This Cookies Policy (“Policy”) describes Lyca Group’s collection, use, and retention of the cookies present in the website.
Cookies are simple text files that help coordinate Lyca Group’s website servers and your browser to display the full range of features offered by Lyca Group. These features include hassle-free automatic logins and authentication, shopping cart functionality, third party ad serving, ad management, preference setting, and language setting, among others.
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Our Cookie Policy applies to all websites offered by Lyca Group (LycaMobile, LycaRemit, LycaFly, LycaTalk, etc.). LycaMobile UK Ltd is a company incorporated in England with company registration number 05903820 and whose registered address is 3rd Floor Walbrook Building, 195 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SG.
Lyca Group started operations in 2005, in the UK, and became the leading Telecom Infrastructure Managed Service Provider in Europe. In early 2007 LYCA started operations in US.
In 2008, Lyca Group offshored its Technology Services to India and created a world class telecom engineering facility and operate across 23 different countries worldwide.
Also known as the 'Cookie Directive', the instrument that defines the requirements for consent for cookies across the EU is Directive 2009/136/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, an excerpt of which is reproduced below:
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The UK introduced the amendments on 25 May 2011 through The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011. The relevant section is below:
“6. - (1) Subject to paragraph (4), a person shall not store or gain information, or to gain access to information stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user unless the requirements of paragraph (2) are met.
(2) The requirements are that the subscriber or user of that terminal equipment -
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(b) has given his or her consent.
(3) Where an electronic communications network is used by the same person to store or access information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user on more than one occasion, it is sufficient for the purposes of this regulation that the requirements of paragraph (2) are met in respect of the initial use.
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Types of cookies and purpose
Cookies can be categorised in many ways, one is with regards to their longevity, i.e. for how long they are stored in your browser. According to this classification, cookies can either be:
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Fashion Visual Cultures is taught across all three years of the Fashion BA at Middlesex. Students engage with critical thinking around fashion history, theory and industry.
Fashion as a Second Skin: Interactive Fashion
‘Nothing signals the arrival of a new generation so surely as the fact that the previous one is shocked by its influences’. (100 Fashion Designers 10 curators, 2013, p. 4)
Massimo Osti (1994-2005) is an Italian designer, born in Bologna, who dedicated his life to the experimentation and creation of a new type of fashion. He studied graphic design, and in the 1970s, he created a range of t-shirts with innovative printing techniques like silkscreen and four-color process, both of which are widely used nowadays. During the 1980s, Osti experimented with materials and textile development, as well as creating different types of dyeing techniques. In 1987, Osti presented ‘Rubber Flax and Rubber Wool’: linen and wool with a thin rubber coating which made the fabric waterproof. After this, Osti went on to create the brands Stone Island and C.P. Company, both of which shared the same principle: avoiding seasonal collections, and instead focusing on creating garments that would last a lifetime.
The Ice Jacket (1987) (Figures 1 and 2) was the first product that joined together Osti’s technological advances in one garment. The jacket was made from liquid crystals that created a fabric which could change colour, depending on temperature. The jacket inspired a collection made with this material, which became popular with celebrities and high-profile clients such as Olympian skier Alberto Tomba, and Prince Rainier of Monaco (Facchinato, 2016, p. 56). Osti continued to develop fabrics such as Cool Max throughout his career. This was a fabric that makes the moisture of the body stay outside of the fabric. He also developed Mag Defender: a fabric that protects the wearer from magnetic fields, and Steel, which is a highly resistant fabric from cuts and tears (Facchinato, 2016, p. 14)
Figure 1: Refrigerated window display with an Ice Jacket, showing how it changes colour within seconds of the temperature changing. Corlaita, F. (2015) Ice Jacket changing colour by Massimo Osti [Photograph]. Mantova: Publi Paolini
Figure 2: Corlaita, F. (2015) Ice Jacket label by Massimo Osti [Photograph]. Mantova: Publi Paolini, Corlaita, F. (2015) Ice Jacket label by Massimo Osti [Photograph]. Mantova: Publi Paolini,
In 2000, Osti undertook a collaboration with Phillips and Levi´s. The result was the ICD+ line: a collection of high-performance, technical outerwear, seen in figure 3 and 4. These garments could be equipped with a mobile phone, an MP3 player, accompanying headphones, and a microphone, all of which were wired into the garment itself. This product was ground-breaking in that it was the first commercial offering where the garment was purposefully designed to house and fully integrate a variety of consumer electronics.
A few of the garments from the ICD+ collection are stored in the Westminster Menswear archives. I had the opportunity to visit the archives to examine them first-hand. One of the garments I analysed was a sand-coloured, hooded jacket from 2000 with a variety of wearable technology features. All the trimmings were black to contrast with the sandy main colour. The openings were double secured with a zip and Velcro tabs, and there was Velcro on the cuffs, which made them adjustable. The jacket lining was black mesh with taped seams. There were two curved large pockets on the front, closed with zippers, where the user could connect their phone and MP3 player to the jacket, with room for other objects to store inside the large pockets. All the wiring was hidden inside the garment, which gave the jacket a clean cut and simple silhouette. The earphones were wired into the hood, which is a design that has since been used for contemporary products. All the wires were easily removable, making it completely safe to wash, if necessary. The jacket’s design also included a practical way of being stored, by folding it into the two main pockets, so that it could become a shoulder bag. In appearance, this sandy jacket looks like any outerwear jacket. However, once I started opening the pockets, feeling the integrated wires, and noticed the connectors, I realised it is something else entirely.
Figure 3: Lightweight breathable polyester raincoat with thermally bonded seams attached to a nylon vest into the back of which the coat can be stored. ICD+ Collection S/S 2000. Corlaita, F. (2015) ICD+ Jacket and Vest by Massimo Osti [Photograph]. Mantova: Publi Paolini.
Figure 4: Nylon vest, designed to hold a Phillips electronics kit, including a GSM Mobile phone, MP3 Player, Headphones, Microphon and centralised remoted control, ICD+ Collection S/S 2000. Corlaita, F. (2015) ICD+ Vest by Massimo Osti [Photograph]. Mantova: Publi Paolini.
The way a wearer could use this jacket was confusing, as it did not seem to come with any instructions. While looking for more instructions about how to use it I found a small description on the webpage of the archives: ‘A central control module connects all the devices through the unified remote control to allow the wearer to switch between them and control their separate functions’ (Westminster Menswear Archives, 2020). Apparently, when someone purchased the jacket, they were given a set of instructions about how to use it, and how to store it. However, the jacket is now obsolete, despite being made as recently as 2000, and being considered to be cutting edge in technology at the time. The connectors were all for outdated devices. Nowadays, electronic connectors are different, so this jacket could not be used anymore, even if someone wanted to.
In 2002, Bradley Quinn tried to precisely define techno fashion, although his expansive definition demonstrated how enormous and complex techno fashion can be: ‘The new wave of intelligent clothing that fuses fashion with communication technology, electronic textiles, and sophisticated design innovations that express new ideas about appearance, construction and wearability’ (Quinn, 2002, p. 5). Quinn’s definition showed that there is no single, specific style attached to techno fashion, but that technology becomes another tool for the designer to create something new and different.
Using Quinn’s understanding of techno fashion, we can see that the Levi’s jacket meets two of his criteria: it fuses fashion with communication technology by wiring a phone to the jacket; and it expresses a new idea about what fashion is, and what its function is, by making the jacket have another function other than just covering the body. The jacket becomes a chimera between an electronic device and a normal jacket, yet it is still a garment, it is still fashion.
After the collaboration between Osti and Phillips, a new trend in fashion developed. Science and technology studies sociologist Sherry Turkle discussed this in her book The Second Self, arguing ‘the trend was for new computational objects-personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell-phones, laptops-to become even more intimate partners to their users, more like thought-prosthetics than simple tools’ (Turkle, 1984, p. 3). We can see Turkle’s thinking reflected by the fact that Levi´s continued to search for further collaborations after this one where they could integrate electronics to their garments.
“The jacket becomes a chimera between an electronic device and a normal jacket, yet it is still a garment, it is still fashion.”
Levi’s latest collaboration with Google in 2018 could certainly be considered a remake of ICD+ collection: The Google Jacket (Figure 5 and 6) allows the user to connect their mobile phone to a denim jacket, which is made possible due to a small integrated computer in one of the cuffs. As a result, the jacket can be used as if it was a mobile phone. Through the jacket, the wearer can control features such as playing music, taking pictures, searching the internet, or following instructions from Google Maps, among many other features (Jaquard, 2019, p. 3). The jacket is sold in two different models for a price of around £200.
Figure 5: Google Jacket with cuff details. Google Jacket with cuff details (2019). Available here
Figure 6 Google Jacket with cuff details. Google Jacket with cuff details (2019). Available here.
The more I researched about this new category in fashion, the more I realised that it is a far more complex field than I imagined. I also realised that there is not one exact way of making a techno fashion garment, nor a specific purpose. This is a new field, and most of the garments being created are experimental, which means that they can have any purpose and can be seen in any style. Ultimately, this made me understand that techno fashion is not a temporary fashion, it is a new way of creating fashion, through the use of technology.
Facchinato, D. (2016) Ideas From Massimo Osti. Mantova: Publi Paolini.
Quinn, B. (2002) Techno Fashion. Oxford: Berg.
Turkle, S. (1984) The Second Self: Computers and The Human Spirit. London: Granada.
Invisible Men Exhibition: An Anthology from the Westminster Menswear Archives. (2019) Available here. (Accessed 01.07.2020)
The Register (2000) Levi's and Philips Create Wired up Clothing. Available here. (Accessed 01.07.2020)
University of Westminster (2020) Westminster Menswear Archives. Available here. (Accessed 01.07.2020)
VHM (2000) 2000 PHILIPS/LEVIS ICD+. Available here. (Accessed 01.07.2020)
Nature and the Human in Fashion: A Sustainable Relationship? After Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of the Species was published in 1859, there emerged an exciting new trend among fashionable society to discover the natural world. Read more
Representations of Resistance: The Aesthetic of the New Age Movement In my dissertation, I explored the New Age Traveller movement, specifically focusing on the music and arts collective ‘Spiral Tribe’. I also examined the media representation of the movement through popular culture studies and music theorists, as well as fashion theory. Read more
Gender Inequality and The Representation of Craft in the Fashion Industry Gender inequality is a concerning problem in the fashion industry. The Design Council’s 2018 report stated that ‘78% of the UK’s design workforce is male’. Moreover, women are less likely than men to be in senior roles, with only ‘17% of design managers being female’ (2018, p. 7). Read more
Manuela Gonzalez Pigorini


Book Store » Biography » A Pebble in the Torrent
By Jan Vitek
Starting out as a struggling, aspiring writer, Jan Vitek would go on to play a secret role in undermining the Czech communist party from within, a mission that would result in the kidnap of his wife and child and his own exile in Switzerland. He has battled political regimes and devastating illness with the same refined humility during a life marked equally by triumph and tragedy. Born in South Bohemia and coming of age during the Second World War, Vitek witnessed the liberation of the Czechoslovakia in 1945, the subsequent Communist takeover and the unbridled Capitalist transformation that many of the ex-communist states experienced following the revolutions of the late 1980s. His own life has been played out against a dramatic backdrop of a Europe in flux and his accounts of both his own experiences and this sweeping social change is illuminating. A Pebble in the Torrent is Jan Vitek's captivating and dramatic story of a man who said no to oppression and injustice.


No EU sanctions can disrupt Turkey’s Mediterranean plans
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says no EU sanctions will change Turkey’s position on its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean
We will not abandon our rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean just because sanctions will be imposed or because the EU will criticize us, ”Cavusoglu quotes Sabah.
Recall that in recent months, Ankara has sent drilling vessels for the exploration of energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, defending its rights in the region, as well as the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Turkish leaders have repeatedly stressed that Ankara is in favor of solving all problems in the region with the help of international law, good-neighborly relations, dialogue and negotiations.
Pompeo accused Russia of fomenting chaos and conflict in the Mediterranean
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is trying to rewrite history in the Middle East and Mediterranean. Earlier, the Russian Foreign Minister pointed out the negative consequences of Washington’s political activity in the region.
“It is regrettable and useless that Mr. Lavrov is again mistaken in facts and trying to rewrite history … Russia continues to threaten the stability of the Mediterranean by using various methods to spread misinformation, undermine national sovereignty and wreak havoc, conflict and division in states across the region,” the statement reads. statement on the website of the US Department of State.
Turkey and Azerbaijan agreed on gas supplies to Nakhichevan
Energy Ministers of Turkey and Azerbaijan Fatih Donmez and Parviz Shahbazov signed a memorandum of understanding on the supply of natural gas from Turkey to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic in Azerbaijan. Reported by RIA Novosti
US imposed sanctions on Turkey
The sanctions were imposed “for knowingly participating in a major deal with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main arms export company, through the purchase of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system.”
Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned US decision on sanctions over purchase of Russian S-400
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, such actions on the part of the United States are not logical, since the acquisition of Russian weapons is a necessity to ensure the protection of the country, which obviously implies Washington’s refusal to sell Patriot complexes to Ankara. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has promised to give its own response to Washington’s actions.
British scientists have identified the oldest human relative
During a new science project, British scientists have named the most distant animal relative of man. It’s about sponges. The researchers recalled that these are aquatic, mainly marine, multicellular animals with an attached lifestyle.
Finnish parliament extends free education to 18 years
Free compulsory education in vocational schools and gymnasiums was approved by the Finnish parliament on December 15, according to the YLE TV and radio company. The approximate age of children up to which they will now be able to receive free education is 18 years
Hungary passed a bill that bans same-sex couples from adopting children
The document was proposed by the government headed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. As the British media company BBC explains, same-sex marriage is prohibited in Hungary, but previously the law could be circumvented if only one of the partners applied for adoption.
The tax authorities and the Bank of Russia can expand access to secrets.
The Ministry of Finance of Russia has prepared amendments that expand the tax authorities’ access to banking secrecy – they will be able to receive data on transactions on the accounts of banks and their clients not only upon request, as now, but as part of a regular information exchange with the Central Bank. At the same time, the Central Bank will be able to receive information from the Federal Tax Service that constitutes tax secrets.
Belarus suspended the transit of oil products through the port of Klaipeda in Lithuania
The subsidiary of the Belarusian Oil Company BNK (UK) Limited has suspended the transshipment of oil products through the port of Klaipeda, the Lithuanian state company Klaipedos nafta reported.
Klaipėdos nafta added that the new contracts remain in force, but their implementation has been suspended indefinitely. The agency notes that cargoes are still going to Klaipeda, but in smaller volumes than before.
Lower electricity prices did not help the economy of the Far East
The reduction in electricity prices at the expense of the entire country did not help the economy of the Far East did not lead to the growth of the regional economy, according to the Russian School of Economics (NES). The wholesale electricity market has already paid 129 billion rubles for the reduction in tariffs, but, according to the Institute’s estimates, this did not attract investment to the region, and productivity even decreased. The conclusions of analysts may change the mechanism of subsidies, hopes the regulator of energy markets. Industrialists are pushing for the complete abolition of subsidies.
The European Commission added “VKontakte” and Telegram to the list of resources with pirated content
The European Commission (EC) has expanded the “Counterfeiting and Piracy Watchlist” by adding, in particular, the social network “VKontakte” and the Telegram messenger. The corresponding document, dated December 14, was published on the website of the European Commission.
IKEA invests in a Russian furniture factory
The workshops of the furniture plant are planned to be located in the Kovrovsky district of the Vladimir region – in the special economic zone “Dobrograd”. This is confirmed by the founder of the company “Ascona” and investor Vladimir Sedov, who spoke at the Investment Congress. The construction of the enterprise should be completed in 2021. IKEA is ready to invest 200 million rubles in new production facilities.
Ural builders asked Putin to freeze the rise in housing prices
Ural builders complained to President Vladimir Putin about developers who decided to make money on the state program. Due to the introduction of preferential mortgages at 6% per annum, the demand for housing increased sharply, and developers decided that this was a favorable moment for raising property prices
Oil and gas company CNPC has become a long-term partner of Turkmenistan
The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has been implementing projects in Turkmenistan since 2002. The holding’s work consists of investments in the oil and gas industry and the provision of engineering and technical services in the oil and gas fields.
From Azerbaijan to Turkey
To date, more than 76 billion cubic meters of gas have been transported through pipelines from Azerbaijan to Turkey. Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov stated this, Azertac reports.
Unknown species of mountain animals and plants discovered in Bolivia’s forests
20 new species of plants and animals, as well as some species of insects and amphibians that were previously extinct, were discovered by members of a scientific expedition to the Zongo Valley, located in the eastern part of the Cordillera Real mountain range in Bolivia. According to the head of the expedition, Trond Larsen, the specialists studied the so-called “cloud forests” located about 50 km from La Paz for 2 weeks.
Found an effective way to protect neurons and stimulate their growth
A group of several universities led by researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the Shealy Institute of Vision at the University of California, San Diego have identified another family of enzymes called four germ cell kinase (GCK-IV kinase), the inhibition of which is potent neuroprotective and also permits axonal regeneration, making it an attractive therapeutic approach for the treatment of several neurodegenerative diseases.
Elastic cement was created in the USA
Elastic cement, created by scientists from the United States, allows you to effectively seal gas wells and wells, eliminating leaks hazardous to humans and the environment. About the development, which was presented by the staff of the University of Pennsylvania, writes the publication “Popular Mechanics”.
A new variety of rice has been developed using ion-beam technology
Breeders are planning to use ion-beam bioengineering to create new agricultural plants in the future. This year, in this way, it was possible to breed about a hundred varieties of corn, wheat and the same rice.
Smart jersey for athletes developed at Innopolis University
Scientists at Innopolis University (Tatarstan) have created a smart T-shirt that records muscle activity and collects data on exercise performance, the university’s press service reports.
“A team of scientists tested the development on a group of athletes in ski jumping and gymnasts. (…) Experiments have shown that the data obtained helps to find errors in the execution of exercises,” – said in the message.
Restore tooth enamel without fillings
Chinese scientists have developed a liquid mixture that can effectively restore the outer layer of damaged enamel. To do this, they used a material that mimics the natural process of mineralization of the protective cover of our teeth. Tooth enamel is formed as a result of the biomineralization process.
Australian scientists explain why you need to work less in winter
Recent research in chronobiology – a branch of natural science about the regulation of sleep and wakefulness in living organisms – has confirmed the theory that the need for sleep and rest increases in winter. Writes about this publication “Popular Mechanics”.
According to Murray, reducing the time of natural light in the morning during the cold season contributes to the phase delay of the body, in other words, in winter people want to wake up later. It is worth noting that many people around the world face a decline in strength during the winter.
Production of silicon qubits at the atomic level
Thanks to a grant from the US Department of Energy, a group of scientists from the University of Texas at Dallas has developed a method for more accurate creation of silicon qubits, which in the future could lead to the mass production of quantum processors based on semiconductor manufacturing.
Scientists have found meteorites with traces of alien organic matter
In early 2018, a meteorite fell on the ice of a lake in Michigan, which was tracked by the National Aerospace Agency’s weather radar. Thanks to this fact, scientists were able to quickly establish the place of the meteorite fall and find it. As a result, the researchers first received a fragment weighing 22 grams, and then several more fragments of a celestial body, the total mass of which approached a kilogram. Analysis of a meteorite that fell in the northeastern United States showed the presence of traces of uncontaminated organic matter.
These are mainly hydrocarbons of extraterrestrial origin, but sulfur and nitrogen-containing substances have been found in some fragments, the study authors say.
Astronomers have clarified the distance to the most distant galaxy
An international team of scientists using the MOSFIRE spectrograph installed at the observatory in Hawaii was able to refine the redshift of the radiation from GN-z11. New research has confirmed that GN-z11 is the farthest and oldest galaxy ever observed. It is located almost 32 billion light years from us.
Roscosmos proposed to launch satellites from a cannon
Specialists of the head scientific institute “Roscosmos” TsNIIMash propose to launch small satellites with carrier shells from electromagnetic guns. This follows from the materials published in the journal Vestnik NPO named after Lavochkin.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds price
On January 14, Samsung announces the flagship smartphones of the Galaxy S21 family. Together with them, the fully wireless Galaxy Buds Pro headphones are expected to debut. The headphones will come in silver, light purple and black colors. They will receive an active noise reduction system and high-quality emitters, created in partnership with AKG specialists. The total battery life, as noted, will reach 22 hours with noise cancellation. The novelty can be purchased for $ 200
Twitter to close the video streaming service Periscope
Twitter’s video streaming service Periscope will cease to exist on March 31, 2021. In addition, from December 15, new users will lose the ability to create accounts on the social network, the company said.
Facebook develops TLDR service
Facebook is developing an artificial intelligence-powered TLDR tool to automatically generate news snippets. It is reported by Buzzfeed News with reference to internal company information. The name of the service comes from the abbreviation “too long, didn’t read” (“too long, did not read”). The neural network will summarize large articles in a bulleted list. It is also assumed that the voice assistant will be able to voice this news.
Disney and Marvel Studios have announced a new series
The show, titled “Legends,” will be a retrospective of the superhero team that has always been the focus of fans’ attention, with each episode known to feature a different character
The first people to get to know the audience will be Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany). This choice was made deliberately to refresh fans’ memories of these characters before the release of their solo series.
On criminal liability for blocking roads
Dmitry Vyatkin (United Russia), the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee for the Development of Civil Society and Issues of Public and Religious Associations, on Wednesday introduced a bill to the lower house on criminal liability for deliberately blocking transport infrastructure and obstructing traffic. The document was published in the Duma electronic database
Oracle moves headquarters from California to Texas
Oracle, one of the largest US IT corporations, will move its headquarters from California to Texas. At the same time, the company does not intend to sell its former headquarters, like other offices in Seattle, Denver and other cities.
The readiness of Russians to receive a salary in an envelope
More than 44% of Russian citizens are ready to receive a salary in an envelope, – found out the research center of the portal SuperJob, – the website of the radio station “Echo of Moscow” reports. Experts note that mainly the poor agreed to this option – among Russians who earn more than 80 thousand rubles a month, 36% would agree to this option, but among Russians with a salary of less than 30 thousand rubles a month, this is already 45%.
Arctic navigation season in 2020
European meteorologists note that the navigation season in 2020 has become a record for shipping in the Arctic. Previously, the Northern Sea Route was open to LNG tankers from June to October. Due to the climate crisis, the amount of ice in the Arctic Ocean is rapidly decreasing and in 2020 shipping continues even in December.
EU agreed on third package of sanctions against the Belarusian authorities
The permanent representatives of the 27 EU member states have agreed on a third package of sanctions against the Belarusian authorities, which, according to the community, are responsible for election fraud and human rights violations. This was reported to a TASS correspondent on Wednesday by a source in the delegation of one of the European countries in the EU Council. According to the diplomat, the new list includes about 35 individuals and legal entities.
The European Parliament proposed to open an office of the Belarusian opposition in Brussels
More than 100 MEPs signed an appeal proposing to EP speaker David Sassoli to open in Brussels a permanent office for the Sakharov Prize winners, which this year was received by representatives of the Belarusian opposition. RIA Novosti writes about this with reference to the press service of the European People’s Party (EPP).
EU ambassadors agreed to extend sanctions against Russia
The extension of economic sanctions against Russia for six months, which expire on January 31 of this year, was agreed by the permanent representatives of the 27 member states of the European Union. This was reported on December 16 by a source in the delegation of one of the European countries in the EU Council.
The State Duma approved a ban on publishing data on the property of security officials
The State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill that prohibits the dissemination of information about the private life and property of the military, law enforcement and control officials. This is stated on the website of the Duma
The explanatory note to the bill notes that the publication of such information “interferes with the administration of justice, the fight against crime and other offenses.” An exception will be made when investigating criminal cases, checking for corruption or personal consent of a person.
Wage arrears in Russia
The wage arrears in Russia as of December 1, 2020 amounted to 1 billion 898.2 million rubles, according to the materials of Rosstat. Compared to the level of November 1, 2020, the total debt increased by 1.5%, or by 28 million rubles
The State Duma passed a law for the promotion of drugs on the Internet
For citizens, the fine will be from 5 to 30 thousand rubles, for officials from 50 to 100 thousand rubles, for legal entities from 1 to 1.5 million (or up to 90 days of a ban on work), for foreigners from 4 to 30 thousand. rubles with deportation (or 15 days of arrest).
Also, the liability of operators who do not block resources with such propaganda is becoming stricter: a fine for officials from 10 to 30 thousand rubles, for legal entities – from 100 to 500 thousand, rubles for a repeated violation within a year – from 30 to 50 thousand rubles, and from 500 to 800 thousand rubles, respectively.
In addition, the Duma has a bill on criminal punishment for persuading people to use drugs on the Internet: up to 10 years in prison, and if this resulted in the death of several people – from 12 to 15 years. The document passed I reading
FAS will monitor prices together with the prosecutor’s office
In case of non-execution or delay in the execution of decisions to reduce prices for certain socially significant types of products, the Federal Antimonopoly Service will conduct unscheduled inspections and start cases.
“The measures taken will be permanent and lasting,” the message says.
Seven basic products with zero mark-up
X5 Retail Group announced that the retailer will sell seven basic products in all stores with zero mark-up – at the purchase price from suppliers. The list will include:
Trading expenses for these goods (including rent, logistics, utility bills, staff salaries) are going to be covered by the company. On store shelves, such goods will be marked with special price tags, the retailer’s press service said.
Paris mayor’s office fined for feminism
The Paris City Hall was fined 90 thousand euros for feminism: too many women were found there in leadership positions. By law, men and women in the administration should be equally divided, or 60 to 40 in favor of men. In Paris, the female half is 19% more since 2018, supervisory authorities found.
The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, declared the fine absurd, unfair, irresponsible and dangerous, and promised to continue to “vigorously promote women.” She said that she was ready, together with her “directors and all employees of the General Secretariat” to pay this fine to the Ministry of Civil Service from her own pocket.
According to the rules, it is supposed to “burn everything out with fire”
In the Nizhny Novgorod region, Orthodox priests burned a 150-year-old church built without a single nail. The Russian Orthodox Church explained that there is no blasphemy in this, according to the rules it is necessary to “burn everything with fire.”
Roman Kiyanov, a press secretary for the Lyskovo diocese, told the Podyem newspaper that the wooden bell tower in the village of Okishino had long ago fallen into disrepair and was dangerous, and there was no money to restore it.
In Brussels, it was decided to create Eurocomnadzor.
The European Commission has published a cybersecurity strategy designed to protect European institutions, infrastructure and citizens from new threats. Among the proposed measures is the creation of a permanent body to coordinate the fight against virtual threats between different EU structures and the authorities of its individual countries.
The Ministry of Defense will receive compensation twice for the same job
The Russian government ordered to compensate the Ministry of Defense for the costs incurred by the department during the outbreak of covid in the Severo-Yenisei region of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. At the same time, the department has already been compensated for its expenses. Writes about this NGS24.ru. They are going to compensate 256.1 million rubles from the reserve fund of the Putin government.
We are talking about a situation when more than 1,000 shift workers fell ill at the Olympiada deposit of the Polyus gold mining company. Then the Ministry of Defense made a temporary covid hospital and an observatory there. It was in May. The company “Polyus” claims that they fully compensated the expenses of the Ministry of Defense for helping the company in the fight against covid.
Russia has set maximum prices for sugar and sunflower oil
The government, retail chains and manufacturers have set maximum prices for sugar (46 rubles per kilogram) and sunflower oil (110 rubles per liter)
Until the last riot policeman and a real doctor say that he has done his job
Alexander Lukashenko said that he would fight for Belarus until “the last riot policeman and a real doctor” say that he has done his job. He stated this during a meeting with the staff of the regional clinical hospital in Mogilev.
“Nobody should think that Lukashenka has folded his hands, and that’s it, he has already dropped everything and left. Until the last riot policeman and the real doctor say: “That’s it, Lukashenka, you have done your job,” until then I will fight for this country. I have nothing else besides her, ”Lukashenka said.
He also asked not to believe those who say that Lukashenka makes the Constitution for himself. He assured that his position is unchanged and is to save the country
Deflation in China.
Consumer prices in China in November fell by 0.5% (compared to November last year). Especially food – by 2%. Economists attribute this to the rise in the yuan exchange rate, which makes imports cheaper. Since May 2020, RMB dollars have dropped 9%.
Three years for commenting on former Interior Minister Karaev under video
The Human Rights Center Viasna reports that 31-year-old Yuri Kornilovich was accused of publicly insulting a government official in connection with his official duties. The materials of the case say that Kornilovich with his comment “humiliated the honor and dignity” of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus at that time, and also “caused him moral suffering”.


GRIPPING TEASER 4 SF FILM "I AM NUMBER FOUR" WITH ALEX PETTYFER. "SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN" & "SNOW AND THE SEVEN" BRING A NEW TAKE ON THE CLASSIC FAIRY TALE
According to "The Hollywood Reporter" Rupert Sanders will direct SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, a new take on the famous fairy tale in which the huntsman, who was ordered to take Snow White into the woods and kill her, but decided to let her free, will now have a new role. In this new film he will actually be shackled to the girl for a good deal of the movie and the huntsman will not be a love interest, instead he will act as a mentor, with the prince still very much a part of the story.
At the same time Walt Disney Pictures is also preparing their version of this fairy tale called SNOW AND THE SEVEN which will be a fantasy-adventure about a young British girl who is trained to fight by seven Shaolin monks :(
The first very gripping teaser trailer for the upcoming film adaptation of science fiction book series I AM NUMBER FOUR is finally here. It brings some
intense flashes from this intriguing sf story about an earthbound alien disguising himself as a high school student in an attempt to hide from a rival species looking to destroy his race. Gorgeous young cast including magnetic Alex Pettyfer, Jake Abel, gorgeous Dianna Agron, mesmerizing Teresa Palmer, Callan McAuliffe alongside Timothy Olyphant and Kevin Durand, will portray a group of nine earthbound alien teens who escaped their home planet just before it was destroyed by a hostile species. While the high school-aged kids assimilate, one of them discovers that he is being hunted by the enemy that blew up his planet. The film premieres next February.
GORE VERBINSKI AND JOHNNY DEPP TO REUNITE 4 "THE LONE RANGER". DARREN ARONOFSKY AND NATALIE PORTMAN TO REUNITE 4 "SUPERMAN" REBOOT. RACHEL BILSON IS IN "GHOST ANGELES"
According to "MovieWeb" director Gore Verbinski might reunite with Johnny Depp on THE LONE RANGER. As you know, the two of them worked together on THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. The popular western follows The Ranger, a masked cowboy riding a white stallion named Silver, who is trying to bring the unscrupulous gangs and others of that ilk to justice.
Lovely Rachel Bilson (Hayden Christensen's ex girlfriend) has pretty much disappeared after starring in THE O.C. but now she will be the main star of a show with an uber-cool name GHOST ANGELES :) This new NBC show will revolve around a young woman living in Los Angeles who can talk to the dead, so
something like GHOST WHISPERER but without Jennifer Love Hewitt :) The show will be produced by Josh Schwartz (CHUCK, GOSSIP GIRL).
The latest gossip about SUPERMAN reboot says that one of the strongest candidates for the director's seat is Darren Aronofsky and according to the same gossip if he takes the helm he will put his muse Natalie Portman in the role of Lois Lane, with whom he just finished BLACK SWAN. The rumors also say that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures had wanted Natalie Portman in this role back when they were shooting SUPERMAN RETURNS a few years ago as well. The reboot must start with the production soon before the studios lose rights on the famous superhero character.
THANDIE NEWTON IS HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST BRITISH ACTRESS. NEW POLL: BEST BRITISH GENTS PART III
With almost half a thousand of votes from some charming trolls lurking around, the second part of our BEST BRITISH ACTRESS poll is over :) Refined beauty Thandie Newton has won with 56% of votes, Kate Winslet took second place with 20%,
leaving Polly Walker (8%) and Helen Mirren in third and fourth place with Polly scoring just two votes more than Helen. Now methinks you will agree with a strange notion I have that this poll has been hijacked by Thandie Newton's fans, because she probably wouldn't be able to beat experienced and acclaimed actresses such as Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet or Polly Walker in reality, but I won't complain too much :) I do love the beautiful and sensual Thandie.
She basically got world wide fame with her supersexy role in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 alongside Tom Cruise and Dougray Scott. After that she was equally brilliant and mesmerizing as dangerous Dame Vaako alongside Karl Urban and Vin Diesel in THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK. She showed her
dramatic talent in one of the best films of the last decade THE CRASH by Paul Haggis. After that she didn't have a lot of noticeable roles, but I must admit I remember and love her most for her touching portrayal of African doctor in famous TV show E.R. where she had a tragic love with Noah Whyle. In 2012 she got the chance to play a presidential daughter. In the future we shall watch her in futuristic mystery THE VANISHING ON 7TH STREET alongside Hayden Christensen and then in spooky thriller RETREAT alongside Cillian Murphy and Jamie Bell.
It's interesting that she has a Cambridge degree in anthropology, proving she's not just beautiful but smart as well. She was supposed to be a CHARLIE'S ANGEL instead of Lucy Liu. Would you believe that she is almost 40?
Now, off to our next poll which will be the closing chapter of our BEST BRITISH GENT voting. Eight new distinguished British actors for whom you can vote during next two weeks as much as you like are: Jude Law (SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, ALFIE, SHERLOCK HOLMES), Dougray Scott
(MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, ENIGMA, ARABIAN NIGHTS), Kenneth Branagh (HAMLET, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING), Johnny Lee Miller (THE FLYING SCOTSMAN, AEON FLUX, MINDHUNTERS, EMMA), Paul Bettany (LEGION, WIMBLEDON, THE YOUNG VICTORIA, PRIEST), Anthony Hopkins (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THOR, ALEXANDER), Jeremy Northam (THE TUDORS, GOSFORD PARK, ENIGMA) and Clive Owen (ELISABETH THE GOLDEN AGE, KING ARTHUR). Vote on and let the best men win!
AND A SMALL INFO - you know that I work as a book translator, so if you are interested in seeing how my books actually look like, head over to my dear Vics over at HAIRNETS AND HOPES who has organized a charming game with the covers of my books. So go over to Vics and join the fun :)
STARZ TO FIND NEW SPARTACUS FOR "BLOOD AND SAND"? GUILLERMO DEL TORO MAKING "TROLLHUNTERS". DAVID OAKES AND HOLLIDAY GRAINGER ARE LUCREZIA AND JUAN IN NEW EPIC SAGA "THE BORGIAS"
You already heard the terrible news earlier this month that Andy Whitfield has problems with cancer again, and that he won't be able to do the second season of SPARTACUS BLOOD AND SAND. It was planned for him to shoot the new season which was supposed to be aired in Autumn after the
prequel SPARTACUS GODS OF ARENA which will be aired early next year describing the rise of the house of Batiatus. The new update is that Starz is now thinking of finding a new actor for the role of the brave gladiator, since Andy probably won't be able to return any time soon, and Andy is apparently OK with that solution. The second option is to cancel the whole show, which would be unwise having in mind the financial and critical success of the show so far. I'll keep you posted.
Guillermo del Toro will write and direct an animated movie for Dreamworks. Tittled TROLLHUNTERS, the film will be based on his YA novel, which he is currently writing, combining fairy tales and creatures of ancient lore with modern times and it will tell the story of how difficult it is to be a kid.
But he first has to finish spooky arctic flick AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS for which he already has one of the actors - Ron Perlman.
Showtime's new epic saga which is to replace legendary show THE TUDORS next spring - THE BORGIAS is moving on with production. This saga, directed by Neil Jordan, will follow the infamous Italian Renaissance family lead by Rodrigo Borgia, the cunning, manipulative patriarch who ascends to the highest circles of power within Renaissance-era Italy. Beside Jeremy Irons as the pope Rodrigo Borgia, Francois Arnaud as his son Cesare, Colm Feore and Derek Jacobi as Cardinal Orsini ... the two other children of pope
Rodrigo have been cast: gorgeous young British actress Holliday Grainger ("Merlin") has been cast for the lead female role of Lucrezia Borgia, the beautiful and passionate daughter of the pope, while young David Oakes ("Pillars of the Earth") will play her older, more responsible, brother Juan Borgia. Trevor Morris who made the amazing scores in THE TUDORS will compose the music in THE BORGIAS as well.
CHARLIZE THERON & PATRICK WILSON IN "YOUNG ADULT". NICOLE KIDMAN AND AARON ECKHART IN "RABBIT HOLE". WW1 DRAMA "BESA" BY SRDJAN KARANOVIC IS SERBIAN CANDIDATE FOR OSCAR 2011
Now this sounds like a great tandem, two super gorgeous and super talented creatures together: Charlize Theron and Patrick Wilson will star in YOUNG ADULT. Written by creative Diablo Cody ("Juno", "The United States of Tara") and directed by Jason Reitman ("Up In The Air"), YOUNG ADULT will focus on a ghostwriter (Charlize Theron) of young adult novels who returns to her hometown to reconnect with high-school friends and an ex-boyfriend who wants nothing to do with her.
A whole bunch of gorgeous TV actresses will have new gigs as guest stars in popular TV shows: Teri Hatcher will appear in SMALLVILLE as Lois Lane's mom, Eliza Dushku will appear in THE BIG BANG THEORY as an FBI agent, Summer Glau will appear in CHUCK, and Hilary Duff will guest star in COMMUNITY.
Another interesting tandem appears in RABBIT HOLE, a drama which premieres this December in the pre-Oscar season. Starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart and based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning play, the film tells the story of parents who are struggling to cope with the death of their four-year-old son.
Serbian Academy of Film Arts and Science has chosen BESA for the Serbian candidate in the qualifications for Oscar in the best foreign film category. Directed by acclaimed movie maker Srdjan Karanovic, BESA is set in the WW1 when Filip, the principal of a Grammar School in the south of Serbia,
gets drafted to go to war, but he doesn't know what to do with his young wife, the dance teacher, whom he had met during his studies in Western Europe. Seeing Filip's problem, Azem, an uneducated traditional Albanian who works as a janitor in his school, vows to him that he will protect and take care of his wife no matter what. But what happens when the unexpected and forbidden love between a Christian woman and an older Muslim man threatens to break that vow? This touching historical drama, which deals with the deep historical differences between classes and religions, has gotten great critical reviews since its premiere this year and has scored many prizes at international film festivals.
POST APOCALYPTIC EPIC MOVIE "THE LOST FUTURE" FROM SYFY WITH SEAN BEAN, COREY SEVIER, ANNABELLE WALLIS AND SAM CLAFLIN
I'm not sure how I missed this one so far: scheduled to premiere sometime this year THE LOST FUTURE is SyFy's and Germany's RTL elaborate new mini series. This post-apocalyptic story will be set in 2510, where a group of post-apocalyptic survivors struggles to survive in a world where jungles and forests and primeval wetlands and deserts have obliterated civilization. They staunchly face genetically mutating beasts and mysterious diseases in an attempt to re-establish the human race as masters of Earth. Although humans have devolved back to the Stone Age a small group of wise men knows there is knowledge in the mysterious artifacts called books. Now they have found a young man who knows how to read. If they can defeat the warlord who rules the city where the books are kept, the young man can help them defeat the disease that decimated the world and restart civilization.
Beside Sean Bean (whom we can expect in HBO's "Game of Thrones" next year) in the lead role, the cast of this enigmatic, multifaceted story full of surprising turns, also includes great young actor Sam Claflin (we've watched him this summer in "Pillars of the Earth " and he will also star next year in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"), Eleanor Tomlinson ("Alice in Wonderland", "The Illusionist"), gorgeous Annabelle Wallis (beautiful queen Jane Seymour from "The Tudors") and hunky Corey Sevier who plays the future leader of the tribe. The film is directed by Emmy-winner Mikael Salomon ("Band of Brothers", "The Company"). Not much is known about the film so far, but HOLLYWOOD SPY will try to keep you informed on the project.
PICS OF CHRIS EVANS FROM "CAPTAIN AMERICA". FAIRY SAGA "WICKED LOVELY" GETS A FILM. WARNER BROS SF EPIC "EXPULSION". TRAILER 4 "MRS PEPPERCORN'S MAGICAL READING ROOM"
Now while our cinemas are swamped with vampires, werewolves, Mel Gibson and other scary creatures :) here's a real refreshment: Kimberly Peirce ("Boys Don't Cry") will direct the adaptation of WICKED LOVELY a book by Melissa Marr about a young girl who has the ability to see a hidden fairy world. The story follows Aislinn, a girl who has always seen faeries but followed her grandmother's rules to ignore them at all costs. But suddenly the faeries are stalking her and she's forced to confront them and their world that she's feared all her life. There's also Keenan, a Summer King, who has been searching for his Summer Queen for nine centuries and now he has his eyes on Aislinn.
It seems that Warner Bros is preparing a huge sf project. According to "Deadline" the studio has bought a script from author Gregg Hurwitz called EXPULSION. This futuristic film will begin with an act of terror which destroys Earth after which a small band of survivors escape to a planet beyond the solar system.
"Movieweb" has posted yesterday the first pictures of Chris Evans as Steve Rodgers at the set of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, and as you can see Chris, who had a smoking body before as well, got even more muscly, ripped and brawny for the role. He is now a true super hero. Coming to cinemas next summer, the film also stars Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper...
And if you like magic and fairy tales, you might want to check out the trailer for the small and low budgeted but super charming British film MRS PEPPERCORN'S MAGICAL READING ROOM, directed by Mike Le Han, a story about a little girl who gets more than she bargained for when she sees some unusual movement in the reading room of the shop across the street. There she meets Mrs. Peppercorn who shows her how magical the world can be ... The trailer is very atmospheric.
KATE WINSLET & JODIE FOSTER IN "GOD OF CARNAGE". REESE WITHERSPOON IN "BRAVE". 1ST TRAILER FOR "THE KING'S SPEECH". EMILY BLUNT IN "ENGAGEMENT GAMES"
Disney and Pixar are working on BRAVE a charming animated movie in which Reese Witherspoon will give voice to Merida, a Scottish princess looking to escape her royal fate and become a world-renown archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. The film should be out in 2012.
Gorgeous Charlize Theron will star in TWO EYES STARING, a weird story of a nine-year-old girl who discovers her sinister friend is the ghost of her mother's dead twin. Equally gorgeous Emily Blunt will star in ENGAGEMENT GAMES a comedy about three sisters who get engaged at once and will stop at nothing to get their mother's wedding ring. The dad settles the dispute with a game of "family Olympics" :))
Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster will act together in Roman Polanski's GOD OF CARNAGE, a film about two sets of parents who decide to have a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a schoolyard brawl. The union turns sour once the parents begin attacking each other over their questionable parenting skills, and soon this heated discussion turns to their marital problems as well. The husbands will be played by Matt Dillon and Christoph Waltz.
And I finally have a trailer for the praised drama THE KING'S SPEECH in which Colin Firth plays British king George VI, who unexpectedly became king when his brother Edward (Guy Pearce) abdicated the throne. Geoffrey Rush stars as the speech expert who helps the king find a voice with which to lead the nation into war. The cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon.
LIAM HEMSWORTH IS "FALLEN" ANGEL. MILLA JOVOVICH IN COSTUME IN "THE THREE MUSKETEERS". HILARIOUS TRAILER FOR "GNOMEO AND JULIET"
Does Liam Hemsworth, the brother of Chris Captain America Hemsworth and the boyfriend of Miley Montana Cyrus, look like an angel to you? Well, he might take the lead role in Disney's FALLEN, a teen fantasy similar to "Twilight" but with fallen angels instead of vampires. This will be an adaptation of the cheesy novel by Lauren Kate about a high school student who experiences forbidden love, and has to choose between two young men who are actually fallen angels who have battled over her for centuries :)) Ah, the story of my life :))) As HOLLYWOOD SPY wrote earlier, young Liam is also playing the lead role in 2011 epic "Arabian Nights".
And as you've already noticed, Paul W.S. Anderson's THE THREE MUSKETEERS is slowly but resolutely shaping up to become the film with the trashiest costumes ever. You've seen Orlando Bloom in frills, feathers and brocade and now take a look at Milla Jovovich's Halloween costume she'll be sporting in the film as Milady De Winter :)
You can also check out the first trailer for the crazy, funny and super charming animated movie GNOMEO AND JULIET which features songs from Elton John and voices from Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Jason Statham, Michael Cane ... Premiering in February 2011, GNOMEO AND JULIET will be a story about two garden gnomes who have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find a happy ending?
HOLLYWOOD SPY CELEBRATES ITS 150,000TH VISITOR AND SOME OTHER STUNNING RECORDS
Hey, gorgeous people, I just wanted to celebrate with you a few great things. First of all you've probably noticed that HOLLYWOOD SPY has had its 150,000th visitor on Sunday, that's an amazing number for a little blog, and I wanted to thank you for visiting and reading your favourite film and TV news blog daily. Yesterday something unusual happened as well: we've had mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, record-breaking 6,700 visitors in
just one day!I'm not sure how and why, but it happened. The previous record was 3,000 visitors on September 14th. So thanks to everyone who comes by daily, to all you darlings who comment on my posts as well, huge kiss to you gorgeous people from my official blogroll in the left sidebar, and thanks to readers from 184 countries around the world who have come by HOLLYWOOD SPY during the previous year! Dezz loves you and there's nothing you can do about it :)
"ENDER'S GAME" SF EPIC. SPIELBERG TO DIRECT "ROBOPOCALYPSE". READY FOR ZOMBIE INVASION IN "THE WALKING DEAD" TV SHOW?
This Halloween will sure be spooky if you decide to spend it watching the premiere of AMC's new zombie TV show "The Walking Dead" which has already caused quite a hype around the Net. The show will be set in the dark, scary and grim time after a zombie apocalypse when a group of survivors tries to find a safe and secure home. The cast includes Andrew Lincoln ("Love Actually"), Jon Bernthal ("The Pacific"), Sarah Wayne Callies ("Prison Break")... and is directed by Frank Darabont.
Director Gavin Hood ("Wolverine") might helm the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card's sf epic "Ender's Game" set in a world in which humans face a serious threat from an alien race known as the Formics and begin training elite military units in response. Against this backdrop comes Andrew Wiggin, also known as Ender, who becomes a top-flight soldier and helps to save Earth by fighting simulations that turn out to be real.
It seems all the producers and agents in Hollywood want to take part in "Robopocalypse" after Steven Spielberg has shown interest in directing this movie himself. This lavish sf epic would explores the fate of the human race after the world was hit by a robot uprising.
Although they have already started filming, "X-Men: First Class" is still adding new actors to portray its gallery of mutants. Young Spanish actor Alex Gonzalez has been added to the cast as Janos Quested a.k.a Riptide, a mutant with the ability to spin his body at an incredibly fast rate while shooting shurikens and spikes all around. He joins the cast which already includes Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Caleb Landry Jones, Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, January Jones, Jason Flemyng....
SENSATIONAL TRAILER FOR SF EPIC "STAR BLAZER". DRAGON SAGA "FIRELIGHT" GETS MOVIE ADAPTATION
Now since I know there are many writers of YA novels among my dear readers, this one will surely excite a lot of you: Mandalay Pictures has bought the movie rights to fresh new novel "Firelight" by Sophie Jordan. "Firelight" follows twin teenage sisters who are descendants of dragons, they can shift between human and dragon forms and one of the sisters has the ability to breathe fire. And believe it or not, one of them will fall in love with a dragonhunter :)
And, coming directly from our favourite Asian spy, Jaccsy, you must check out the stunning trailer for new Japanese sf epic "Space Battleship Yamato" or "Star Blazer" which will be its US name. This interplanetary film, with the theme song by Steven Tyler :) is set in the year 2194. The Gamilons, an enemy of undetermined form, begin an invasion of Earth. The nations of Earth pool their forces and fight back, but their armies are defeated and most of humanity wiped out. Five years later, in 2199, the Earth has been polluted by space bombs, and those who remain alive have fled underground. Even the former top pilot, Susume Kodai, has left the military. One day as he is exploring above-ground, a mysterious object falls out of the sky. This is a communications capsule from the planet of Iscandar, 148,000 light years distant, which has an equipment that will eliminate the radiation. The Defense Force of Earth equips the Space Battleship Yamato with a previously unknown propulsion system, a wave-motion engine based on plans found in the capsule. Kodai rejoins the Force, and resolves to set out aboard the Yamato. With the fate of the Earth in their hands, the crew blasts off for distant Iscandar. They have one year until radiation drives humanity to extinction.
HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST TV SHOWS OF ALL TIMES
Since I got an official order from the Cassastarian government, and their Grand Mogul Alex, to spy out Dezmond's favourite TV shows, here it goes:
BEST HISTORICAL SHOWS
Probably my favourite genre. ROME was absolutely amazing with the sets, the plots, the amazing actors (especially Polly Walker, Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson). THE TUDORS the first season was definitely groundbreaking, bringing the most amazing acting (Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Henry Cavill), costumes, intrigues, drama ... BAND OF BROTHERS was the most touching show on WW2 bringing some of the best actors together - Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy...
BEST WRITTEN SHOWS
There are always some shows with amazing plots like DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (super intelligent twists, brilliant acting, witty humour), clever dialogues like THE UNITED STATES OF TARA, beautifully written lines like in GILMORE GIRLS or mind-blowing and ultrashocking stories like in NIP/TUCK. Some people have prejudices and won't watch these shows, but they all bring the most profoundly written scripts TV has even seen raising television programmes on some much higher level.
SCIENCE FICTION SHOWS
I grew up with STAR TREK, watching mostly NEW GENERATION, but I also loved VOYAGER for it's scientific vibe and ENTERPRISE. As a teenager I also loved SLIDERS with Jerry O'Connel and Karie Wuhrer who traveled through parallel dimensions. And off course there's also the prematurely deceased FIREFLY.
FANTASY, MYTH AND LEGENDS
Not many of those on TV unfortunately, but I do love BBC's MERLIN with amazing Colin Morgan, I also enjoyed SPARTACUS BLOOD AND SAND, and I will forever miss LEGEND OF THE SEEKER and my favourite Mord Sith Cara. Can't wait for Starz' CAMELOT and HBO's GAME OF THRONES next year!
I've mentioned before that I was pretty much raised by family sitcoms as a kid, developing my ethical principles and social values while watching the amazing family comedies such as HOME IMPROVEMENT, THE NANNY, BOY MEETS WORLD, COSBY SHOW, GOLDEN GIRLS and later on I had unforgettable fun watching FRIENDS (Chandler, Phoebe and Monica being my favourite), SEX AND THE CITY, WILL AND GRACE (especially Karen and her Rosario), GROUNDED FOR LIFE, WAR AT HOME, ALF...
GREAT BRITISH SHOWS
One thing's for sure, over in Britain they know how to make memorable TV programmes. I can't describe how happy I am for growing up with AS TIME GOES BY (the legendary sitcom with Judi Dench). I've never laughed so much as I laughed watching WW2 comedy ALLO ALLO with the brilliant gallery of characters and cult lines, and Rowan Atkinson's hilarious acting in BLACKADDER. Many times I thought I'd die from laughter watching Patsy and Edwina in ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. I'm sad that the world doesn't make such shows any more.
When it comes to British TV I also loved ITV's brilliantly written show THE PALACE about a fictional royal court with an amazing chemistry between young king Richard and his PR Abigale. Then there's also CRANFORD mini series which brings the best acting TV has even seen, and BBC's supercharming BEING HUMAN in which a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost live together as roommates.
TARSEM SINGH'S GREEK EPIC "IMMORTALS" WITH HENRY CAVILL AND MICKEY ROURKE TO PREMIERE IN NOVEMBER 2011
Officially my own most anticipated movie of 2011 "Immortals" has been given a release date and a very interesting one - 11.11.2011. Directed by visual genius Tarsem Singh (who brought us amazing visual feasts in "The Cell" with Jennifer Lopez and in "The Fall" with Lee Pace, and he also directed REM's "Loosing My Religion" video) this epic adventure will be set eons after the Gods won their mythic struggle against the Titans, but now a new evil threatens the land. Mad with power, king Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has declared war against humanity. Amassing a bloodthirsty army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand, Hyperion has scorched Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares.
Only he who possesses this bow can unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned deep within the walls of Mount Tartaros since the dawn of time and thirst for revenge. In the king’s hands, the bow would rain destruction upon mankind and annihilate the Gods. But ancient law dictates the Gods must not intervene in man’s conflict. They remain powerless to stop Hyperion until a peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill) comes forth as their only hope.
Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must save his people from Hyperion and his hordes. Rallying a band of fellow outsiders, including visionary priestess Phaedra (Freida Pinto) and cunning slave Stavros (Stephen Dorff), one hero will lead the uprising, or watch his homeland fall into ruin and his Gods vanish into legend.
As you've noticed the cast consists of some super gorgeous young stars including also young Kellan Lutz ("Twilight") who will portray the Greek God Poseidon, John Hurt will be Old Zeus, Luke Evans ("Clash of the Titans") the young Zeus, Corey Sevier is Apollo, Isabel Lucas ("Transformers") is Athena, Steve Byers is Heracles....
MAGICAL TRAILER FOR HOLIDAY ADVENTURE "THE NUTCRACKER 3D". PIC OF ORLANDO BLOOM FROM "THE THREE MUSKETEERS". SACHA BARON COHEN IS FREDDY MERCURY
Here's the first picture of Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham in the upcoming historical adventure "The Three Musketeers" which is currently being shot in Germany. How do you like Orlando's spruced up hair and ornate costume? As you know the rest of the cast includes: Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Matthew Macfadyen, Mads Mikkelsen, Milla Jovovich...
Now this is just plain horrible if not even disgusting: that obnoxious Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Ali G, aka Borat, will play Freddie Mercury in a biopic about the famous pop icon and the leader of the Queen!!! I mean, what did such a great musician do to deserve to be humiliated by such a horrible actor playing him??? The movie will follow Queen's formative years, which will lead up to the band's performance at Live Aid in 1985 and the producers have the license to use Queen's songs in the film.
Now, I've no idea where did this one come from, I've never heard of it before, but here's an adorable and magical trailer for the steam-punk adventure "The Nutcracker 3D" which is coming to cinemas this Holiday season. Directed by famous Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky and starring Elle Fanning, John Turturro, Nathan Lane and Charlie Rowe, this lovely film is set in the 1920s Vienna and follows little Mary who lives in a home filled with lovely things and loneliness. On Christmas Eve, Mary's beloved Uncle Albert arrives with the gift of a wooden nutcracker doll. Later that night, Mary's imagination brings the doll to life. Introducing himself as NC he takes her on a wondrous journey through a stunning dimension where toys assume human form and everything appears ten times larger. But danger lurks. An army of toothy rat creatures, led by the flamboyant Rat King and his devious mother, has unleashed a plot to overthrow humanity. When NC is captured and placed under a paralytic spell, Mary, her brother Max and a spirited band of toy sidekicks must rescue him from the Rat King's clutches and thwart his wicked plans to 'ratify' the world.
"PRIEST" CHARACTER POSTERS. "PARADISE LOST" FILM. PARAMOUNT WORKING ON "DEADLIEST WARRIOR" MOVIE. "VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE" CONCEPT ART
The first thing I have for you today are four cool character posters for the sf vampire epic "Priest" which premieres next year. Starring Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Stephen Moyer, Cam Gigandet, Madchen Amick, Christopher Plummer and Maggie Q this dystopian film will follow a warrior priest who breaks his sacred vows to Church after his niece gets abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, and goes on a quest to find her before she turns into a vampire as well. He is joined on his adventure by a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.
Although the plot is still kept as secret, Paramount Pictures will make a big-screen adaptation of Spike TV's hit series "Deadliest Warrior". The popular TV series has put history's greatest warriors against one another to determine who reigns supreme using modern science and the latest CGI technology, and the comments from world-class fighters, historians and weapons experts. The show had battles like Spartan vs Ninja, Viking vs Samurai, Pirate vs Knight, Comanche vs Mongol. This could be a helluva intriguing film.
We've been hearing, for more than a decade now, how Hollywood is preparing a film adaptation of John Milton's famous epic poem "Paradise Lost" but now it's official - Alex Proyas has been hired to direct it for the Legendary Pictures. As you know Milton's "Paradise Lost" was about the epic battle between archangels Michael and Lucifer and this is going to be an action movie with 3D aerial battles. I'm excited already.
And if you liked watching "Voltron" animated series as kids, you will be happy to hear that "Voltron: Defender of the Universe" film is in preparation and you can check out the first concept art. "Voltron" follows five Galaxy Alliance pilots who control vehicles shaped like lions that combine and form the massive sword-wielding Voltron robot in order to battle an evil menace. The film itself will be set in post-apocalyptic New York City and Mexico.
CHARLIE COX, WES BENTLEY, DOUGRAY SCOTT AND OLGA KURYLENKO IN "THERE BE DRAGONS". CUTE NEW TRAILER FOR DISNEY'S "TANGLED"
Coming to cinemas later this year is a historical drama "There Be Dragons" which brings a thrilling tale from the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War with a great (and super hot) cast including Charlie Cox (the lead from "Stardust"), Wes Bentley (he was amazing in "American Beauty" and "The Four Feathers"), Dougray Scott ("Ever After", "Mission Impossible", "Desperate Housewives", "Enigma"), Rodrigo Santoro (Xerxes in "300"), gorgeous Olga Kurylenko ("James Bond", "Centurion", "Empires of the Deep") and lovely Lily Cole ("Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"). The plot: Arising out of the horror of the Spanish Civil War, a candidate for canonization is investigated by a journalist who discovers his own estranged father had a deep, dark and devastating connection to the saint's life. Check out the intriguing trailer which promises a very touching drama.
You can also check out the second trailer for Disney's super charming animated movie "Tangled" the adaptation of the famous Rapunzel fairy tale about the kingdom's most wanted-and most charming-bandit Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) who hides out in a mysterious tower and gets taken hostage by Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn's curious captor, who's looking for her ticket out of the tower where she's been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs :))
"DAY OF WAR" AN EPIC ON KING DAVID. FIRST TRAILER FOR KATE WINSLET'S MINI SERIES "MILDRED PIERCE". "MONSTERS" DIRECTOR WORKING ON A NEW SF EPIC
You know how I love me some good epics, so I don't mind John Fusco ("Hidalgo") writing a script for "Day of War", a 3D historical epic about the early life and adventures of David before he became king of Israel. The film will be an adaptation of Cliff Graham's "Lion of War" book and it will be directed by David L. Cunningham ("The Dark is Rising").
Young Gareth Edwards whose directorial debut "Monsters" has been enjoying some serious hype around the Net recently, is apparently working on a new sf thriller which will be produced by Timur Bekmambetov. The untitled project is still kept as secret but it is being described very intriguingly as an epic human story, set in a futuristic world without humanity :)))
Another programme which will air on HBO early next year is the five-hour mini series "Mildred Pierce" with our dear Kate Winslet and you can check out the first trailer. Directed by Todd Haynes (which isn't a good thing if you ask me) it tells the gripping story of Mildred Pierce Beragon, a wife who leaves her unemployed husband and gets a job as a waitress while struggling to earn her daughter's (Evan Rachel Wood) love in Los Angeles during the Great Depression. Smells like Emmies.
GERARD BUTLER IS HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST BRITISH GENT. NEW POLL - BEST BRITISH LADIES PART TWO
I must admit you are some mad, mad and crazy creatures but I still love you. I mean you silly silly freaks have sent almost 2,650 votes in THE BEST BRITISH GENT poll and I don't know whether to spank you all or French kiss you :)
I reckon you have enjoyed the poll big time :))) I promise to lavish you with other great polls in the future as well if you promise to turn out in thousands like this time ;)
Now, the winner was kinda expected - Gerard Butler is HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST BRITISH GENT with stunning 1389 votes! Close to the number of all the lovely girls he dated so far :) Why do we love him so much - he's charming, funny, talented, a great guy, often very royal (ATILLA, 300, BEOWULF), sometimes charmingly naughty (THE UGLY TRUTH, THE BOUNTY HUNTER), often dangerous (LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, GAMER, THE REIGN OF FIRE) but usually just smashing dashing (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA). It's our Gerry Berry :) Can't wait to see him as CORIOLANUS, BURNS and MACHINE GUN PREACHER in 2011.
My ladies really like Rufus Sewell, so he took second place with breathtaking 776 votes which would bring him victory in almost any other poll. We love RufRuf because he is always so very genuine and kind, and emits warmth even when he plays villains. He is also often very royal (THE ILLUSIONIST, TRISTAN AND ISOLDE, THE LAST KING, HELEN OF TROY) and we can't wait to see him in some great new film roles.
The young hope from the British Isles, James McAvoy took third place with stunning 231 of your votes. Who wouldn't love him with all of his talent, charisma, peaceful presence and modesty. Admit that you just loved him in NARNIA, that you found him amazing in ATONEMENT, that you believed him in DUNE, that he took your heart away in PENELOPE and that you can't wait to see him in X-MEN FIRST CLASS.
The fourth place was left for a man who should be proud with the 165 votes he got from you. Damian Lewis, one of my personal favourite British actors. He was the star in the stunning cast of THE BAND OF BROTHERS, he was the charismatic and magnetic head of the family in THE FORSYTE SAGA, he was also great in LIFE, DREAMCATCHER, COLDITZ... he deserves lead roles in big Hollywood movies. Do I smell a redhead Bond?
Now, let us move to our next poll. You will have the rest of September to vote for THE BEST BRITISH LADY part two. The first part of the poll was won by her imperial majesty Judi Dench (stand up and bow immediately or you shall be flogged), and the following ladies, the creme de la creme of British acting, are in the new poll, so vote on as much as you like: British rose Kate Winslet (READER, TITANIC, LITTLE CHILDREN), British orchid Polly Walker (ROME, CLASH OF THE TITANS), British iris Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN, CALIGULA), British tulip Saffron Burrows (ENIGMA, TROY), British violet Kate Beckinsale (UNDERWORLD) and British peony Thandie Newton (THE CRASH, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE).
GRIPPING TEASER 4 SF FILM "I AM NUMBER FOUR" WITH ...
GORE VERBINSKI AND JOHNNY DEPP TO REUNITE 4 "THE L...
THANDIE NEWTON IS HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST BRITISH ACT...
STARZ TO FIND NEW SPARTACUS FOR "BLOOD AND SAND"? ...
CHARLIZE THERON & PATRICK WILSON IN "YOUNG ADULT"....
POST APOCALYPTIC EPIC MOVIE "THE LOST FUTURE" FROM...
PICS OF CHRIS EVANS FROM "CAPTAIN AMERICA". FAIRY...
KATE WINSLET & JODIE FOSTER IN "GOD OF CARNAGE". R...
LIAM HEMSWORTH IS "FALLEN" ANGEL. MILLA JOVOVICH I...
"ENDER'S GAME" SF EPIC. SPIELBERG TO DIRECT "ROBOP...
SENSATIONAL TRAILER FOR SF EPIC "STAR BLAZER". DRA...
TARSEM SINGH'S GREEK EPIC "IMMORTALS" WITH HENRY C...
MAGICAL TRAILER FOR HOLIDAY ADVENTURE "THE NUTCRAC...
"PRIEST" CHARACTER POSTERS. "PARADISE LOST" FILM. ...
CHARLIE COX, WES BENTLEY, DOUGRAY SCOTT AND OLGA K...
"DAY OF WAR" AN EPIC ON KING DAVID. FIRST TRAILER ...
GERARD BUTLER IS HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST BRITISH GENT...
EPICALLY MAGIC TRAILER FOR "GAME OF THRONES". GRE...
SF EPIC "OBLIVION", HISTORICAL ADVENTURE "THE LADY...
FIRST MINDBLOWING TRAILER FOR SF EPIC "THE PRIEST"...
UNIVERSAL BUYS RIGHTS ON STEPHEN KING'S "THE DARK ...
EXCLUSIVE: FIRST PICTURES FROM "CAPTAIN AMERICA: T...
IS HILARY DUFF SPIDERMAN'S NEW LOVE? EXCLUSIVE FIR...
MARTIN FREEMAN REFUSES ROLE IN "THE HOBBIT". SODER...
PRODUCERS DESPERATELY WANT EMILY BLUNT AS A NEW VI...
ZIYI ZHANG AND JAN DE BONT WORKING ON "MULAN" EPIC...
RACHEL WEISZ 2 GO SF IN "GRAVITY". NEW PICS OF HEL...
TOM HARDY IN STARSTUDDED "TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER,...
JAMES MCAVOY & TOM CRUISE IN "AT THE MOUNTAINS OF ...
SCARLETT JOHANSSON AND JOSEPH G.LEVITT AS ZOMBIES....
DWAYNE JOHNSON LEADS THE CAST IN "JOURNEY 2: THE M...


Two-car collision in West Berkshire closes two roads
Emergency services were called to the collision at the cross roads of the A329 Reading Road and B4009, in Streatley, shortly after 1pm
One of the main routes through a West Berkshire village was closed this afternoon after a crash involving two cars.
Emergency services were called to the collision at the cross roads of the A329 Reading Road and B4009, in Streatley, shortly after 1pm.
A Land Rover Freelander and a Mazda collided at the cross roads outside The Bull at Streatley.
Crews from Caversham Road and Dee Road fire stations had to help remove the driver of the Mazda from their car.
Police closed the two roads in all four directions while the vehicles were recovered.
The road opened shortly after 3pm.


William Y. (Corky) Klett, III
J.D., University of Nebraska (1990)
B.S.E., Colorado School of Mines (1987)
Admitted In
U.S. District Court – District of Colorado
U.S. District Court – South Carolina
U.S. District Court – Western District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
American Bar Association (Intellectual Property Law and Litigation Sections)
Fédération Internationale Des Conseils En Propriété Intellectuelle (FICPI) - U.S. Section, Council Member
Best Lawyers in America, Intellectual Property (2006-2011), Copyright Law (2012-2021), Trademark Law (2012-2021), Patent Law (2012-2021), Litigation -Patent (2012-2021), Litigation - Intellectual Property (2012-2021)
Benchmark Litigation Local Litigation Star (2021)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent© Peer Review Rating
Supreme Court of SC's Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline (1995-1997)
Supreme Court of SC's Commission on Lawyer Conduct (1997-1998; 2000-2004)
SC Bar Ethics Advisory Committee - Chair
"Legal Elite of the Midlands" - Intellectual Property
Managing Intellectual Property, ''IP Stars"
Represented a large textile manufacturer in a case related to fire retardant textile treatment (Northern District of Illinois).
Represented a manufacturer accused of infringing a hand-held equipment mount patent (Western District of Washington).
Represented a manufacturer accused of infringing a trailer hitch patent (Western District of Oklahoma).
Represented a medical cart manufacturer accused of infringing a mobile clinical workstation patent (Northern District of Georgia). Such defense included a concurrent reexamination of the patent at issue before the USPTO.
Multiple patent enforcement actions against competitors accused of infringing various construction material patents (District of South Carolina).
Represented an ink manufacturer accused of infringing a patent directed to sublimation inkjet printer inks (District of South Carolina).
Represented a large insurance claims processor accused of infringing a healthcare management patent (District of South Carolina).
Represented a beverage blending system manufacturer accused of infringing a patent directed to flavored beverage blending systems (District of South Carolina).
Enforcement action against an infringer of an ATM transport and mounting system (District of South Carolina).
Enforcement of a design patent related to juvenile beverage containers (District of South Carolina).
Multiple enforcement actions against competitors accused of infringing various patents related to electrical lighting fixtures (District of South Carolina).
Enforcement of utility and design patents against a competitor related to a system of removing construction debris (District of South Carolina).
Enforcement of a patent directed to a transformable mechanic's creeper (District of South Carolina).
Represented a manufacturer accused of infringing a patent related to paintball accessories (District of South Carolina).
Represented a steel manufacturer accused of infringing fastening tool patents (District of Arizona). Such defense included a concurrent reexamination of the patents at issue before the USPTO.
Enforcement of patents directed to tourniquets (District of Nevada; Western District of North Carolina).
Management and enforcement of the trademark portfolio of a preeminent publisher of lawyer referral directories.
Multiple trademark infringement actions against competitors marketing counterfeit coating products (District of South Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Middle District of Florida).
Defense of trademark action against a manufacturer of optical solutions (District of Nevada).
Defense of a trademark action against a resort hotel (Southern District of Georgia).
Defense of trademark claims against a real estate management company by a consortium of resort hotels.
Defense of a trademark infringement action against a travel services company (District of South Carolina).
Prosecution of a trademark and trade dress infringement claim against a competing heavy equipment manufacturer (District of South Carolina).
Prosecution of a trademark infringement claim on behalf of a national dry cleaning franchisor against a terminated franchisee (District of South Carolina).
Defense of a trademark and trade dress infringement claim relating to cookie packaging (Western District of North Carolina).
Prosecution of trademark infringement claim on behalf of a miniature golf business (District of Delaware).
Prosecution of a trademark infringement claim against a competing manufacturer of boat heaters (District of South Carolina).
Prosecution of unfair competition claims against competing resellers of luxury bath fixtures (District of South Carolina).
Represented a national restaurant and bar chain accused of infringing trademark associated with the menu items of a local competitor (District of South Carolina).
Regional counsel and led a team in the management of all internet music downloading cases in North and South Carolina brought by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). These efforts resulted in the filing of over 100 cases in South Carolina alone for copyright infringement arising out of peer-to-peer music file sharing.
Lead counsel in enforcing copyrights in house plans authored by a nationally recognized, award-winning designer against a national monthly publication (Northern District of Alabama).
Defense of copyright infringement claims asserted by a decorative sign company against a competing manufacturer (District of South Carolina).
Defense of an exercise video production company against claims of copyright infringement by a set designer (District of South Carolina).
Enforcement action by nationally recognized artist whose copyrights were infringed by counterfeit reproductions of his work (District of South Carolina).
Defense of a test preparation company accused of infringing copyrights held by a testing service (District of South Carolina).
Enforcement of copyrights in maps against an infringing competitor (District of South Carolina).
Enforcement of copyrights owned by a regional home builder against a local competitor (District of South Carolina).
Defended a distributor of sanitizing solutions accused of misappropriating product formulas and directly competing against distributor's former supplier.
Represented a parts manufacturer accused of misappropriating design information from a former customer.
Enforcing on behalf of a European company a foreign judgment obtained in Ireland against a former employee accused of misappropriating confidential design information and data (District of South Carolina).
Protecting the proprietary information of a nonparty to a patent infringement action where client was served with a subpoena requesting such information from both foreign and domestic company divisions (District of South Carolina).
Arbitration of a failed software implementation project on behalf of a major utilities provider against a software developer.
Assisted in the representation of a major New York savings and loan relating to a failed computer system project (District of South Carolina).
Development, monetization, and enforcement of a large IP portfolio consisting of music copyrights, trademarks, and publicity rights.
Auditing of royalties.
Negotiation of various production deals associated with music, film, and performance productions.
Management of copyright terms and termination rights.
Corporate/Transactional
Assist with IP due diligence in corporate sales and acquisitions.
Draft license agreements for patents, trademarks, or other intangible property.
Draft nondisclosure, assignment, and joint development agreements for use with employees, vendors, or third parties.
Assist with IP issues arising in bankruptcy and tax proceedings.
Partner | Columbia, SC Charleston, SC
Intellectual Property Cybersecurity Commercial / Corporate Litigation Employment Litigation
Corky is an intellectual property lawyer specializing in patents, trademarks and copyrights with offices in Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina. Corky has a broad and diverse intellectual property practice throughout the Southeast and in courts across the United States.
Corky is routinely involved in the intellectual property aspects of corporate transactions including due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, technology transfer and licensing, as well as intellectual property portfolio creation, management, and enforcement. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants, and has experience protecting the rights and interests of inventors, engineers, artists, authors, and musicians.
Corky has experience representing clients in patent infringement matters related to a broad range of technologies, and has argued before Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He litigates both utility and design patents in Federal Court, and has experience before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in the conduct of trials, including inter partes, post-grant, and covered business method patent reviews and derivative proceedings. His patent practice also includes rendering infringement and freedom-to-operate opinions.
Corky has experience filing and prosecuting federal trademark applications, managing and enforcing trademark portfolios, and litigating trademark matters. His litigation experience includes trademark and trade dress infringement claims, federal false advertising and unfair competition claims, counterfeiting, and unfair trade practices. He also regularly represents parties in cancellation and opposition proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). He also has experience with UDRP claims associated with internet domain name disputes.
Corky has a wide variety of copyright experience, including internet music downloading cases, infringement of various types works, such as architectural plans, maps, testing materials, music samples, and visual art. He has experience with music publishing issues, royalty negotiation, and termination rights.
Corky has experience in developing strategies for the preservation and enforcement of corporate proprietary information. He assists companies in developing policies and employee agreements aimed at protecting this valuable intangible asset. Corky has experience with the Defend Trade Secrets Act (as well as other aspects of the Economic Espionage Act) in defending against the misappropriation of trade secrets.
Corky has experience in negotiating and drafting license agreements for software, as well as litigating software implementation, development, and licensing issues.
Corky is the primary intellectual property counsel to the Estate of James Brown. In connection with this representation, he is involved with a wide variety of issues. He has experience with issues related to enforcement of rights of publicity and privacy, as well as claims involving likeness, image, and persona.
Corky routinely represents companies in the development, protection, and management of intellectual property assets. He assists clients with data security and privacy issues, website issues, and ESI (electronically stored information) concerns.
SPEAKING & WRITING
Corky frequently speaks on a variety of intellectual property issues. He has taught copyright and entertainment law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, and participated as a speaker at numerous continuing legal education seminars on a variety of IP and ethics topics.
OUTSIDE BURR FORMAN MCNAIR
Outside the office, Corky spends as much time as possible with his wife and four children. Corky is also an avid soccer player, having played on scholarship in college, as well as professionally. He still plays in amateur leagues and has been a member of amateur State Cup title teams in Colorado, South Carolina, and Texas. He has had the privilege of coaching all four of his children’s soccer teams.
When he is not on the soccer field, Corky enjoys international travel, snow skiing, and reading.
wklett@burr.com
Columbia, SC Charleston, SC
Legal Practice Assistant
Marie C. Chappell
mchappell@burr.com


Qian Yang
CSE 5095
University of Connecticut, Storrs
371 Fairfield Way, Unit 4155
Storrs, CT 06269
Office: ITE 259
Email:	qyang _ at _ uconn dot edu
My research lies at the intersection of computational science and the physical sciences, with an emphasis on machine learning for materials, physics, and chemistry applications. I completed my Ph.D. from the Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering at Stanford University, and hold a B.A. in applied mathematics/computer science from Harvard College. Before joining UConn, I was a postdoctoral scholar in the Materials Computation and Theory group at Stanford University.
Feb 2019: Journal paper, Transferable Kinetic Monte Carlo Models with Thousands of Reactions Learned from Molecular Dynamics Simulations, accepted to The Journal of Physical Chemistry A.
Nov 2018: Book chapter in Computational Approaches for Chemistry Under Extreme Conditions in production, webpage here.
Aug 2018: Started position as Assistant Professor in the Computer Science & Engineering Department at the University of Connecticut, Storrs.
Materials and Megabytes Podcast
Check out our podcast exploring the development of machine learning for materials science, physics, and chemistry applications! Each episode features conversations with researchers at the forefront of this growing interdisciplinary field. In collaboration with the Stanford Materials Computation and Theory Group.
Currently available on iTunes, via RSS feed and here. Visit each episode's webpage for links to papers and additional materials.
New Episodes!
Professor Gábor Csányi (University of Cambridge)
Professor Anatole von Lilienfeld (University of Basel)
Dr. Patrick Riley (Google Accelerated Science)
Upcoming Episodes:
Dr. Turab Lookman (Los Alamos National Lab)
Professor Lucy Colwell (University of Cambridge)