xutopia - Slashdot User

Three University of Wisconsin Stem Cell Patents Rejected 92

Posted by Zonk on Thursday April 05, 2007 @11:51AM from the i'm-so-torn dept.

eldavojohn writes "A non-profit alumni group from the University of Wisconsin (WARF) has suffered a preliminary ruling against three of their recent patents regarding stem cells. Given that these patents have been upheld in prior rulings, there is a lot of speculation that they will be upheld in a future court case. From the PhysOrg article: 'The patents, which cover virtually all stem cell research in the country, have brought in at least $3.2 million and could net much more money before they expire in 2015, the newspaper said. Companies wanting to study the cells must buy licenses costing $75,000 to $400,000. The newspaper said WARF recently started waiving the fees if the research is conducted at universities or by non-profit groups.' Should universities (or groups within universities) be allowed to hold patents and intellectual property while at the same time gaining donations and grants as an educational institution — or for that matter government funds?"

EU Rejects Microsoft Royalty Proposal 274

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday April 05, 2007 @01:36AM from the no-money-for-you dept.

pallmall1 writes "According to MSNBC, The Financial Times has reported that the EU is going to drastically reduce or even eliminate Microsoft's proposed royalties on interoperability information required to be released by the EU's antitrust ruling issued three years ago. According to a confidential EU document, "Microsoft will be forced to hand over to rivals what the group claims is sensitive and valuable technical information about its Windows operating system for next to no compensation...". Even Neil Barrett, the expert picked by both Microsoft and the EU to oversee Microsoft's compliance with the 2004 ruling, says a zero percent royalty would be 'better.'"

Submission + - French reactions to Steve Jobs' thoughts on music

Submitted by

njondet

on Saturday February 24, 2007 @06:06PM

njondet writes: "Jobs' U-turn on DRMs has been received in France with a mix of disbelief from independent labels, defiance from the majors (whose largest member is French-owned Universal Music), and a hint of self-congratulation from the Culture Minister (picture, right) who argues that the new law will guarantee interoperability whether DRMs are dropped or not. http://french-law.net/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=21&Itemid=1"

Submission + - Sarkozy wins piracy case

Submitted by

njondet

on Saturday February 24, 2007 @05:59PM

njondet writes: "Nicolas Sarkozy, the French Interior Minister and presidential candidate for the centre-right UMP party, has won a privacy case against a Swiss newspaper which had published information about his marital difficulties. The tribunal held that, though the announcement of his couple's separation did not breach his private life, the publication of details and allegations surrounding the separation did. http://french-law.net/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=16&Itemid=1"

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