🏦 Stripe is becoming like a Bank

🏦 Stripe’s New Revenue Stream: Credit Options for Customers

Stripe is expanding their issuing product to include credit options. That’s right, companies can now offer virtual or physical charge cards to their customers. So instead of using their account funds, customers can spend on credit.

This is an intelligent move for Stripe. It gives them a new revenue stream and provides financing options to its customers with minimal operational costs. By integrating its products, it streamlines processes and eliminates the need for customers to conduct KYC verifications for each business on their platform.

Rapid Rundown

• 💳 Stripe is expanding to offer credit options through virtual or physical charge cards.

• 🏦 Their goal is to become a comprehensive platform for customers.

🔐 Facebook and Instagram Threaten News Blackout in California Over Contentious Bill

Facebook and Instagram are throwing a tantrum over a bill in California. If it passes, it’ll redirect money from tech platforms to media organizations. And the social media giants are threatening to block all news articles in the state.

Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, who’s sponsoring the bill, thinks it could be a “lifeline” for local news organizations that have been hit hard by declining ad revenue. But Facebook’s threat to block news articles is seen by some as undemocratic and unfair.

This isn’t the first time tech giants have clashed with the news industry. Similar battles have taken place in Australia and Canada. The media industry has been struggling for years, with around 40,000 newsroom jobs disappearing between 2008 and 2020. Tech companies like Meta and Google have dominated the online advertising market.

Rapid Rundown

• 💰 Facebook and Instagram threaten to block news in California over a bill redirecting money to media organizations.

• 🗳️ Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks sponsors the bill as a “lifeline” for local news.

🎨 Color Wars: Can Companies Truly 'Own' Colors?

Can you believe it? Companies are now trying to “own” colors! Deutsche Telekom AG (T-Mobile’s parent company) even accused a small insurance startup called Lemonade of trademark infringement for using the color magenta.

Traditionally, colors were not eligible for trademark protection, but a landmark case in the late 1980s involving Owens-Corning successfully trademarked its unique pink insulation, opening the floodgates for companies to file color trademarks.

To obtain a color trademark, a company must demonstrate that the color achieves “secondary meaning” and distinguishes its product from competitors. Companies like Tiffany & Co., UPS, and 3M have successfully trademarked their iconic colors.

Rapid Rundown

• 💡 T-Mobile's parent company accuses a small insurance startup of trademark infringement for using magenta.

• 💼 Owens-Corning's pink insulation case allows companies like Tiffany & Co. to trademark their iconic colors.

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