Millions of American workers believe they are bound by contracts they are not actually bound by, according to University of Maryland Smith Business School’s Evan Starr, and this means less earnings for workers. Starr spoke at length on the subject at the recent Aspen Institute summit and to us on Twitter. While non-competes are required … Read more
“[A]n individual maintains a legitimate expectation of privacy in the record of his physical movements” – Chief Justice John Roberts This week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for a change in the law regulating the ability of police to search citizens’ phone records. Since a 1979 ruling, which decided that citizens had no expectation of … Read more
A Walgreens in New Mexico is being criticized after one of its pharmacists refused to fill a prescription for birth control (Misoprostol), according to the frustrated mother. The ACLU is now in on the action. They’re filing a complaint against Walgreens: “A mother and her daughter who were discriminated against when they attempted to pick … Read more
According to Igor Drozdov, the board chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation, who spoke at Russia’s SPIEF economic forum this year, new technologies will allow more people “to earn real money using intellectual property institutions.” He also talked about tech that would be developed in order to protect IP, describing projects similar to what Microsoft is … Read more
Big Data is the “new oil” of the digital economy, according to speakers at Russia’s 2017 SPIEF economic forum. In order to prevent uncontrolled sales of this valuable and important info, the government should streamline and oversee it, according to the participants. The chips haven’t yet settled in the global understanding of how we should … Read more
The Supreme court in a 7-1 decision found that consumers can do what they want with the printers they buy, despite Lexmark forcing buyers to “sign” a “post-sale restriction” contract that the buyer won’t tamper with their patented product after they buy it. The case is “Impression v Lexmark.” Lexmark makes two similar types of … Read more
A study has now shown that residents of the Mid-Ohio River Valley had higher than normal levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), based on blood samples collected over a 22-year span (1991-2013). The exposure source was likely drinking water contaminated by industrial discharges upriver. The researchers identified three known industrial sources who discharge PFOA into the … Read more
In an attempt to increase citizens’ access to justice and make small claims faster, cheaper and easier, the province has launched its online Civil Resolution Tribunal. The new online tribunal is the first in Canada where these types of disputes (contracts, debts, personal injury, personal property and consumer issues for values under $5000) can be … Read more
Two school boards in Sault St. Marie are citing the Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines, which classifies high jump as a “higher risk activity,” as the reason they are cutting the sport out of elementary schools immediately. Other sports so far included in the “higher risk activity” category: wrestling, alpine skiing, and snowboarding. According to … Read more
The man was jailed after his ex-spouse charged him with choking and trying to rape her. The story she and her attorney told the judges in the original 2015 trial was that her ex broke into her apartment, threw her on her bed, choked her, threatened to kill her, and attempted to rape her multiple … Read more
In a city in Alabama called Gardendale, youths who go out to mow lawns this year have been threatened by officials and landscaping companies that they have to get a business licence before starting, which brings in $110 for the city for each licence. Adults who also cut lawns over the summer have made complaints … Read more
The original post on Facebook was about whether animal rights groups should be allowed to take part in vegan street festivals, and it became discussed heatedly. Several people were fined by the courts for making comments it deemed defamatory, and one man was fined for “liking” some comments which accused an animal rights activist of … Read more