"Hoverboard" Patent Litigation

"Hoverboards" as they have become known, have become popular this past year.  As explained in this Wall Street Journal article, the history and intellectual property behind the device is a bit murky.  When it comes to this device, the patent systems in China and the United States interact in interesting ways that are certain to lead to litigation.  It is unclear whether the market for this device will be sustainable due to quality control safety issues and increasing regulation of the device.  Like most consumer electronics it probably has a short shelf life before something new surpasses it in either technology or culturally.  Only time will tell if the impending patent war over this device is worth it.

See also:
http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/patent-system-is-not-the-fire-that-61839/
http://fee.org/anythingpeaceful/the-hoverboards-patent-problem/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/williamalden/bed-bath-and-hoverboards#.kvxlpWweo
http://tech.co/hoverboard-lawsuits-copyright-infringment-2015-12
http://mic.com/articles/131397/the-knockoff-hoverboard-industry-is-exploding-faster-than-its-products
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/12/03/razor-suing-swagway-hoverboard/76744478/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/12/16/the-real-reason-hoverboards-are-bursting-into-flames.html#


The Law Office of Kurt T. Koehler, 308 1/2 S. State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan (MI) 48198 (Washtenaw County); Copyright 2012 by Kurt Koehler

The Second Amendment and Californa's Mandatory Microstamping Law

In 2007 California enacted a law banning the sale of handguns that lack the ability to imprint the weapon's make, model, and serial number on the cartridge when the bullet is fired.  The purpose of the law is fairly obvious.  Imprinting information that identifies the weapon on the cartridge would aid in investigating shootings.  The law took effect in 2013.

In Pena v. Cid, 09-cv-01185, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Judge Kimberly Mueller ruled that this requirement did not implicate the Second Amendment right to bear arms.  She ruled that the Second Amendment does not guarantee a right of access to a particular type of handgun.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-27/california-gun-microstamping-law-is-upheld-by-federal-judge

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_27616476/federal-court-rejects-challenge-california-gun-safety-law

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/california-652651-law-microstamping.html

The Law Office of Kurt T. Koehler, 308 1/2 S. State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan (MI) 48198 (Washtenaw County);

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, 2015!

Below are some links about the New Year.  Among other things, New York has banned taking selfie photos with tigers, lions, and other big cats.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jan/01/new-laws-2015-california-legislature/

http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-30648232

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/31/photos-new-years-world_n_6402768.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/01/new-laws-january-first/21055077/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/labor-marijuana-and-pets-to-get-new-laws-in-2015-1420048800

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2892166/New-laws-OK-wine-shipments-ban-tiger-selfies.html

The Law Office of Kurt T. Koehler, 308 1/2 S. State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan (MI) 48198 (Washtenaw County); Copyright 2012 by Kurt Koehler