fun with trademarks, patents and cartoons

- both google and apple make efforts to avoid brand dilution. i think google has more of a case here, although the 'pod' dropping done at apple's expense attempt to capitalize on the iPod brand.

- amazon continues its ridiculous patent trawling

The patent application is simply the latest in a long line of database mining techniques for online ordering filed by Amazon.com, and is no more intrusive than many other over-reaching patent applications. Amazon has patented, or attempted to patent, search histories, gift certificates, and customer reviews.

an overhaul to the patent system is long overdue

- china goes too far by banning foreign cartoons, like the simpsons, mickey mouse, even teletubbies during primetime in order to prop up domestic television production