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Getting to the Root of Patent Exhaustion February 19, 2013 Patent laws remain in the crosshairs, despite the passage and near final implementation of the infamous America Invents Act of 2011. The Supreme Court is again hearing a case that has far-reaching implications for future innovation in self-replicating systems in fields such as nanotechnology, cell and DNA lines, new medical treatments and others.

German Court OKs Facebook's Keep-It-Real Policy February 16, 2013 Facebook's policy of requiring that users post profiles under their real names was upheld by a German court on Thursday. The decision reversed last year's Independent Center for Privacy Protection ruling that Facebook had to permit the use of pseudonyms in Germany. The ULD -- the privacy regulator for the German state of Schleswig-Holstein -- had cited the country's Telemedia Act as its rationale.

Upgrade Points to Mobile as Groupon's Real Deal February 15, 2013 Groupon got a stock bump this week following an analyst's upgrade, a rare occurrence for the daily deal site; its stock price has plummeted since its debut on the public market. The company's evolving business model, an increasing presence in mobile commerce and an international push can help the online coupon dealer hit $9 per share over the next 12 months, according to analyst Arvind Bhatia.

Joint Effort Snares Gang of Cyberthugs February 14, 2013 Europol announced Wednesday the breakup of a gang of cybercriminals who allegedly ran a ransomware scheme to extract money from online users in 30 countries. Spanish police, working alongside Europol's European Cybercrime Center, made 11 arrests in an action dubbed "Operation Ransom."

Yahoo Picks Up Speed With Alike Acquisition February 14, 2013 In case investors have any doubts that Yahoo sees its future in mobile, events of the past few days should dispel them once and for all. News surfaced Tuesday that Yahoo has acquired Alike, a mobile app that guides users to find nearby venues and places to visit. Also on Tuesday, CEO Marissa Mayer sketched out her vision for Yahoo at an investors conference hosted by Goldman Sachs.

Microsoft's Dell Play: Smart Save or Nokia 2.0? February 14, 2013 It's no secret that partnerships involving Microsoft tend to make Linux bloggers nervous, and given the lessons of history, it's not exactly any wonder, either. So FOSS fans will have to be excused for the anxiety with which they've watched the latest developments with Dell. CEO and founder Michael Dell is attempting to take the company private through a leveraged buyout.

Comcast Wants All of NBCUniversal for Must-See Content February 13, 2013 Comcast announced Tuesday it will pay $16.7 billion to acquire General Electric's 49 percent stake in NBCUniversal. Comcast currently controls 51 percent of NBCU, which it picked up from GE in a deal that was finalized in 2011. The agreement was structured to allow Comcast to eventually acquire 100 percent of NBCU, and it decided to accelerate that process.

Apple's Cook: We're Not Done Innovating Yet February 13, 2013 Despite a stock drop, a lawsuit from a hedge fund manager and questions about future products, Apple CEO Tim Cook told the audience at a Goldman Sachs technology conference Tuesday that innovation remains "deeply embedded" in the company's culture, and that it has "never been stronger."

Of Apps and Antitrust: FTC Monitoring Kicks Into High Gear February 13, 2013 Periodically we are reminded that the Federal Trade Commission plays a major role in regulating the Internet. For instance, the FTC is in charge of protecting privacy on the Internet in the U.S. and continually starts new privacy initiatives as the use of the Internet evolves.

Disgruntled Investors Could Deep-Six Dell Deal February 12, 2013 Dell's plan to go private in what would be one of the biggest leveraged buyouts in recent years appears to be in jeopardy. Some of the company's largest shareholders have come out against the move. Southeastern Asset Management filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a letter it sent to Dell's board of directors warning them that it will vote against the deal.

Big Google Cashout Plan Has Analysts Picking Schmidt's Brain February 11, 2013 Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt might sell as much as 42 percent of his shares in the tech giant, according to an SEC filing. At the stock's current price of around $785 per share, the sale could yield about $2.5 billion for Schmidt. He currently owns about 7.6 million shares of Class A and Class B common stock.

US Tech Giants Face Pricing Questions in Australia February 11, 2013 Apple, Microsoft and Adobe reportedly have been summoned by the Australian Parliament to explain why their products cost so much more in Australia than elsewhere. The tech trio was called by the House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications, which is overseeing an inquiry into why hardware and software, ranging from e-books and music to computer games and consoles, are pricier Down Under than in the U.S., UK and Asia.

Dell Goes Private - Should Apple Follow? February 11, 2013 I'm not asking the question, "Could Apple follow?" because the amount of cash that would need to be raised would be mind-boggling. Most thought that taking Dell private was impossible, and once you get past "impossible," degree doesn't make that much difference. With Apple stock down sharply, the opportunity may increase to eliminate the impossible part.

Yahoo, Google Buddy Up for Display-Ad Deal February 08, 2013 Yahoo and Google on Wednesday announced a nonexclusive agreement to display ads on various Yahoo properties and certain cobranded sites using Google's AdSense for Content and its AdMob services. Because the agreement is nonexclusive, Yahoo will continue to display ads from other providers, including Microsoft's Bing.

HP Looks to Limit Student Labor in China February 08, 2013 HP, one of the top three PC manufacturers, announced Friday that it had directed suppliers in China to limit their use of student labor. The move comes amid growing concerns in the tech community about working conditions in overseas factories. The announcement also follows recent efforts by Apple to address problematic labor practices in China.

Stan Lee Sketches Web Portal for Kids February 08, 2013 Comic book legend Stan Lee wants kids to join him on his next superhero adventure. The 90-year-old creator of Spider-Man and cocreator of Iron Man, Thor and the rest of the Avengers, this week launched Stan Lee's Kids Universe as part of a joint venture between his POW! Entertainment and 1821 Comics. The online property was announced at New York Comic Con.

Hedge Fund Magnate Takes Apple to Court February 08, 2013 Apple's cash hoarding has always annoyed some of its investors, but Thursday one of them decided to bet on a unique solution. David Einhorn, a hedge fund operator with a history of staunch support for Apple, filed a lawsuit against the company in an attempt to block its board from giving away its power to issue preferred stock.

Investors Give Yelp Mixed Reviews February 07, 2013 Yelp's revenue and monthly unique visitors rose during its most recent quarter, but the site still reported a net loss as it funded expansion into new markets. The site, which provides information and crowdsourced reviews about local restaurants, entertainment and businesses, reported a net loss of $5.32 million, or 8 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $9.1 million, or 56 cents per share, from the same time a year ago.

Wall Street Renews Its Zest for Zynga February 07, 2013 Zynga's shares got a lift from better-than-expected earnings reported earlier this week. The picture wasn't entirely rosy, though. The maker of once-popular social media games such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars reported revenue of $311 million for Q4, flat compared to the year-ago quarter.

Google Victorious in 6-Year Aussie Legal Battle February 06, 2013 A court in Australia has ruled in favor of Google in its lengthy legal fight with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The case, which lasted six years, concerned search results from 2006-07. The Commission claimed that sponsored links published by Google diverted users to rival companies.