Lego asks police department to stop using toy heads on suspect photos

Lego asks police department to stop using toy heads on suspect photos

A California police department said it would no longer use Lego heads to obscure suspects’ faces in social media posts, after the Lego Group requested the department cease the practice, citing intellectual property concerns. “The Lego Group reached out to me on March 19th and respectfully asked us to refrain from using their intellectual property … Read more

The New York Times is fighting off Wordle look-alikes with copyright takedown notices

The New York Times is fighting off Wordle look-alikes with copyright takedown notices

NEW YORK — The New York Times is fighting off Wordle “clones” — arguing that numerous games inspired by the mega-popular word-guessing game infringe on its copyright protections. Hundreds of copycats have emerged since Wordle skyrocketed to internet fame less than three years ago. And now the Times, which purchased the game in 2022, is … Read more

As investors pile into psychedelics, idealism gives way to pharma economics

As investors pile into psychedelics, idealism gives way to pharma economics

Money is pouring into the fledgling psychedelic medicine industry, with dozens of startup companies vying to be among the first to sell mind-expanding drugs for depression, addiction and other mental health conditions. While psychedelics are still illegal under federal law, companies are jostling to try and patent key ingredients found in magic mushrooms, ayahuasca and … Read more

George Carlin estate sues over fake comedy special purportedly generated by AI

George Carlin estate sues over fake comedy special purportedly generated by AI

LOS ANGELES — The estate of George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against the media company behind a fake hourlong comedy special that purportedly uses artificial intelligence to recreate the late standup comic’s style and material. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles on Thursday asks that a judge order the podcast outlet, … Read more

Apple to disable blood-oxygen feature on premium watches sold in US as part of patent dispute

Apple to disable blood-oxygen feature on premium watches sold in US as part of patent dispute

Apple says it will disable a blood-oxygen monitoring feature on its two most popular watches in the U.S. beginning Thursday to comply with a court-ordered revival of a sales ban stemming from a patent dispute. The decision to turn off the blood-oxygen sensor for consumers who buy either the Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra … Read more

Apple plans to remove sensor from some watch models depending on how a court rules in patent dispute

Apple plans to remove sensor from some watch models depending on how a court rules in patent dispute

Apple is prepared to remove the blood-oxygen sensor from its internet-connected watches if a court doesn’t give it more leeway while it pursues a bid to overturn a ruling that has blocked its use of the technology. A potential redesign of two Apple Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2, that would exclude the … Read more

Apple makes surprise decision to pause some Watch sales before Christmas

Apple makes surprise decision to pause some Watch sales before Christmas

Apple will pause U.S. sales of two of the latest versions of its Apple Watches due to an intellectual property dispute over their Blood Oxygen feature, the company said. The decision stems from two orders issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission on Oct. 26, which would restrict Apple’s ability to sell products that use … Read more