Techrights
Links 11/12/2025: Escalations Around Japan, Software Patents Found Invalid
Posted by Roy Schestowitz on Dec 11, 2025
GNOME bluefish
Contents
- LeftoversProprietaryArtificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism Defence/AggressionEnvironmentEnergy/WeatherWildlife/Nature Civil Rights/PolicingFSF / Software Freedom Monopolies/MonopsoniesPatentsKangaroo CourtsSoftware Patents Trademarks
* ### Leftovers
Proprietary
Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism
Silicon Angle ☛ Not ready? McDonald’s AI-generated ad taken down after public backlash [Ed: Well, never ready, but this fraudulent "news" site is paid to prop up the pyramid scheme and spread lies]
McDonald’s has pulled a Christmas ad that was produced with artificial intelligence after the fast-food chain came under fire from much of the public. The 45-second film was released publicly on McDonald’s Netherlands YouTube channel on Dec. 6.
Defence/Aggression
Hate speech officer back in uniform, Motshekga confirms
An SA National Defence Force (SANDF) major, discharged in May 2018 for posting hate speech on social control media, was reinstated [...]
Atlantic Council ☛ Why exporting advanced chips to China endangers US Hey Hi (AI) leadership
Allowing Chinese companies to purchase high-end Hey Hi (AI) chips risks degrading the United States’s current edge in aggregate computing power.
France24 ☛ 'China potentially setting the stage to use military force' against Japan, analyst says
Japan has scrambled jets to monitor Russian and Chinese air forces conducting joint patrols around the country. China's rising military actions in the area follow Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's comment last month that Tokyo could respond to any Chinese military action against Taiwan that also threatened Japan's security. Bonny Lin, Senior Adviser at CSIS, says that recent developments suggest 'China is potentially setting the stage to use military force if it wanted to'.
The Straits Times ☛ Proposed Russia-China pipeline needs 'tremendous work,' CNPC researcher says
BEIJING, Dec 11 - A proposed pipeline to carry gas from Siberia in Russia to China requires "tremendous work, jobs and negotiations," a senior Chinese researcher said on Thursday.
The Straits Times ☛ US bombers join Japanese jets in show of force after China-Russia drills, Tokyo says
It was a show of force after Chinese and Russian military drills in the skies and seas around Japan.
Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
Atlantic Council ☛ Russian drones and blackouts test the resilience of Ukraine’s second city
With Putin’s army now advancing to the east and the Russian bombardment of civilian targets intensifying, Kharkiv residents are now facing what may become the most difficult winter of the entire war, writes Maria Avdeeva.
CS Monitor ☛ In a region coveted by Putin, how one targeted city carries on
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has vowed to take all of the mostly occupied Donetsk region either through negotiation or militarily. Even as Ukraine resists ceding territory, how is the city of Sloviansk maintaining morale in the face of a forbidding future?
Security Week ☛ US Indicts Extradited Ukrainian on Charges of Aiding Russian Hacking Groups
Victoria Dubranova faces over 25 years in prison for links to Russia-backed CARR and NoName hacktivist groups.
France24 ☛ Ukraine sends revised peace plan to US as Convicted Felon blasts Europe
A fresh rift opened between Washington and Europe on Wednesday after Ukraine delivered a new US-requested peace blueprint, prompting President The Insurrectionist to lash out at Kyiv and its allies as they push back against elements of the American plan.
France24 ☛ Americans repeating Russian talking points 'very painful' for Ukrainians, MP says
Military aid for Ukraine plummeted in the second half of 2025 as falling European contributions failed to make up for the halt in US support, data from the Kiel Institute showed Wednesday. This as Ukraine is expected to give its latest peace proposals to U.S. negotiators. Speaking on FRANCE 24, Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko says that Ukrainians 'cannot surrender, cannot pretend that the aggressor suddenly became non-aggressor' as suggested by US President The Insurrectionist.
LRT ☛ Ukraine could join the EU in 2030, says commissioner for enlargement
Ukraine could become a member of the European Union by 2030, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview during her recent visit to Vilnius.
LRT ☛ NATO troops in Baltics say they are adapting to lessons from Ukraine
Canadian troops leading NATO’s multinational brigade in Latvia say they are adapting to the drone lessons from Ukraine, while rising regional tensions in Eastern Europe give their Baltic mission a greater sense of purpose.
The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim visits Russian embassy to honour late ambassador
Other senior leaders had also visited the embassy, reports said.
CS Monitor ☛ Europe wants Germany to arm up. But do Germans want to take up arms?
With Europe worried over the threat from Russia, Germany is feeling pressure to lead the way on European defense. Whether Germans themselves are ready to pick up arms is another matter.
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Japan, NATO share ‘grave concern’ over China, Russia flights, Tokyo says
NATO chief Mark Rutte and Japan’s defence minister shared their “grave concerns” about recent joint patrols by Chinese and Russian aircraft, Tokyo said. The incident on Tuesday came as Japan-China relations worsen after comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan that enraged Beijing.
Meduza ☛ Former U.S. Army Europe commander Ben Hodges on why a Russia-friendly peace plan would ‘guarantee’ an attack on NATO — Meduza
LRT ☛ Lithuanian carriers stage protest, say government failing to protect stranded trucks
About 60 trucks gathered Wednesday morning on Gedimino Avenue in Vilnius as the National Association of Road Carriers Linava staged a protest over hundreds of Lithuanian trucks detained in Belarus and the Lithuanian government’s failure to resolve the issue.
LRT ☛ Lithuania protests Belarus over ‘hybrid attacks’, seizure of EU property
Lithuania has lodged a formal protest with Belarus over what it calls continued “hybrid attacks” from Belarusian territory and the seizure of property belonging to European Union citizens and companies, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
LRT ☛ Sources: Tsikhanouskaya preparing to move office from Vilnius to Warsaw
Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and at least part of her team are preparing to relocate from Vilnius to Warsaw, several well-informed sources told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Belarus Service on condition of anonymity.
LRT ☛ Lithuanian PM: Government will not compensate carriers for losses from Belarus detentions
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Wednesday that the government is not considering compensating Lithuanian carriers whose trucks remain detained in Belarus, insisting that Minsk is responsible for the losses.
RFERL ☛ Ukraine Considers Legal Path To Elections Under Martial Law As US Pushes For Vote
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he held a "substantive discussion" with members of Ukraine's parliament on the possibility of holding an election, amid pressure from the United States to hold a vote despite wartime legal restrictions.
RFERL ☛ Austria Blocks Extradition To US Of Ukrainian Oligarch Dmytro Firtash
An Austrian court ruled that Dmytro Firtash, a Ukrainian oligarch who has been under house arrest in Vienna after being indicted on bribery charges in the United States more than a decade ago, cannot be extradited, ending a 7-year saga against the businessman.
New York Times ☛ The Challenges to Europe’s Security Go Beyond Convicted Felon’s Lack of Support
Europeans find themselves stranded between hostile powers, Russia and the United States, with key decisions looming over the future of Ukraine.
RFERL ☛ Brussels Adds New Names To Blacklist In Latest Russia Sanctions Package
European Union ambassadors on December 10 decided on further sanctions against Russia, with a new package adding several individuals and entities to its sprawling blacklist adopted in response to the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.
Latvia ☛ Investigation launched into deaths of Latvia-Russia border builders
All signs indicate that the death of two workers involved in the construction of the eastern border on 5th December can be considered an accident at work, as stated by the Latgale Regional State Labour Inspectorate, which has launched an investigation, Latvian Television reported on 9th December.
Security Week ☛ UK Sanctions Russian and Chinese Firms Suspected of Being ‘Malign Actors’ in Information Warfare
Britain and its allies face escalating “hybrid threats … designed to weaken critical national infrastructure, undermine our interests and interfere in our democracies.”
Scoop News Group ☛ US charges hacker tied to Russian groups that targeted water systems and meat plants
Victoria Dubranova faces charges tied to her alleged role in two groups backed by the Russian government.
Environment
Energy/Weather
New York Times ☛ Washington Faces Heavy Rain and Flooding From Atmospheric River
Tens of thousands of residents in Washington were poised to evacuate, as days of heavy rain sends rivers bursting over their banks.
Wildlife/Nature
Latvia ☛ Latvian scientists investigate how to keep bees comfortable in winter
Scientists at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry are studying how to protect bees during temperature fluctuations – researchers are installing materials in hives that reflect heat, helping bees maintain a cosy temperature during the chilly months.
Civil Rights/Policing
FSF / Software Freedom
Linuxiac ☛ FSF Announces 2024 Free Software Award Winners
Established to recognize work that advances users’ ability to use, study, modify, and share software, the awards highlight the technical, social, and community impact of contributors across the free software ecosystem.
Monopolies/Monopsonies
Patents
Kangaroo Courts
JUVE ☛ Top litigation firms at the UPC 2026 [Ed: UPC is illegal and this fake ladder is marketing spam from a seller of the illegal UPC]
Software Patents
Unified Patents ☛ Quick Vault encryption patent monopoly campaign - invalidity charts coming soon
The team at Unified IP Services is using Pearl to identify and chart prior art against U.S. Patent 12,363,134, owned by Quick Vault, Inc. (d/b/a CloudVault).
Unified Patents ☛ Morris Routing network patent monopoly found invalid
On December 9, 2025, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) entered a notice of intent to issue a reexamination certificate cancelling all challenged claims of U.S. Patent 12,058,042, owned and asserted by Morris Routing Technologies, LLC, an NPE. The ‘042 patent monopoly relates to path-based data routing in a network.
Trademarks
Digital Music News ☛ Federal Judge Tosses MF Doom Estate’s Temu Trademark Suit — Dismissal Motion Hearing Scheduled in Twenty One Pilots’ Similar Complaint
A federal judge has tossed the MF Doom estate’s Temu trademark infringement suit with leave to amend. Meanwhile, the ecommerce platform is looking to dismiss a similar complaint filed by Twenty One Pilots, with a related hearing now set for March.
Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Grounds for Reversal: Federal Circuit Finds KAHWA Registrable for Coffee Shops (even though the word means Coffee in Arabic)
The KAHWA decision explores limits of the foreign equivalents doctrine and evidentiary standards for genericness in trademark registration.
TTAB Blog ☛ CAFC Reverses TTAB: KAHWA not Generic for, or Descriptive of, Cafés and Coffee Shops - Substantial Evidence Lacking
In a precedential ruling, the CAFC reversed the TTAB's August 2023 decision [here] affirming a refusal to register the mark KAHWA for "Cafés; Coffee shops" on the ground of genericness, or alternatively, mere descriptiveness.