Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz Used Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property
If there's an update after this article is published, the information will appear in the Post-Publication Notes section.
Scott M. Graffius' Copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' Copyrighted
Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Scott M. Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his ‘Phases of Team Development’ as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development — Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning — inclusive of a graph showing how performance varies by phase, as well as the characteristics and strategies for each phase.
Graffius' intellectual property (IP) is registered with the United States Copyright Office.
Graffius initially developed his ‘Phases of Team Development’ unique material in 2008, and he periodically refreshes it.
For reference, the visual from the edition applicable to this case (4 January 2021 edition) is shown below [Exhibit 1] and is available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.22040.42246. The integrated text applies.
As shown above, Graffius’ copyright ownership details are integrated into and appear on his copyrighted property. Specifically, it reads: "Copyright © 2008-2021 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact scott@scottgraffius.com."
Organizations around the world engage Graffius to deliver compelling talks and workshops. To date, he's presented sessions at 91 conferences and other events across 25 countries, including:
- Armenia,
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- Czech Republic,
- Finland,
- France,
- Germany,
- Greece,
- Hong Kong,
- Hungary,
- India,
- Ireland,
- Lithuania,
- Luxembourg,
- Nepal,
- Netherlands,
- New Zealand,
- Norway,
- Romania,
- Sweden,
- Switzerland,
- United Arab Emirates,
- United Kingdom,
- and the United States.
Graffius ‘Phases of Team Development’ IP is central and key to many of those sessions. His rate card and a listing of his engagements are at https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Exceptional-PPM-and-PMO-Solutions-Rate-Card-for-2024-2025-v24071607.pdf and https://scottgraffius.com/publicspeaker.html, respectively.
With an authorization/license from Graffius, his ‘Phases of Team Development’ IP is featured and used by businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities around the world. Examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Hasso Plattner Institute,
- IEEE,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- LeadingEng,
- London South Bank University,
- Manufacturers Alliance,
- Microsoft,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Torrens University Australia,
- U.S. National Park Service,
- U.S. Tennis Association,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway Ireland,
- Virginia Tech,
- Warsaw University,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Copyrights protect the intellectual property rights of creators, ensuring they receive recognition and compensation for their work, thus incentivizing creativity and innovation. Graffius is vigilant in upholding, protecting and enforcing his copyrights and other IP rights.
Pudgy Penguins CEO 'Luca Netz' (Luca Schnetzler) Used
Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property Without Permission or Credit
Luca Schnetzler, who goes by 'Luca Netz,' is the CEO of Pudgy Penguins. As shown below and delineated later in this article, Netz posted content on X which used Graffius' copyrighted property. He did not request nor receive permission, and he did not attribute the IP to Graffius. Netz's use violated Graffius' intellectual property rights. Netz posted the infringing material on 3 May 2024 at https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631.
As shown above, Netz's post included two words and an image. The two words were "Performing Era" and the image included Graffius' IP.
A zoomed-in view of the image is below.
Copyright owner Scott M. Graffius discovered the infringement of his intellectual property on 11 May 2024. That day, Graffius notified Netz about the infringement.
Netz failed to respond on this serious matter. For that reason, Graffius sent follow up communications to Netz on his infringing material. Excerpts follow.
[From Scott M. Graffius to Luca Schnetzler AKA Luca Netz]
Intellectual Property (IP) provides significant value. I maintain, enforce, and protect my copyright and other IP rights.
My 'Phases of Team Development' IP is registered with the United States Copyright Office.
Infringement of my 'Phases of Team Development' IP is shown by Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Schnetzler (known as "Luca Netz") here: https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631.
(Changing a word here or there does not work.) The infringer did not request nor receive permission to use my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development.' Additionally, their use did not provide attribution to me. As such, they're falsely leading others to believe that they're the creator and owner of my IP. More info follows.
—————
Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and my first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, I created my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development.' It’s a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development — Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. It’s also inclusive of a graph showing how performance varies by phase, as well as the characteristics and strategies for each phase.
Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, DevOps Leads, and other leaders can apply the information in my ‘Phases of Team Development’ to help handle challenges or issues experienced by teams. By doing so, they'll advance the teams' (and their own) happiness, productivity, and success.
I initially developed my material in 2008, and I periodically refresh it. I’m honored that businesses, scientists, journalists, professional associations, government agencies, universities, and others around the world have featured my 'Phases of Team Development' IP. Select examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Boston University, Cisco, Ford, Hasso Plattner Institute, IEEE, London South Bank University, Microsoft, Torrens University Australia, UC San Diego, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, Yale University, and many others.
—————
Infringement of my registered copyright is shown by Pudgy Penguins (@PudgyPenguins) CEO Luca Schnetzler (known as "Luca Netz" - @LucaNetz) here: https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631.
(Changing a word here or there does not work.) The infringer did not request nor receive permission to use my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development.' Additionally, their use did not provide attribution to me. As such, they're falsely leading others to believe that they're the creator and owner of my IP. Some of the MANY examples follow.
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Displaying eagerness"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Displaying eagerness"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Generally polite tone"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Generally polite"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Sticking to safe topics"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Sticking to safe topics"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Unclear about how one fits in"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Unclear about how one fits in"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Some anxiety & questioning"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Forming includes:
"Some anxiety & questioning"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Strategies under Forming includes:
"'Taking the 'lead'"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Strategies under Forming includes:
"'Taking the 'lead'"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Being highly visible"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Being highly visible"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Facilitating introductions"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Facilitating introductions"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Providing the 'big picture'"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Providing the big picture"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Establishing clear expectations"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Establishing clear expectations"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Communicating success criteria"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Strategies under Forming includes:
"Communicating success criteria"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Performing includes:
"High motivation, trust & empathy"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Performing includes:
"High motivation, trust & empathy"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Performing includes:
"Individuals defer to team needs"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Performing includes:
"Individuals defer to team needs"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Performing includes:
"Improved commitment"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Performing includes:
"Improved commitment"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Shift to process orientation"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Shift to process orientation"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Sadness"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Sadness"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Recognition of team & individual efforts"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Recognition of team and individual efforts"
🟢 From my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP (2021 edition, https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Disbanding"
🔴 From the infringement of my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development' IP shown by Luca Netz (https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631), Characteristics under Adjourning includes:
"Disbanding"
The preceding are just some of the many examples.
—————
To wrap up, infringement of my registered copyright is shown by Pudgy Penguins (@PudgyPenguins) CEO Luca Schnetzler (known as "Luca Netz" - @LucaNetz) here: https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631.
(Changing a word here or there does not work.) The infringer did not request nor receive permission to use my copyrighted 'Phases of Team Development.' Additionally, their use did not provide attribution to me. As such, they're falsely leading others to believe that they're the creator and owner of my IP.
Copyright infringement is dishonorable, disgraceful, unprofessional, immoral, unethical, and illegal.
The infringement has damaged the marketability and value of my 'Phases of Team Development' IP.
The indisputable proof shows that Netz's material used Graffius' copyrighted property.
Again, Graffius sent follow up communications to Netz on his infringing material.
On May 16, 2024, Netz not only deleted the infringing post but also blocked Graffius, the very individual whose intellectual property was used without permission or attribution. This action seemingly demonstrated a lack of remorse and an attempt to evade accountability for violating Graffius' intellectual property rights. Netz's move was very uncool.
X’s 'that post has been deleted' message is shown below.
X's 'You're blocked' message is shown below.
Conclusion
Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' is registered with the US Copyright Office.
Pudgy Penguins CEO 'Luca Netz' (Luca Schnetzler) did not request nor receive permission to use Graffius' intellectual property.
Yet, Netz used Graffius' IP and without attribution. Accordingly, Netz's material wrongly led others to falsely believe that Netz is the author and owner of Graffius' respective IP.
Netz's use damaged the marketability and value of Graffius' copyrighted property.
For the aforementioned reasons, Netz's use was not 'fair use' nor otherwise allowed.
After Graffius informed Netz of the violation, Netz eventually deleted his infringing post but also blocked Graffius, the very individual whose intellectual property was used without permission or attribution. Netz's action seemingly demonstrated a lack of remorse and an attempt to evade accountability for violating Graffius' intellectual property rights. Netz's move was very uncool.
Intellectual property (IP) is a strategic asset that provides significant value. IP infringement is disgraceful, dishonorable, unprofessional, immoral, unethical, and illegal. IP rights are so important that IP theft is a federal crime.
Graffius maintains, enforces, and protects his copyright and other IP rights.
If Graffius opts to take legal action against Netz for his violation of Graffius' copyright, the Federal case will include the greater of statutory damages or actual damages, special charges for willful infringement (which has been clarified by the courts to be either "intentional behavior" or merely "reckless behavior"), and additional costs.
Read on see the subsequent section of this article:
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- About Luca Schnetzler,
- About Pudgy Penguins,
- About Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Rights,
- References/Sources,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, creator, multi-award-winning author, and international public speaker. Founder and CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™, he has generated over $1.9 billion for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, National Academy of Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, Yale University, and others. He delights audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile project management, AI, video game development, strategic alignment, the science of high performance teams, and more. To date, he's presented sessions at 90 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
About Luca Schnetzler
Luca Schnetzler (also known as 'Luca Netz') is the Chief Executive Officer of Pudgy Penguins.
About Pudgy Penguins
LSLTTT Holdings, Inc. is doing business as (DBA) "Pudgy Penguins" — a non-fungible token (NFT) collection that also doubles as a web3 intellectual property (IP) company. Based on information from CrunchBase and other sources, Pudgy Penguins' investors include 1kx, Adam Winnick, Big Brain Holdings, Bobby Ong, CRIT Ventures, co-founders of LayerZero Labs (Ryan Zarick and Bryan Pellegrino), Kasey Kasey, Kronos Research, Old Fashion Research, Peter Yuan Pan, and MetaVision International. There may be additional investors.
About Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Rights
For copyright/IP infringement cases, it is recommended that you consult a qualified attorney.
Intellectual Property (IP) is a strategic asset that provides significant value. IP infringement is disgraceful, dishonorable, unprofessional, immoral, unethical, and illegal. IP rights are so important that IP theft is a federal crime.
The U.S. Copyright Office informs that "In cases of willful infringement for profit, the U.S. Attorney may initiate a criminal investigation."
Visit the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at https://www.copyright.gov to learn more about copyrights.
The Reporting Intellectual Property Crime: A Guide for Victims of Copyright Infringement, Trademark Counterfeiting, and Trade Secret Theft publication by the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is a good resource.
The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center coordinates the U.S. government’s response to intellectual property crimes. Visit their website at https://www.iprcenter.gov to learn more.
See the References/Sources section for additional information.
References/Sources
Select bibliography:
- Allyn, Bobby (2019, May 20). Top Reason For CEO Departures Among Largest Companies Is Now Misconduct, Study Finds. NPR. Available at: https://www.npr.org/2019/05/20/725108825/top-reason-for-ceo-departures-among-largest-companies-is-now-misconduct-study-fi.
- Blaskovic, Andrew K.; Rusk, John-David; Parker, Victor C.; and Payne, Bryson R. (2022). Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Theft: An Analysis of Modern Digital Forensics. In book: Proceedings of the Future Technologies Conference (FTC) 2022, Volume 2. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-18458-1_36.
- CrunchBase (n.d.). Seed Round – Pudgy Penguins. Available at: https://www.crunchbase.com/funding_round/pudgy-penguins-seed--09980d4f.
- Dyer, Jeff; Furr, Nathan; Lefrandt, Chris; and Howell, Taeya (2023, January 17). Innovation Depends on Intellectual Honesty. MIT Sloan Management Review. Available at: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/why-innovation-depends-on-intellectual-honesty/.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2021, January 4). Phases of Team Development (Update for 2021). DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22040.42246.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2021, January 4). Using Bruce Tuckman's Phases of Team Development to Help Your Team Grow and Advance: 2021 Update. Available at: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (n.d.). Intellectual Property (IP). Available at: https://www.scottgraffius.com/intellectual-property.html.
- Hartline, Devlin (2016, September 26). Criminal Copyright Infringement is Crime of "Moral Turpitude." George Mason University Center for Intellectual Property x Innovation Policy. Available at: https://cip2.gmu.edu/2016/09/26/criminal-copyright-infringement-is-crime-of-moral-turpitude/.
- Huppert, Elizabeth; and Levine, Emma (2023, August 31). The Rise of Dishonest Leaders: Causes and Solutions. Academy of Management Perspectives, 37 (3). DOI: 10.5465/amp.2021.0063.
- Kenton, Will (2022, August 23). What Is a Whistleblower? Protections, Law, Importance, and Example. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/whistleblower.asp.
- McGregor, Jena. (2017, May 15). More CEOs are Getting Forced Out for Ethical Violations. Washington Post. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/05/15/more-ceos-are-getting-forced-out-for-ethics-violations/.
- National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) (n.d.). About the Center. Available at: https://www.iprcenter.gov/about.
- Popomaronis, Tom (2020, August 20). These 11 Famously Disgraced CEOs Have Entered the Reputation Hall of Shame. Entrepreneur. Available at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/these-11-famously-disgraced-ceos-have-entered-the/354739.
- Pudgy Penguins (n.d.). Available at: https://pudgypenguins.com.
- Rivera, Kristin; and Karlsson, Per-Ola (2017, June 6). CEOs Are Getting Fired for Ethical Lapses More Than They Used To. Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2017/06/ceos-are-getting-fired-for-ethical-lapses-more-than-they-used-to.
- Sahadi, Jeanne (2019, May 2). When Good Executives Go Bad. CNN Business. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/02/success/executives-behaving-badly/index.html.
- Schnetzler, Luca (2024, May 3). On May 3, 2024, @LucaNetz (Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Schnetzler AKA Luca Netz) posted https://x.com/LucaNetz/status/1786418972323168631 on X (formerly known as Twitter). Content in that post infringed on the registered copyright of Scott M. Graffius. On May 16, 2024, Luca Schnetzler AKA Luca Netz deleted his post.
- Smith, Isaac H.; Kouchaki, Maryam; and Wareham, Justin (2021, April 14). The Price Leaders Pay for Cutting Ethical Corners. MIT Sloan Management Review. Available at: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-price-leaders-pay-for-cutting-ethical-corners/.
- Steffen, Thomas (2019, May 24). For CEOs, Integrity Is the Best Policy. Yale School of Management. Available at: https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/for-ceos-integrity-is-the-best-policy.
- Sterne, Robert; and Chaplick, Trevor (2005, February). Why Directors Must Take Responsibility for Intellectual Property. Intellectual Asset Management Magazine. Available at: https://www.wsgr.com/PDFSearch/IP_RESPONSIBILTY.pdf.
- Stim, Richard (2024). Patent, Copyright & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference (18th Edition). Berkeley, California: Nolo.
- Stubben, Stephen; and Welch Kyle (2018, November 14). Whistleblowers Keep Companies Healthy. Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2018/11/research-whistleblowers-are-a-sign-of-healthy-companies.
- Thomson Reuters (2022, December 16). Copyright Litigation 101. Available at: https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/copyright-litigation-101/.
- United States Copyright Office (USCO) (n.d.). Can I Use Someone Else's Work? Can Someone Else Use Mine? (Excerpt: "In cases of willful infringement for profit, the U.S. Attorney may initiate a criminal investigation.") Available at: https://copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html.
- United States Copyright Office (USCO) (n.d.). Welcome to the U.S. Copyright Office. Available at: https://www.copyright.gov.
- United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (n.d.). Intellectual Property Theft and Commercial Fraud. Available at: https://www.dhs.gov/hsi/investigate/intellectual-property-and-commercial-fraud.
- United States Department of Homeland Security (US DHS) (n.d.). Intellectual Property Rights. Available at: https://www.dhs.gov/intellectual-property-rights.
- United States Department of Justice (DOJ) (n.d.). Reporting Intellectual Property Crime: A Guide for Victims of Copyright Infringement, Trademark Counterfeiting, and Trade Secret Theft (Third Edition). Available at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-ccips/file/891011/dl.
- United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Inspector General (OIG) (n.d.). Whistleblower Rights and Protections. Available at: https://oig.justice.gov/hotline/whistleblower-protection.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (2013, July 24). Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital Economy. Available at: https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/news/publications/copyrightgreenpaper.pdf.
- Vitasek, Kate (2022, November 29). The Role of Honesty in Success (and Why Cutting Corners is a Bad Idea). Forbes. Available at: https://forbes.com/sites/katevitasek/2022/11/29/the-role-of-honesty-in-success-and-why-cutting-corners-is-a-bad-idea/.
- Willmer, Sabrina; and Weinstein, Austin (2023, April 18). Tech Firms are Using NDAs to Illegally Muzzle Whistleblowers. Fortune. Available at: https://fortune.com/2023/04/18/tech-nda-illegally-muzzle-whistleblowers-sec/.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2024, May 16). Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz Used Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ip-rights.html.
About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
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- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States
About Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
The initial working title for this article was 'Intellectual Property (IP) Theft is a Federal Crime - Featuring a Real Example of IP Infringement and What the IP Owner Did to Enforce His Rights and Protect His Property.' It was updated to 'Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz Used Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property.'
This serious case is not yet resolved. If Graffius opts to take legal action against Netz for his violation of Graffius' copyright, the Federal case will include the greater of statutory damages or actual damages, special charges for willful infringement (which has been clarified by the courts to be either "intentional behavior" or merely "reckless behavior"), and additional costs.
Any further updates will appear in this section.
Content Acknowledgements
This article used limited excerpts from Netz which demonstrate or are related to the infringement, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
The short link for this article is https://bit.ly/ip-2024
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Luxury Unwrapped: The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Every Budget
Make Gifting Unforgettable
Are you looking to wow a loved one with a distinctive gift? Explore our curated selection of 25 highly-rated products to find something special for everyone on your list—and make gifting unforgettable.
List prices are shown. For products you're interested in, select 'LEARN MORE' to see the current price. If a promotion or sale is in effect, you'll see a lower price.
Luxury Unwrapped
Ledger
Nano X Crypto Hardware Wallet
$149.00
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The Ledger Nano X Crypto Hardware Wallet is the best way to securely buy, manage, and grow all your digital assets.
- Intuitive crypto wallet - perfect for beginners and veterans alike.
- Features a secure certified chip (CC EAL5+) designed to withstand sophisticated attacks, and to protect your valuable assets.
- Buy, sell, exchange, and grow your crypto.
- Manage all your assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and tokens on the go.
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Apple
Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet with 128GB Storage
$189.99
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Apple TV provides an exceptional streaming experience.
- Stream TV/movies over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Powered by the A15 Bionic Chip.
- 128GB of built-in storage.
- Added functionality with iOS devices.
- Up to 4K with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- View Apple TV+, Netflix, Live TV, and more.
- Works with Thread Mesh Networks.
- Access Apple Fitness+, Arcade, and Music.
- Acts as a HomeKit Hub with Home App.
- Voice-enabled Siri remote included.
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Zero Halliburton
Profile Deluxe Backpack
$275.00
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The Zero Halliburton Profile Deluxe Business Backpack. Note: Due to limited supply and high demand, this product may be out of stock.
- Made of leather and nylon.
- Padded pocket to protect your electronic devices.
- Front zippered pocket with organizer.
- Padded shoulder strap is designed to rest comfortably on your shoulder regardless of what you carry.
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Creed
Adventus for Men 1.7 Oz. Eau de Parfum Spray
$365.00
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Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum for Men is widely acclaimed, often receiving high ratings for its distinctive fragrance profile. Many consider it a benchmark in men's luxury fragrances.
- Crafted in France and sourced from the world's finest raw ingredients to capture the highest quality essential oils.
- Aventus combines tantalising head notes of lemon, pink pepper & bergamot with a complementary floral heart of pineapple, jasmine, and patchouli. Rounding off this fragrance are the woody base notes of oakmoss, cedarwood, and ambergris.
- Spray onto pulse points.
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Bose
SoundLink Max Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
$399.00
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The Bose SoundLink Max Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker stands out with its combination of expansive stereo sound, a robust 20-hour battery life, and a durable, waterproof design, making it exceptionally versatile and popular for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Deep bass, big sound: Whether you're the crew's go-to DJ or a music lover with the best playlists, the Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker delivers deep, rich bass for a sound that will truly wow the party.
- Vibe wherever you go: Easily bring your Bose portable speaker to any hangout, the soft removable climbing rope handle makes it easy to pick up the party speaker so the music travels wherever you go.
- Waterproof and dust-proof: Worry less about accidental drops or getting caught in the rain, this dust-proof and waterproof speaker is IP67 rated and is also shock and rust resistant.
- Long battery life: This large portable speaker gives you up to 20 hours of battery life, so you can listen to your favorite tunes all day and night so the party never stops.
- Power up while listening: The USB-C port on the back lets you charge any device using the speaker’s built-in battery which means if the SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker has power, so does your device.
- Built-in aux: The Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker features a built in 3.5mm AUX input so you can easily play tunes from your turntable, CD, or MP3 player with a wired connection.
- Personalize how you listen: Using the Bose app, easily control EQ settings like bass, mid-range, and treble levels to perfectly customize the sound or use the app to check battery life and manage connected devices.
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Zero Halliburton
Edge Lightweight Collection Medium Attaché Case
$425.00
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The Zero Halliburton Edge Lightweight Medium Attaché Case stands out for its striking, mirror-like finish and high-performance polycarbonate construction. It combines audacious style with durable, lightweight functionality. This case is for the professional who values both aesthetics and practicality.
- Matte polycarbonate exterior.
- Custom-designed handle with ergonomic cushion-cut shape and rubberized feel.
- Combination lock for added security.
- Concave horizontal double rib design and subtle branding.
- Coated leather lining with organization sleeve.
- Minimal design to enable versatility.
- Available in black, gray, and navy.
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Bose
QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
$429.00
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Details
These headphones deliver exceptional noise cancellation, up to 24 hours of battery life, customizable sound settings, and more.
- Noise cancelling: These wireless noise cancelling headphones feature Quiet Mode, Aware Mode and Immersion Mode, which combines full noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio.
- Comfort: Soft ear cushions hug your ears, the band spreads pressure evenly and elevated materials let you make a statement with these noise cancelling over-the-ear headphones.
- Wireless - Bluetooth: Advanced Bluetooth 5.3 offers connection within 30 feet of your device; SimpleSync allows you to sync with a Bose smart soundbar so you can listen to TV at your own volume.
- Long battery life: Listen longer with up to 24 hours of battery life (up to 18 hours with Immersive Audio), a 15-minute charge offers up to 2.5 hours of play time (up to 2 hours with Immersive Audio).
- Connect and control: Touch controls on each earcup allow you to change volume, skip tracks, answer calls and change modes; you can also turn the Bluetooth headphones on/off simply with head motions.
- Bose app: Download the Bose app to receive the latest software updates for your Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Ensure optimal functionality and get access to all the latest features and cutting-edge tech.
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Dyson
Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer
$499.99
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The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with added intelligence. A network of Nural sensors automatically adjusts airflow and temperature to enhance natural shine and protect scalp health.
- Helps protect hair from root to tip for long term shine.
- Prevents over drying for healthy looking, smooth hair.
- Includes a complimentary presentation case.
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Fluance
High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player RT85N
$499.99
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This is one of the best turntables on the market.
- Voted best turntable by New York Times Wirecutter - "This turntable delivers an accurate sound that works great for any type of music, and it's exceptionally well built for the price."
- Pure analog performance - Enjoy beautifully warm and dynamic music with the Nagaoka MP-110 elliptical diamond cartridge, featuring greater balanced tonal accuracy, resolution, and bass extension.
- High density acrylic platter - The greater mass of the acrylic platter damps unwanted vibrations resulting in a more 3-dimensional sound with tighter bass, a fuller midrange, and overall improved clarity.
- Speed control for precision playback - The isolated motor prevents unwanted vibrations and noise while the speed control mechanism ensures consistent platter velocity (0.07% Wow/Flutter).
- High mass MDF wood plinth - Revel in the gorgeously crafted cabinet with real wood finish and a highly precise metal platter with adjustable resonance damping feet, ensuring superior isolation from unwanted micro-vibrations.
Luxury Unwrapped
Olma
Superior Grade Osetra Sturgeon Black Caviar, 8.8 Oz. / 250 Grams [Overnight Shipping]
$599.99
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Details
Olma Osetra Sturgeon Black Caviar is highly regarded for its rich, buttery flavor and firm texture. It is often considered one of the finest caviars, providing a luxurious taste experience that rivals even the prestigious Beluga caviar, though it's generally more accessible (cost-wise) due to sustainable farming practices.
- The caviar’s clean, layered flavor profile coats your palate with the most decadent flavors of sweet roasted nuts and 'Malossol' — the Russian word for pleasant sea-scented saltiness.
- The medium to large-sized beads offers a gorgeous snap, a firm texture that bursts in your mouth with every unctuous bite.
- Osetra caviar sourced from the finest sustainable farms.
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Dyson
Cool Formaldehyde TP09 Air Purifier and Fan
$749.99
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The Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde™ TP09 is an advanced air purifier and fan that not only cools but also purifies the air by detecting and destroying formaldehyde. It also captures 99.97% of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns, while utilizing a fully sealed HEPA filtration system for optimal air cleanliness.
- Automatically senses, captures, and traps pollutants for cleaner air..number_of_speeds : 10.
- Detects and destroys formaldehyde released from household items.
- Fully sealed to HEPA H13 standard. The HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of particles 0.3 microns in size. An additional filter removes odors and gases including VOCs.
- Air Multiplier technology generates the circulation power to draw distant pollutants into the machine, projecting purified air throughout the whole room.
- Automatically senses and reacts to changes in air quality, then reports pollution in real time on LCD screen and on the MyDyson app.
- Choose between Fan mode for direct cooling with your choice of 0 to 350 degree oscillation and Backwards airflow mode to purify without cooling.
- The filter is quick and easy to change. With automatic filter-life notifications on the LCD screen or MyDyson app.
- Program your machine to turn off after pre-set intervals between 30 minutes and 8 hours.
- In Night mode, the machine monitors and purifies using the quietest settings with a dimmed display.
- Control and monitor your air quality from anywhere using the MyDyson app.
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Dyson
Gen5Detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
$949.99
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This is Dyson's most powerful cordless vacuum with HEPA filtration, dust detection, and scientific proof of a deep clean on the LCD screen.
- The most powerful HEPA cordless vacuum.
- Over 115% more power.
- 70 minutes of run time.
- Power button operated for continuous cleaning.
- Intelligently adapts power based on debris and floor type detected. Bars on the screen grow and shrink in real time according to the volume of particles removed as you clean – showing you when to move to another area.
- The LCD screen displays a summary of how much dust you have picked up at the end of each clean.Also displays power mode, maintenance alerts, and remaining run time to the second.
- Reveals 2x more invisible dust on hard floors. Dyson’s improved illumination technology uses a precisely angled light to reveal the microscopic dust and dirt you can’t normally see on hard floors.
- 2 Advanced cleaner heads. The Fluffy Optic cleaner head reveals hidden dust. Gentle on hard floors but tough on dirt. The Digital Motorbar cleaner head deep cleans all floor types and de-tangles long hair and pet hair as you clean.
- Traps viruses. Advanced whole-machine HEPA filtration. Traps 99.99% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. Expels cleaner air.
- Converts to a handheld vacuum. With the built-in Crevice and dusting tool for continuous cleaning.
- Comes with 4 Dyson-engineered accessories to clean up high, down low, and everywhere in between. Includes the innovative Hair screw tool for removing long hair and pet hair from small spaces without tangles.
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iRobot
Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop + AutoWash Dock
$1,361.50
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This is the most powerful Roomba yet. It vacuums with 100% more suction power, mops back-and-forth with downward pressure—and learns which rooms get dirty fastest. Intelligently engineered to even empty its own bin and wash and dry its own mop pad.
- It's an expert in dirt elimination. The 4-Stage Cleaning System features an Edge-Sweeping Brush for thorough corner cleaning, Dual Rubber Brushes that avoid pet hair tangles, strong suction that easily pulls embedded dirt from carpets, and SmartScrub that mops back and forth with precision.
- It doesn't just learn your home; it reacts to it in real time. With PrecisionVision Navigation and a camera, your robot identifies and avoids obstacles of all sizes like pet waste, charging cords, socks and shoes to get the whole job done.
- Smart scrub mops back and forth with consistent pressure and 2x deeper scrubbing. Some areas of the home need a deeper clean–pawprints in the mudroom, spills under the kitchen table, tiles in your bathroom. Simply enable SmartScrub and your Roomba Combo 10 Max will scrub back-and-forth, just like you would. *Compared to standard vacuum and mop mode for coffee and grime.
- It cleans your home — and itself. The AutoWash Dock empties debris into an enclosed bag, refills the mopping tank, and washes and dries the mop pad all while its Self-Cleaning Cycle keeps the dock clean with the least amount of effort from you.
- A clean pad, every time. Automatically washes and dries the mop pad after each use. Plus, set it to wash its mop pad after cleaning specific rooms like the bathroom, so messes don't get spread around your home.
- Predicts dirt, eliminates it. Some rooms you live in, others you don’t—and Dirt Detective knows exactly which rooms get dirty fastest. It prioritizes where to clean and automatically selects the right settings to give them the deep cleaning they need.
- Cleans where you tell it to clean. Use the iRobot Home App or pair your robot with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant-enabled devices. Simply tell it to clean the living room or by the dishwasher, oven or stove, toilet, even pet bowls, and you’ve got a cleaner home on command. Works with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant-enabled devices.
- Sees the dirt ahead. Enhanced camera recognition pinpoints dirt ahead up to 8x more often and automatically enables Dirt Detect Technology to repeat cleaning passes for a more thorough clean.
- Start cleaning your way even faster. Straight out of the box, your Roomba robot vacuum will create a complete map of your home 7x faster than the previous mapping technology so you can clean wherever you want, whenever you want after just one run.
Luxury Unwrapped
Apple
iPhone 16 Pro Max
$1,439.96
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This is the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB, SIM free, and unlocked for all carriers.
- Stunning titanium design — iPhone 16 Pro Max has a strong and light titanium design with a larger 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display. It’s remarkably durable with the latest-generation Ceramic Shield material that’s 2x tougher than any smartphone glass.
- Built for Apple Intelligence — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data.
- Take total camera control — Camera Control gives you an easier way to quickly access camera tools, like zoom or depth of field, so you can take the perfect shot in record time.
- Magnificent shots — Take your videos to a whole new level with 4K 120 fps Dolby Vision, enabled by the 48MP Fusion camera. The improved 48MP Ultra Wide camera lets you capture mesmerizing detail in macro photos and wide-angle shots.
- Photographic styles — The latest-generation Photographic Styles give you greater creative flexibility, so you can make every photo even more you. And thanks to advances in the image pipeline, you can now reverse any style, any time.
- The power of A18 Pro — A18 Pro chip enables Apple Intelligence with a faster Neural Engine, improved CPU and GPU, and a big jump in memory bandwidth. It also drives advanced video and photo features and powers AAA gaming.
- A huge leap in battery life — iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers an incredibly power-efficient performance with up to 33 hours video playback. Charge via USB-C or snap on a MagSafe charger for faster wireless charging.
- Customize your iPhone — With iOS 18 you can tint your Home Screen icons with any color. Find your favorite shots faster in the redesigned Photos app. And add playful, animated effects to any word, phrase, or emoji in iMessage.
- Satellite connectivity — If you don't have cell service or Wi-Fi, iPhone can connect to a satellite so you can send and receive messages and Tapbacks. In a severe car crash, iPhone can connect to emergency services when you can't.
Luxury Unwrapped
Dell Alienware
Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop PC
$2,269.00
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This is the Dell Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop PC packed with 64GB of RAM, 4TB SSD, and 2TB HDD.
- Processor: Equipped with i7-14700F; up to Turbo Boost 5.40GHz, 20 cores, 28 threads. It delivers exceptional computing power for gaming, content creation, and multitasking, ensuring a seamless experience even during the most demanding tasks.
- Incredible graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB GDDR6 dedicated). This gaming desktop is designed to render lifelike visuals and deliver a captivating gaming experience. With advanced ray tracing and AI capabilities, you can expect realistic graphics and smooth gameplay, making it perfect for both gaming and creative work.
- Connectivity: This desktop ensures flexibility and convenience in connecting with the Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth. It includes 3 of USB-C 3.2, 5 of USB-A 3.2, 4 of USB-A 2.0, 1 of HDMI, 1 of headphone/microphone combo, and 1 of Ethernet Port.
- Legend 3 design: The R16 debuts our minimalist and functional Legend 3 design that focuses on simplicity with features that are optimized for any desktop gaming setup.
Luxury Unwrapped
Apple
Studio 5K Display with Nano-Texture Glass and Tilt- and Height-Adjustable Stand
$2,299.00
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An expansive 27-inch 5K Retina display. 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage. Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. And studio-quality mics. The perfect Mac partner - it's so much more than a display.
- Immersive 27-inch 5K Retina display with 600 nits of brightness, support for one billion colors, and P3 wide color.
- An antireflective coating ensures better visual comfort and readability. And the nano-textured glass further minimizes glare.
- 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage for more engaging video calls.
- Studio-quality three-mic array for crystal-clear calls and voice recordings.
- Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio for an unbelievable listening experience.
- One Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB-C ports.
- 96W of power delivery to charge your Mac notebook.
- Configurable stand: Tilt- and height-adjustable stand.
Luxury Unwrapped
Apple
iPad Pro 13-Inch
$2,395.00
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This is the iPad Pro 13-inch with 2TB, and Wi-Fi 6E + 5G Cellular.
- Why iPad Pro — iPad Pro is the ultimate iPad experience in an impossibly thin and light design. Featuring the breakthrough Ultra Retina XDR display, outrageous performance from the M4 chip, superfast wireless connectivity, and compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro. Plus powerful productivity features in iPadOS.
- Built for Apple Intelligence — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. It draws on your personal context while setting a brand-new standard for privacy in AI.
- 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display — Ultra Retina XDR delivers extreme brightness and contrast and exceptional color accuracy and features advanced technologies like ProMotion, P3 wide color, and True Tone.
- Performance and storage — Up to 10-core CPU in the M4 chip delivers powerful performance, while the 10‑core GPU provides blazing-fast graphics. And with all-day battery life, you can do anything you imagine on iPad Pro.
- IPADOS + apps — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* Stage Manager makes multitasking easy with resizable, overlapping apps and external display support. iPad Pro comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps available on the App Store.
- Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro — Apple Pencil Pro transforms iPad Pro into an immersive drawing canvas and the world’s best note‑taking device. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is also compatible with iPad Pro. Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro features a thin and light design, a great typing experience, and a built‑in glass trackpad with haptic feedback, while doubling as a protective cover for iPad.
- Advanced cameras — iPad Pro features a landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front camera that supports Center Stage for videoconferencing or epic Portrait mode selfies. The 12MP Wide back camera with adaptive True Tone flash is great for capturing photos or 4K video with ProRes support. Four studio-quality microphones and a four-speaker audio system provide rich audio. And AR experiences are enhanced with the LiDAR Scanner to capture a depth map of any space.
- Connectivity — Wi-Fi 6E gives you fast wireless connections for quick transfers of photos, documents, and large video files. And when you’re away from Wi-Fi, super-fast 5G gives you the flexibility to stay connected in more places. Connect to external displays, drives, and more using the USB-C connector with support for Thunderbolt / USB 4.
- Unlock and pay with Face ID — Unlock your iPad Pro, securely authenticate purchases, sign in to apps, and more — all with just a glance.
Luxury Unwrapped
Louis Vuitton
Keepall 45 Bandoulière
$2,490.00
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This iconic Keepall 45 Bandoulière is fashioned in the new iconic black and grey Monogram Eclipse canvas. Since 1930, the Keepall duffle has journeyed alongside generations of elegant globetrotters. This version – with comfortable-to-hold leather handles, a strap for casual cross-body wear and a gleaming padlock – holds all the essentials for an overnight jaunt.
- 17.7 inches length x 10.6 inches height x 7.9 inches width
- Coated Canvas
- Natural Cowhide Leather trimmings
- Cotton Textile Lining
- Good capacity
- Cabin size
- Removable leather name tag
- Silver color metal pieces
- Strap: Removable, adjustable
- Strap drop: 14.2 inches
- Strap drop max: 19.7 inches
- Handle: Double
Luxury Unwrapped
Peloton
Tread Treadmill with Immersive 24” HD Touchscreen
$2,995.00
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The Peloton Tread brings a studio experience home. Get a powerful cardio workout with a 24" HD touchscreen with front and rear-facing speakers, studio-quality sound. There’s a class for every day, and a workout for every muscle. Unlock thousands of classes, both on and off the Tread, like running, walking, hiking, or Tread Bootcamp. Stack classes to seamlessly transition from one to the next. And when rest days come around, you can balance running and strength with yoga, meditation, and stretching. With Peloton, the workouts don’t stop there. When you’re ready to take things outside, check out our outdoor walks and runs on the Peloton App. Explore our lineup of 50+ instructors, and track your progress class after class using on-screen metrics to help you go the distance. Plus, your Peloton Tread is compatible with any ANT+ heart rate monitor, Apple Watch, Strava, or any Android watch device running Wear OS 3 or higher, so you can set up one-tap fitness tracking to monitor your heart rate and close your rings. A Peloton All-Access Membership must be purchased separately in order to access Peloton classes on your Tread. You’ll pay one monthly fee for your entire household so everyone can access our entire library of classes that range from 5 to 90 minutes. With workouts that fit your experience level, mood, goals, music style, and schedule, you’ll be ready to train on and off your Peloton Tread or move anytime, anywhere with the Peloton App.
- Built to go the extra mile – Step onto the Peloton Tread for a next-level running, walking, or hiking experience. And step off for a full-body workout in classes like strength training, Tread Bootcamp, yoga, and more.
- Value-packed membership – A Peloton All-Access Membership must be purchased separately to access Peloton content on your Tread. Pay $44/mo for your household to get unlimited access to our content. Age, height, and weight restrictions apply.
- Compact machine – Peloton Tread has a 5½′ x 2¾′ footprint with a 59” running belt that’s comfortable and quiet for a powerful cardio workout.
- Controls – Speed knobs adjust from 0 to 12.5 mph and incline knobs adjust grades from 0% to 12.5%. It features a jump button, on-screen shortcuts, a one-touch button to wake, stop, and put the Tread to sleep, and a removable safety key.
- Safety – Clip on the safety key while using and know the belt will quickly stop if detached. Avoid unintended use by removing safety key after your workout and storing it out of reach. Lock your Tread with a passcode when not in use.
Luxury Unwrapped
Samsung
85-Inch Class Frame Series 4K Quantum HDR Smart TV
$3,121.03
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This is the innovative and amazing Samsung 85-inch Class Frame Series 4K Quantum HDR Smart TV with Alexa built-in.
- TV When It’s On, Art When It’s Off: The Frame displays lifelike art, photos, TV, and movies in stunning 4K resolution on a screen with customizable bezels to enhance your décor.
- Like a Photo Frame, But Better: Minimalist-inspired, The Frame's profile is redesigned to be slimmer with a monochromatic back for beauty from every angle.
- Personalize Art: The Frame transforms to art when you're not watching TV; Choose from the Samsung Collection or upload your own pieces; Built-in sensors automatically optimize the picture to your environment and turn the screen off when you're away.
- World-Class Selection: Bring museums and galleries to your home with a growing library of over 1,400 works; From iconic classics to modern marvels and stunning photography, Art Store gives you unlimited access to a broad range of art.
- Customize to Your Style: Create the perfect match for your space with two bezel style options in multiple colorways; Select the ones that suit your mood and apply in a snap —magnetic application makes it easy to switch things up.
- Bring a Billion Colors to Life: With 100% Color Volume, Quantum Dot Technology delivers over a billion shades of color that stay true-to-life without washing out at any level of brightness.
- Powerful, Intelligent 4K Processing: Samsung's powerful processor takes your viewing experience to the next level, with AI-driven technology to automatically optimize both picture and sound for a more immersive experience.
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Jackery
Solar Generator 2000 Plus Portable Power
$3,299.00
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This is the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus (400W, 2042Wh LiFePO4 Battery, 3000W Output) Portable Power Station with solar panels.
- Exceptional performance: Featuring up to 2,042.8 Wh gigantic capacity, the Jackery 2000 Plus Power Station can power a range of heavy load devices, with up to 3,000 W capacity - including air conditioners, RVs, and more, satisfying all your power requirements, when out and about on your outdoor exploration and adventures, or for personal use in your home. The product features whisper quiet charging, at just 30 dB, when in operation, giving complete peace of mind.
- Ultra fast charging: Charge directly from the sun or via wall outlet, conveniently, quickly and additionally worry free. Only 2 hours is taken for the Explorer 2000 Plus, to become fully charged, by connecting 6 * SolarSaga 200 W Solar Panels, or by connection via wall outlet. Additionally, there’s no need to worry about power outages any longer - simply enjoy your time off-grid.
- 2kWh - 24kWh flexible expansion: The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus supports up to 5 expandable battery packs, featuring power expanded from 2k to 12kWh. 2 * Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Power Stations can be connected in parallel, to expand the capacity to 24k Wh, voltage to 240V and output to 6000W, matching all your power requirements - both indoors and outdoors.
- First-rate safety: By adopting advanced Lithium Technology, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is highly temperature resistant, ensuring cells operate efficiently and safely. The built-in cooling system further improves heat dissipation efficiency by 30% with different types of protection - including shock resistance and fire-resistance, providing the complete safe charging experience.
- Built to last: Thanks to Jackery's innovative ChargeShield Fast Charging Technology, the Explorer 2000 Plus Power Station’s battery life is boosted by 50%. A safe LiFePO4 battery featuring up to 10 years of use extends battery lifespan, significantly. Smart Shallow Charging Mode further enhances efficiency and reliability. Moreover - Jackery offers a 5 Year Warranty, with superb customer service. Contact us if you have any problems or issues, at any time, when using Jackery Products.
- Smart App control: Easily manage your Explorer 2000 Plus using the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth function. It's now easier than ever, to monitor remaining battery levels, and use the other App functions. Multiple advanced settings can be customized to meet individual requirements, ensuring round-the-clock energy control.
- What’s included: 1 of Explorer 2000 Plus, 2 of 200W solar panel, 1 of AC charging cable, 1 of car charging cable, and 1 of user manual. Note: the power station and the solar panel will be shipped in separate packages.
Luxury Unwrapped
Apple
MacBook Pro 16.2" with 128GB and 4TB SSD
$5,999.00
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This is the MacBook Pro packed with a brilliant 16.2" screen, 128 GB RAM, and a 4TB SSD. Mind-blowing. Head-turning.Get the highlights. The most advanced chips ever built for a personal computer. Up to 22 hours of battery life for the ultimate in pro portability .The world's best laptop display. Brilliant in every way A pro laptop without equal. MacBook Pro blasts forward with the M3 Max chips. Built on 3-nanometer technology and featuring an all-new GPU architecture, they're the most advanced chips ever built for a personal computer. And each one brings more pro performance and capability. M3 MaxM3 Max brings massive performance and capabilities for those with the most extreme workflows, featuring even more CPU and GPU cores, enormous unified memory, and additional Media Engine resources. It pushes the limits of what a computer can do - in the studio or on location. Intricate 3D rendering, video post-production on the highest-resolution content, developing transformer models with billions of parameters - the most intensive workflows become an absolute breeze. Supports up to four external displays. Up to 11x faster than Intel-based model. Up to 2.5x faster than M1 Max model. Game-changing graphics performance. And more!
- Up To 22 hours of battery life - Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of Apple silicon. MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it's running on battery or plugged in.
- Responsive Unified Memory and storage - Up to 128GB (M3 Max) of unified memory makes everything you do fast and fluid. Up to 8TB (M3 Max) of super-fast SSD storage launches apps and opens files in an instant.
- Brilliant Pro Display - The 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR display features Extreme Dynamic Range, 1000 nits of sustained brightness for stunning HDR content, up to 600 nits of brightness for SDR content, and pro reference modes for doing your best work on the go.
- Fully compatible - All your pro apps run lightning fast-including Adobe Creative Cloud, Apple Xcode, Microsoft 365, SideFX Houdini, MathWorks MATLAB, and many of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps. And with macOS, work and play on your Mac are even more powerful. Elevate your presence on video calls.
- Advanced camera And audio - Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
Luxury Unwrapped
Hasselblad
907X Anniversary Edition Camera Kit
$14,358.56
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This is the ultra-premium and stunning Hasselblad 907X Anniversary Edition Camera Kit.
- Focusing screen mask. XCD 30mm f/3.5 lens. Lens shade. Control grip. Optical viewfinder. USB power adapter. Shoulder strap. Expose cable 503 CW. Flash input sync cable. Flash output sync cable. USB 3.0 Type-C with USB-A connector cable. Lens protective pouch. Hasselblad 1 Year Limited.
- Large medium format 50MP CMOS sensor.
- Up to 14 stops of dynamic range.
- Captures 16-bit RAW images and full resolution JPEGs.
- Video: 2.7k (2720 x 1530) and full HD (1920 x 1080). Video covers full sensor width in a 16:9 ratio.
Luxury Unwrapped
Tesla
Cybertruck with Cyberbeast Upgrade, Full Self-Driving Option, and More
$113,735.00
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The Tesla Cybertruck — including Cyberbeast upgrade, Full Self-Driving (FSD) option, and more — indeed stands out as a luxury gift due to its unique combination of cutting-edge technology, distinctive design, and high performance, which collectively contribute to its premium pricing.
- Faster than a Porsche 911 towing a Porsche 911.
- 0-60 in 2.6 seconds.
- Up to 470+ mi. of range (+ range extender).
- Steer by wire.
- Air suspension.
- 845 HP.
- Bulletproof body.
- Custom designed Tesla steel alloy.
- Bi-directional charging.
- 120V and 240V outlets.
- 48V architecture.
- FSD (full self-driving).
- 18.5 in. touchscreen.
- Powered frunk.
- No corrosion, no paint chips.
- Rockproof glass.
- 67 cubic ft. lockable storage.
- 11k lbs towing capacity.
- .335 drag coefficient.
- True 17 in. ground clearance.
- Rear torque vectoring.
Luxury Unwrapped
Lamborghini
Countach LPI 800
$2,640,000.00
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Fifty years since its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show, the legendary Lamborghini Countach made headlines again with a limited-series hybrid supercar celebrating the visionary design that revolutionized modern sports cars forever and laid the foundations of the Lamborghini legacy. This is the Countach LPI 800-4. Inspired by the past, made for the future.
- Engine: It features a 6.5-liter V12 engine, which is naturally aspirated, producing 780 CV (770 hp). This is complemented by a hybrid system using a super-capacitor, adding an extra 34 hp, leading to a total output of approximately 803 hp.
- Performance: The Countach LPI 800-4 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.8 seconds and can hit 0 to 124 mph in 8.6 seconds. Its top speed is electronically limited to 355 km/h (221 mph).
- Hybrid System: Unlike typical hybrids, it uses a super-capacitor for energy storage, which provides quicker power delivery for short bursts, enhancing acceleration.
- Transmission: It comes with a 7-speed automated manual transmission, which is part of the hybrid system integration.
- Weight: The vehicle weighs around 3,516 lbs (1,595 kg), which is relatively light for its power, contributing to its impressive performance figures.
- Chassis and body: The body style is a 2-door coupe, maintaining the iconic scissor doors of the original Countach. It's built on a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis.
- Tires and wheels: It comes equipped with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, with front wheels being 20-inch.
- Limited production: Only 112 units of the Countach LPI 800-4 were produced.
- Price: Based on select sources, this article references the price of $2,640,000. However, some mention that it commands close(r) to $3 million.
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