Supreme Court rejects Microsoft-UC appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Microsoft this week, which would have cut $360 million from the damages award in a lawsuit filed by the University of California. In the suit, the university argued that the companies’ Internet Explorer Web browser infringed on on a UC-owned patent.
In January 2004, a jury decided that Microsoft should pay the university and its partner, Eolas Technologies, $565 million. However, in March, a federal appeals court overturned the decision, and required a new trial on the patent’s legality.
In October, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office affirmed the University of California’s rights to an Internet browser technology patent, according to a UC press release.
“We are gratified that the patent office’s re-examination has validated its original evaluation of the university’s unique contribution to the technology, which fuels the Internet,” UC General Counsel James E. Holst stated in a press release at the time. “This decision ensures that the patent rights of the public institution that developed this technology, a significant innovation with wide-reaching public benefits and use, will be protected.”
The appeal sought to discount overseas distribution of Internet Explorer in the award amount. Microsoft contended that not hearing the case meant unnecessarily expanding the reach of national patents.
UCSD ranks top 10 in international careers
UCSD is among the top 10 schools for studies in international categories, including ninth for academic foreign affairs and 10th for policy careers, according to the journal Foreign Policy.
The rankings were based on a survey of more than 1,100 college and university scholars, who graded which institution was best for international careers.
The arrival of Chancellor Marye Anne Fox last year heralded heavy university focus on an international scope. At Fox’s request, the International Strategy Committee compiled a set of goals, released earlier this year, to bolster the global presence of the university.
So far, the results have been encouraging, according to Fox.
“We have stellar international affairs programs, and we are pleased to have this recognition from scholars in the field,” she stated in a press release.
UCSD was the only university on the West Coast to be ranked in the top 10 schools for policy careers. UC Berkeley ranked eighth in international relations colleges for academic careers.
Scripps reveals plans for genome center
Scripps Institution of Oceanography has begun plans to establish a new research center aimed at pioneering genomic sciences, the study of DNA content.
The center will approach its research through interdisciplinary means, combining biology, marine sciences and computer technology, according to a university press release.
Computational genomics professor Terry Gaasterland, who is currently researching how genes translate data and how they operate, will spearhead the project. The center, he said, will expedite such research and allow for groundbreaking science.
“This center will bridge the gap between generating DNA and determining what experiments to do next,” he stated in a press release.
Report sides with direct student loans
A Government Accountability Office study on loan costs, released by a U.S. House of Representatives committee, suggested that while direct student loans cost the government more than previously estimated, the program is still approximately five times cheaper per loan than the guaranteed program. The direct-lending program was created by the federal government over a decade ago, and are given to students straight from the federal government, while guaranteed loans implies a middle-man lender.
Chancellor’s race hits fundraising goal
With the Chancellor’s 5k participant goal met, Chancellor Marye Anne Fox kept her pledge to personally donate $5,000 to scholarships. In total, 1,527 runners and walkers registered for the event. In addition, UCSD alumnus Michael Robertson pledged $7,000 to the scholarship fund.
