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Legal

DIS

Disney (NYSE:DIS) is set to see the original 1928 'Steamboat Willie' version of Mickey Mouse enter the public domain in 2024, ending nearly a century of exclusive rights. Despite the potential loss, Disney's modern versions of Mickey Mouse remain copyrighted and trademarked, ensuring continued control over the character's most recognized forms. The expiration reflects the culmination of copyright laws that Disney once influenced to extend protections. The move has sparked discussions on Disney's copyright practices and could lead to new creative interpretations of the character.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Neuro

December 15, 2023 | 9:46 am

CHEK

Check-Cap Ltd. (CHEK) announced that the Israeli court has rejected all claims made by Symetryx against the company, including those related to alleged conflicts of interest of Check-Cap's Board of Directors in the Keystone business combination. The court also ordered Symetryx to pay Check-Cap's legal expenses. Check-Cap is addressing false statements made by Symetryx in a press release, clarifying that board member Yuval Yanai has no affiliation with Minerva Surgical and Exalenz Biosciences, contrary to Symetryx's claims.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

December 15, 2023 | 7:08 am

MSFT

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman debunked rumors of a GPT 4.5 leak with a simple 'nah' on X (formerly Twitter). Speculations arose from social media posts showing potential features and pricing of GPT 4.5. Despite the rumors, details about the release of GPT 4.5 and GPT 5 remain unclear. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), has also filed for trademarks for GPT-6 and GPT-7, indicating a focus on future developments.

Portfolio Pulse from Ananya Gairola

December 15, 2023 | 3:29 am

META

Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, seeking transparency on how the company moderates Palestinian-related content on Instagram, especially after the Israel-Hamas conflict. Warren cited concerns over content suppression, filtering, mistranslation, and reports of shadowbanning. She referenced the BSR report's recommendations and demanded details on Meta's content policies and actions since the October 7 attack.

Portfolio Pulse from Ananya Gairola

December 15, 2023 | 2:22 am

CVX

SPY

XOM

Guyana and Venezuela have agreed to continue dialogue on pending matters related to their territorial dispute, with a mutual agreement to avoid conflict escalation, as reported by Reuters citing St Vincent Prime Minister.

Portfolio Pulse from Charles Gross

December 15, 2023 | 12:54 am

NAUT

SLGC

Nautilus Biotechnology has filed a lawsuit in US District Court against SomaLogic and the California Institute of Technology, seeking a declaratory judgment that it does not infringe on any claims of US Patent No. 7,842,793, which is related to DNA origami structures.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

December 14, 2023 | 9:23 pm

NCSM

NCS Multistage Holdings has settled a litigation with Boyd & McWilliams without any cash payments, as their insurance carrier will cover the settlement amounts. A provision of $40.8 million accrued for litigation will be offset in Q4 2023 with a benefit from the settlement. NCS has no outstanding property damage claims litigation after settling a Wyoming case in August 2023, also covered by insurance.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

December 14, 2023 | 9:07 pm

TCNNF

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) is considering legal action in response to warning letters from the DEA cautioning pharmacies against dispensing THC. The DEA's warnings have raised concerns about access to medical marijuana (MMJ) in Georgia. Despite this, the GMCC remains committed to implementing the Hope Act and ensuring patient access to MMJ. Over 120 pharmacies have applied to participate in Georgia's program. Legal actions, if any, would be coordinated with the state attorney general's office. A budget rider currently prevents the DOJ from interfering with state MMJ laws. The situation highlights the need for federal cannabis policy updates. Botanical Sciences LLC and Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (OTCQX:TCNNF) are licensed producers in Georgia.

Portfolio Pulse from Joana Scopel

December 14, 2023 | 9:06 pm

DRIV

GM

General Motors' self-driving unit Cruise is laying off 900 workers, a quarter of its workforce, following the departure of top executives and a series of setbacks including an accident, permit suspension, and production halts. The layoffs raise concerns about Cruise's future and the autonomous vehicle sector. Despite this, the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (DRIV) has risen 18% since September. GM has reportedly reduced funding for Cruise, which plans a cautious return to service starting in one city.

Portfolio Pulse from Neil Dennis

December 14, 2023 | 8:05 pm

CHWY

The FDA has issued warning letters to Chewy Inc (NYSE:CHWY) and eight other companies for selling unapproved and misbranded antimicrobial animal drugs. These drugs contain substances important in human medicine and their misuse could lead to drug-resistant superbugs. The FDA's concern is that over-the-counter sales of these drugs for minor species pets contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Chewy's stock price saw a slight decline of 0.32% to $20.40 following the news.

Portfolio Pulse from Vandana Singh

December 14, 2023 | 7:28 pm