The copyright protection for Mickey Mouse has expired, allowing independent creators to capitalize on the iconic character. This has resulted in two horror films, "Mickey's Mouse Trap" and "The House of Mouse," and a video game, "Mickey's Mansion," all set to be released later this year. The new works will feature Mickey Mouse in a horror setting, and are a result of the quick remixing and recycling of intellectual property in the digital age.
Posts published in “Tech”
On Tuesday evening, SpaceX launched a powerful Falcon Heavy rocket carrying an unpiloted X-37B spaceplane for a classified mission, as well as a Falcon 9 rocket loaded with 23 Starlink internet satellites. The X-37B is a reusable mini space shuttle used to carry classified experiments, and the Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in operation. This launch marks another milestone for SpaceX in the space exploration industry.
Apple Inc. has won a temporary reprieve in its legal battle over the Apple Watch product, with an appeals court ordering a pause on a ban of the product that went into effect on Tuesday. The ban was enacted after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that some Apple Watch models infringed on pulse-reader patents owned by Masimo, a medical tech company. Apple is appealing the ITC's ruling, and the appeals court has given the ITC until January 10 to respond to Apple's request for a longer stay while the issue moves through the courts.
The Biden administration has declined to veto a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that bans imports of certain Apple Watch models due to a patent dispute brought by Masimo. The dispute is over the pulse reader feature of the Apple Watch, which measures the level of oxygen in the user's blood. Apple has not yet commented on the ruling, but is likely to appeal the decision. Masimo is likely to be pleased with the outcome, and it remains to be seen how Apple will respond.
Tesla is recalling over 120,000 vehicles due to doors that fail to comply with U.S. government regulations, which could increase the risk of injury during a crash. Tesla is releasing a free software update to resolve the issue and is notifying car owners by mail on Feb. 17, 2024. Customers with questions or concerns can contact Tesla customer service.
Honda is recalling over 2.5 million vehicles due to a potential issue with the fuel pump inside the fuel tank, which could lead to stalled engines and an increased risk of a crash. The recall includes several popular models from Honda's luxury division, Acura, as well as 2018-2020 editions of popular Honda vehicles such as Accords, Civics and CR-Vs. Honda will begin notifying owners of affected vehicles in late June and dealers will replace the fuel pump module for free.
Toyota Motor Corporation is recalling 1.12 million vehicles worldwide due to a potential defect in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat. This could cause a short circuit in the sensor, resulting in the air bag system not properly detecting the passenger's presence and weight, and failing to deploy as designed. Toyota is providing a free loaner car to customers who need to leave their vehicles at the dealership for repairs and is urging customers to contact Toyota Customer Service for more information.
Honda Motor Co. is recalling 106,000 CR-V hybrid SUVs from model years 2020-2022 due to a potential battery cable issue that can increase the risk of a fire in an accident. Honda will replace the battery cable for free and customers may be eligible for reimbursement if they have already paid for repairs. Customers should contact their local dealer to schedule an appointment for the free repair.