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Laura Sydell
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Laura Sydell

Thursday

A Win For Fair Use After Record Label, Copyright Lawyer Settle

Law professor Lawrence Lessig has reached a settlement with an Australian record label that tried to sue him for infringement. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images hide caption

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Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

A Win For Fair Use After Record Label, Copyright Lawyer Settle

Liberation Music threatened to sue Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig over a song he used in one of his lectures. Lessig sued back, and now the label is taking a look at its own copyright policies.

Wednesday

Thursday

Business

Facebook To Buy WhatsApp Message Service

Facebook is buying an instant messaging service called WhatsApp for an eye-popping $19 billion. It's the latest salvo in an arms race by Silicon Valley giants to stockpile mobile technology.

Facebook To Buy WhatsApp Message Service

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Friday

Mobile Match Apps Are 'Dating On Steroids'

Matchmaking apps like Tinder can help people find potential dates quickly. Tinder hide caption

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Tinder

All Tech Considered

Mobile Match Apps Are 'Dating On Steroids'

Matchmaking apps like Tinder can help people find potential dates quickly. But that efficiency can have drawbacks for people trying to find true love.

Mobile Match Apps Are 'Dating On Steroids'

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Thursday

In The Digital Era, Hit Songs Aren't Everything

American Idol winner Phillip Phillips, whose song, "Gone, Gone, Gone," went to No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Each time it's played in public, the song's writers get a royalty, which is tracked and collected by ASCAP. Bigger hits usually translate into bigger checks. Buda Mendes/Getty Images hide caption

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Buda Mendes/Getty Images

The Record

In The Digital Era, Hit Songs Aren't Everything

The Internet is the new frontier for song royalties. If ASCAP has its way, law will prevail, but some songwriters and publishers see the organization as a relic.

In The Digital Era, Hit Songs Aren't Everything

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Monday

That's Just Like 'Her': Could We Ever Love A Computer?

Joaquin Phoenix stars in the film Her, in which his character falls in love with an operating system. When will artificial intelligence programs like Siri evolve to the point where we'll fall in love with them? Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

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Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

All Tech Considered

That's Just Like 'Her': Could We Ever Love A Computer?

There are hurdles to overcome before we can form relationships with artificially intelligent beings.

That's Just Like 'Her': Could We Ever Love A Computer?

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Wednesday

What Bill Gates' New Role Could Mean For Microsoft

As Satya Nadella becomes the new CEO of Microsoft, company founder Bill Gates is moving from chairman to "technology adviser." Bebeto Matthews/AP hide caption

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Bebeto Matthews/AP

All Tech Considered

What Bill Gates' New Role Could Mean For Microsoft

In recent years, the Microsoft co-founder has pulled back from his work at the company to focus on his foundation — improving global health and reducing poverty. But his hands-on days at Microsoft are not over. Gates is stepping down as chairman but moving into a part-time role as technology adviser.

What Bill Gates' New Role Could Mean For Microsoft

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Thursday

Small Cinemas Struggle As Film Fades Out Of The Picture

The Roxie Theater in San Francisco still has two 35 millimeter projectors, but the switch to digital is inevitable. Laura Sydell/NPR hide caption

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Laura Sydell/NPR

All Tech Considered

Small Cinemas Struggle As Film Fades Out Of The Picture

Paramount became the first big studio to distribute a major film in the U.S. only in digital, and others will probably follow. Small cinemas are struggling to raise money for the transition. Despite resistance from some major directors, the end of film is almost upon us.

Small Cinemas Struggle As Film Fades Out Of The Picture

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Thursday

Retailers Can Wait To Tell You Your Card Data Have Been Compromised

The security breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus have raised questions over how quickly companies are required to disclose that customer information was hacked. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Retailers Can Wait To Tell You Your Card Data Have Been Compromised

The data breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus raised questions over how quickly companies are required to disclose that customer information was hacked. The rules around when a retailer is required to tell you that your data got into the hands of fraudsters vary state by state.

Retailers Can Wait To Tell You Your Card Data Have Been Compromised

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Wednesday

Technology

Court: FCC Can't Enforce Net Neutrality

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has struck down a provision of the Federal Communications Commission's "Open Internet Rules." That provision allowed the FCC to regulate Internet service providers in much the same way it regulates phone service providers — requiring them to provide unrestricted service to all users.

Court: FCC Can't Enforce Net Neutrality

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Tuesday

Law

Appeals Court Strikes Down Open Internet Rules

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court struck down Federal Communications Commission rules that would prevent Internet service providers from restricting usage on their networks and charging companies and users more for faster service. Critics say that this will create a two-tiered Internet that will favor those who can pay.

Appeals Court Strikes Down Open Internet Rules

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Business

Google Buys Home Automation Company Nest

On Monday, Google announced it had purchased Nest Labs for $3.2 billion. Nest is focused on the "automated home" concept, making smoke detectors and thermostats that connect to the Internet. Google's purchase signals a strong interest in this arena.

Google Buys Home Automation Company Nest

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Monday

Game Over For Nintendo? Not If Mario And Zelda Fans Keep Playing

A Southwest Airlines passenger thanks Mario for giving away free Wii U systems on a flight from New Orleans to Dallas in November. Matt Strasen/Matt Strasen/Invision/AP hide caption

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Matt Strasen/Matt Strasen/Invision/AP

All Tech Considered

Game Over For Nintendo? Not If Mario And Zelda Fans Keep Playing

Some analysts say that Nintendo's days are numbered because sales of its new console, Wii U, have been lackluster. But since Nintendo still offers some of the most popular game franchises, the love of Zelda and Mario may keep the company going for a long time.

Game Over For Nintendo? Not If Mario And Zelda Fans Keep Playing

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Tuesday

Class Trumps Race When It Comes To Internet Access

Smartphones offer a way for lower-income people who don't have broadband access at home to connect to the Internet. iStockphoto hide caption

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iStockphoto

Code Switch

Class Trumps Race When It Comes To Internet Access

A new study finds that income and age play a larger role in access to high-speed Internet than race. Among lower-income African-Americans, smartphones are often a way to make up for not having a broadband connection at home. But using a mobile device as a primary means of accessing the Internet has drawbacks.

Class Trumps Race When It Comes To Internet Access

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Monday

Hot On YouTube: Videos About Video Games, And Science, Too

A screengrab of a YouTube video of the game Walking Dead from the Swedish gamer known as PewDiePie. Videos of people offering commentary while playing video games are wildly popular on YouTube. YouTube/PewDiePie hide caption

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YouTube/PewDiePie

All Tech Considered

Hot On YouTube: Videos About Video Games, And Science, Too

Many people watched other people playing video games on the video-sharing site in 2013. But it wasn't all about games; educational videos, particularly those that explain science concepts or use fun animation, were also big hits.

Hot On YouTube: Videos About Video Games, And Science, Too

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