Data Security in Precision Agriculture: How Machine Learning Will Exacerbate the Privacy Risks of Farming
Anna Johnson As precision agriculture technology advances, privacy concerns plague farmers who fear that their agricultural data could be exploited by data processors. Despite these concerns, the federal government has failed to enact agricultural data protection laws. With the rise of machine learning (ML), federal and state legislators should act urgently to prohibit AI-driven, farming data misuse. Since data security threats in agriculture can disrupt the stability of the commodities market, a coordinated, industry-specific approach ensuring the privacy of agricultural data must be taken. This paper analyzes the privacy risks created by ML in precision agriculture and proposes legislative and...
Gut Check: The Future of False & Misleading Claims Amidst the Poppi Class Action
Hannah Niemczyk Innovation in the food and beverage landscape has increased significantly in recent years, contributing to a flourishing marketplace that is excitingly diverse but deceptive to the unsuspecting public. Consumers have more variety than ever at the supermarket, so factors such as health and wellness may determine what makes the cut at checkout. Meanwhile, brands curate advertisements to edge out the competition, often capitalizing on market trends and overpromising on label claims. To achieve holistic consumer protection, this Article explores false and misleading gut health claims considering the Summer 2024 class action involving the popular prebiotic beverage brand “Poppi”...
Playing the Patent Game: Protecting Video Game Mechanics as Intellectual Property
Lucy Hanson Nintendo Co. Ltd., Japanese owner of colossal video game franchise Pokémon, filed suit in 2024 against independent developer Pocketpair, Inc. for alleged patent infringement of Pokémon game mechanics. In doing so, Nintendo once again drew attention to the thirty-year controversy regarding the patentability of video games. Although developers continue to assert their right to benefit from their own software innovations, critics attack game mechanic patents for stifling gaming innovation because of their broadness. The international nature of game development means both American and Japanese patent laws contribute to molding this contentious environment for software patents. This Article discusses...
BLOG POST: Is (Fair) Competition Alive and Well? The Demise of the FTC’s Proposed Ban on Non-Compete Clauses*
*This writing is a Blog post. It is not a published IPTF Journal article. Ariana Harris Non-compete clauses have long faced skepticism.[1] Though intended to protect a company’s proprietary information (e.g., trade secrets, business plans) by limiting employee mobility and thus avoiding unfair competition, their legitimacy is sometimes questioned with respect to unfair employment practices.[2] Advocates for a nationwide ban argue reduced non-compete enforcement raises wages and boosts innovation.[3] These individuals cite increased innovation in California resulting from the state’s ban on non-compete clauses and prevention of monopolies.[4] Opponents of a nationwide ban argue employers might invest less in employee...