A California judge hearing a copyright suit against Warner/Chappell music recently ruled that the “Happy Birthday” song is in the public domain. The judge held that Warner could enforce its copyright only in certain arrangements of the song.
Use Caution when Issuing Take Down Notices: “Copyright Law Does Not Authorize Thoughtless Censorship of Lawful Speech”
A Pennsylvania woman recently faced a copyright infringement suit when she posted a video of her child dancing to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” in 2007. Universal Music Corp. contacted YouTube after learning of the video and had the posting taken down for a period of several weeks. The video was later restored after the mother argued that there were no legitimate grounds for removal. She then filed suit against Universal claiming damages for the wrongful denial of access for her publication.
A federal judge in San Jose found for the Plaintiff and the Ninth Circuit upheld the opinion, finding that a copyright holder must consider whether the copyright use is “fair” prior issuing a take down notice.
3D Printers to Begin Printing in Graphene
In 2010, two scientists received the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of a new material. Six years earlier they used adhesive to lift a layer of carbon from a block of graphite and then placed it layer on a silicon wafer, creating “graphene.” Graphene is essentially a two dimensional layer of carbon having amazing physical properties. It is 200 times stronger than steel and carries 1000 times the electrical current of copper having the same density, yet it is transparent and flexible.
In 2014, the Chinese built the world’s largest 3D printer in the hopes of constructing buildings out of a graphene and fiberglass matrix of sorts. Others are expected to follow suit, revolutioning the world of 3D printing.
NASA Developing First Warp Drive
NASA has been wrestling with the time constraints of space travel for years but recently a physicist by the name of Miguel Alcubierre came up a concept that may make deep space travel a reality. Alcubierre’s theory involves a “space bubble” that can travel faster than the speed of light while the ship inside remains stationary. This bubble contracts space and time in front of the ship and expands it behind it. The energy required to create this bubble would be enormous; however, Sonny White of NASA’s Johnson Space Center believes that these energy requirements would be greatly reduced if the ring is formed in the shape of a donut. Prototype warp engines are now being built and recent testing suggests that the warp speed travel might actually be feasible.
Newly Patented Devices Use Heat and Ionized Air to Protect Against Shock Waves
A newly patented devices suggest the use of heat and ionized air to protect troops against the shock waves generated by explosions. The patent suggests placement of arc generators on the exterior of vehicles along with a sensor to detect an inbound sock wave. The generators would create a large arc of electricity to heat and ionize the air, deflecting the shock wave.
Group Injects Human Eyes with Substance to Enhance Night Vision
A group of scientists recently injected the eyeballs human test subject with a substance found in deep sea fish. This injection of Ce 6, a chlorophyll-like chemical, allowed the subject to clearly discern the location of people in the woods 50 meters away.
Impact Glass Found in Mars Crater
Impact glass found in a crater on the surface of Mars by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbitor could provide support for past life on the planet.
Images of Pluto Released
Court Recognizes Orangutan’s Right to Life, Liberty and Freedom
A zoo in Buenos Aires was recently ordered to free a 29 year old female orangutan after an Argentine court recognized the animals right to life, liberty and freedom. This is the first time that a court has recognized such rights in a non-human animal. CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE.
Canadian Company Creates Invisibility Cloak
A Canadian business called the Hyperstealth Technology Company has recently revealed their “quantum stealth” technology. Camouflage with this detail is extraordinary and the company has elected to hold this invention as a trade secret rather than patent it. It is not surprising that such a revolutionary invention would be held as a trade secret; a patent would allow the company to capitalize on its work only for a designated period of time while a trade secret can be held indefinitely.
