Music streaming giant Pandora recently prevailed in a patent lawsuit filed by Bluebonnet Internet Media Services. The lawsuit centered on Pandora’s use of auto-generated music playlists tailored to its listeners’ preferences. On September 7th, a Federal District Court Judge ruled that the patents involved were fundamentally addressed to an abstract idea – and should have never …
The belief that gun manufacturers should be liable for violent acts of their consumers has long been a topic of debate. On one hand, we sympathize with victims of gun violence and want the law to help them recover compensation. However, we also understand that there is something weary about holding a manufacturer liable for …
On March 24 the European Union agreed to implement the new Digital Markets Act. The act itself appears to be crafted in an attempt to address growing concern regarding the power of the world’s largest technology companies, who the act refers to as the “gatekeepers” of the industry. The new law aims to encourage competition …
Everyone has heard of DNA. DNA is the building block of human life. It’s what makes us who we are. Once a novel concept, DNA is now a common term used in everyday conversation. DNA technologies have been further developed in recent years, helping to solve crimes that once seemed impossible to solve. But with …
On March 25, 2022, a jury found RaDonda Vaught guilty of criminally negligent homicide and gross neglect of an impaired adult. This verdict is tied to a medication error that Vaught made in 2017 while working at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which ultimately resulted in the patient’s death. No nurse has ever been criminally charged …
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, countries around the world are reconsidering purchasing oil from Russia and imposing sanctions on the country. Where we get our energy from has a direct effect on what actions we can take in international affairs. As Erin Sikorsky, director of the Center for Climate and Security, explained, “[t]here’s …
For more than 30 years, Activision Blizzard (“Activision”) and Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”) have worked together as strategic partners to further the goals of their businesses, and through this partnership, they’ve created and released some of the most influential videogames in the industry. On January 18th of this year, however, Microsoft and Activision executed an agreement …
On March 14th, Reuters reported that Ukraine’s Defense Ministry started using facial recognition software in their war efforts against Russia. Other elements of the government are expected to follow in the coming days. Facial recognition firm Clearview AI offered Ukraine’s government free use of its service, claiming that it will allow Ukraine to effectively screen …
Traditionally (or IRL), trademark law protects against consumer confusion in the marketplace. However, courts have generally found that in the context of art, the public interest in free expression outweighs the public interest in preventing consumer confusion. Under the two-pronged “Rogers test,” an artist has a First Amendment defense against a claim of trademark infringement …
At the end of February, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, catching the rest of the world by surprise. The unprovoked attack destroyed international norms against wars of aggression and left the world searching for an appropriate response. Although the conflict is developing rapidly, the invasion has already proven the effectiveness of …
