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  11. <title>* GiantPeople</title>
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  13. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com</link>
  14. <description>Technology, Law, Baseball, and Rock &#039;n&#039; Roll</description>
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  23. <title>* Copyrights vs. Patents vs. Trademarks</title>
  24. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17467.html</link>
  25. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17467.html#respond</comments>
  27. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  28. <pubDate>Sat, 17 Aug 2024 21:17:54 +0000</pubDate>
  29. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  30. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  31. <category><![CDATA[Clocktower Law]]></category>
  32. <category><![CDATA[Copyright Law]]></category>
  33. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  34. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  35. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law]]></category>
  36. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law 101]]></category>
  37. <category><![CDATA[Trademark Law]]></category>
  38. <category><![CDATA[Trademark Law 101]]></category>
  39. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17467</guid>
  40.  
  41. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #123: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. Generally, your company&#8217;s name, product name(s), logo, and tagline can be trademarked; and your company&#8217;s product can be patented, copyrighted, or both. Copyright protects against making exact copies, while patents provide broader protection, protecting against not only literal copying but also equivalent &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17467.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Copyrights vs. Patents vs. Trademarks"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  42. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  43. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #123: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  44. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  45. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  46. <p>Generally, your company&#8217;s name, product name(s), logo, and tagline can be trademarked; and your company&#8217;s product can be patented, copyrighted, or both.  Copyright protects against making exact copies, while patents provide broader protection, protecting against not only literal copying but also equivalent copying.  Copyright registration is a matter of filling out the right forms and sending in the right fees, and all of the forms are online at the U.S. Copyright Office (<a href="http://www.copyright.gov/">http://www.copyright.gov/</a>). As such, we have rarely done copyright work for our clients, not because we&#8217;re not good at it, but because we feel that it is money that is not well spent.</p>
  47. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  48. <p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="http://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15536" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  49. <p><i><small><b>17 Seconds</b> is a publication for clients and other VIPs.  Powered by Mailchimp and the beat of a different keyboard player.  <a href="http://eepurl.com/dn95JX">Click here to subscribe to <b>17 Seconds</b></a>.</small></i></p>
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  58. </item>
  59. <item>
  60. <title>* Trademark Preliminary Amendment</title>
  61. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17461.html</link>
  62. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17461.html#respond</comments>
  64. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  65. <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2024 21:17:12 +0000</pubDate>
  66. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  67. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  68. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  69. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  70. <category><![CDATA[Trademark Law]]></category>
  71. <category><![CDATA[Trademark Law 101]]></category>
  72. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17461</guid>
  73.  
  74. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #122: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. Preliminary amendments, as the name suggests, can only be filed before the USPTO has acted on the application. One case when it makes sense to file a preliminary amendment is when there are multiple pending trademark applications and an examiner has acted &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17461.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Trademark Preliminary Amendment"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  75. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  76. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #122: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  77. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  78. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  79. <p>Preliminary amendments, as the name suggests, can only be filed before the USPTO has acted on the application.  One case when it makes sense to file a preliminary amendment is when there are multiple pending trademark applications and an examiner has acted on an earlier one but not on a later one.  In this case, amending the later-filed application can preemptively avoid the same problems that the earlier-filed application encountered.</p>
  80. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
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  82. <p><i><small><b>17 Seconds</b> is a publication for clients and other VIPs.  Powered by Mailchimp and the beat of a different keyboard player.  <a href="http://eepurl.com/dn95JX">Click here to subscribe to <b>17 Seconds</b></a>.</small></i></p>
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  91. </item>
  92. <item>
  93. <title>* Be Like The MLB Umpire Whose Name You Do Not Know</title>
  94. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17454.html</link>
  95. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17454.html#respond</comments>
  97. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  98. <pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:01:03 +0000</pubDate>
  99. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  100. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  101. <category><![CDATA[Air Force]]></category>
  102. <category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>
  103. <category><![CDATA[Copyright Law]]></category>
  104. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  105. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  106. <category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
  107. <category><![CDATA[MIT]]></category>
  108. <category><![CDATA[Startups]]></category>
  109. <category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>
  110. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17454</guid>
  111.  
  112. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #121: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. I&#8217;m a USAF veteran: attended MIT on an AFROTC scholarship, briefly flew jets until the Air Force asked me to stop doing that, turned down the opportunity to be an astronaut (which is another story for another day), then served out my &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17454.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Be Like The MLB Umpire Whose Name You Do Not Know"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  113. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  114. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #121: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  115. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  116. <p><img decoding="async" src="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/2013-07-30-baseball-iStock-000008527543XSmall-347x346-300x300.jpg" alt="Image licensed by Erik J. Heels from istockphoto.com: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-8527543-well-worn-baseball.php" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4775" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/2013-07-30-baseball-iStock-000008527543XSmall-347x346-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/2013-07-30-baseball-iStock-000008527543XSmall-347x346-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/2013-07-30-baseball-iStock-000008527543XSmall-347x346-100x100.jpg 100w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/2013-07-30-baseball-iStock-000008527543XSmall-347x346.jpg 347w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  117. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  118. <p>I&#8217;m a USAF veteran: attended MIT on an AFROTC scholarship, briefly flew jets until the Air Force asked me to stop doing that, turned down the opportunity to be an astronaut (which is another story for another day), then served out my active duty time at Hanscom Air Force Base.  While at Hanscom AFB, my supervisors taught me that nobody is in charge of the career of Lieutenant Heels other than Lieutenant Heels, so if I wanted a new assignment/award/promotion, then I would have to nominate myself for said assignment/award/promotion, leaving my superior only having to sign on the dotted line (or not).  Whether you call the skill self-advocacy, self-promotion, or tooting your own horn, I learned (or at least honed) that skill in the military.</p>
  119. <p>So when a colleague recently asked me why I continue to do outreach to prospective clients, I told him that it&#8217;s because nobody is in charge of marketing Clocktower except for Clocktower.</p>
  120. <p>Which brings me to the recent retirement of Angel Hernandez, by far <a href="https://umpscorecards.com/umpires/">the worst MLB umpire in my lifetime</a>.  In an age where technology has helped managers, players, and umpires do their jobs better, Angel Hernandez refused to use the technology and, as a result, never got better.  His strike zone was wildly inconsistent.  And he often seemed more interested in hurrying the game along than doing a good job.  Here are some &#8220;highlights&#8221; of Angel Hernandez:</p>
  121. <p><b>* MLB Angel Hernandez CRAZIEST Moments (2024-04-21)</b><br />
  122. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUlkZYNPgw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUlkZYNPgw</a></p>
  123. <p><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hxUlkZYNPgw?si=Wz21jqT2SNIWCl_6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
  124. <p>Before every MLB game that I watch, I pay attention to who is umpiring the game.  Because there is only one reason that you know the name of an umpire: they screwed up badly.</p>
  125. <p>Here is an example from 2010-06-02, before the dawn of instant replay.  Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was one out away from a perfect game when first base umpire Jim Joyce mistakenly called the runner safe.  Jim Joyce&#8217;s name was well-known in Detroit after that game.</p>
  126. <p><b>* Armando Galarraga &#8211; Only Hit Of Almost Perfect Game (2010-06-02)</b><br />
  127. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfCfjT5BH9o">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfCfjT5BH9o</a></p>
  128. <p><iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dfCfjT5BH9o?si=O4o9txUVsg0wfAQK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
  129. <p>When you do your job, and do it well, then nobody knows your name.</p>
  130. <p>When you do not do your job, or do it poorly, then everybody knows your name.</p>
  131. <p>Clocktower&#8217;s record speaks for itself: in 20+ years, 40+ of our clients have been acquired for $6+ billion, but nobody is in charge of marketing Clocktower except for Clocktower.</p>
  132. <p>Clocktower is like the MLB umpire whose name you do not know.  Tell your pals.</p>
  133. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  134. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15536" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  135. <p><i><small><b>17 Seconds</b> is a publication for clients and other VIPs.  Powered by Mailchimp and the beat of a different keyboard player.  <a href="http://eepurl.com/dn95JX">Click here to subscribe to <b>17 Seconds</b></a>.</small></i></p>
  136. <p><!-- end sig --></p>
  137. <p><!-- end article --></p>
  138. ]]></content:encoded>
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  141. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  144. </item>
  145. <item>
  146. <title>* Why Did Facebook Delete My College Alumni Singing Group Page?</title>
  147. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17448.html</link>
  148. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17448.html#comments</comments>
  150. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  151. <pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:59:40 +0000</pubDate>
  152. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  153. <category><![CDATA[Copyright Law]]></category>
  154. <category><![CDATA[Disputes]]></category>
  155. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 20s]]></category>
  156. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 30s]]></category>
  157. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 40s]]></category>
  158. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  159. <category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
  160. <category><![CDATA[Internet Law]]></category>
  161. <category><![CDATA[MIT]]></category>
  162. <category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
  163. <category><![CDATA[Security]]></category>
  164. <category><![CDATA[Social Networking]]></category>
  165. <category><![CDATA[Worst Practices]]></category>
  166. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17448</guid>
  167.  
  168. <description><![CDATA[Facebook deleted a nerdy MIT singing group alumni page without notice. From 1984 to 1986, I sang with The Logarhythms (https://calendar.mit.edu/group/mit_logarhythms), the oldest a capella singing group at my alma mater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Founded in 1949, the MIT Logarhythms &#8211; or MIT Logs for short &#8211; has 12-24 active members and well &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17448.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Why Did Facebook Delete My College Alumni Singing Group Page?"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  169. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  170. <h3>Facebook deleted a nerdy MIT singing group alumni page without notice.</h3>
  171. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  172. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2019-06-08-mit-logarhythms-logo-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-17450" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2019-06-08-mit-logarhythms-logo-300x300.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2019-06-08-mit-logarhythms-logo-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2019-06-08-mit-logarhythms-logo-768x768.png 768w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2019-06-08-mit-logarhythms-logo-100x100.png 100w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2019-06-08-mit-logarhythms-logo.png 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  173. <p><!--0 end image --></p>
  174. <p>From 1984 to 1986, I sang with The Logarhythms (<a href="https://calendar.mit.edu/group/mit_logarhythms">https://calendar.mit.edu/group/mit_logarhythms</a>), the oldest <i>a capella</i> singing group at my alma mater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  Founded in 1949, the MIT Logarhythms &#8211; or MIT Logs for short &#8211; has 12-24 active members and well over 300 alumni members.</p>
  175. <p>Periodically, MIT Logs alum gather for an anniversary reunion.  In 2019, I was on the planning committee for the 70th anniversary reunion event.  In connection with that event, we created a website and social media pages, including the MIT Logarhythms Alum page on Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mitlogsalum/">https://www.facebook.com/mitlogsalum/</a>):</p>
  176. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2020-10-02-website-screenshot-facebook-com-mitlogsalum-970x1024.png" alt="" width="525" height="554" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17451" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2020-10-02-website-screenshot-facebook-com-mitlogsalum-970x1024.png 970w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2020-10-02-website-screenshot-facebook-com-mitlogsalum-284x300.png 284w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2020-10-02-website-screenshot-facebook-com-mitlogsalum-768x811.png 768w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2020-10-02-website-screenshot-facebook-com-mitlogsalum-1455x1536.png 1455w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2020-10-02-website-screenshot-facebook-com-mitlogsalum-1941x2048.png 1941w" sizes="(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px" /></p>
  177. <p>As you can see from the above screenshot, the 70th event concluded on 2019-10-19 with a concert at the MIT Media Lab.  Alum from eight decades &#8211; yes eight decades &#8211; were on the stage to sing the MIT school song for the finale.</p>
  178. <p>Recently, a handful of MIT Logs alum have begun planning for the 75th anniversary reunion event at MIT.  As soon as this planning began, I noticed, much to my chagrin, that the MIT Logs Alum page on Facebook had been deleted by Facebook without notice to the MIT Logs alum.  I submitted a &#8220;hacked asset&#8221; complaint to Facebook support, but that support request appears to have been handled by bots, and the support ticket was closed while the page remains offline.  I have no evidence that any human read any of the supporting documents that I provided in support of restoring the deleted page.</p>
  179. <p>So with all of the questionable content that survives on Facebook daily, why would the Facebook police pick on a nerdy college alumni singing group page?  We have hundreds of photos and videos from the 70th event that we would like restored, please.</p>
  180. <p>So if you know any humans at Facebook who can actually help, then we MIT Logs Alum would certainly appreciate an intro.</p>
  181. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  182. <hr />
  183. <p><em><small>Erik J. Heels claims to publish the #1 blog about <a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/">technology, law, baseball, and rock &#8216;n&#8217; roll</a>.</small></em></p>
  184. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2014-12-08-giantpeople-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full" /></p>
  185. <p><!-- end sig --></p>
  186. <p><!-- end article --></p>
  187. ]]></content:encoded>
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  190. <slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
  193. </item>
  194. <item>
  195. <title>* Trademark Hurdle &#8211; Beta</title>
  196. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17444.html</link>
  197. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17444.html#respond</comments>
  199. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  200. <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 21:17:46 +0000</pubDate>
  201. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  202. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  203. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  204. <category><![CDATA[Google]]></category>
  205. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  206. <category><![CDATA[Trademark Law]]></category>
  207. <category><![CDATA[Trademark Law 101]]></category>
  208. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17444</guid>
  209.  
  210. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #120: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. Sometimes the USPTO gets confused about what &#8220;beta&#8221; means and whether or not &#8220;beta&#8221; products are being used &#8220;in commerce&#8221; for the purpose of trademark registration. If this issue comes up, then we will remind the USPTO that Gmail (for example) was &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17444.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Trademark Hurdle &#8211; Beta"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  211. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  212. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #120: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  213. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  214. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  215. <p>Sometimes the USPTO gets confused about what &#8220;beta&#8221; means and whether or not &#8220;beta&#8221; products are being used &#8220;in commerce&#8221; for the purpose of trademark registration.  If this issue comes up, then we will remind the USPTO that <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78398233&#038;caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&#038;caseType=DEFAULT&#038;searchType=statusSearch">Gmail</a> (for example) was famously in beta for over 5 years (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gmail">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gmail</a>), and it defies reality to say that Gmail was not being used &#8220;in commerce&#8221; over this period.</p>
  216. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  217. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15536" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  218. <p><i><small><b>17 Seconds</b> is a publication for clients and other VIPs.  Powered by Mailchimp and the beat of a different keyboard player.  <a href="http://eepurl.com/dn95JX">Click here to subscribe to <b>17 Seconds</b></a>.</small></i></p>
  219. <p><!-- end sig --></p>
  220. <p><!-- end article --></p>
  221. ]]></content:encoded>
  223. <wfw:commentRss>https://www.giantpeople.com/17444.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
  224. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  227. </item>
  228. <item>
  229. <title>* Patent Search &#8211; Stuff You Cannot Find</title>
  230. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17441.html</link>
  231. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17441.html#respond</comments>
  233. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  234. <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 21:17:16 +0000</pubDate>
  235. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  236. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  237. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  238. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  239. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law]]></category>
  240. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law 101]]></category>
  241. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17441</guid>
  242.  
  243. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #119: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. A patent search cannot find provisional patent applications (which are not published), design patent applications (which are not published), utility patent applications with a filing date less than 18 months old (since utility patent applications are published 18 months from their oldest &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17441.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Patent Search &#8211; Stuff You Cannot Find"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  244. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  245. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #119: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  246. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  247. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  248. <p>A patent search cannot find provisional patent applications (which are not published), design patent applications (which are not published), utility patent applications with a filing date less than 18 months old (since utility patent applications are published 18 months from their oldest priority date), and any patent application under a nonpublication request.  So a patent search cannot find everything.  But you can find what you can find, and you should find what you can find.  It is good and proper due diligence for startups to do a solid patent search.  Like the bear that went over the mountain, you should see what you can see.</p>
  249. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  250. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15536" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  251. <p><i><small><b>17 Seconds</b> is a publication for clients and other VIPs.  Powered by Mailchimp and the beat of a different keyboard player.  <a href="http://eepurl.com/dn95JX">Click here to subscribe to <b>17 Seconds</b></a>.</small></i></p>
  252. <p><!-- end sig --></p>
  253. <p><!-- end article --></p>
  254. ]]></content:encoded>
  256. <wfw:commentRss>https://www.giantpeople.com/17441.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
  257. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  260. </item>
  261. <item>
  262. <title>* Drawing That Explains Whether Your &#8220;AI&#8221; Product Is Cool</title>
  263. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17437.html</link>
  264. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17437.html#comments</comments>
  266. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  267. <pubDate>Sun, 17 Mar 2024 21:17:29 +0000</pubDate>
  268. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  269. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  270. <category><![CDATA[Copyright Law]]></category>
  271. <category><![CDATA[Drawings]]></category>
  272. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  273. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  274. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law]]></category>
  275. <category><![CDATA[Startups]]></category>
  276. <category><![CDATA[Trademark Law]]></category>
  277. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17437</guid>
  278.  
  279. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #118: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. Res ipsa loquitur. In related news, on March 12, 2024, the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office published a joint study on non-fungible tokens (NFTs). 17 Seconds is a publication for clients and other VIPs. Powered by &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17437.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Drawing That Explains Whether Your &#8220;AI&#8221; Product Is Cool"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  280. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  281. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #118: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  282. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  283. <p><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-14-drawing-explains-cool-ai-products.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-14-drawing-explains-cool-ai-products-781x1024.png" alt="" width="525" height="688" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17438" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-14-drawing-explains-cool-ai-products-781x1024.png 781w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-14-drawing-explains-cool-ai-products-229x300.png 229w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-14-drawing-explains-cool-ai-products-768x1007.png 768w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-14-drawing-explains-cool-ai-products-1172x1536.png 1172w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-14-drawing-explains-cool-ai-products-1562x2048.png 1562w" sizes="(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px" /></a></p>
  284. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  285. <p><i>Res ipsa loquitur.</i></p>
  286. <p>In related news, on March 12, 2024, <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/us-patent-and-trademark-office-and-us-copyright-office-conclude-joint-study">the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office published a joint study on non-fungible tokens</a> (NFTs).</p>
  287. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  288. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15536" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  289. <p><i><small><b>17 Seconds</b> is a publication for clients and other VIPs.  Powered by Mailchimp and the beat of a different keyboard player.  <a href="http://eepurl.com/dn95JX">Click here to subscribe to <b>17 Seconds</b></a>.</small></i></p>
  290. <p><!-- end sig --></p>
  291. <p><!-- end article --></p>
  292. ]]></content:encoded>
  294. <wfw:commentRss>https://www.giantpeople.com/17437.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
  295. <slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
  298. </item>
  299. <item>
  300. <title>* USPTO Unilaterally Enacts $400 &#8216;Microsoft Tax&#8217; On Patent Applications</title>
  301. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17433.html</link>
  302. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17433.html#respond</comments>
  304. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  305. <pubDate>Sat, 17 Feb 2024 22:17:41 +0000</pubDate>
  306. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  307. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  308. <category><![CDATA[Clocktower Law]]></category>
  309. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 30s]]></category>
  310. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 40s]]></category>
  311. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  312. <category><![CDATA[Erik's Favorites]]></category>
  313. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  314. <category><![CDATA[Microsoft]]></category>
  315. <category><![CDATA[Open Source]]></category>
  316. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law]]></category>
  317. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law 101]]></category>
  318. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  319. <category><![CDATA[Worst Practices]]></category>
  320. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17433</guid>
  321.  
  322. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #117: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. I have seen some ill-conceived policies rolled out by the USPTO in my time, but the requirement that patent applications be submitted in Microsoft&#8217;s proprietary DOCX format is one of the worst. When I became a patent attorney in 1995, patents were &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17433.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* USPTO Unilaterally Enacts $400 &#8216;Microsoft Tax&#8217; On Patent Applications"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  323. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  324. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #117: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  325. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  326. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2006-12-05-uspto-seal-131x131-1.jpg" alt="" width="131" height="131" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-17432" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2006-12-05-uspto-seal-131x131-1.jpg 131w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2006-12-05-uspto-seal-131x131-1-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 131px) 100vw, 131px" /></p>
  327. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  328. <p>I have seen some ill-conceived policies rolled out by the USPTO in my time, but the requirement that patent applications be submitted in Microsoft&#8217;s proprietary DOCX format is one of the worst.</a></p>
  329. <p>When I became a patent attorney in 1995, patents were filed in paper, filing receipts were postcards.  Clocktower sent/received our last postcard in 2007.</a></p>
  330. <p>Around 2007, Clocktower started filing patents electronically as image PDFs.  The USPTO then OCRed the image PDFs into renderable text.  This lasted until around 2010, when PDFs with renderable text were allowed to be filed.  PDFs may not be perfect, but multiple applications produce accurate PDFs of the source documents.</a></p>
  331. <p><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Microsoft+lobbying+USPTO">Then the USPTO got in bed with Microsoft</a>.</a></p>
  332. <p>On 2024-01-17, the USPTO enacted a $400 Microsoft tax for those with the temerity not to file patents in the DOCX format (<a href="https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx">https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx</a>).</a></p>
  333. <p>Clocktower will not be bullied into using a buggy proprietary file format from a monopolistic tech giant that has no commitment to open source standards (such as the ODT format used by the <a href="http://www.openoffice.org/">OpenOffice.org</a> project).  We will continue to work to minimize our time on make-work projects that increase costs for our clients.</a></p>
  334. <p>For more on Clocktower&#8217;s commitment to open source, see the &#8220;Open Source&#8221; category on our website (<a href="https://www.clocktowerlaw.com/category/open-source">https://www.clocktowerlaw.com/category/open-source</a>) and on Erik&#8217;s blog (<a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/category/open-source">https://www.giantpeople.com/category/open-source</a>).</a></p>
  335. <p>For more on the DOCX debacle, see the &#8220;Non-DOCX Penalty&#8221; category on Carl Oppedahl&#8217;s &#8220;Ant-Like Persistence&#8221; blog (<a href="https://blog.oppedahl.com/category/patents/non-docx-penalty/">https://blog.oppedahl.com/category/patents/non-docx-penalty/</a>).</a></p>
  336. <p>And, I don&#8217;t know, write to your representatives in Congress or something.</a></p>
  337. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  338. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15536" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2014-12-08-17seconds-logo-color-300x300-transparent-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  339. <p><i><small><b>17 Seconds</b> is a publication for clients and other VIPs.  Powered by Mailchimp and the beat of a different keyboard player.  <a href="http://eepurl.com/dn95JX">Click here to subscribe to <b>17 Seconds</b></a>.</small></i></p>
  340. <p><!-- end sig --></p>
  341. <p><!-- end article --></p>
  342. ]]></content:encoded>
  344. <wfw:commentRss>https://www.giantpeople.com/17433.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
  345. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  348. </item>
  349. <item>
  350. <title>* Clocktower Red Sox Talk (Exclusive Invitation)</title>
  351. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17425.html</link>
  352. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17425.html#respond</comments>
  354. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  355. <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:17:15 +0000</pubDate>
  356. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  357. <category><![CDATA[17 Seconds]]></category>
  358. <category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>
  359. <category><![CDATA[Boston Red Sox]]></category>
  360. <category><![CDATA[Clocktower Law]]></category>
  361. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 10s (Teens)]]></category>
  362. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 20s]]></category>
  363. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 30s]]></category>
  364. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 40s]]></category>
  365. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
  366. <category><![CDATA[Erik's Favorites]]></category>
  367. <category><![CDATA[Ink]]></category>
  368. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17425</guid>
  369.  
  370. <description><![CDATA[This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #116: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly. As you may know, I am a huge Red Sox fan. I started attending games in the 1970s with my Dad, family, and friends. We would drive down from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to Boston, Massachusetts, where my Dad would search the Back &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17425.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Clocktower Red Sox Talk (Exclusive Invitation)"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  371. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  372. <h3>This Is Our &#8220;17 Seconds&#8221; Newsletter #116: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.</h3>
  373. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  374. <figure id="attachment_15724" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15724" style="width: 525px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2009-08-12_17-51-21-Tom-Heels-and-Erik-Heels-at-Fenway-Park-for-Boston-Red-Sox-baseball-game-768x1024.jpg" alt="2009-08-12_17-51-21 Tom Heels and Erik Heels at Fenway Park for Boston Red Sox baseball game.jpg" width="525" height="700" class="size-large wp-image-15724" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2009-08-12_17-51-21-Tom-Heels-and-Erik-Heels-at-Fenway-Park-for-Boston-Red-Sox-baseball-game-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2009-08-12_17-51-21-Tom-Heels-and-Erik-Heels-at-Fenway-Park-for-Boston-Red-Sox-baseball-game-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2009-08-12_17-51-21-Tom-Heels-and-Erik-Heels-at-Fenway-Park-for-Boston-Red-Sox-baseball-game.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15724" class="wp-caption-text">2009-08-12 &#8211; Tom Heels and Erik Heels at Fenway Park for Boston Red Sox baseball game.</figcaption></figure>
  375. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  376. <p>As you may know, I am a huge Red Sox fan.  I started attending games in the 1970s with my Dad, family, and friends.  We would drive down from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to Boston, Massachusetts, where my Dad would search the Back Bay for free parking.  Then we&#8217;d walk (usually a long way) to Fenway Park.</p>
  377. <p>I was not much of an athlete growing up, but I did enjoy playing pickup baseball, hockey, and other sports in high school.</p>
  378. <p>My love of baseball (in general) and the Red Sox (in particular) spilled over into adulthood.  As a Dad of five sons, I coached Little League baseball almost continuously for nearly 20 years.</p>
  379. <p>Also for about 20 years, my MIT friend John Reardon (and his family) have owned and managed a Red Sox season ticket package.  For the past 15 years or so, Clocktower has been buying about 25% of John&#8217;s season tickets.  But this year he has passed the torch to Clocktower, who will be taking over the season tickets.</p>
  380. <p>I first sat in these seats with John, for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_American_League_Championship_Series#Game_5">Game 5 of the 2008 ALCS</a>, which is still the most exciting game I have ever attended.  (The Red Sox were losing 0-7 in the 7th inning and came back to win 8-7.)</p>
  381. <p>Baseball teaches us many things, all of which are relevant to Clocktower.  Things like fairness.  I have always said that baseball is the most fair of all of the team sports.  It ain&#8217;t over until it&#8217;s over (see Game 5 of the 2008 ALCS, above).  Things like giving, giving back, teamwork, and more.</p>
  382. <p>Some of my favorite articles about baseball &#8211; and why it is so important to me &#8211; are included below.</p>
  383. <p>Now, I would like to extend to all of you the <b>invitation to join a new Google Groups group: Clocktower Red Sox Talk</b>.  This will be a many-to-many discussion.  Those who join will have an opportunity (but not an obligation) to purchase (at cost) some of the 52 (or so) games in this season ticket package.  We can also chat about baseball in general, such as how cool it is that 2024 is the 20th anniversary of the historic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Boston_Red_Sox_season">2004 Red Sox</a> team, which broke the so-called curse and brought home the World Series championship for the first time in 86 years.</p>
  384. <p>Just shoot us an email (by either replying to this newsletter or directly to info@clocktowerlaw.com) and let us know if you are interested.  Thanks and go Sox!</p>
  385. <h3>Related Articles</h3>
  386. <ol>
  387. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/15726.html">* 2018 Red Sox Win World Series!</a> (2018-10-29)<br />
  388. And why baseball is the greatest game.</li>
  389. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/13551.html">* Rename Yawkey Way Yaz Way</a> (2017-08-22)<br />
  390. Red Sox Nation should rally around its founding father, Carl &#8220;Yaz&#8221; Yastrzemski, and convince Boston Red Sox ownership to rename Yawkey Way to Yaz Way.</li>
  391. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/4792.html">* Red Sox World Series Game 6: More Than A Game</a> (2013-10-31)<br />
  392. A top 10 moment at Fenway with my best friend.</li>
  393. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/2191.html">* Thomas R. Heels And Helena E. Heels</a> (2010-05-09)<br />
  394. An article for Mother&#8217;s Day.</li>
  395. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/1078.html">* Epic Comeback: Red Sox Win ALCS Game 5 Over Rays 8-7</a> (2008-10-17)<br />
  396. Down to their last 7 outs and trailing 7-0, the Boston Red Sox staged one of the most amazing comebacks in history.  And I was there.</li>
  397. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/954.html">* Red Sox Win 2007 World Series</a> (2007-10-29)<br />
  398. Red Sox defeat Rockies 4-3, Sox sweep series.</li>
  399. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/892.html">* Red Sox Perfect Game</a> (2007-10-03)<br />
  400. A perfect game with my son.</li>
  401. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/758.html">* Nine Principles Of Baseball And Life</a> (2007-05-02)<br />
  402. Philosophy of Baseball: How to Play the Game of Life.</li>
  403. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/501.html">* Erik Heels In A Suit And Red Sox Hat</a> (2005-11-16)<br />
  404. The photo that I wanted the ABA to publish.</li>
  405. <li><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/133.html">* Red Sox Thoughts: What It Means To Be A Red Sox Fan</a> (1999-10-18)<br />
  406. An email message promoted from my email archives to my blog on the last day the 2004 Red Sox were world champions (10/26/05).</li>
  407. </ol>
  408. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
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  421. <title>* Please Do Not Read This Newsletter, But If You Do, Then Please Read The &#8216;Generative Ground Beef&#8217; Section</title>
  422. <link>https://www.giantpeople.com/17421.html</link>
  423. <comments>https://www.giantpeople.com/17421.html#respond</comments>
  425. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Erik J. Heels]]></dc:creator>
  426. <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:17:26 +0000</pubDate>
  427. <category><![CDATA[*All]]></category>
  428. <category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>
  429. <category><![CDATA[Boston Red Sox]]></category>
  430. <category><![CDATA[Clocktower Law]]></category>
  431. <category><![CDATA[Copyright Law]]></category>
  432. <category><![CDATA[Erik In His 50s]]></category>
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  434. <category><![CDATA[LawLawLaw.com]]></category>
  435. <category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
  436. <category><![CDATA[Patent Law]]></category>
  437. <category><![CDATA[Startups]]></category>
  438. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.giantpeople.com/?p=17421</guid>
  439.  
  440. <description><![CDATA[LawLawLaw #53 &#8211; Technology, Law, Baseball, Rock &#8216;n&#8217; Roll. Startup Stuff Since the last LawLawLaw, the big news in startup world is that exits have declined. So maybe more exits in 2024? Technology Stuff * Mathematicians Discover Elusive &#8216;Einstein&#8217; Shape: &#8216;The Miracle That Disrupts Order&#8217; (2023-04-11) https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/the-miracle-that-disrupts-order-mathematicians-invent-new-einstein-shape/ Law Stuff First, some nick-nacks and misc. Then &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17421.html" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "* Please Do Not Read This Newsletter, But If You Do, Then Please Read The &#8216;Generative Ground Beef&#8217; Section"</span></a></p>]]></description>
  441. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- begin article --></p>
  442. <h3>LawLawLaw #53 &#8211; Technology, Law, Baseball, Rock &#8216;n&#8217; Roll.</h3>
  443. <p><!-- begin image --></p>
  444. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2014-12-08-lawlawlaw-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15555" srcset="https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2014-12-08-lawlawlaw-logo-color-300x300-transparent.png 300w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2014-12-08-lawlawlaw-logo-color-300x300-transparent-150x150.png 150w, https://www.giantpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2014-12-08-lawlawlaw-logo-color-300x300-transparent-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
  445. <p><!-- end image --></p>
  446. <h3>Startup Stuff</h3>
  447. <p>Since the last LawLawLaw, the big news in startup world is that exits have declined.  So maybe more exits in 2024?</p>
  448. <h3>Technology Stuff</h3>
  449. <p><b>* Mathematicians Discover Elusive &#8216;Einstein&#8217; Shape: &#8216;The Miracle That Disrupts Order&#8217; (2023-04-11)</b><br />
  450. <a href="https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/the-miracle-that-disrupts-order-mathematicians-invent-new-einstein-shape/">https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/the-miracle-that-disrupts-order-mathematicians-invent-new-einstein-shape/</a></p>
  451. <h3>Law Stuff</h3>
  452. <p>First, some nick-nacks and misc.  Then we&#8217;ll cover the latest trends in so-called artificial intelligence.</p>
  453. <p><b>* New Economic Initiative Would Require Companies Go Back To Naming Products What They Do Plus &#8216;O-Matic&#8217; (2023-07-06)</b><br />
  454. <a href="https://www.theonion.com/new-economic-initiative-would-require-companies-go-back-1850597038">https://www.theonion.com/new-economic-initiative-would-require-companies-go-back-1850597038</a></p>
  455. <p>Which reminds me of the SNL sketch referenced here:</p>
  456. <p><b>* Trademarks For Product And Service Names (2007-10-04)</b><br />
  457. Trademarking product and service names.<br />
  458. <a href="https://www.clocktowerlaw.com/3050.html">https://www.clocktowerlaw.com/3050.html</a></p>
  459. <p>The USPTO has created a &#8220;Design Patent Bar&#8221; with lower standards that the regular &#8220;Patent Bar.&#8221;  So you are not qualified to sit for the Patent Bar but you can prosecute design patents?  What could go wrong?!</p>
  460. <p><b>* Design Patent Bar Now Reality (2023-11-15)</b><br />
  461. <a href="https://patentlyo.com/patent/2023/11/design-patent-reality.html">https://patentlyo.com/patent/2023/11/design-patent-reality.html</a></p>
  462. <p><b>* Patent Grants Down 3% in 2023 (2023-12-29)</b><br />
  463. But we need to see the per-capita numbers. If the population increases by 5%, then I&#8217;d expect issued patents to increase by 5%.  Math, people.<br />
  464. <a href="https://patentlyo.com/patent/2023/12/patent-grant-total.html">https://patentlyo.com/patent/2023/12/patent-grant-total.html</a></p>
  465. <p>I dislike the term &#8220;artificial intelligence&#8221; because it is neither: it is not artificial, it is math.  It is not intelligent, it is math.  I also dislike the term &#8220;generative AI&#8221; because we&#8217;re not really generating anything, we&#8217;re merely dealing with logical inputs and outputs.  Take a meat grinder, for example.  You input beef, grind it, and ground beef is the output.  Perhaps &#8220;generative ground beef&#8221; is what we should call it.</p>
  466. <p>That said, I know copyright fair use when I see it.  And ingesting huge amounts of copyrighted material to train LLM models is not fair use, full stop.  I predict that copyright infringers like OpenAI will get sued out of business.</p>
  467. <p><b>* More Authors Sue OpenAI For Copyright Infringement (2023-09-12)</b><br />
  468. <a href="https://ipwatchdog.com/2023/09/12/authors-sue-openai-copyright-infringement/id=166698/">https://ipwatchdog.com/2023/09/12/authors-sue-openai-copyright-infringement/id=166698/</a></p>
  469. <p><b>* Game Of Thrones Author Sues ChatGPT Owner OpenAI (2023-09-21)</b><br />
  470. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66866577">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66866577</a></p>
  471. <p><b>* Spotify Will Not Ban AI-Made Music, Says Boss (2023-09-25)</b><br />
  472. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66882414">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66882414</a></p>
  473. <p><b>* AI Risks Largely Overlooked By Business Leaders (2023-11-12)</b><br />
  474. <a href="https://douglevin.substack.com/p/ai-risks-largely-overlooked-by-business">https://douglevin.substack.com/p/ai-risks-largely-overlooked-by-business</a></p>
  475. <p><b>* Sports Illustrated Accused Of Publishing AI-Written Articles (2023-11-28)</b><br />
  476. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67560354">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67560354</a></p>
  477. <p><b>* Sports Illustrated Publisher Fires CEO Ross Levinsohn After AI Scandal (2023-12-12)</b><br />
  478. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67619015">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67619015</a></p>
  479. <p><b>* New York Times Sues Microsoft And OpenAI For &#8216;Billions&#8217; (2023-12-28)</b><br />
  480. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67826601">https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67826601</a></p>
  481. <h3>Baseball Stuff</h3>
  482. <p>I use the word &#8220;baseball&#8221; loosely.</p>
  483. <p><b>* Patrice Bergeron Announces Retirement From Boston Bruins (2023-07-23)</b><br />
  484. <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2023/7/25/23806901/patrice-bergeron-announces-retirement-boston-bruins-national-hockey-league-center-selke-stanley-cup">https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2023/7/25/23806901/patrice-bergeron-announces-retirement-boston-bruins-national-hockey-league-center-selke-stanley-cup</a></p>
  485. <p><b>* Craig Breslow Becomes New Head Of Baseball Operations For Red Sox (2023-10-24)</b><br />
  486. <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/2023/10/24/23931179/report-craig-breslow-becomes-new-head-of-baseball-operations-for-red-sox">https://www.overthemonster.com/2023/10/24/23931179/report-craig-breslow-becomes-new-head-of-baseball-operations-for-red-sox</a><br />
  487. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-craig-breslow-head-of-baseball-operations">https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-craig-breslow-head-of-baseball-operations</a><br />
  488. <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/2023/10/25/23931652/meet-the-new-guy-boston-red-sox-hire-craig-breslow-cbo-gm-chaim-bloom-analysis">https://www.overthemonster.com/2023/10/25/23931652/meet-the-new-guy-boston-red-sox-hire-craig-breslow-cbo-gm-chaim-bloom-analysis</a></p>
  489. <p><b>* Erik Heels Bet On The Red Sox, Won Some Money, And Had Zero Fun (2023-11-03)</b><br />
  490. Based on the sports betting ads on TV, I thought that betting would be more fun. And that this blog post would be longer.<br />
  491. <a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/17397.html">https://www.giantpeople.com/17397.html</a></p>
  492. <p><b>* Red Sox Trade Alex Verdugo To Yankees For 3 Pitchers (2023-12-05)</b><br />
  493. Based on Verdugo&#8217;s post-trade comments, this should reinvigorate the Red Sox Yankees rivalry.<br />
  494. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/yankees-red-sox-alex-verdugo-trade">https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/yankees-red-sox-alex-verdugo-trade</a><br />
  495. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/alex-verdugo-traded-to-yankees-for-3-pitchers">https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/alex-verdugo-traded-to-yankees-for-3-pitchers</a><br />
  496. <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/2023/12/5/23990115/red-sox-trade-alex-verdugo-to-yankees-for-prospects">https://www.overthemonster.com/2023/12/5/23990115/red-sox-trade-alex-verdugo-to-yankees-for-prospects</a></p>
  497. <p><b>* Red Sox Trade For 2-Time Gold Glove OF Tyler O&#8217;Neill From Cards (2023-12-08)</b><br />
  498. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/tyler-oneill-trade-red-sox-cardinals">https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/tyler-oneill-trade-red-sox-cardinals</a></p>
  499. <p><b>* Shohei Ohtani: Baseball Star Joins LA Dodgers In Record $700M Deal (2023-12-09)</b><br />
  500. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67673620">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67673620</a></br /><br />
  501. <a href="http://joyofsox.blogspot.com/2023/12/ohtani-announces-hes-signing-with.html">http://joyofsox.blogspot.com/2023/12/ohtani-announces-hes-signing-with.html</a></p>
  502. <p><b>* Yoshinobu Yamamoto Signs With Dodgers On $325 Million Deal (2023-12-22)</b><br />
  503. <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/12/28/1222056337/yoshinobu-yamamoto-becomes-the-highest-paid-mlb-pitcher-in-joining-the-dodgers">https://www.npr.org/2023/12/28/1222056337/yoshinobu-yamamoto-becomes-the-highest-paid-mlb-pitcher-in-joining-the-dodgers</a></p>
  504. <h3>Music Stuff</h3>
  505. <p>We lost some great artists since the last LawLawLaw newsletter was published.</p>
  506. <p><b>* David Crosby: US Rock Legend Dies Aged 81 (2023-01-19)</b><br />
  507. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64341315">https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64341315</a></p>
  508. <p><b>* Burt Bacharach, One Of Pop&#8217;s Greatest Songwriters, Dies Aged 94 (2023-02-09)</b><br />
  509. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64587070">https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64587070</a><br />
  510. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64586383">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64586383</a></p>
  511. <p><b>* Harry Belafonte Obituary: A US Icon Of Music, Film And Civil Rights (2024-04-25)</b><br />
  512. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-11811290">https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-11811290</a><br />
  513. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65390525">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65390525</a></p>
  514. <p><b>* Singer-Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot Dies Aged 84 (2023-05-02)</b><br />
  515. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65455240">https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65455240</a></p>
  516. <p><b>* Tina Turner: Music Legend Dies At 83 (2023-05-24)</b><br />
  517. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/65669653">https://www.bbc.com/news/65669653</a></p>
  518. <p><b>* Tony Bennett: Legendary New York Crooner Dies Aged 96 (2023-07-21)</b><br />
  519. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66271090">https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66271090</a></p>
  520. <p><b>* Robbie Robertson, Leader Of The Band &#8220;The Band,&#8221; Dies Aged 80 (2023-08-09)</b><br />
  521. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66457469">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66457469</a></p>
  522. <p><b>* Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville Singer Dies Aged 76 (2023-09-02)</b><br />
  523. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66694147">https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66694147</a></p>
  524. <p>And this (along with skinny jeans) is one of the dumbest trends: the return to vinyl, a far inferior music storage medium.  Why would you want to play a vinyl record that deteriorates every time you play it?  CD audio (and 5x MP3 compression) remain far superior.</p>
  525. <p><b>* Vinyl Records Outsell CDs For First Time In Decades (2023-03-13)</b><br />
  526. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/64919126">https://www.bbc.com/news/64919126</a></p>
  527. <p>Related:</p>
  528. <p><b>* MP3 vs. CD: The Beer Test (2008-12-07)</b><br />
  529. Unless you&#8217;re a dog, a whale, or a computer, you&#8217;re not going to be able to tell the difference between a good MP3 and CD audio.<br />
  530. <a href="https://www.giantpeople.com/1236.html">https://www.giantpeople.com/1236.html</a></p>
  531. <h3>Other Stuff</h3>
  532. <p><b>* The So-Called &#8220;Culture Wars&#8221; (2023-03-16)</b><br />
  533. &#8220;Political cartoonist Jen Sorensen recently published this cartoon at The Nib about the harmful mischaracterization of human rights battles as mere &#8216;culture wars.'&#8221;<br />
  534. <a href="https://kottke.org/23/03/the-so-called-culture-wars">https://kottke.org/23/03/the-so-called-culture-wars</a></p>
  535. <p><b>* Big, Small, Loud, And Quiet Are Relative Terms &#8211; The Thing They&#8217;re Relative To Is A Sewing Machine (2023-03-24)</b><br />
  536. <a href="https://xkcd.com/2754/">https://xkcd.com/2754/</a></p>
  537. <p><b>* The New Rubik&#8217;s Cube World Record Is Just 3.13 Seconds (2023-06-16)</b><br />
  538. <a href="https://kottke.org/23/06/the-new-rubiks-cube-world-record-is-just-313-seconds">https://kottke.org/23/06/the-new-rubiks-cube-world-record-is-just-313-seconds</a></p>
  539. <p><b>* 52 Interesting Things I Learned In 2023 (2023-12-26)</b><br />
  540. <a href="https://kottke.org/23/12/52-interesting-things-i-learned-2023">https://kottke.org/23/12/52-interesting-things-i-learned-2023</a></p>
  541. <h3>END (OF STUFF)</b><br /></h3>
  542. <p><!-- begin sig --></p>
  543. <hr />
  544. <p><i><small>Since 2001, <a href="http://www.lawlawlaw.com/">LawLawLaw</a><small><sup>TM</sup></small> has documented trends in technology, law (mostly patents and trademarks), baseball (mostly Red Sox), and music (mostly rock).  <a href="http://eepurl.com/gBKCWD">Click here to subscribe to <b>LawLawLaw</b></a>.<small></i></p>
  545. <p><!-- end sig --></p>
  546. <p><!-- end article --></p>
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