Tech Law: Gamer Sues Bungie, DOJ Eyes MicroHoo, K-Mart/Sears Spyware, More

On September 18, 2009

Tech Law: Gamer Sues Bungie, DOJ Eyes MicroHoo, K-Mart/Sears Spyware, More

A look at highlights of the past week in the high tech legal world: courts, regulation, and lawsuits, including: gamer sues Bungie over Halo 3 bugs; DOJ to look closely at Microsoft-Yahoo deal; Microsoft escapes patent infringement fine -- for now; FTC gets consent decree over K-Mart and Sears spyware scheme; and social network gaming vendor Zygna sues competitor Playdom.
On September 18, 2009

Asking Customers to Go Steady: Tips for Repeat Orders

Subscription options for consumables is not necessarily a new concept, but certainly an underused tactic of online retailers. It’s far more common to see e-tailers offering tiered pricing (discounts on quantity) to increase basket size. But customers don’t always want to order a case lot of something — who has room for a year’s [...]
On September 18, 2009

Navy Reorients LCS Acquistition Strategy

The U.S. Navy has decided to restructure the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program to use sole source production only after a contest next year. Another contest will be held in 2014-2015 as the planned fleet may be smaller then originally though.
On September 18, 2009

Did somebody say P-A-R-T-Y?

Reasons to be cheerful are thin on the ground in the business world right now. It turns out we're in a recession (really? The media should have said something!). But chances are, companies will still be trying to do what they can to keep morale high. In many parts of the world that involves getting staff drunk. Perhaps you've even had a summer party in recent weeks. Whatever the occasion, it's likely you've found yourself drinking with colleagues, and for somebody in a management position this is a minefield to be navigated carefully. See if you recognise these three characters and feel free to admit, if only to yourself, which sounds most like you: The ‘cool as ice' boss: Turn...
On September 17, 2009

Sirius Has Serious Share Price Hangover

When a company has been hurting and its share price is largely in the toilet, it faces a potentially big problem: delisting. The exchanges demand a certain floor price to remain listed. And today, Sirius XM announced that Nasdaq sent notice that it was out of compliance. In this case, it means that the share price has closed under a dollar for more than 30 consecutive business days.
On September 17, 2009

Walmart Keeps Pushing Healthcare Initiatives, No Matter What Retail Thinks

When it takes on an issue, Walmart does so in a fully realized manner and inevitably incorporates it into retail operations, so it’s not surprising that the company brought up the healthcare debate currently centered on the United States Congress in announcing an expansion of its low-cost prescription drug programs. In a statement, Walmart noted that while debate continues to roil Washington, it is taking action as part of its commitment “to doing its part to reduce the cost of health care for everyone.” That commitment comes in the form of a free delivery service for prescription drugs, which represents another expansion of the company’s original program of providing 30-day supplies of 300 such medications for $4 through its store...
On September 17, 2009

Chevron, Exxon, Shell Sidestep Long-Term CO2 Storage Liability in Gorgon Deal

Chevron is no stranger to liability. The super major energy company faces a $27 billion lawsuit over allegations of environmental pollution in Ecuador's Amazon. Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell also have grappled with a number of costly lawsuits over the years. It's safe to assume all three energy companies want to avoid liability, especially with a project as large as the Gorgon liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia. And it turns out, that's what they managed to do. Bloomberg reported today, the three companies agreed to invest in the $37 billion Gorgon venture only after Australia's government assumed any long-term liability for potential damages incurred from carbon storage. This means the Australian government will accept any liability if carbon dioxide captured from the project and injected...
On September 17, 2009

Skype Future Owners Jolted by Joltid

Having been involved in due diligence during M&A myself, I understand that it's a critical activity. And for that reason I have to shake my head at eBay as well as some of the companies taking over Skype: private equity firm Silver Lake and VCs Index Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz. And it all comes down to how ineptly they have dealt with an IP licensing scheme that should have been nailed down literally two years ago.
On September 17, 2009

Headed to Shop.org Annual Summit?

If you’ll be in the neon city next week for the Shop.org Annual Summit, swing by the Elastic Path booth #647 and say hello to EP’s Fantastic Four: Matt, Megan, Graham and Ryan! While I won’t be at the show personally this year, you can still connect with me at our booth where I will be [...]
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