Category Archives: Internet & Online

Financial, Internet & Online, Software

Bitcoin Proof of Stake – BitcoinPoS – BPS

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Dallas, TX, USA, 2020-Aug-04 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — The Bitcoin core network today runs on the proof of work algorithm. It leaves the network open to the 51% attack, also it is costly to mine and harmful for the environment. The PoW mechanism has also been a hindrance to scalability.

However, numerous innovations are trying to deal with the issues, facing the Bitcoin network while preserving certain unique aspects of the original concept. For instance, the 21 million tokens supply along with the proven code-base that has been improved over a decade is worth preserving.

The Bitcoin Proof of Stake coin reserves the strongest aspect of the Bitcoin network with a flexible proof of stake algorithm. It presents a new paradigm in the utility of crypto. The Bitcoin PoS coin preserves everything that Bitcoin has while bringing new development to the blockchain technology.

Driving Mass Adoption
When Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin about a decade ago, his goal was mass adoption of crypto that would replace the current financial system. However, that goal has not been achieved. Many crypto projects in existence today have numerous issues that prevent mass adoption.

The Bitcoin PoS project aims to advance Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision of a decentralized financial network that is independent of centralized control. Bitcoin Proof of Stake is designed to be scalable and easy to use. The goal is to give access of banking services to billions of people globally. To achieve this, Bitcoin PoS aims to be a coin for ordinary retail payments.

About the Proof of Stake Mechanism
The Bitcoin network is secured using a proof of work mechanism. However, the PoW mechanism is energy-intensive and requires expensive mining rigs to secure. The proof of stake mechanism wants to replace how consensus is achieved. Instead of using PoW, the staker that generates a block has to provide proof that they have access to given number of coins.

Generating the block will entail the sending of coins to oneself, which proves ownership. The amount of coins needed for staking is determined via a difficulty adjustment model that is similar to the PoW mechanism. The goal is to ensure an approximate constant block time. Just like PoW, the block generation process will result in rewards via a transaction fee and supply model.

Bitcoin PoS Deals with the Bitcoin Centralization Problems
The Bitcoin network appears perfect to its proponents. However, it has a problem with centralization. The high cost of power and the expensive mining rigs mean that only a few select companies can afford to mine the BTC network.

The result is that only those with access to cheap power can secure the network. Today, most of those miners are located in China, which has led to a high concentration of mining power in one region. In effect, Chinese miners control the Bitcoin network. It was not the vision of decentralization that Satoshi Nakamoto had in mind.

To make the issue worse, the places where the cost of power is low also have highly authoritarian systems of government. Another issue is that in nations where the cost of power is high do not recognize BTC mining as a business. Thus, miners do not get access to subsidized power. It has led to the proliferation of mining cartels with some companies controlling as much as 5% of the mining power.

For retail miners, the only solution is to join mining pools, which effectively control all of the mining power of BTC. As a result, BTC is highly centralized in the current setup and it will only continue being centralized in the future.

Bitcoin PoS Solves the Issue
One of the issues that Bitcoin Proof of Stake solves is the cost of power. The proof of stake mechanism cuts the cost of power by 99%. As a result, it ensures that it will difficult from any entity to monopolize the network. The result is that Bitcoin PoS is achieving the vision of Satoshi Nakamoto.

The Current State of Bitcoin PoS
While Bitcoin Proof of Stake uses a proof of stake mechanism, the Bitcoin PoS still keeps up with upgrades to the Bitcoin network. Any upgrade made by the developers are added to the Bitcoin PoS blockchain. Today, the coin is tradable on crypto exchanges; it has a market price of USD 89.07 according to data on CoinMarketCap. It has a market cap of $308,995,384 and it is ranked at 40 by market cap in the world but actual raking on coinmarketcap.com is 205 because of their raking systems.

New listings on different platforms and exchanges will come.

Media contact:

contact@bitcoinpos.net

Logo:

BitcoinPoS logo

Business, Internet & Online, Law, Management, Marketing, Media, Small Business

Billionaire Richard Branson Called a Trademark Bully by the Trademark Law Professors of University of Washington, School of Law

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Westborough, MA, 2020-Jul-30 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — Virgin has targeted to attack over 300 small companies & non-profit charities. Common sense says that the word ‘virgin’ cannot be owned by one individual or organization but Virgin has deep pockets to destroy those who dare to fight for their rights.

“Opposing trademark registrations in unrelated fields is the classic behavior of a trademark bully,” says Mike Atkins, an attorney at Atkins Intellectual Property who teaches trademark law at the University of Washington, School of Law.

That’s why it came as a surprise that Branson decided to send a threatening cease-and-desist letter (where he tells the small start up to either commit a business suicide right away or else Virgin lawyers will destroy it within 30 days) to I Am Not A Virgin, a small eco-friendly denim label, claiming that the company’s name infringes on his copyright, as the Telegraph’s Laura Hubbert reported on the case.

Richard Branson’s lawyers demanded environmentally friendly start up jeans label ‘I Am Not A Virgin’ to cancel their trademark (a trademark they have been lawfully granted and owned for almost 4 years before they received the threat letter from Branson – reports Ms. HUBBERT in her article.

“I guess I could rename my jeans Not Made By Richard Branson” – comments sarcastically the founder of the brand. Branson also demanded the small business owner cease to sell current stock of the jeans and removes them from the stores which for a small business is a financial suicide and a loss of all start up investment costs essentially leading to the end of a business.

“Common sense says that the word ‘virgin’ cannot be owned by one individual or organization. In other words, it’s stupid to claim a colour of your own, let say a word. Branson, who’s also well known for his support of environmental causes, apparently has failed to see that” – says Anderson Antunes in his Forbes article about Virgin’s abuse on small entrepreneurs.

Attorney at law, Widerman Malek, summaries in his comments: “If Richard Branson has his way, it might be. ” He adds: “Although sometimes considered a bully in the trademark office, they remain unapologetic for their stance.”

According to multiple news reports, in the past several years, the Virgin group has targeted over 300 companies who used the word Virgin in their name, URL or marketing slogan. Unfortunately, many of these 300 companies are small businesses who do not have the resources to fight back against a multi-billion dollar company with hundreds or even thousands of lawyers on their retainer. These small businesses almost always settle simply because they cannot afford to fight.

Widerman Malek brings up some of the companies Virgin attacked:

  • Virgin Vapors – a small vapor company located in California whose owner currently refuses to change its name despite being threatened by Virgin.
  • The owners of domain names virginthreads.com, virginpublishing.com, virginstar.net, and virgincigar.com. The Virgin group alleges cyberpiracy for any company using the name virgin in their domain, even if it is not their business name.
  • Author Cristina Crayn, who named one of her published books, “Tales from the Virgin Vault.”
  • Virgin Valley Cab – a cab company in the Virgin Valley geographic location of Northwest Arizona, who recently came to an agreement with conglomerate to stop using the name.
  • Las Virgenes United Educational Foundation – a nonprofit organization in the Las Virgenes School District. The Virgin Group attempted to block the trademark application. Evidently, any virgin will meet their criteria – no matter which language it’s in and if destroying charities for children is to take place.
  • I Am Not A Virgin – a New York clothing company which specializes in creating and selling denim products.
  • Virgin Air, a small airline in the American Virgin Islands, which no longer exists under this name due to Virgin’s lawsuits.
  • CBS Studios, who may be opposed by the Virgin Group in an attempt to trademark the name Jane the Virgin, which they will use as a sitcom name.
  • Last year, the Virgin group attempted to stop Valle Grande from trademarking a phrase that contained the words “virgin olive oil”, using the argument that Valle Grande currently only sells vinegar.
  • In 2004, the conglomerate sued a tiny apparel retailer called Virgin Threads in federal court in New York; the retailer dropped the name a year later as they could not afford to battle with Virgin any longer.
  • VIRGINIC – Purity Perfected – small cosmetics brand, selling “beyond organic”, handcrafted, allergy-free face creams in small batches. Virgin has been suing them with malicious, aggressive litigations, on the ongoing basis from 2018-2020 in multiple countries to starve them financially to business death, as Virgin did with other start ups. Interestingly, Virgin abandoned selling cosmetics years ago making public statements on their own website that they have no intention to sell beauty products. As of July 2020, VIRGINIC still refuses to be bullied and to give up their name.

The statement raised by all victims by Richard Branson and Virgin Group seem to be constant: they don’t feel it’s morally right to give up their start-up brands, hard work and dreams, just because there is a bully that says so.

“Why is Richard Branson trying to put us out of business?” – denim jeans company founder Peter Heron asked in this video posted to YouTube where he reads the harassment letter he has received from Richard Branson.

His video got over 13,000 supporters signing under it with their own name, encouraging Mr. Heron to not give up. Sadly, his brand was forced to surrender a year. Well done, Virgin lawyers, one more target destroyed.

Media contact:

Andrew Griffin
info@thebureauofinvestigativejournalists.com

Internet & Online, Law, Management, Marketing, Media, Non-Profit, Small Business

Virgin’s unethical business practices against small start ups and non-profit foundations

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Louisville, Kentucky, 2020-Jul-16 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — When it comes to big business versus small business, the deck is, and always has been, heavily stacked in favor of the giants, making sure it stays that way. Yes, there will always be David and Goliath stories held up as the reason for hope in these battles, but reality dictates that they are almost insurmountable obstacles in the path of a small entrepreneur.

There is, however, a more insidious and corruptive side to the competition that few, if any, really see or understand at all. The legal teams.

Companies like The Virgin Group and Sir Richard Branson retain the type of law firms that see no ethical issue in destroying anything and anyone on their way, no matter the cost, the merits and the human lives and dreams destroyed along the way.

Take billing, for example. Virgin Enterprises uses Norvell IP and A. A. Thornton, type of companies that sees fit to charge by the half hour for anything that they do, including a single phone call, running up bills of around $300 per call. Yes, you read that correctly…$300 PER CALL! Equally absurdly, they charge the same to write a letter, to attend a meeting or to send an email!

 

Ok, so Virgin and Sir Richard is worth billions, they can afford these costs and who cares? It’s their choice and their wallet, right?

Well, no. They make their pray pay for it.

The thing is, as the relentless (and oftentimes frivolous) stream of trademark infringement lawsuits are filed across the globe, those costs are, almost exclusively borne not by Virgin, but by the small business that they are making their claim against.

Take the case of Wyoming start-up, VIRGINIC LLC. Virgin decided, as they have done on so many occasions in the past, that they were unhappy with the UK Intellectual Property Office awarding VIRGINIC LLC their own brand trademark “VIRGINIC”. For a little context, let’s not forget that this is the same company that sued a Virgin Olive Oil producer, the TV show “Jane The Virgin” and even a Non-profit Educational Foundation, “Las Virgenes” for children, staffed entirely by volunteer parents! If you’re like most people, this alone can leave anyone speechless. Clearly, Virgin is not afraid to throw their litigation budget around even against non-profit children care foundations.

So, Virgin took umbrage to the idea of a company VIRGINIC LLC, regardless of the fact that the UKIPO had already awarded their trademark for their name to them. Virgin attacked and yet again the UK courts decided that there was no case to be heard and VIRGINIC should keep their own trademark.

Virgin lost the case, and the subsequent appeal, with VIRGINIC being awarded the princely sum of £300 in costs, and that, in any sensible judicial process, should have been that. However, Virgin’s lawyers managed to get the UK High Court of Appeals to agree to review the appeal of the case which, upon doing so, intrestingly awarded in favor of Virgin this third time around.

And here is the fun part; When VIRGINIC, a small “David” went up against the behemoth “Goliath” of Virgin and managed to not only show that common sense is still alive and well in some legal systems, but managed to do it on a shoestring budget, whilst a mammoth task and stupendous result given the odds, it appears that the ultimately necessary penny-pinching that all start-ups are likely to be forced to adopt, is the largest chink in their armor.

The reason for this is simple: Virgin lose and the judge awards costs in the order of £300 to the start-up. £300 which Virgin never actually saw fit to pay, regardless of the fact that they spend so much time in courtrooms arguing that their rights are being infringed upon and crowing for justice. This in itself is a pointer towards where this all goes wrong. You see, they cry foul and plead for justice as if the courtroom is a sacred place where all shall find their truth. In reality, when that truth is contrary to their opinion, they simply disregard the orders of the court and find somebody else to cry to.

Now, what happens when, at the third time of asking, they manage to find themselves a “friendly” judge? Well, their costs are awarded against VIRGINIC in the sum of…

Ready for this…?

£33,000 + £10,000!
With no right to appeal any further, conveniently.

So, Virgin “loses” and the bill is £300. I would guess that the lawyers charging $300 to make a phone call would probably be happy to pay that off themselves with the cash that they dropped down the sofa last night. However, when VIRGINIC loses, all those cups of coffee that the world’s most expensive secretaries were making suddenly add up to a sum of £43,000, so exorbitant, so utterly defiant of anything even approaching a reality that is in any way sustainable, that all suddenly becomes so very clear.

Virgin and, more importantly, Virgin’s lawyers LOVE finding random reasons to drag volnurable, small businesses (and apparently non-profit foundations too) into a courtroom because it is a no-loss situation for them. They literally don’t even bother paying the measly costs generated if they lose (Virgin pays) whilst running up such absurd bills themselves that, if they win, the small business is basically financially crippled to the point where it either ceases to exist or exists only for the purposes of paying off the legal bills. Small educational foundations like “Las Virgenes” for children, staffed entirely by volunteer parents are a no match with this malice legal practice backed by deep pockets of Virgin.

Is there a happy ending here? VIRGINIC is well off its knees trying to write one as we speak. Keep your fingers crossed and maybe the Wyoming case will prove more uncorrupted justice system in the US than the UK one.

Media contact:

Zac Andrews
International Consortium of Investigative Journalism
Louisville, Kentucky

Consumer Services, Internet & Online, Retail

SendBestGift.com delivering Rakhi and Friendship Day Gifts during Lock Down

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Gurgaon, India, 2020-Jul-15 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — Coronavirus pandemic has presented numerous challenges in front of the world since it’s outbreak at the fag end of the last year. As the world wrestles with these challenges, many green shoots have emerged as well. Having been locked up in our own homes, it seems like the fast paced life of the twenty-first century has come to a standstill. This much needed break has made everyone realize how disconnected they were with their beloved ones. These days loved ones are certainly on everyone’s mind. People cannot go out and hug their loved ones; however they sure can present their beloved ones with heartwarming gifts to reassert their love.

SENDBESTGIFT, one of the leading online gift shops, has taken upon itself to ensure that people can reach out to their near and dear ones from anywhere in the world. Keeping the upcoming festive season and COVID-19 lockdown in view, the website has updated its product portfolio and has upgraded its services to meet the gifting needs of millions of households in the nation.

Gifting has been used since ancient times to express the feelings of love, care and support. Today, people need love, care and support more than ever. And thus, the importance of gifting multiples mani-fold in these testing times. It now forms an important part of social lives. And why just social, it treads into the realms of personal life as well.

With just a few weeks left for Raksha Bandhan 2020 and friendship day, the company has started its Rakhi and Friendship day gifts delivery services despite the coronavirus advisory issued by the government. The website offers a wide array of unique gifts for friends. These friendship day gifts include friendship band, greeting cards, personalized gifts, cakes, chocolates, soft toys, combination gifts, and much more. For Rakhi gift ideas for brother & sister, the online gift portal offers designer Rakhi, chocolates, Rakhi with dry fruits, flowers, gift cards, sweets, cakes, Rakhi gift hampers, and so on.

“Online gifting is the future of gifting in India. This pandemic has shown us how important it is to go digital, do as much as we can from our homes. Understanding the need of the hour, SENDBESTGIFT has stepped up to the task of connecting hearts. We strive to deliver the best services to our customers and doing so has become more important in these difficult times. We have geared up for the massive demand during the upcoming festival season. From exclusive and extensive gift collections to a varied range of delivery services like the same day Rakhi gifts and same day friendship day gift delivery, we are ready with it all. Come shop with us, use our services to reach out to your dear ones and we promise to deliver excellence on your behalf. Stay home, stay safe and take care of yourself and your beloved ones,” says the founder and Chief Executive Officer of SendBestGift Narender Kumar.

The website has a very systematic approach to gifting and thus making it easier to place an order for gifts. It offers gifts for best friend boy as well as gifts for best friend girl. The website believes that there is a bond of friendship in every relationship and thus it offers friendship day gifts for girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, and husband too.

A delight for people looking to indulge in hassle free online gift shopping, the website offers separate sections for Rakhi gifts for brother and Rakhi return gifts for sister. Sisters can go to the Rakhi gifts for brother and choose gifts for their brothers and brothers can visit the Rakhi return gifts for sister section to place an order for the same.

SendBestGift has a range of gifts for various occasions and festivals. From numerous Rakhi variants like kundan Rakhi, kids Rakhi, rudraksha Rakhi, mauli Rakhi, beads Rakhi, zardosi Rakhi, fancy Rakhi and other to a plethora of Rakhi with gifts like Rakhi with dry fruits, Rakhi with sweets, Rakhi with chocolates, and Rakhi with personalized gifts, the website offers it all. In fact, this online gift shop offers pair Rakhi for brother and sister-in-law like the lumba Rakhi for bhaiya bhabhi.

Customers can send Rakhi with sweets, place an order for Rakhi with dry fruits, purchase Rakhi with cakes and soft toys or buy Rakhi with chocolates online from the comfort of their homes. The fast and precise provision of online Rakhi delivery ensures that the gifts are delivered to their respective destinations within the specified time.

Similarly, the website boasts of a diversified assortment of Friendship day gift ideas to help everyone commemorate the bond of camaraderie. One can use the platform of SENDBESTGIFT to titillate the taste buds of his/her friends with delicious friendship cake, amaze their best friend with a beautiful friendship flower delivery, present them with thoughtful personalized gifts, or satiate the cravings of his/her dear friend with an online friendship day chocolates delivery.

The website provides a customizable range of delivery options as well. Their delivery options include normal gift delivery, same day gift delivery, fixed time gift delivery and the midnight gift delivery in India. Customers can shop for gift for friendship day or other occasions and opt for any of these delivery options. In addition, customers can customize these delivery options to meet their personal gifting goals.

About Us

SENDBESTGIFT is a trusted online gift store serving its loyal customers since 2015. The company aims for 100% customer satisfaction and takes a customer centric approach for the same. Driven by a passion for innovation and a promise to achieve operational excellence, the company has come a long way from where it started. Today, the company is present in all parts of the nation and has many satisfied customers all over India. The website offers same day Rakhi delivery and same day gifts delivery in more than 1000 cities across India. In addition to it, the company offers midnight gift delivery in more than 100 cities. Operating round the clock, the company intends to make online gifting a household name.

Media contact:

support@sendbestgift.com
+91-9555151500

Entertainment, Gaming, Internet & Online, Software, Sports

While major games dropped cases because of social separating conventions, sportsbooks are discovering approaches to keep players inside the action during this pandemic

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Escazu, Costa Rica, 2020-Jul-04 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — With betting accessible on eSports, recreated sports, one-on-one rivalries, for example, boxing or tennis, horse dashing, computerized gambling club gaming, live vendor club, and even political decision results, individuals are as yet wagering as a type of entertainment.

Studies have demonstrated that during times of financial downturn, war, or emergencies, individuals go to diversion to ease tension and stress. Books, films, betting, computerized gaming, and internet based life are on the whole ways that individuals “look at” of their present reality, regardless of whether for only a couple of long stretches of relief.

Likewise, considers show that resigned grown-ups, whose every day exercises may be the most like jobless residents or residents who are protecting set up during social removing conventions, are bound to bet for incitement and for fatigue alleviation as opposed to for winning cash. In interviews, card sharks have shown that weariness is among the essential sparks for taking part in betting activity. With barely any games accessible to guess on nowadays, associations like PayPerhead.net, a sportsbook programming organization, have gotten progressively inventive in giving their clients the betting amusement their players crave. Simulated sports and eSports, two newcomers to the betting field of play, were at that point set to become multibillion-dollar enterprises some time before COVID-19 upset customary games betting. eSports (additionally called electronic games, e-sports, or Esports) is a type of rivalry by computer games.

Esports regularly appear as sorted out, multiplayer computer game rivalries, especially between proficient players, independently or as teams.

Unlike esports, which are constrained by people, reproduction sports are involved exclusively of games between a PC’s AI (man-made brainpower) and are commonly founded on customary games, for example, b-ball or football.

In expansion to the previously mentioned advanced occasions that speculators can wager on, PayPerHead bookies are likewise ready to offer pony race wagering, computerized gambling club gaming, and live seller club gaming on blackjack, baccarat or roulette.

Unlike conventional games wagering, the new advanced gaming, horse hustling, and online club gaming permit players to wager on a much lower financial plan, and can some of the time convey huge payouts. Therefore, PayPerHead.net bookmakers are seeing this downturn in sports wagering as extra invaluable, on the grounds that already sports-wagering just players are currently adding an entirely different collection to their standard betting activities.

As an ever increasing number of individuals look the web for job telecommute openings, new bookies are finding a totally different specialty in the online sportsbook and club industry. With unbelievable rate drops (PayPerHead.net is without offering administration until major U.S. sports start once more) during this coronavirus emergencies, presently is an incredible opportunity to start.

About PayPerHead.net:
PayPerHead.net, established in 1997, is the business’ driving per head online bookie programming, giving easy to use devices and unequaled client support to autonomous bookmakers around the world.

Media contact:

Peter L. North
Media Director
https://payperhead.net
+1 855-296-9171

Logo:

PayPerHead.net logo

Entertainment, Internet & Online, Software, Sports

PayPerHead Agents See Huge Uptick in Online Casino Gaming

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San Jose, Costa Rica, 2020-Jun-10 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — PayPerHead.com, a sportsbook technology leader, wanted a grasp of how the sports shutdown affected online casino gaming.

The company’s revenue results showed that sports bettors turned to casino gaming in droves. Overall casino revenue rose from March 11, the day the NBA shut down their season, to the end of May.

The most significant percentage surge came via live dealer casinos. From January to May, PayPerHead.com’s live dealer casino segment saw a revenue increase of 317%. The growth percentage dwarfs the digital casino revenue increase of 185%.

The numbers suggest that live dealer casino play is growing on an accelerated trajectory. What could account for the difference in revenue growth percentages?

PayPerHead’s Product Manager Nate Johnson spoke about how live dealer casinos bring “Vegas-like excitement.” Per Johnson, “Sportsbook software allows players to stream live dealer games on their tablets and mobile phones. Digital casinos use animation, and its cool animation. But many casino players still crave the human element.”

“Numbers don’t lie. If you’re a PayPerHead agent that doesn’t offer a live dealer casino, add it to your offerings. Las Vegas may never be the same. And, I’ll put our dealers up against any dealer you find in a brick and mortar casino,” Johnson said.

The biggest question is whether the growth in both digital casino and live dealer casino play will continue after the pandemic. Here again, it’s good news for PayPerHead agents.

PayPerHead’s revenue stats imply that sports shutdowns didn’t cause an upward trend and that the growth in casino play won’t stop anytime soon. The uptick in digital casino handle rose from $63.519M in January to $93.323M in February. From February to March, the digital casino handle rose to $110.758M.

Handle in PayPerHead.com agent run live dealer casinos rose from $9.95M in January to $12.02M in February to $22.82M in March. The numbers imply that casino play, both digital and live dealer, should continue to rise even after regular sports return. The growth trend should remain intact well into 2021 and beyond. Johnson said that when sports return, it may help raise casino gaming revenue. “Sports bettors wager on casino games while casino players don’t always wager on sports. If anything, PayPerHead agents are likely to see an uptick in all gaming segments once major US sports return.”

About PayPerHead:
Founded in 1997, PayPerHead is the industry’s leading online sportsbook software provider. The company prides itself on being a sports betting tech leader and customer-centric organization. Currently, PayPerHead provides sportsbook software solutions to over 15,000 bookies with over 75,000 players.

For more information, visit https://payperhead.com or contact:
sales@247servicenow.com
1-800-605-4767

Business, Internet & Online, Law, Management, Marketing, Media, Small Business

Virgin hires private investigators to spy and find out where VIRGINIC employees live in the US. VIRGINIC wins with Virgin twice in the UK

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Austin, Texas, 2020-Jun-09 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — Hypocrisy continues. Richard Branson claims to support small entrepreneurs and yet Virgin lawyers attack and destroy small start-ups.

Jolly Santa figure or a Business Bully?

Common sense says that the word ‘virgin’ cannot be owned by one individual or organization. After suing VIRGINIC, will Virgin now go after British Virgin Islands, the country? Or after Madonna for a song “Like a Virgin?”. Welcome to the Jungle where you can hire the most ruthless and manipulative lawyers, shall your deep pockets allow the cost.

Richard Branson, he of the goatee beard, shaggy hair and permanently fixed grin is not a man who needs to worry about money. His personal net worth is as of 2020 approximately 4.2 billion USD according to Google. The Virgin Group had an annual turnover in 2016 of around 25 billion USD. The Group’s business interests extend, to use the legal phrase, ad coelum et ad inferos. For those of us without a Classical education, that means up to heaven and down to hell, from trains on the ground to telecommunications in the atmosphere around us up to commercial space flight, Virgin has many fingers in many pies.

Of the many classes of goods and services marketed under the Virgin name cosmetics is not one of them. In June 2009, Virgin explicitly announced its intent to not use any mark containing the term “Virgin” in connection with the sale of cosmetics, skincare, and beauty products by announcing that it was “moving away from glamorous adventures in this particular retail sector.” A crystal clear statement of intent that stands to this day as Virgin still doesn’t sell cosmetics under the Virgin name and has long abandoned its mark with respect to cosmetics and skincare goods.

Enter stage right VIRGINIC LLC. Virginic was created two and a half years ago and is a startup specializing in mission-based, allergy-free, chemical-free beauty products with “virginic” level of purity, sold strictly through ecommerce channels. Small company with big ethos of superior standards of ingredients purity and ethics, vegan and unprocessed. Despite the fact that Virgin has no current or future interest in goods of this type, and that VIRGINIC is a different brand name than Virgin, Virgin has been aggressively pursuing a frankly absurd and bullying course of action against VIRGINIC for the past 2 years.

The logos of the two companies look nothing alike, the name of VIRGINIC is not similar and no person is going to think their VIRGINIC face cream has anything at all to do with Virgin Atlantic airline. There is no reason for Virgin to maliciously keep trying to destroy a company like VIRGINIC. It poses no threat whatsoever to Virgin’s business interests or to consumers but it is under attack by an army of lawyers in multiple countries, where employees are spied by lawyers, their linkedin profiles invigilated and people straight abused.

This sad state of affairs began when VIRGINIC LLC applied to register their trademark in the UK. In January 2018 the mark was accepted and published in the Trade Marks Journal in respect of Class 03, which covers cosmetics and skincare goods. The UK IPO governmental trademark officer accepted the trademark as it concluded no marketplace confusion nor even similarity. Virgin opposed it despite the fact that it does not sell cosmetics. As any reasonable person would expect, Virgin’s opposition failed, another senior UK IPO specialist decided VIRGINIC wins for a second time on the basis that the average consumer would not make a connection between VIRGINIC chemical-free cosmetics and Virgin Mobile.

However Virgin has massive resources and aggressive lawyers who appealed to the UK Court claiming that the original hearing officer was incorrect and his decision should be overturned. Additionally, aiming to destroy at all cost and against all merits, the lawyers attacked further demanding $50,000 from VIRGINIC.

Thomas M Monagan from Norvell IP, USA, together with Geo Hussey from A.A. Thornton in UK continued by opening more lawsuits in the USs and UK, serving litigation papers to unrelated companies that managers of VIRGINIC used to work for, all to harass the small company to the extreme point so they give up and destroy themselves on Virgin’s request. Virgin also hired a private investigators, as they disclosed to Court in Wyoming, to find out where employees and managers physically live.

In May 2020 same lawyers served VIRGINIC employees lawsuits via their private Linkedin profiles and to random email addresses found on the internet. Such actions could have been a Monty Python sketch, but sadly these days lawyers are apparently allowed to invade people’s privacy.

VIRGINIC stood strong and refused to be destroyed. A fight with multi billion dollar bully can cause significant hardship to any startup in its early stages. While Virgin has the resources to indulge in frivolous and harassing court cases, VIRGINIC does not.

This could bring any other company to its knees, halting operations and causing the lay offs of valuable and experienced staff, impacting the company and making its people jobless. Malicious lawyers applying a technique of continued harassment to burden financial resources of a smaller company and take an emotional toll on its staff is a technique called bullying. Where VIRGINIC should be concentrating on growing and developing its allergy-free and ethically-sourced products, which could change the face of the beauty industry, it is instead being forced to fight for its very survival even though it has done nothing against Virgin whatsoever.

Virgin’s lack of good faith and attempts of its lawyers to harass and destroy is even more clear looking at Virgin’s long history of trademark abuse. Even a cursory search of online sources will reveal multiple examples of trademark abuse and bullying small start ups.

However, like Pandora’s box, hope and VIRGINIC’s resilience is the one thing that remains. Hope that in Wyoming Court the common sense, merits and fairness will prevail in the law being applied in the spirit it was intended. The law need to let us hope that vindication will come in a win for VIRGINIC and continued growth and success in its pursuits of making the world better, one cream at a time.

Media contact:

Simon Hawley
International Consortium of Investigative Reporters
+1 5408976549

Computers, Electronics, Internet & Online, Software, Technology

USBLockit.com releases Free App to “Password Protect the USB Flash Drive” for Android

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USBLockit.com has released the World’s First App to Password Protect the USB Flash Drive for Android users on Google Play Store.

PADOVA, Italy, 2020-Jun-03 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — USBLockit.com has released a powerful security app for Android users on Google Play Store called ‘USB Lockit’. The app allows you to password protect the USB flash drive keeping it safe from unauthorized access.

This application enables you to set a pin-code protection to your USB flash drive. Once this has been done, the drive is effectively locked until the correct pin is entered. Once the drive is locked, one cannot read no write to it without the correct pin.

With this software, all your photos, audio, videos and other files stored on a FAT32/exFAT formatted USB flash drive can be easily protected from prying eyes. When you lock the drive, unauthorized access is prevented in all Operating Systems.

“We are happy to announce the new app release which is user-friendly and protects the USB flash drive with the private files effectively. The fact that the software is available for Windows and Android means that it is ideal for anyone who works with PC or Smartphone”, says Nicola Bezze, CEO of USBLockit.com

Compatible with your Android phones, Install USB Lockit from Google Play Store and password protect your USB flash drive:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.usblockit.app

About:

USBLockit.com offers users a friendly yet extremely powerful security software to protects the private files stored on USB flash drive. It has a large user-base in Europa followed by several countries in America and Asia. For more information, please visit www.usblockit.com

Media contact:

USBLockit.com
contact@usblockit.com

Business, Financial, Internet & Online, Technology

A New Cryptocurrency – BitcoinPoS – Bitcoin Proof of Stake

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Chicago, IL, 2020-Jun-1 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — Investing in Bitcoin (BTC) is now expensive, and getting your own through mining is nearly impossible for the average person. However, a new opportunity can be found in Bitcoin Proof of Stake.

BitcoinPoS: The Best of Bitcoin and PoS
Bitcoin Proof of Stake (BTP) was created by a team of developers that recognized the capabilities of the Bitcoin code and sought to improve them. They did this by replacing Bitcoin’s Proof of Work consensus protocol with Proof of Stake, resulting in a new and improved coin called BTP.

Proof of Work has proven that it is a less efficient protocol when compared to PoS, as it moves slower, cannot be easily scaled, and can favor centralization.

To improve upon the unique features of the Bitcoin code, the developers introduced Proof of Stake, thus creating a new coin, BTP, which challenges the boundaries of crypto functionality. If the Bitcoin core goes through an update, then BitcoinPoS will be immediately updated to include the new alterations.

The BitcoinPoS network can create no more than 21 million BTP. The new coins are generated not by mining, but through staking. The supply of BTP is managed from its protocol, which cuts the block reward once every 4 years by 25% every 700k blocks. BTC decreases with 50% of the reward every 4 years.

BitcoinPoS and Its Advantages

Pro-Decentralization Design
Mining is an energy-intensive process, as miners compete to be the first to solve the complex mathematical equations in order to get the block reward. In a Proof of Stake network, the stakers, or validators, can get new coins by keeping a number of BTP in an active wallet.

Due to its design, staking does not demand energy in high quantities, like in PoW systems. Most Bitcoin mining operations are now controlled by big companies, as only they have the capital to invest in many performant mining rigs. This leaves out regular people who cannot afford mining hardware, and thus the hashrate of the network becomes centralized, limited to only a few big mining farms. But with BTP, all users can stake coins, therefore, encouraging participation from more people and distribution of power throughout the network.

Resilience Against 51% Attacks
Centralization in PoW-based coins is an issue, as it leaves the network susceptible to a 51% attack, where one entity takes hold of 51% of the network hashrate. This person then has absolute power over the network and can manipulate transactions and block creation.

BitcoinPoS is resistant to 51% attacks, as the PoS protocol was designed to promote decentralization. BTP also uses a variation of the Proof of Stake model known as Mutualized Proof of Stake consensus, which is almost impossible to breach by an attacker, as it requires a lot of resources.

99% Reduction in Power Consumption
A PoS system does not need users to solve complex algorithms that are energy-consuming. This allows staking to be a more economical process of generating new BTP, using 99% less than Bitcoin mining.

Friendly to the Environment
All PoW mining operations are taxing on the environment because of its high energy consumption. Bitcoin PoS can function and issue new coins without the need for mining farms, and thus it is more eco-friendly.

Universally Accessible to Users
Setting up and managing a mining rig to mine Bitcoin is a big investment that not many people can afford. BTPs can be easily staked by all people, as a laptop or a personal computer is powerful enough to be used in staking.

Bitcoin Proof of Stake (BTP) allows all types of users to easily invest in a more efficient version of Bitcoin that carries with it all the perks of a PoS model.

Logo:

BitcoinPoS logo

Business, Entertainment, Government, Internet & Online, Law, Media, Small Business, Telecom

Matvil Corp. Continues Its Fight Against Illegal Actions of the Legal System of Moldova

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A case of intellectual rights dispute sheds light on the corrupt legal system of Moldova

TORONTO, Canada, 2020-May-15 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — As one of the leading online ethnic TV providers, operating in North America, Matvil Corp. discovered, there is no reliable system in place that protects legal broadcasters from dishonest competition. In their attempts to enter the US and Canadian markets, Internet pirates commit fraud and manipulate data in order to influence the corrupt legal system of Eastern European countries and try to destabilize operations of successful companies, cause financial damage and hurt their reputation.

The case Radio Star Ltd. against Matvil Corp. is a vivid proof of such practices.

On June 8, 2018, Radio Star Ltd. filed a lawsuit against Matvil Corp. in the court of Chisinau, Moldova, stating that the latter illegally broadcasted a number of Russian and Ukrainian channels on the territory of Moldova.

It should be noted right away that in support of its demands, Radio Star (Moldova), knowingly and deliberately used various methods to circumvent technical protection measures undertaken by Matvil Corp., and subsequently presented them as evidence. Using ExpressVPN program, accomplices or employees of Radio Star (Moldova), (which in this case is a media “pirate”), physically located in the Republic of Moldova, created user accounts and, using American IP addresses, with location in New Jersey, USA, registered on the Matvil Corp website, thereby creating the illusion of receiving services offered by the company.

It should be clarified that ExpressVPN program is a virtual tunnel that virtually changes the physical location of a computer or other electronic device, assigning this device a virtual IP address, indicating a virtual location anywhere in the world (at the choice of the user of this program), while physically, the electronic device is located in its territorial space.

Matvil Corp is a respectable media provider that provides online TV broadcasting services in Canada and the United States. Subscription access to the service for users from the countries of former USSR and Russia is strictly prohibited and unavailable.

However, malicious desire for illegal enrichment pushes such adversaries as Radio Star (Moldova) to resort to illegal actions, falsification, fraud and the commission of crimes using IT technologies.

Moreover, as it became known already in the framework of the trial, Radio Star (Moldova) does not have exclusive rights at all to broadcast Russian and Ukrainian television channels in the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Radio Star (Moldova) is just an agent for the distribution and conclusion of contracts with the end consumer and with a limited duration of contractual agreements.

In addition, Matvil Corp did not receive any claims from the copyright holders, and Radio Star (Moldova) did not provide any evidence that authority was granted by the copyright holders to protect their interests.

Despite all of the above, on January 18, 2019, Chisinau Court of First Instance, Judge Oksana Parfeni, ruled in favor of Radio Star, accepting all their fabricated evidence as reliable, but denied Matvil Corp representatives the right to hear IT experts / specialists and also denied the right to hear those persons who allegedly gained access to the service.

If the court were objective and impartial, then these adversaries would be asked only one question: “For what reason and why did they use ExpressVPN program, used American IP addresses, with location in New Jersey, USA, and did not try to log in on Matvil Corp website under valid Moldovan IP addresses? ”

On February 2, 2019 lawyer Matvil Corp appealed the decision of the first instance, however, even here Matvil Corp had to face partiality.

On April 5, 2019, that is, after 2 months, Chisinau Appeal Chamber issued a Decision, which decided to return the appeal because it was filed by an unauthorized person. The reason for this decision was a banal and completely illegal motive: the power of attorney issued to the company’s lawyer was allegedly not legalized in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.

It should be noted that this Decision was not sent to Matvil Corp lawyers until May 15, 2019 (apparently it was concealed in order to have the appeal dates expire). Only after applying with an official statement and demanding to indicate at what stage the filed appeal was, the court deigned to issue this Decision.

On the same day, May 15, 2019, the lawyer filed a protest against the Decision dated April 5, 2019, where it was decided to return the appeal, and on June 6, 2019, the Higher Trial Chamber of the Republic of Moldova ruled that the power of attorney was legal, and therefore obliged the Appeals Chamber to consider on its own merits the appeal about the decision of the first instance of the Court.

Thus, the first ray of hope for the objectivity and honesty of the Moldovan Judicial System appeared.

November 14, 2019 – The Appeal Court acknowledged the fact that Radio Star (Moldova) does not have any exclusive rights to broadcast TV programs and does not have the authority to protect the interest of copyright holders and, as a result, reversed the decision of the first instance and dismissed adversaries’ lawsuit.

It seemed as though that justice has triumphed!!!

However, the miracles of the legal / judicial system of Moldova continued.

Just by accident and thanks to the vigilance of the lawyers, it became known that Radio Star submitted cassation appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice on January 14, 2020.

This information appeared on the court’s website, but until today, neither Matvil Corp nor the company’s lawyer have received a copy of this complaint and have not been officially informed of its existence.

Moreover, on March 18, 2020 this complaint has already passed the admissibility procedure, and the review itself is scheduled for May 20, 2020 and, what is noteworthy, without the participation of the parties!

This series of non-compliance with the requirements of the Law by the system itself, which was created to protect it, shows that it serves the interests of a certain group of people.

Using the Moldovan judicial system, unscrupulous competitors try to destabilize the business and cause serious financial and reputational damage to American and Canadian companies that do not conduct and did not intend on conducting business in Moldova.

There is a possibility that a decision will be made to satisfy the decision of the first instance of Court and unreasonably blame Matvil. The company will be deprived of the opportunity to do anything in its defense due to the fact that this will be the last court hearing if the case is not returned to the Court of Appeal.

Given the unreliability, doubtfulness, and bias of the Moldovan judicial system, which allows for the concealment of information or neglects objective facts (visible to the naked eye and not requiring special knowledge), Matvil is not convinced about the objectivity of examination of this completely falsified court case.

If the Supreme Judicial Chamber of Moldova decides in favor of Radio Star Ltd, this will be another glaring evidence of the complete collapse of the Moldovan judicial system.

Media contact:
Mykola Skrynnyk
nick.s@matvil.com