Lenovo has won an appeal in a UK court that will allow it to secure a temporary licence for Ericsson’s patents, marking a significant development in the ongoing patent dispute between the two companies.
The case, which revolves around fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms for 4G and 5G wireless technology, has seen both companies take legal action in various countries, including the UK, Brazil, and the US.
In his ruling, Judge Richard Arnold determined that Ericsson had failed to act in good faith by pursuing legal claims in foreign courts despite Lenovo’s willingness to accept the FRAND terms set by the English courts.
He stated that, as a willing licensor, Ericsson should have agreed to an interim licence, with Lenovo being required to pay a substantial sum to Ericsson. Lenovo’s Chief Legal Officer hailed the decision as a victory for transparency and fairness in global patent licensing.
The ruling follows Lenovo’s 2023 lawsuit against Ericsson in the UK, a part of the broader dispute between the two over the terms for the use of each other’s patents. Ericsson has yet to comment on the decision.
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Twenty-three industry groups across Europe have urged EU officials to approve a draft cybersecurity certification for cloud services.
The certification scheme, which was introduced in 2020 by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), aims to provide governments and businesses with reliable, secure cloud service providers.
It has been under revision since last year, with changes that favour major tech firms such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
The groups, including the American Chamber of Commerce and various EU trade associations, argue that the updated draft, which will be finalised in March 2024, strikes a balance between robust security standards and an open market.
These revisions removed political provisions, such as requirements for US tech companies to partner with EU firms for data storage, focusing instead on technical security criteria.
Despite this, concerns linger about the European Commission potentially delaying or even scrapping the certification scheme altogether. The groups have strongly urged the EU to push forward with its adoption, believing it will support Europe’s digital economy while promoting secure cloud computing solutions.
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Vodafone UK has teamed up with IBM to explore quantum-safe cryptography as part of a new Proof of Concept (PoC) test for its mobile and broadband services, particularly for users of its ‘Secure Net’ anti-malware service. While quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, they could eventually break current internet encryption methods. In anticipation of this, Vodafone and IBM are testing how to integrate new post-quantum cryptographic standards into Vodafone’s existing Secure Net service, which already protects millions of users from threats like phishing and malware.
IBM’s cryptography experts have co-developed two algorithms now recognised in the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s first post-quantum cryptography standards. This collaboration, supported by Akamai Technologies, aims to make Vodafone’s services more resilient against future quantum computing risks. Vodafone’s Head of R&D, Luke Ibbetson, stressed the importance of future-proofing digital security to ensure customers can continue enjoying safe internet experiences.
Although the PoC is still in its feasibility phase, Vodafone hopes to implement quantum-safe cryptography across its networks and products soon, ensuring stronger protection for both business and consumer users.
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Britain’s privacy regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has launched an investigation into the child privacy practices of TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur. The ICO is scrutinising how these platforms manage personal data and age verification for users, particularly teenagers, to ensure they comply with UK data protection laws.
The investigation focuses on TikTok’s use of data from 13-17-year-olds to recommend content via its algorithm. The ICO is also examining how Reddit and Imgur assess and protect the privacy of child users. If evidence of legal breaches is found, the ICO will take action, as it did in 2023 when TikTok was fined £12.7 million for mishandling data from children under 13.
Both Reddit and Imgur have expressed a commitment to adhering to UK regulations. Reddit, for example, stated that it plans to roll out updates to meet new age-assurance requirements. Meanwhile, TikTok and Imgur have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The investigation comes amid stricter UK legislation aimed at safeguarding children online, including measures requiring social media platforms to limit harmful content and enforce age checks to prevent underage access to inappropriate material.
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Three men have been charged with fraud in Singapore as part of an investigation that may be linked to the illegal transfer of advanced Nvidia chips to the Chinese AI company, DeepSeek. The United States is also probing whether DeepSeek used US-made chips, which are prohibited from being shipped to China. This case is part of a wider investigation into potential AI chip smuggling operations involving several individuals and companies across countries, including Singapore.
The charges focus on two Singaporeans, Aaron Woon Guo Jie and Alan Wei Zhaolun, who are accused of falsely claiming that Nvidia chips would not be transferred to unauthorised recipients. A third man, Chinese national Li Ming, is charged with committing similar fraud regarding the shipment of servers. These actions are believed to be connected to DeepSeek’s use of Nvidia chips, although the authorities have not confirmed the company’s involvement.
If convicted, the men could face up to 20 years in prison, a fine, or both. Singapore’s authorities have been actively investigating the smuggling network, with police recently arresting nine individuals in a raid across 22 locations, seizing records and electronic evidence.
Nvidia’s business in Singapore is substantial, making it the company’s second-largest market after the US. However, only a small percentage of its revenue comes from direct shipments to the country. Singapore’s government has emphasised its commitment to strict enforcement of export controls, underscoring that the nation will not tolerate any attempts to evade international regulations.
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Canada’s privacy commissioner has opened an investigation into X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, to examine whether the company’s use of personal data for training AI models complies with federal privacy laws. The investigation follows a complaint about the platform’s collection, use, and disclosure of Canadians’ data.
X has been under scrutiny since its rebranding from Twitter, with concerns mounting over the platform’s data practices, especially in relation to AI. Generative AI models, such as Grok, the chatbot developed by Musk’s AI firm xAI, require large volumes of data to function effectively. As part of its probe, the privacy office will look into how this data is being handled and whether it breaches Canadian privacy protections.
The investigation has drawn political attention, with opposition lawmaker Brian Masse urging the privacy commissioner to take action. Masse highlighted the need for transparency, particularly as AI algorithms could potentially be manipulated to spread misinformation. This inquiry comes at a time of heightened tension between Canada and the United States over various trade and digital issues.
X, which has not yet responded to requests for comment, faces growing pressure as regulators worldwide scrutinise tech giants’ data practices, especially in the rapidly evolving AI sector.
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Apple has rolled out a new feature called ‘age assurance’ to help protect children’s privacy while using apps. The technology allows parents to input their child’s age when setting up an account without disclosing sensitive information like birthdays or government IDs. Instead, parents can share a general ‘age range’ with app developers, putting them in control of what data is shared.
This move comes amid growing pressure from US lawmakers, including those in Utah and South Carolina, who are considering age-verification laws for social media apps. Apple has expressed concerns about collecting sensitive personal data for such verifications, arguing it would require users to hand over unnecessary details for apps that don’t require it.
The age assurance tool allows parents to maintain control over their children’s data while limiting what third parties can access. Meta, which has supported legislation for app stores to verify children’s ages, welcomed the new tech as a step in the right direction, though it raised concerns about its practical implementation.
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Europol announced on Friday that two dozen people have been arrested for their involvement in a criminal network distributing AI-generated images of child sexual abuse. This operation marks one of the first of its kind, highlighting concerns over the use of AI in creating illegal content. Europol noted that there is currently a lack of national legislation addressing AI-generated child abuse material.
The primary suspect, a Danish national, operated an online platform where he distributed the AI-generated content he created. Users from around the world paid a ‘symbolic online payment’ to access the material. The platform has raised significant concerns about the potential misuse of AI tools for such criminal purposes.
The ongoing operation, which involves authorities from 19 countries, resulted in 25 arrests, with most occurring simultaneously on Wednesday under the leadership of Danish authorities. Europol indicated that more arrests are expected in the coming weeks as the investigation continues.
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At a conference in Hyderabad this week, pharmaceutical companies highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in evolving the drug development process. Companies like Amgen and Parexel showcased how AI can reduce trial times, with Parexel demonstrating a model that speeds up drug safety reports by 30-45 minutes. Industry experts believe that AI can potentially halve the costs and time needed to develop drugs, cutting down the process from over a decade to just a few years.
Beyond speeding up trials, AI is also aiding in drug discovery and medical diagnostics. For instance, AI is being used to repurpose existing drugs for new uses and to analyse medical images, potentially identifying conditions such as cancer that might be missed by human doctors. Medtronic’s CTO stressed that integrating AI across the industry is essential to its future success.
Despite these technological strides, the conference was overshadowed by ongoing uncertainty regarding US President Trump’s proposed tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. Companies, particularly those based in India, expressed concern over the potential impact of these tariffs, with some, like Dr Reddy’s, opting to take a ‘wait and watch’ approach until further clarity emerges. This tariff uncertainty remains a pressing issue for India’s pharmaceutical industry, which is a major exporter of affordable drugs to the US.
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Inception, a Palo Alto-based startup founded by Stanford professor Stefano Ermon, has unveiled an innovative AI model based on diffusion technology. Unlike traditional large language models that generate text sequentially, Inception’s diffusion-based model can produce large blocks of text in parallel, making it up to 10 times faster and more cost-efficient. The company claims its model offers similar capabilities to existing LLMs but with significantly improved performance.
The diffusion model operates differently from the typical approach of LLMs, which generate text word by word. Instead, it starts with a rough estimate and refines the output all at once, allowing for faster processing. Ermon, who has been researching this technology for years at Stanford, believes it will revolutionise AI by enabling more efficient use of computational resources, particularly GPUs. Inception already boasts several Fortune 100 companies as clients, attracted by its promise to reduce AI latency and costs.
Inception’s model can handle various tasks, including code generation and question answering, and is designed for flexible deployment options such as API, on-premises, and edge devices. This breakthrough technology is expected to lead to more accessible and scalable AI solutions, positioning Inception at the forefront of AI development.
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