21643852
submission
jcern writes:
For years, big banks have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to a tiny Texas company to use a patented system for processing digital copies of checks. After years of fighting at the federal Patent Office, in court and across a negotiating table, the banks went to see, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, who inserted into a patent overhaul bill a provision that appears largely aimed at helping banks rid themselves of this problem. The Senate passed the bill easily in March.
1736943
submission
jcern writes:
For years, like legions of other professionals, Mr. Obama has been all but addicted to his BlackBerry. The device has rarely been far from his side — on most days, it was fastened to his belt — to provide a singular conduit to the outside world as the bubble around him grew tighter and tighter throughout his campaign.
But before he arrives at the White House, he will probably be forced to sign off. In addition to concerns about e-mail security, he faces the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas. A decision has not been made on whether he could become the first e-mailing president, but aides said that seemed doubtful.
