Monday’s Mix

Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award­-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible.

This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. IP Osgoode 2. Michael Spratt 3. Law School Life & Beyond 4. Excess Copyright 5. Hull & Hull Blog

IP Osgoode
The Battle for Chips

Chips are the hotspot in the current China-US geopolitical and technological (geo-tech) battle. By stymieing Huawei’s reach of international customers’ communications and leading the 5G race, the Biden administration has fronted a $50 billion investment in chipmaking and research. Beijing, swimming against the current, has committed more than $1 trillion to high-tech developments, particularly in the semiconductor industry. …

Michael Spratt
Toronto police acted unlawfully in protest arrests

The arrest and detention of three anti-racism protestors for splashing pink paint on statues of Egerton Ryerson and John A. Macdonald proves that the police still don’t get it. The whole unseemly incident, from arrest to prolonged detention to police misinformation, is indicative of a broken system of law enforcement that is screaming to be defunded and reformed. Context is important. …

Law School Life & Beyond
Funding Your Education

As September quickly approaches, it is time to get your finances in order for the upcoming school year. This article brings plenty of resources and tips all to one place, from obtaining financing to saving tips! Government student loans are a great place to start, mostly because they are the most cost-effective to pay back. Additionally, qualification for government student loans usually equals qualification for grants that you do not have to pay back. …

Excess Copyright
Default Judgment Dire Doomsday for Downloaders?

I am becoming increasingly concerned about how default judgments potentially may be viewed as precedents to establish sometimes sweeping and even sometimes wrong principles in IP cases. Sometimes, default judgments arise because the defendant(s) never participate, which can be for any number of reasons. Sometimes, the default can come towards the end of a case, again for various reasons. …

Hull & Hull Blog
Funeral Pre-Planning: Take a Lesson From a Pirate

Sailors, and in particular, pirates are often depicted as wearing gold earrings. There are many legends as to why they adopted this particular fashion statement. One has a clearly estate-related basis. Sailors were often given earrings to commemorate certain sailing milestones, such as crossing the equator or rounding the treacherous Cape Horn. Superstition also played a role, as many believed that gold earrings would improve their eyesight, prevent seasickness or even drowning. …

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*Randomness here is created by Random.org and its list randomizing function.