Steam Faces Massive Lawsuit for Allegedly Overcharging UK Gamers
Valve Corporation, owner of Steam, is facing a lawsuit in the UK for allegedly overcharging 14 million gamers £656 million. The legal action claims Valve manipulated prices and stifled competition in the PC gaming industry, leading to excessive commissions and higher costs for consumers. The case, filed as a collective action claim, aims to represent a larger group of affected individuals and seeks to hold Valve accountable for violating UK competition laws. Legal support for the lawsuit comes from Milberg London LLP, emphasizing the importance of competition laws in safeguarding consumer interests. This legal battle against Valve reflects a broader trend of collective actions targeting tech giants for accountability and consumer protection.
Regulators Crack Down on AI Washing in Tech Industry
Federal regulators are cracking down on AI washing, where companies overstate the role of AI while relying heavily on human operators. Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology and other companies have been found to use human intervention to power their AI systems. Regulators, including the SEC, are taking action against companies engaging in AI washing, signaling a growing awareness of the importance of transparency and accountability in the deployment of AI technologies.
Boeing Faces Whistleblower Allegations and Retaliation Concerns
Boeing is facing whistleblower allegations and retaliation issues, prompting the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace to conduct training sessions for members. Recent incidents like the door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines-operated 737 Max 9 plane have put the company under scrutiny. Despite claims of prohibiting retaliation, employees like Sam Salehpour and Santiago Paredes have faced threats of termination and demotion for raising concerns about potential defects in 787 Dreamliner planes and 737 Max issues. With around 171,000 employees, Boeing is working to address business practices and whistleblower protection while negotiating contracts with the second-largest union group at the company.
Cannabis Companies Seize Tax Savings Opportunities
Publicly traded cannabis companies are capitalizing on potential tax savings by amending their returns to seize 280E benefits. With the Biden administration’s cannabis rescheduling and legal challenges to the Controlled Substances Act, companies like Planet 13 and The Cannabist Co. Holdings Inc. are aiming to save tens of millions of dollars and reinvest in growth initiatives. TerrAscend Corp. is also leveraging tax savings to maximize financial benefits amidst evolving regulatory landscapes.
California Law Proposition 12 Driving Up Pork Prices Nationwide, Congress Urged to Act
California’s Proposition 12 has led to a significant increase in pork prices, with consumers feeling the effects of rising costs and declining consumption. The impact is not limited to California, as pork farmers nationwide are facing compliance costs and higher prices. Congress must address this issue in the Farm Bill to protect farmers and consumers from the repercussions of such legislation.
AI Innovation Center Hosts Knowledge Session on Intellectual Property and AI
AI Innovation Center hosts a knowledge session on intellectual property with a focus on AI, featuring experts from V.O. Patents & Trademarks and Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The session emphasized the complexities of patenting AI-related inventions, including technical novelty, inventiveness, and industrial applicability. Start-ups in the AI field were encouraged to consider intellectual property rights, with insights on the challenges of fitting AI innovations into the technical category.
Legal Challenge to Onshore Wind Policy in England
Onshore wind policy in England is facing a legal challenge as the UK government’s decision to exclude onshore wind projects from the types of energy infrastructure projects that can generally be considered as ‘nationally significant infrastructure projects’ (NSIPs) under planning…
Threat to Argentina’s Film Industry Sparks International Protest
Argentina’s film industry is facing a major threat as newly elected president Javier Milei aims to fulfill his promise of cutting state spending by proposing to eliminate the country’s national film institute (INCAA) and its film schools (ENERC). This move…