How the next Patent Office director could shape the patent system
Obama created "death squads" for bad patents—Trump's nominees curtailed them.
Policy // Civilization & Discontents
4,700 Amazon employees had unauthorized access to private seller data
Shoddy security allowed various employees to use info to their advantage.
Ajit Pai joins American Enterprise Institute and a firm that invests in ISPs
Post-FCC Pai will apparently keep pushing deregulation of broadband industry.
EPA to eliminate climate “super pollutants” from refrigerators, air conditioners
Hydrofluorocarbons saved the ozone layer, but they’re killing the climate.
Kroger will begin drone deliveries in Ohio this week
The FAA has finally started allowing commercial flights beyond the line of sight.
Disney gets special “theme park” exception to Florida’s anti-tech bill
A legal challenge to the new law seems inevitable.
More US agencies potentially hacked, this time with Pulse Secure exploits
Zero-day vulnerability under attack has a severity rating of 10 out of 10.
New York requires $15 broadband for poor people, promptly gets sued by ISPs
Lobby groups for Verizon, AT&T, and other ISPs ask court to overturn state law.
Climate law jeopardizes freedoms, German court rules—but not how you think
Don’t punt on emissions reductions after 2030, top court said.
EU says Apple’s 30% cut from rival music providers violates competition law
EU sides with Spotify, blasts Apple's 30% App Store cut and anti-steering rules.
Uber, Lyft stocks plunge after Biden official says drivers are employees
Uber and Lyft argue treating drivers as employees would wreck their business.
FCC reveals sign-up date and website for $50-per-month broadband subsidies
May 12 enrollment for people who have low incomes or lost income during pandemic.
Conspiracy theorist said death threats were “jokes”—but jury didn’t buy it
Brendan Hunt posted videos about murdering US elected officials.
Algorithms were under fire at a Senate hearing on social media
"Algorithms have great potential for good. They can also be misused."
SitRep: Is the F-35 officially a failure?
Cost overruns, other issues prompt Air Force to look for "clean sheet" fighter.
