Taylor Swift has taken legal action to prevent a bedding company from trademarking "Swift Home," arguing the name could mislead consumers into believing she endorsed the products. Simultaneously, Manchester United fans are condemning the co-owner's comments on immigration, while tech companies face scrutiny over their handling of government censorship requests. In other news, Ring has canceled its partnership with Flock Safety following a surveillance backlash, and Waymo is enlisting DoorDash drivers to address a peculiar issue with its self-driving cars.
According to BBC Business, the pop star, represented by TAS Rights Management LLC, filed a request with the US government to block Cathay Home's trademark application for "Swift Home." Swift's legal team contended that the way Cathay Home styled the word "Swift" in its branding closely resembled the singer's trademarked cursive signature. Cathay Home, a New York-based company, sells its products through major retailers. The BBC contacted both Cathay Home and Swift's representatives for comment.
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans have voiced their disapproval of comments made by the club's co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, regarding immigration. Al Jazeera reported that Ratcliffe, who resides in Monaco for tax reasons, stated that the UK has been "colonized" by immigrants. The publication date of this article was February 13, 2026.
In the realm of technology, Waymo's autonomous vehicles are experiencing a unique challenge. TechCrunch reported that Waymo is asking DoorDash drivers to close the doors of its self-driving cars. This issue arises when passengers accidentally leave the door open, rendering the vehicle inoperable. One DoorDash driver was offered $6.25 to drive less than a mile to a Waymo vehicle and close its door, with an additional $5 upon completion.
Additionally, Ring, the Amazon-owned company, has canceled its partnership with Flock Safety. The Verge reported that this decision came after mounting pressure and a controversial Super Bowl ad. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a senior reviewer with over twenty years of experience, covers smart home, IoT, and connected tech.
Finally, Ars Technica reported that pressure is mounting on tech companies to shield users from unlawful government requests. Advocates allege that platforms are making it harder to reliably share information about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) online. Early lawsuits show that platforms have caved to demands to censor content, even though experts say they could refuse these demands without a court order.
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