intellectual property
software

Amazon Has A Patent To Sell Used Ebooks

The problem with most ebooks is you can’t exactly give them with a friends or pass them onto your children when you’re done. But Amazon might actually address that with a new patent to sell used ebooks.

16 November 2012

Computing

Apple’s New Patent Adjusts iPad Display Size Based On How Far Away You Are

If you like to hold your iPad right up by next to your eyeballs because you are basically blind, you might someday have some relief. Apple has a new patent that changes the size of the display based on the distance of your face from the screen.

12 October 2012

mobile

Apple’s Latest Patent Basically Prevents Others From Dragging Stuff Around A Lock Screen

Yesterday, Apple was granted yet another patent for slide-to-unlock, and it’s even more general than the first two.

8 August 2012

Gadgets

You Might Unlock Google Glasses By Simply Rolling Your Eyes

Google has earned a patent for screen unlock that uses eye-tracking information, meaning when you finally get your hands on a pair of its augmented reality specs, you could access them with an eye roll. Just don’t let your mum see you do that.

25 July 2012

Gadgets

Apple Just Got A Patent For A Dimension That Doesn’t Even Exist Yet

Apple has just been granted a patent for 5D technology. Wait, what the hell? Has it traveled to the future and come back with something we don’t know about yet? What advanced life forms are the suits in Cupertino communicating with?

13 June 2012

News

Hologram Marilyn Monroe Hits Legal Snag

The Hollywood Reporter has obtained months of correspondence between Digicon Media and the estate of the deceased blonde bombshell that details threats of legal action should Digicon’s plans to project “Virtual Marilyn” go ahead.

17 February 2012

Geek Out

Everything That’s Wrong With Patent And Copyright Laws In One Brilliant Video

Patent trolls are the worst. Oh wait, no, out-of-control copyright crusaders, they’re the worst. In fact, the whole intellectual property system needs a total overhaul. But why? How did it come to this? Kirby Ferguson’s sublime Everything Is a Remix series comes to a conclusion with this really smart explanation of how the spirit of IP laws have been totally perverted by modern corporate culture.

10 September 2011

Computing

Apple Wins Round Two Against Galaxy Tab In German Courts

Rule against the Galaxy Tab for patent infringement once, shame on you. Rule against the Galaxy Tab for patent infringement twice, well, that’s when maybe Samsung’s screwed for real. In Germany, at least.

18 August 2011

News

Major Patent Milestones From One To Eight Million

The USPTO granted its first patent in 1836 and 175 years later, the government body now has a database that is eight million strong.

15 June 2011

Science

How Are 20% Of Human Genes Patented?

John Sulston, along with Sarah Chan and John Harris, writes that scientific process is being stymied due to excessive ownership of scientific intellectual property. One of the more troubling statistics? Private companies have patented nearly 20 per cent of human genes.

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