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Laura Sydell
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Laura Sydell

Wednesday

Music

Federal Judge Rules 'Happy Birthday' Is In The Public Domain

A federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled that "Happy Birthday" should be in the public domain. Piano arrangements were copyrighted in 1935, but they apparently don't cover the lyrics.

Federal Judge Rules 'Happy Birthday' Is In The Public Domain

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Monday

Apple TV, App Makers Try To Move Casual Gamers To Bigger Screen

A person plays Candy Crush Saga on his tablet in Lille, northern France. This year, mobile games revenues are expected to fly past console games and hit more than $30 billion worldwide. Philippe Hugen/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Philippe Hugen/AFP/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Apple TV, App Makers Try To Move Casual Gamers To Bigger Screen

In 2015, mobile games revenues are expected to hit more than $30 billion worldwide. Apple wants these casual gamers to play their mobile games on its streaming TV console.

Apple TV, App Makers Try To Move Casual Gamers To Bigger Screen

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Thursday

Friday

New Film Asks: Were Steve Jobs' Flaws Uploaded To His Machines?

In Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, director Alex Gibney turns a critical lens on the Apple co-founder and his products. Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures hide caption

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Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

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All Tech Considered

New Film Asks: Were Steve Jobs' Flaws Uploaded To His Machines?

Alex Gibney's documentary joins a growing list of Steve Jobs biopics and biographies. The director's thesis seems to be that Jobs' flawed character was infused into the machines he made.

Wednesday

How A Suit Against Uber Could Redefine The Sharing Economy

A federal judge in California has allowed some Uber drivers to proceed with a class-action suit against the company. Jeff Chiu/AP hide caption

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Jeff Chiu/AP

Law

How A Suit Against Uber Could Redefine The Sharing Economy

A federal judge has allowed some drivers to proceed with a class-action suit against the ride-hailing service. The case could affect other companies in the sharing economy such as Airbnb and Lyft.

How A Suit Against Uber Could Redefine The Sharing Economy

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Thursday

Online Stars Feel Cheated As YouTube, Facebook Battle Over Videos

Jack Douglass says he lost thousands of dollars when his YouTube video was uploaded to Facebook. YouTube hide caption

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YouTube

All Tech Considered

Online Stars Feel Cheated As YouTube, Facebook Battle Over Videos

Many popular videos on Facebook originated on YouTube, and YouTube stars say it means they're losing money. Facebook says it takes intellectual property rights seriously and is working on a solution.

Online Stars Feel Cheated As YouTube, Facebook Battle Over Videos

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Monday

DIY Tractor Repair Runs Afoul Of Copyright Law

Farmer Dave Alford can't fix his own tractors like this one because it's run by software with proprietary digital locks. Laura Sydell/NPR hide caption

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Laura Sydell/NPR

All Tech Considered

DIY Tractor Repair Runs Afoul Of Copyright Law

Like a lot of machines, tractors are increasingly run by computer software that has proprietary locks. But if farmers break those locks to fix their John Deere, they are also breaking the law.

DIY Tractor Repair Runs Afoul Of Copyright Law

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Wednesday

Technology

After Wireless Outage, Some Wonder If Old Phone Networks At Fault

On Tuesday, the four major cell phone providers had an outage that effected tens of thousands. The cause is unclear, but experts say our wireless carriers still rely on aging phone infrastructure.

After Wireless Outage, Some Wonder If Old Phone Networks At Fault

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Wednesday

Politics Overshadows U.S. Tech Firms' Hopes For Entering Iran

Customers try out cellphones and tablets in a store in Tehran, in 2012. Financial sanctions make it difficult for U.S. firms to do business in Iran, analysts say. Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption

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Vahid Salemi/AP

All Tech Considered

Politics Overshadows U.S. Tech Firms' Hopes For Entering Iran

With a young, well-educated population, Iran has the potential to be a boom market for tech. But sanctions and negative political implications for doing business there seem to limit prospects.

Politics Overshadows U.S. Tech Firms' Hopes For Entering Iran

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Business

Twitter Faces Challenges As It tries To Balance Profitability, Popularity

The social network Twitter is popular with users, but that's not enough. It also needs to be profitable, and by its 140-character nature that's a challenge.

Twitter Faces Challenges As It tries To Balance Profitability, Popularity

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Tuesday

Twitter Takes Down Unoriginal Jokes, But All Of Yours Are Probably Safe

Comedian Ari Shaffir performs at the 2015 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in June in Manchester, Tenn. Shaffir has said fellow comedian Carlos Mencia stole his joke about who would build a fence on the U.S.-Mexican border. Copyright on jokes is difficult to prove, and it turned out two other comedians had made similar jokes as well. John Davisson/Invision/AP hide caption

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John Davisson/Invision/AP

All Tech Considered

Twitter Takes Down Unoriginal Jokes, But All Of Yours Are Probably Safe

A freelance writer got the company to take down several unauthorized uses of her humor by what she says are robot accounts, but legal scholars say proving copyright on jokes is difficult.

Monday

Obituaries

Nintendo CEO Iwata: 'In My Heart I Am A Gamer'

Satoru Iwata, who helped Nintendo innovate and launch its revolutionary Wii game console, has died. His business card summed him up this way: "I run a game company, in my heart I am a gamer."

Nintendo CEO Iwata: 'In My Heart I Am A Gamer'

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Saturday

Business

What's Next For Reddit?

Ellen Pao stepped down Friday amid criticism following the company's dismissal of a popular employee. The challenge ahead will be keeping Reddit an open and vital community — and a profitable one.

What's Next For Reddit?

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Monday

Apple Bets Big That You'll Start Paying To Stream Music

Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue speaks about Apple Music during the keynote at the annual developers conference. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Apple Bets Big That You'll Start Paying To Stream Music

Millions listen to services like Spotify and Pandora, but relatively few of them subscribe. Why should they when there are so many free options? The new Apple Music will be free for only 3 months.

Apple Bets Big That You'll Start Paying To Stream Music

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