but sometimes they could go overboard. Personally I do not like Gizmodo for all the attention-grabbing stunts they have done in the past, and most likely in the future. Anyone remembers 2008 CES?

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This one is a shocker and predictable. Microsoft is asserting the rights to collect royalty payment over Android Operating System. HTC has agreed to pay Microsoft for using Android Operating System. Where are the torches and pitchforks? The last time I saw them marching to Cupertino after Apple sued HTC for Patent Infringement. Where is the rage Mr. Laporte?

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Now, let’s get on to the finale of this post. South Park, Censorships, and Muhammad. For those who care already know what happened to South Park. April 14th, 2010 South Park celebrated its 2ooth episode with an episode aptly titled “200.” The episode drew somehow offended some Muslims and a group based in New York posted a warning against South Park creators.

RANT ALERT!
Seriously? You’re based in New York and you’re enjoying the Freedom Of Speech to threaten others for their Freedom Of Speech. Why don’t you move to a cave somewhere in the Middle East and then you can complain about other’s Freedom Of Speech. Wait, it’s still ironic. The Qur’an has never specifically or explicitly forbidden images of Muhammad. Now you’re threatening other human being over it?
/END OF THIS RANT

April 21st, 2010 Comedy Central aired “201” with tons of extra audio bleeps. Sure they bleeped out profanities. Comedy Central also bleeped out any utterance of “Muhammad” from the episode. Even further, Comdey Central bleeped out the closing speech that didn’t even mention anything about Muhammad. According to South Park Studios, Comedy Central does not approve the airing or streaming of Episode “201” in its original form. The episode was subsequently pulled off the air and has not been approved for sale on places such as iTunes Store and Amazon Video On Demands. In addition to that Comedy Central also pulled Episode “200” off the rebroadcast and the online stores.

Thousands of complaints from readers of this blog were sent to Comedy Central. Who’s to blame? Comedy Central is acting to protect their employees while subsequently caving in to terrorist’s demand.

ANOTHER RANT ALERT!
I for one values the First Amendment to The United States Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Comedy Central is acting within their rights to censor South Park. Matt Stone and Trey Parker have the right to express their opinion through their creation that is South Park. The fans have the right to complain to Comedy Central.

I am so appaled by the action of the party responsible for the death threats against Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Are there any Muslims out there who agree that the death threats is against everything what being human is all about? I do not want to be associated with anyone who supports violent against the South Park Creators. This is not the 13th century. For the Muslims who still thinks the custom of one region of the world from hundreds of years ago is the way the world should be, please leave us be.
/END OF THIS RANT – FOR NOW

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South Park: Season 14 Episode 3 – “Medicinal Fried Chicken”

South Park: Season 14 Episode 3 – “Medicinal Fried Chicken”
Cartman’s favorite restaurant has been shut down and replaced by a store that sells medicinal marijuana. Randy is desperate to get a prescription card to buy pot and Cartman will do anything to get his beloved fried chicken back.
Original Air Date: 2010-03-31

“Medicinal Fried Chicken” will be available for streaming on March 31st, 2010 11:59PM Pacific Time.

Preview “Medicinal Fried Chicken” here (“Medical Marijuana Dispensary” –  Cartman is surprised to find his favorite restaurant has been turned into a medical marijuana dispensary.)

Please check back on Saturday or Sunday night for more South Park Episode News!

“Medicinal Fried Chicken” will be available for streaming on March 31st, 2009 11:59PM Pacific Time. You will watch it here (Flash Player required – if you want to watch it on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad; you’re out of luck. Steve Jobs won’t let Flash on the iProducts) instead of downloading the episode from site like MrTwig.net or SouthParkFiles.com.

From the Comedy Central Press Release:
A MEDICINAL MARIJUANA SHOP IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN AN ALL-NEW “SOUTH PARK” ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 AT 10:00 P.M. ON COMEDY CENTRAL

NEW YORK, March 29, 2010 – Cartman’s favorite restaurant has been shut down and a store that sells medicinal marijuana moves in on an all-new episode of “South Park” titled “Medicinal Fried Chicken,” premiering on Wednesday, March 31 at 10:00 p.m. on Comedy Central.

State Law in Colorado says it’s legal to smoke pot if you have a physician’s reference. Randy is the first-in-line to buy some but he’s turned away because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him. Randy is desperate to get a medical excuse to smoke some weed but meanwhile, Cartman will do anything to get his beloved fried chicken restaurant back.

Notes:

Public Service Announcement:

This episode will be available for streaming after the premiere on Wednesday March 31st, 2010 at South Park Studios. Flash Player is required even though Steve Jobs calls it a dying technology. Forget about watching the stream on your iPad.

Comedy Central Airing Schedule for South Park: Season 14 Episode 2 (Eastern and Pacific Time)

  • Wednesday March 31 2009 10:00PM
  • Thursday April 01 2009 12:00AM
  • Thursday April 01 2009 9:30PM
  • Sunday April 04 2009 11:00PM
  • Monday April 05 2009 02:00AM
  • Tuesday April 06 2009 10:00PM

Comedy Central strongly urges you not to download the episode from any site such as MrTwig.net/SouthParkFiles.com or any other South Park related sites. Remember that unauthorized download of South Park episodes hurts Comedy Central and South Park team. It is very very wrong to download South Park Episodes from sites like MrTwig.net, because Comedy Central would have to wait for another 2 months to get gold plated shark tank installed in their lobby. Instead, Comedy Central would like you to purchase the episode from vendors like Amazon.com or iTunes Store.

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Celebrate South Park’s 200th Episode
The 200th episode of South Park premieres April 14 and we are inviting fans to congratulate Matt and Trey and the entire South Park crew, by submitting a fan video or an image to SouthPark200.com.

Tell us about the first time you saw South Park, talk about your favorite episode or just show off your creative skills. It can be animated, live-action, a mash-up, your drawings or whatever else you want to do to commemorate the 200th episode.

Visit SouthPark200.com for all the info and take this chance to congratulate Trey, Matt and South Park on 200 amazing episodes.

Check back for more info.

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By the way,

Available March 16th, 2010
South Park: The Complete Thirteenth Season – Uncensored

DVD | Blu-ray

Disclaimer

If you bought anything through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.

“If you buy these DVD’s, I can buy a Canon Vixia HF S21” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.