IP and Technology

Here’s my list of the Top 10 gadgets from CES 2016. The cost for most of the items is between $50 and $1,000, but one gadget is free and another cannot be priced because it’s a prototype demonstration of a concept. Self-Installing Car Seat. Too good to be true (and it probably isn’t totally true), yet this car seat should…

When you arrive at CES 2016, you notice the lines and the crowds, even though attendance was capped this year at 176,000 to stem the growing number of attendees. You also notice that the owner and producer of the show has changed its name, from Consumer Electronics Association to Consumer Technology Association. The CTA, which began in 1924 as the…

There are always lots of surprises as the federal courts apply copyright law to an unlimited array of creative works, both old and new. Three recent court decisions are reviewed in this blog, (1) a copycat unsuccessfully tried to use the “fair use doctrine” to justify his wholesale electronic copying of the Merriam Webster dictionary, (2) a mother who posted…

Cybersecurity and data forensic firms are sending a loud and clear message: no one is safe. Theoretically, anyone could become the target of a state-sponsored hacking group working in shifts and around the clock whose single purpose is to break into your computers to steal or wreak havoc. When you become such a target, your fate is sealed and it…

A few months ago the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) released long awaited proposed regulations governing the commercial operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (“drones”), including the registration and use of small drones and operator certification. The proposed regulations do not affect recreational use of small drones, which continues to be loosely regulated. When releasing the proposed regulations, the FAA stated…

Devices with Open Standards. A challenge for consumers of electronic products is that the company that made or sold the product wants to control all aspects of the experience. While this is understandable from the maker/seller side, it can be a frustration for the consumer. With more software developers and device manufacturers using open standards, consumers could use devices across…

According to a security bulletin published in 2013 by Kaspersky, a company specializing in internet security products, 70% of email traffic is spam. That amounts to roughly 15 billion messages globally per day. Fortunately, for most businesses, content filters eliminate a majority of these threats. Content filters, nonetheless, can be too zealous at times, and therefore, it is important to…

With 170,000 attendees and over 3000 exhibitors at CES 2015, you could might overlook a gadget or two. With this disclaimer, here is this year’s list of Top 10 gadgets: Volvo Connected Bicycle Helmet. Three Swedish companies – Volvo, Ericsson, and POC – jointly developed this bicycling safety warning system, a welcome development given the 50,000 cyclists who are injured…

Throughout 2014, there has been a constant stream of cyber attacks, culminating in the state-sponsored attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. There were thousands, and every month brought significant attacks on business and government computer systems. A monthly listing of notable 2014 cyber attacks from many sources follows this blog post. The most complete listing available with details covering the past…

As expected, there was a lot to see at CES this year. No one can see it all in four days, but here’s a list of the Top 10 gadgets that caught my attention. dji’s Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter with Integrated FPV Camera. This flying camera takes photography to a new level. It comes with a high-performance camera that takes…