Privacy

Consumer groups file to have stem cell patents rescinded

July 18, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>On Tuesday, two consumer groups filed challenges with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office seeking to have the patents rescinded. The groups maintain that the patents are overly broad and that previous work by other scientists made Thompson's breakthroughs obvious and unpatentable. "The debate in Washington is morally based, but what's at stake with the patents is essentially money," said John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, one of the groups that filed the challenge.</p>

Arnold CNA Financial Hyatt Regency Fundraiser Invitation

July 17, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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Biotech profit plan is OK’d:

July 15, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State will share in firms' earnings based on fruits of university research.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The royalty decision was a compromise. The biotech industry had pushed for a smaller royalty agreement. Taxpayer advocates wanted a more generous one. "I'm disappointed that they haven't been able to understand the importance of maintaining a payback to all the Californians who are coming up with this money," said John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Panel scraps stem cell discovery-sharing rule

July 15, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>Supporters (of Prop 71) have high hopes for the research, believing it will lead to new therapies and maybe even cures for a host of debilitating diseases. "All Californians must have affordable access to the results of the research they pay for," said John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer watchdog group.</p>

Arnold Hillsborough Fundraiser Invitation

July 14, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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Arnold Schwarzenegger & George H.W. Bush Fundraising Invitation

July 14, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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VOTERS FACE CAMPAIGN ONSLAUGHT FOR PROPOSITIONS

July 9, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights, said his group supports the public campaign financing and oil tax measures. "There are some opportunities for the little guy here that don't show up that often,'' Heller said. "The big guys, the well-heeled lobbying interests, always have their day in government. This ballot gives the regular citizens the chance to have their day.''</p>

Lay’s legacy: Commoditize everything

July 7, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Marketplace NPR Radio Program (American Public Media)</p> <p>Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court says Kenneth Lay's vision has become the operating principle from Wall Street to Capitol Hill.</p>

Lay’s legacy: Commoditize everything

July 7, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Marketplace NPR Radio Program (American Public Media)</p> <p>Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court says Kenneth Lay's vision has become the operating principle from Wall Street to Capitol Hill.</p>

Cingular Sued by Users It Inherited

July 7, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <b>Former AT&T Wireless customers say they are being overcharged for using a new network.</b></p> <p> Former <a href="/search/?searchQuery=%22AT%26T%22">AT&T</a> Wireless customers accused <a href="/search/?searchQuery=Cingular">Cingular</a> Wireless in a lawsuit Thursday of misleading them about the benefits of combining the two companies and overcharging them for upgrading service.</p>

Fact Sheet on the Cingular – AT&T Wireless Lawsuit

July 6, 2006  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<!-- excerpt --><br /> <p> Who is the lawsuit against? The lawsuit is against <a href="/search/?searchQuery=Cingular">Cingular</a> Wireless Corporation, a national cell phone company, and <a href="/search/?searchQuery=%22AT%26T%22">AT&T</a> Corporation and <a href="/search/?searchQuery=%22AT%26T%22">AT&T</a> Wireless Services, a cell phone system that <a href="/search/?searchQuery=Cingular">Cingular</a> acquired in a $41 billion deal in October, 2004.</p>

When your iPod breaks, repair firms cash in;

July 4, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Several budding repair firms have found a big market in fixing busted music players</h3><p class="source">The Miami Herald</p> <p>''With more than 50 million iPods sold worldwide, the vast majority of our customers are extremely happy with their iPods,'' she said, adding an iPod is designed to last four years. But several groups have sued Apple, alleging the device is defective. Last August, Apple settled a class-action lawsuit, in which plaintiffs claimed Apple had misrepresented the durability of iPod batteries. Another class-action lawsuit is pending in Los Angeles, charging the screen of the nano breaks or scratches with regular use.</p>