Governments and scientists are scouring our vast pharmacopeia for something, anything, that may be effective against the current pandemic. While this particular infection may be new, inventors have been solving the problem of contagion since there have been inventors. This author believes that the scientists should investigate other disease-fighting inventions of the past. In […]
Dear Doc: The most basic feature of the design of the World Wide Web is the hyperlink, which allows a browser to display elements of content stored on a web server. The great power of the Web is that the content need not be stored on the same server that hosts a page. Displaying content […]
We’ve all seen patent markings on products. Something like “pat. US 6,568,969” printed, stamped or molded into the product. Where the product itself can’t be marked, the patent marking can be printed on packaging or a label. Here’s what the statute says, at 35 USC §287(a): Patentees… may give notice to the public that the [product] is […]
In 1998, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) became law. That year, Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping” topped the charts, Mark McGwire broke the home run record, Google, Inc. was formed, and smartphones didn’t yet exist. The Web was in its infancy, but online service providers were concerned about their potential liability for hosting users’ content. The DMCA […]
The Philly Phanatic has been a mainstay of Philadelphia culture since he arrived on our shores in 1978. But did you know that the Phanatic has been the subject of numerous lawsuits? He’s even been called “the most sued mascot in baseball.” His most recent lawsuit involves the facts surrounding his birth. It’s a long, convoluted story so we’ll just briefly review the facts […]
Dear Doc: I hear that in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (the “Trump Tax Law”) inventors, authors, and other creators of intellectual property got screwed, contrary to the intent of the Founders, as expressed in Art. I, Sec. 8, Cl. 8 of the United States Constitution. What’s up with that? Signed,Screwed-Over Inventor Dear Screwed: Yup! You’re […]