Month: April 2014

This month I turn 51. A year ago I wasn't sure I'd have another birthday. Thinking about the significance of the day, I've been reflecting on a few memorable birthdays.

By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared unsure how to proceed in a dispute over whether Limelight Networks Inc infringed upon patented technology for managing Web images and video held by Akamai Technologies Inc. The nine justices are weighing whether a company can be held liable for inducing patent infringement when the final step that leads to infringement is carried out by a third party. The justices are reviewing an August 2012 ruling by a divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Akamai's favor, which effectively made it easier to prove that a company is liable based on the induced infringement theory. But as several justices noted on Wednesday, the appeals court did not decide the question of whether direct infringement had occurred before ruling that there was induced infringement. Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Elena Kagan both raised concerns that a Supreme Court ruling on the induced infringement question would be rendered largely meaningless unless the direct infringement issue was resolved.

More than half of Americans breathe in unhealthy air, according to a new American Lung Association’s “State of the Air 2014” report.

By Krista Hughes WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States named China and India on a watch list for countries that aren’t doing enough to fight intellectual-property crimes, warning of trade-secret theft in China and the proliferation of generic drugs and counterfeiting in India. But the U.S. Trade Representative resisted lobbying by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and pharmaceutical industry to censure India with the ‘worst offender’ tag in its annual scorecard on how well countries protect U.S. patents, copyrights and other intellectual property (IP) rights. But the United States instead kept India on its Priority Watch List and urged the country, which is in the midst of elections, to take steps to address concerns and participate in a process of “constructive bilateral engagement.” “The United States will redouble its efforts to seek opportunities for meaningful, sustained, and effective engagement on IP-related matters with the new government,” the report said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama announced pledges from foundations and corporations totaling more than $160 million Wednesday to help veterans and their families get the services they need as the country adjusts to a postwar footing.