France seizes the France.com domain name from its 20-year owner
"French-born Jean-Noel Frydman is suing the country for 'cybersquatting' on the France.com domain name, CNBC reported."
Tractor Hacking: The Farmers Breaking Big Tech’s Repair Monopoly
"When it comes to repair, farmers have always been self reliant. But the modernization of tractors and other farm equipment over the past few decades has left most farmers in the dust thanks to diagnostic software that large manufacturers hold a monopoly over. In this episode of State of Repair, Motherboard goes to Nebraska to talk to the farmers and mechanics who are fighting large manufacturers like John Deere for the right to access the diagnostic software they need to repair their tractors."
This Trade Treaty Got Better when the US Bailed
"Though the treaty is still imperfect, it does raise hope for more trade and therefore higher living standards. What is downright humiliating for Americans is that the treaty became better only after the US withdrew from it."
Supreme Court Messes With East Texas ‘Patent Troll’ Hotbed
"The Supreme Court on Monday delivered a major blow to so-called patent trolls—shell companies whose business revolves around acquiring patents and then suing others for infringing on them—by making it much harder to bring lawsuits in friendly venues like East Texas. In a unanimous ruling written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the court overturned a lower court's interpretation of federal venue rules and said that patent owners must sue companies in the districts where they are incorporated." Continue reading →
Patented insulin prices spike 10x, but black market keeps kids alive
"Sanofi's proprietary Apidra brand insulin has increased in price by 1,123% since 1996. So they've turned to the black market, trading the insulin that Corely's insurer will buy with other diabetic people they meet on the internet, who are covered on plans that buy the kind of insulin Corely needs to not slip into a coma and die before her tenth birthday." Continue reading →
This State Really Doesn’t Want Its Residents to Know the Law
"The state of Georgia has gone to extreme lengths to keep its own state laws hidden from the people, and has even gone after those who have attempted to give this information to the people." Continue reading →
Ben Swann Reality Check: Monsanto and Crony Capitalism
"Ben Swann Reality Check takes a look at three controversies surrounding food company 'Monsanto'. Plus, is Monsanto one of the best examples of America's crony capitalist system." Continue reading →
US farmers challenging Monsanto patent claims appeal to Supreme Court
"Seventy-three US farmers, seed companies, and public advocacy groups appealed their case against Monsanto Co. to the Supreme Court on Thursday. The case seeks to challenge Monsanto’s aggressive claims on patents of genetically-engineered seeds and aims to bar the chemical and biotech company from suing anyone whose field is contaminated by such seeds. Monsanto has in the past sued over 100 farmers for patent infringement and won cases against farmers who were found to have used seeds without paying the company royalties." Continue reading →
Kim Dot Com resigns from Mega to pursue plans for NZ political party
"Internet mogul Kim Dotcom said on Thursday he was resigning from his new venture Mega to focus on fighting extradition to the United States and his plans for a New Zealand political party. The 39-year-old, who was arrested when armed New Zealand police involved in the US probe raided his Auckland mansion, confirmed that he had resigned as a director of Mega at an August 29 board meeting. Dotcom said he was still working on development of a web-based music service called Megabox. The extradition case has dragged on in the courts and is subject to numerous appeals, with Dotcom estimating earlier this year that his legal bills could exceed US$50 million." Continue reading →
Policing Prosecutors
"A hungry man stealing a loaf of bread from a market to feed his family is treated differently than a con man bilking senior citizens for personal gain. Aaron Swartz knew he was breaking the law when he downloaded those articles. What he did not know, was that if a prosecutor wanted to make his life hell, she could credibly see to it that he was locked up until his mid 50’s. We should make sure that punishments fit crimes, and that when we collectively threaten to remove a human being from society for a generation or two, they actually did something worthy of such a profound punishment." Continue reading →