(06-20-2023, 12:52 AM)Gointocarlton date Wrote:Even if its not, it scary to think that it could easily be so. All it takes for a couple of people to collude and bingo, gonski.

Quote:THE FRUIT UNION Suisse is 111 years old. For most of its history, it has had as its symbol a red apple with a white cross—the Swiss national flag superimposed on one of its most common fruits. But the group, the oldest and largest fruit farmer’s organization in Switzerland, worries it might have to change its logo, because Apple, the tech giant, is trying to gain intellectual property rights over depictions of apples, the fruit.

“We have a hard time understanding this, because it’s not like they’re trying to protect their bitten apple,” Fruit Union Suisse director Jimmy Mariéthoz says, referring to the company’s iconic logo. “Their objective here is really to own the rights to an actual apple, which, for us, is something that is really almost universal … that should be free for everyone to use.”

While the case has left Swiss fruit growers puzzled, it’s part of a global trend. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s records, Apple has made similar requests to dozens of IP authorities around the world, with varying degrees of success. Authorities in Japan, Turkey, Israel, and Armenia have acquiesced. Apple’s quest to own the IP rights of something as generic as a fruit speaks to the dynamics of a flourishing global IP rights industry, which encourages companies to compete obsessively over trademarks they don’t really need.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

(06-19-2023, 09:01 PM)Gointocarlton link Wrote:So if got this right, Thorpe comes and accuses this guy of sexual assault then asked to retract it. Then another lady comes and says "Oh yeah, I forgot, he touched me up also" followed by another that says "Yeah me too". Dutton decides you need to resign. No investigation, no referring the matter to police, nothing. As my dad used to say, "Good Country this one".

(06-20-2023, 02:59 AM)LP link Wrote:I'm afraid that all I can take out of this is that collectively they are targeting a creep.

But despite that it doesn't mean I believe everything the accusers say, other than they have stated what they needed to state to put the creep under the spotlight, perhaps he is a creep but two wrongs do not make a right!

Some / many of the politicians involved in this are legal professionals, what does this tell us about the legal system?

(06-20-2023, 12:55 AM)LP link Wrote:That is politics though.

Society has brought this on itself, we've let a scenario develop in which the loudest lunatic becomes the spokesperson and we never let the facts get in the way!

Making things even worse Trump has set the ground rules, and while he got away with it courtesy of deep pockets and lawyers, now it seems any nutbag can follow his lead and become a the town crier.

(06-20-2023, 02:46 AM)DJC link Wrote:Thorpe had to retract because naming Van was prevented by Senate standing orders.  She then repeated her account in the Senate without naming Van.  Thorpe complained about Van's conduct at the time of the incidents and he was moved to an office further away from Thorpe's.

The two Liberal Senators also reported Van's inapproriate behaviour at the time so their complaints are on record, as is Thorpe's.  However, no action was taken apart from Van being told to stop groping his colleagues.  And that's the problem; rather than taking the complaints seriously, Van is told to watch himself, is moved to a different office and nothing is done about his inappropriate behaviour.  Lidia knocks the scab off and Dutton is made aware of the three incidents, perhaps more, and decides that Van has to go.

Former Senator Stoker provides a solid justification of her decision re-visit Van's inappropriate behaviour towards her: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/why-i-said-metoo-about-david-van-20230618-p5dhh8

(06-20-2023, 02:06 AM)LP link Wrote:If you really want to know how fecked up society has become, and by society I mean politics and big business, have a read  of this;
I assert society is sick because we are either indifferent, accept or ignore this behaviour, and perhaps we even think it's a laugh, April Fools maybe. I suppose until we get a bill or blacklisted for sending someone a banana emoji we won't take it seriously! They are just gammon!

As an aside, I read the other day that a European Gay Rights group is trying to trademark rainbows.

What will we do if Google patents breathing? :o

(06-20-2023, 08:19 AM)Lods link Wrote:Do the idiotic climate activists who block traffic realise that they do more harm to their cause than benefit?
Very few who are stuck in those gridlocks are thinking "good on them. I'll think more about climate issues in future".
They are actually putting people at risk.
Folks with health issues, pregnancy, job interviews, all sorts of different scenarios that could be life changing.
The cause is valid, the method of protest is not.
Fines are useless...six months in gaol may have them thinking of a different and more appropriate methods of promoting their views.