Intellectual property

Light & Wonder faces a setback in its legal battle with Aristocrat as a Nevada court granted Aristocrat’s motion for discovery of Light & Wonder’s “hold and spin” game math models released since 2021. Aristocrat alleges Light & Wonder may have incorporated its proprietary algorithms. Light & Wonder maintains confidence that no Aristocrat math was used beyond previously identified games. The outcome of the litigation, with discovery concluding in 2025 and 2026, could significantly impact game development and intellectual property rights within the gaming industry.

OpenAI’s updated Sora 2 AI video generation service is causing concern among content creators. This powerful tool, generating videos from text prompts, faces objections from Hollywood organizations and talent agencies regarding copyright infringement. Concerns center on unauthorized use of copyrighted material to train AI, potentially leading to derivative works. OpenAI is modifying Sora 2’s handling of sensitive content, but the technology’s capabilities raise fundamental questions about creativity and the future of creative professions. Sora 2 and similar technologies are poised to reshape content creation and consumption.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is urging OpenAI to take immediate action against copyright infringement on its new video creation model, Sora 2. The MPA claims AI-generated clips featuring characters and scenarios resembling copyrighted works are proliferating rapidly. While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggested a shift towards an opt-in system for rightsholders, the MPA remains unconvinced. This dispute highlights the challenge of balancing AI innovation with intellectual property protection, mirroring recent lawsuits against other AI companies for similar copyright violations. The outcome could set a precedent for managing copyright in the AI age.

Disney has issued a cease and desist letter to AI startup Character.AI over unauthorized use of its copyrighted characters in the chatbot platform. Character.AI, which allows users to interact with AI personas, removed the identified characters. This underscores the growing tension between media companies and AI developers regarding IP rights. Disney is also engaged in litigation against Midjourney over AI-generated content derived from Disney franchises. The legal challenge highlights increasing scrutiny over the legal and ethical boundaries of AI-generated content.

Chinese appliance maker Gree Electric is increasing its investment in talent acquisition, onboarding over 5,400 university graduates this year, following 6,000 last year. Chairwoman Dong Mingzhu emphasizes the critical role of talent and Gree’s significant investment in young employees, estimated at $28,000 USD per graduate annually. Dong has also advocated for companies to recoup training fees from employees who leave after long-term development, sparking debate over ownership of skills and knowledge gained during employment.

A recent leak at TSMC, impacting its 2nm process technology R&D and Fab 20 in Hsinchu, involves nine individuals and has sparked industry debate. The breach, detected internally, highlights the challenges of protecting valuable IP. Intriguingly, the leak involves Tokyo Electron (TEL), a partner of Rapidus, intensifying competition in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. TSMC had implemented rigorous security measures, including iPhone replacements and U.S. security expert recruitment. Despite CEO C.C. Wei’s confidence, the leak originated from TSMC’s headquarters, emphasizing the persistent threat of internal security breaches.

The operator of “Sakura Anime,” a Chinese website illegally distributing Japanese anime, has been sentenced to two years and three months imprisonment and fined RMB 15,000 for copyright infringement and forging documents. The Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court upheld the original ruling after an appeal. The website allegedly disseminated over 2,100 anime series without permission, ignoring requests from licensed distributors to remove the content. The case highlights the fight against digital copyright infringement.

Joan Anderson, credited with popularizing the hula hoop, recently passed away at 101. Inspired by Australians twirling wooden hoops, Anderson introduced the toy to Wham-O, resulting in a handshake deal that launched a global craze. The Hula Hoop generated $30 million in two months, though Wham-O reaped most of the financial benefits. The Andersons settled a lawsuit for a small sum, highlighting the challenges inventors face within the toy industry regarding contracts and intellectual property.

A display technology company received two China Patent Excellence Awards for its display innovations, including projection distortion correction. This recognition highlights advancements in ALPD laser light source technology, which has been applied in automotive optics, cinema projection, and robotics. With a robust patent portfolio and significant R&D investment (RMB 248M in 2024), the company is experiencing substantial growth and expanding into new markets while affirming its commitment to innovation and intellectual property protection.