Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Craig Fratrik

USPTO Director Kappos to Leave in January

SCOTUS to Hear Case on Patentability of Human Genes

Syria Cut Off from Internet for 38 Hours

District Court Rules Against Injunctions from RAND Standards Patents

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Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Pio Szamel

Court Finds Warrant Unnecessary for Tracking of Unauthorized WiFi User

Republican Study Committee Releases, then Retracts Report Calling for Copyright Reform

Texas Student Granted Temporary Restraining Order against School RFID Tracking Requirement

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By Michelle Sohn Posthumously Conceived Twins from Michigan Seek Deceased Father’s Social Security Benefits On Thursday, the Michigan Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether posthumously conceived twins are entitled to their father’s Social Security benefits, reports ABC News. The twins—aged 10—were conceived through in vitro fertilization, using sperm stored while their father, Jeffrey Mattison, underwent chemotherapy.  Months before Mr. Mattison’s death, the twins’ mother, Pamela Mattison, had been preparing for the in vitro treatment according to her attorneys. Mrs. ... Read More...

Presidential Commission Calls for Privacy Protections in Genome Sequencing; Supreme Court Grants Certiorari in Seed Patent Case; Federal Circuit Ends Injunction Against Samsung Galaxy Nexus; Patentability of Software to be Reconsidered En Banc by Federal Circuit

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By Michael Hoven Facebook’s “Sponsored Stories” Settlement Rejected by Court District Judge Richard Seeborg of the Northern District of California rejected a $20 million settlement of a class-action suit against Facebook over its “Sponsored Stories” feature, reports Wired. In his order, Judge Seeborg questioned the fairness of the proposed settlement, under which Facebook would pay $10 million in attorney’s fees and $10 million to charity, to class members, especially given the size of the award to plaintiffs’ attorneys and the ... Read More...