Toshiba, LG to share CD, DVD, HD DVD toys

Toshiba, LG to share CD, DVD, HD DVD toys: "Global patent cross-licence signed Toshiba and LG have agreed to share their respective optical disc patent portfolios the better to make each company's product development budget go further. The deal covers not only discs, but players and recorders too, and even extends to HD DVD - an interesting move given LG's preference for the Blu-ray Disc format.…"

Vonage Files for $250M IPO

Vonage Files for $250M IPO: "Internet telephone service provider Vonage may raise up to $250 million in an initial public offering to fund efforts to expand its subscriber base, according to a regulatory filing."

U.S. Examines Vista Antitrust Complaints

U.S. Examines Vista Antitrust Complaints: "Federal officials said Wednesday that they've received a complaint about Vista's 'Welcome Center.'"

Lawsuit challenges new 'e-annoyance' law

"Law targeting e-mail, Web posts that 'annoy' will be tested in suit filed by provider of service that lets people send anonymous e-mail."

More surveillance puts strain on carriers

Oracle in talks to consume three open source darlings - report

"JBoss, Zend and Sleepycat targeted Oracle is in talks to buy three open source companies in a strategy that would potentially reinforce the company's middleware against low-priced competitors, according to a report in BusinessWeek.…"

Bill Would Set New Privacy Requirements for Websites

Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation

Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation:

"Consumers Should Not Use New Google Desktop"

San Francisco - Google today announced a new 'feature' of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer chooses to use it, the new 'Search Across Computers' feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.

Bill Would Set New Privacy Requirements for Websites

Bill Would Set New Privacy Requirements for Websites

AT&T Warns Apple, Others, Of Patent Infringement

AT&T has begun to name names in its hunt to license its MPEG video compression patents...

BitTorrent creators to enforce trademark

BIT TORRENT'S creator Bram Cohen is considering enforcing the trademark for his software as his outfit moves into legal movie and music distribution. ...

China leads developing countries in trademark applications

International trademark applications from developing countries rose significantly in 2005, with China topping the list of filers, the World ...

Microsoft plan averts U.S. antitrust conflict

Microsoft has averted a looming conflict with U.S. officials by agreeing to disclose more information about its Windows Server operating system, according to documents filed in federal court Wednesday...

China Seen As Key Swing Factor For Yum! Brands

A healthy boost in domestic sales growth spurred Yum! Brands to a better-than-expected fourth quarter, helping the fast-food company shake off an avian flu scare that led to a 20% drop in operating earnings in China.

Pizza Hut spreading base to India's smaller cities

Pizza Hut has announced Immediate plans to open 35 new outlets to add to the existing chain of 125 restaurants across 31 cities in India.

Microsoft Faces First EU Antitrust Fines

The EU's highest antitrust official, competition commissioner Neelie Kroes, has given Microsoft until 15 February to comply with the Commission's March 2004 ruling or face a fine of up to €2 (about £1.37m) a day.

Apple Files For Touch-Sensitive Patent

Apple Computer Inc. has filed a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for touch-screen technology.

Google Sued Over Use Of Check N' Go Trademark

Payday loans provider Check N' Go has filed a federal lawsuit against Google Inc., claiming its trademark was exploited by the leading Internet search engine in advertisement sales.

Quizno's Suitors Drop Out

Equity firms Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and The Blackstone Group LP both have opted not to bid for Quiznos, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Feb. 3.

Panera Bread plans 15 new bakery-cafes in Texas

Panera Bread has reached agreement with a Texas franchise group to develop 15 new bakery-cafes in the San Antonio and Austin markets.

Merger talk to overshadow Boston Scientific results

Wall Street is craving more details on Boston Scientific's road map for integrating its $27 billion acquisition of Guidant, which the company wrested away from Johnson & Johnson last month after a high-stakes bidding war.(ABC)(Reuters)

Virginia Eatery operator hopes to take his BBQ nationwide via franchising

Virginia Barbeques soon may be popping up across the country--fueled with a little help from the National Hot Rod Association.

Former Subway manager sues in Las Vegas claiming HIV bias

A former manager of a Subway sandwich shop has filed a federal disability rights lawsuit claiming he was fired when the store owner learned he had the virus that causes AIDS.

Dunkin Donuts Franchisee Discrimination Suit Settled

A settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit in which an Old Town, Maine man claimed employees at a Dunkin' Donuts franchise discriminated against him because he is black.

Ebay, other Auction sites try to knock out knockoffs

If you find a deal at an online auction site for a price that seems too good to be true, look twice....

File: Internet Law

Sunoco to pay $325,000 to settle price gauging lawsuit

Sunoco Inc. became the second oil company to settle a price gouging lawsuit brought by New Jersey authorities, agreeing to pay $325,000 but admitting no wrongdoing.

Game Technology Law Conference Announced

A two-day comprehensive conference on current developments in Gamer Technology Law has been announced for March 16 & 17 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA.

File: Technology Law

Olympic copyright law on right track

Lord Coe is touring the North West this week, speaking to local authorities and chambers of commerce encouraging them to become involved in the 2012 Olympics, and how they will be "Britain’s Games". So what's the issue?...

File: Copyright

Newspapers argue that Google's news service violates copyright law

An international group of newspaper publishers claim that search engine indexing and content distribution constitutes copyright infringement.

Targacept-AstraZeneca deal gets antitrust clearance

Biotechnology firm Targacept has received regulatory clearance from federal antitrust officials to move forward with a research and licensing agreement with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

File: Antitrust

Sprint gets U.S. antitrust nod for Nextel Partners

No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. has received antitrust clearance to acquire its biggest affiliate Nextel Partners Inc., U.S. officials said on Monday.(Reuters)

File: Antitrust