ACB On IP

 Now that she has been confirmed and sworn in, Associate United States Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett will immediately become one of the most influential voices on intellectual property law in the world.  Global law firm Baker Botts has published a nice summary of Associate Justice Barrett's prior judicial decisions, which run the gamut, from trade secrecy and trademark, to copyright and patent law.

Diplomatic Immunity

 As SARS-CoV-2 continues to burn an infectious swath around the world, millions have hung their hopes on the timely arrival of an effective vaccine.  China has raced ahead, and is now offering to supply vaccines to countries in the developing world.  The United States, by contrast, seems to be focusing largely on its own interests.  It would be no surprise if this burnishes China image while the humanitarian reputation of the United States, at best, stagnates.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A good friend reminded me of this Canadian classic.  Happy Thanksgiving!

The Murder Doctrine

 Oral arguments in the copyright case, Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc., took place before the United States Supreme Court on October 7, 2020.  Hear them here:

Among the highlights is an introduction to the newest development in copyright law:  the "Murder Doctrine".

Nobel For Gene Editing

 Congratulations to Professors Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier for sharing the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discoveries about gene editing.

La Nouvelle-Calédonie Reste Française

 In the second of three possible referenda agreed to in the 1998 Nouméa Accord, a majority of New Caledonians rejected independence from France on October 4, 2020.

Carpe Diem, Theater[24]!

 Here is University of Chicago's Radio[24] performing its autumn quarter 2020 trio of plays.  Everything, from the script to the music to the art to the acting, was begun and completed within 24 hours.

 You carried the day, Radio[24].  Bravo!

The West Is The Best

I came across a recording I had never seen before of The Doors singing The Crystal Ship and Light My Fire on American Bandstand (recorded July 7, 1967).

 A fascinating artifact is Jim Morrison's contract for this performance.  Watching The Doors on stage took me back to my last visit to Cimetière du Père-Lachaise.