Halliburton tries to patent patent trolling itself

In 2007, Haliburton filed for patent protection – claiming a method of "patent acquisition and assertion by a (non-inventor) first party against a second party." It looks like the company wants to be able to sue non-inventing entities who try to patent and assert technology against a company who has been using the technology as a trade secret. Bilski wipes cleanly out the claims – except for those claiming the step of "performing research using a computer." The inventor Clive D. Menezes is a Halliburton patent attorney. The prosecuting attorney is Howard Speight.

Halliburton — Dick Cheney's old company — has branched out from defrauding the US military and has opened a new front: attacking American inventors by subverting the patent system. The company has filed for a patent on "patent acquisition and assertion by a (non-inventor) first party against a second party." In other words, they're seeking the exclusive right to use the patent system to create lawsuits instead of useful inventions.

New whistleblower complaint alleges that ICE is forcing hysterectomies on detainees Dawn Wooten is a nurse at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, a private prison owned by LaSalle Corrections that contracts with ICE. Wooten has filed a whistleblower complaint through the legal advocacy group Project South, alleging a variety of medical abuses, neglectful mismanagement, and other horrors. According to the complaint, LaSalle Corrections has […] READ THE REST

Electric vehicle company Nikola admits demo truck was just rolling downhill In 2016, Nikola demonstrated a full-size electric truck flying along a desert highway. The company now admits the demo, embedded below, was faked. The truck was simply rolling downhill. The trick ius not subtle: it appears they towed the vehicle to a subtle slope, hid the gradient with slightly curvilinear lenses and camera angles, and […] READ THE REST

Just look at Oscar the Grouch's face mask Oscar the Grouch knows what's up. In this Sesame Street PSA, he tells kids to wear a mask when out in public because it's the healthy thing to do. And because he doesn't want to have to see your happy smiling face! Fair enough. screengrab via Sesame Street/YouTube READ THE REST

This ultra-thin, ultra-powerful wireless charging pad can fast charge two devices at once. Now that Qi compatibility is quickly becoming the technology norm, wireless charging pads are becoming not only more powerful, but they're getting slimmer and less obtrusive than ever. Nowhere is that less is more aesthetic more on display than with an item like the Chargeworx Slim and Foldable Dual Wireless Charging Pad. With this inch-high powerhouse, […] READ THE REST

It only weighs a pound, but this mini massage gun can be a huge pain reliever after your hard workouts. After a tough workout, it's easy to let your mind drift to how simple your recovery would be if you had a full-time coach and trainer like a professional athlete. You could just lay there while a schooled pro massaged your aching muscles, broke up tightness and generally helped put your body back together. While […] READ THE REST