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<title>Haaze.com / bcelixo / Published News</title>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple tries to intervene in Lodsys lawsuit]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-tries-to-intervene-in-lodsys-lawsuit</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-tries-to-intervene-in-lodsys-lawsuit</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>bcelixo</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-tries-to-intervene-in-lodsys-lawsuit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Apple is seeking to put its legal weight behind developers targeted by Lodsys, a company that's taken aim at app makers on both Apple's iOS and Google'sAndroid for infringing on patents it owns.TheiPhone maker yesterday filed a motion with the Eastern District of Texas to intervene as the defendant in a lawsuit from Lodsys that targets seven developers. Apple also used the filing to provide a counterclaim that both it and its developers have the license rights to use the technology. That filing was dug up by FOSS Patents.&quot;Apple has an interest in property that is at the center of this dispute, namely, its license to the patents in suit and its business with the developers, which depends on their use of products and services that Apple is expressly licensed under the patents in suit to offer them,&quot; the filing reads. &quot;Both Lodsys's complaint and its threats to other Apple developers adversely affect the value of Apple's license and its business with the developers.&quot;Apple later notes that it wants to step in since Lodsys has gone after smaller targets that could make an impact on its own legal standing:Apple's rights will not be adequately protected by the current defendants in this case, because Lodsys has chosen to assert these claims against developers who are individuals or small entities with far fewer resources than Apple and who lack the technical information, ability, and incentive to adequately protect Apple's rights under its license agreement.Lodsys triggered a controversy last month when it began going after developers--instead of Apple--for a licensing fee on apps that made use of the in-app purchase (IAP) feature, threatening legal action against those who did not comply. After a period of silence, Apple responded, telling Lodsys that its licensing of those patents covered its developers too. Lodsys later rebuked Apple's argument and has continued to go after developers. That includes the lawsuit against the seven developer operations that Apple now wants to step in to aid.Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The big question now is what Google decides to do to protect its developers. Lodsys began targeting Android developers with in-app billing features near the end of May, giving them a similar timetable of 21 days to respond before facing litigation. Below is a full copy of the filing, courtesy of FOSS Patents.0. Apple Motion to Intervene Against Lodsys(function() { var scribd = document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;)' scribd.type = &quot;text/javascript&quot;' scribd.async = true' scribd.src = &quot;http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js&quot;' var s = document.getElementsByTagName(&quot;script&quot;)[0]' s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s)' })()'<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[New car labels offer QR codes but no grades]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=new-car-labels-offer-qr-codes-but-no-grades</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=new-car-labels-offer-qr-codes-but-no-grades</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 07:10:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>bcelixo</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=new-car-labels-offer-qr-codes-but-no-grades</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:FuelEconomy.gov)Consumers should have an easier time comparing the fuel economy ofcars and light trucks once new consumer labels unveiled today go into effect.U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson unveiled the new set of labels this morning at a live press conference hosted on the Web.Prior to this, car labels hadn't been updated for 30 years.Each new label differs slightly depending on the car's drive train or fuel source. (Click for a PDF of all labels.) Labels in the set include those for gas, flex-fuel gas-ethanol blends, compressed natural gas, diesel, hydrogen fuel cell, electric, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids.All labels supply the usual combined city/highway mileage average as well city and highway mileage separately. But now the label also includes the number of gallons burned per 100 miles. It gives an estimated annual fuel cost for the car, and indicates how that compares to the cost of fueling an average car in that class. It tells you the average miles per gallon range for cars in that class, as well as the best MPG achieved by a car in that class.For alternative-fuel vehicles, an MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating is used for comparison to traditional vehicles. Labels for electric vehicles also include how many miles it can get on a single charge, as well as how long it takes to charge the car's battery.Perhaps the coolest feature of the new labels is that they include QR codes. With their smartphone, consumers can scan the code on the label that works with FuelEconomy.gov and use it to compare other cars. The app used in conjunction with the QR code gives consumers access to more information on the car in front of them, and allows them to see how the car would operate based on their own personal driving habits and local information they enter in the app. (Click to see a how-to video.)But not everyone is happy about the new label.One of the original prototypes included a letter grade system of A+ to D  for a car's fuel economy and environmental impact. The system would have given small cars with good gas mileage A's and B's, while SUVs and pick-up trucks would have likely gotten C's and D's. The letter grade system was publicly backed by several consumer and citizen advocate organizations, among them the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and Union of Concerned Scientists. The official label unveiled today doesn't include that letter grade system.Instead it includes a rating for &quot;Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Rating&quot; on a scale of 1 to 10, as well as a &quot;Smog Rating (tailpipe only)&quot; on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best in both instances.It's been rumored that dealers and automakers were lobbying against the government putting a letter grade on cars, which is why both LaHood and Jackson were questioned on the letter grade being dropped by several reporters throughout the press conference&quot;Yeah, I know. You heard the dealers as well as manufacturers said they preferred not to have the letter grade. But, it really was about the consumer. It you're doing a label it's not for the manufacturer or dealers. What we found is that half the people didn't think a letter grade gave them enough information, and there was some confusion that the letter grade meant for the quality of the whole car,&quot; said Jackson.&quot;So we used the 10-point scale, as on other appliances and electronics products. And that's why fueleconomy.gov is going to be so important. Take that info of the vehicle you're looking at and plug in where you live, and your price at the pump right now. You can even get a sense of what the electricity emissions are for your area for an electric car,&quot; she said.The label has the endorsement of Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports. The group had originally expressed concern that the earlier version of the labels did not containing enough specific and distinguishable information for comparing mid-range cars.&quot;This is a lot better than the original labels that you had. That is the result of the fact that you listened and took input from those with consumer interest. This is right down our alley. You're provided easy, useful info for when it comes to fuel economy. We from Consumer Union and Consumer Reports applaud what you've done, and this will be very good for consumers,&quot; said Consumers Union President and CEO Jim Guest.The new labels will be legally required to be displayed on all 2013 model cars and light trucks. But consumers could see them sooner if automakers decide to voluntarily adopt them for their 2012 models, according to Jackson.LaHood said both agencies also plan to unveil a similar label for heavy-duty trucks in July.(Credit:FuelEconomy.gov)Correction 12:50 p.m. PT: An earlier version of this story misstated the day the announcement was made. It was today.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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