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Bruce Abramson
San Francisco, Las Vegas, NYC, Washington D.C.
Life during the transition from industrial age to information age.
Interests: Bruce Abramson holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Columbia and a J.D. from Georgetown. He is the President of Informationism, Inc., a San Francisco-based consultancy that helps an international clientele understand the law, the policies, the economics, and the strategic uses of patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. He also has extensive experience conducting antitrust analyses, damages, remedies, and valuation analyses in both litigation and regulatory settings.
Recent Activity
So...Should we Have Software Patents?
The WSJ decided to weigh in on this question yesterday, by presenting something of a debate. Yet this article, like most such discussions, misses the basic point. Are exclusive rights, of the sort that define our IP systems, potentially useful in motivating innovative software development? Absolutely. Can the bundle of... Continue reading
Posted May 14, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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The Right To Know
The California Legislature shot down a "Right to Know" law that set Silicon Valley against Consumer Advocates. Basic question: Does a consumer have the right to demand any report that an on-line data aggregator compiles and sells about him? The argument is straightforward. The "pro" side believes that I have... Continue reading
Posted May 10, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Zionist and Proud
The State of Israel turned 65 last month. Though I may have missed the moment, it remains a fine season to pronounce loudly and proudly that I am a Zionist. I am extraordinarily proud of the Jewish state. I believe that in the years since the land emerged from the... Continue reading
Posted May 6, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Alan Dershowitz at the JPost Conference: A Case Study in Elitist Arrogance
It's rare that direct personal experience provides an opportunity to call a prominent speaker to task. The esteemed Professor Dershowitz of Harvard Law School has provided me with such an opportunity. For the past couple of weeks, Dershowitz has been positioning himself as a martyr in the cause of peace.... Continue reading
Posted May 6, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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A Bit More on Bitcoin
Bitcoin, the digital currency, continues to generate interest. Today's WSJ weekly interview with Gavin Andresen, Bitcoin's lead software developer, provides a teriffic quick summary for those not yet up to speed. But it also provides all of the information necessary to appreciate why the grand claims that some make for... Continue reading
Posted May 5, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Evidence or the lack Thereof
My amicus brief in the Myriad case continues to attract interest. Some folks at the University of Pittsburgh Law School invited me to submit some thoughts. Continue reading
Posted May 1, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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On Self-Reflection and Self-Regulation
There are evil people sprinkled throughout the political spectrum. No belief, no position, no ideology is inherently incorruptible. As a result, there are at least a few members of every political movement whose behavior in pursuit of its asserted goal is so extreme, so outrageous, such an abusive perversion of... Continue reading
Posted Apr 22, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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NOT the Tenth Anniversary of the Iraq War
Ten years ago this week, the U.S. military began a push that led to the toppling of a totalitarian tyrant named Saddam Hussein. As a result, many publications have printed articles describing this week as the Tenth Anniversary of the Iraq War, and attempted to discuss the lessons of those... Continue reading
Posted Mar 20, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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The Power to Pronounce
As the WSJ reports: "The finance ministers for the Group of Seven economic powers released a statement Tuesday washing their hands of responsibility for the value of their currencies: 'We, the G7 Ministers and Governors, reaffirm our longstanding commitment to market determined exchange rates.'" As the WSJ further reports, this... Continue reading
Posted Feb 14, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Limited Government and Drone Strikes
Even the NYT has a mild rebuke for the President concerning his use of drones to assassinate American citizens. Let's stipulate: Anwar al-Alawaki was a really bad guy, and the world is better off with him dead. But my problems with the policy as stated are identical to those that... Continue reading
Posted Feb 6, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Why I am a Republican
I wasn't always a Republican. From George McGovern through Al Gore, I was a die-hard, active Democrat. By 2002, I saw my party start to change. I saw the internal dynamics shift, as positions that I once proclaimed proudly as my own moved to the party's periphery, then beyond the... Continue reading
Posted Feb 2, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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The Promise and the Threat
America is a country of great promise and great strength. That strength rests upon an idea most radical. From its inception, America valued individual dignity and respected individual freedom. We are a nation born without a king, without nobility, without a priesthood, without a plan. We grew as an experiment,... Continue reading
Posted Jan 21, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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A Guide for the Perplexed Obama Voter
It seems that the first paychecks of 2013 have started to make their way into the hands of America’s workers. If my Facebook friends are any indication, the numbers on those checks have surprised many of the recipients. Of course, those of us who voted for Romney—or at the very... Continue reading
Posted Jan 18, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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On The Obama II Foreign Policy Team
President Obama added clarity to his foreign policy plans for his second term today. He announced his plans to nominate John Brennan to head the CIA and Chuck Hagel to head the Pentagon--rounding out a team that started with his announcement of John Kerry as his Secretary of State. I... Continue reading
Posted Jan 7, 2013 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Never a Dualist: Beyond Bush and Obama
Many of my friends have become dualists, dividing the world into "Bush" and "Obama," where criticism of one necessarily equates to support for the other. This little blog post is a reminder that some of us reject such simple-minded thinking. I believe--and I have stated often--that the U.S is suffering... Continue reading
Posted Dec 3, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Why Egypt is so Interesting
The situation in Egypt today is interesting precisely because Egypt was not interesting for so long. It represents a rare teachable moment. For those willing to take the time to consider it, events in Egypt may provide the single best lesson in world affairs that we have seen in a... Continue reading
Posted Nov 28, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Republicans on Copyright. Or at least, Some Republicans on Copyright.
An interesting story pulled together a couple of my different worlds last week: The Republican Study Committee (RSC) posted an analysis of copyright law. For those who don’t know the RSC, it is the subgroup among House Republicans most committed to real economic reform—free markets, rather than cronyism. The RSC... Continue reading
Posted Nov 23, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Thanksgiving Thoughts
Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday. It has no roots in any other culture, religion, or nationality. It does not commemorate victory in battle or miraculous deliverance. Instead, it calls for a general reflection on the bounty that defines our lives. At a personal level, I reflect on my family--and... Continue reading
Posted Nov 22, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Bibi's Gift to Obama
Events in Gaza occur on multiple levels. In the foreground, the IDF is fighting Hamas forces. In the background, an important round of the U.S./Iran proxy war is unfolding. Here is why: In the front story, Hamas chose to use the days following the Obama reelection to escalate its persistent... Continue reading
Posted Nov 19, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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My Comments on Trade in the Los Angeles Times
Hard to believe that I forgot to link to the article, but it came out November 7 and I was a bit preoccupied. Continue reading
Posted Nov 16, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Americans Bet Our Shoes
Watching last night’s election returns, what came to mind was a scene from Taxi, one of my favorite 1970s sitcoms. In one episode, Louie’s brother Nick, a professional poker player arrives from Vegas. In short order, he sets up a game and wins all of the cabbies’ money. The scene... Continue reading
Posted Nov 7, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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The Problem with the Polls
Though I am writing this essay as Americans cast their votes, it is not a partisan piece and I am not writing as a partisan. I am writing as a statistical scientist, someone who has spent nearly three decades considering issues related to measurement and modeling. From this vantage point,... Continue reading
Posted Nov 6, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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For the Sake of the Less Fortunate, Vote to End Progressive Governance
Progressive governance is really not bad for lawyers. An economy in which some people write regulations so that others can fight about their meaning while seeking loopholes and favors generates plenty of work for folks in my line of business. It's the white collar equivalent of an economy digging and... Continue reading
Posted Nov 5, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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The Informationist 2012 Endorsement: Mitt Romney for President
With less than a week remaining before the election, it is time for me to issue my endorsement. The choice is easy. On Tuesday, November 6, Americans should elect Mitt Romney our next President. Any election involving an incumbent necessarily raises two questions: Has the incumbent earned a second term?... Continue reading
Posted Nov 3, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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Career Advice - or a Lesson from my Past
In 1987, I wrote my Ph.D. dissertation on heuristic search. My specific topic was the use of statistical decision-making in two-player games. I drew concrete examples from Othello and Chess, ran simulation studies, and provided a theoretical (mathematical) proof of my thesis. My basic thesis was simple: In the parts... Continue reading
Posted Sep 29, 2012 at The Informationist, a blog written by Bruce Abramson
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