Corporate and legal

Minor browsers seek more prominence in Europe

Unhappy with their lot, six of seven second-tier browsers have petitioned regulators for increased prominence on the screen that gives Windows users in the European Union a choice of browsers besides Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

The browser makers on Thursday sent a petition to Neelie Kroes, a European Commission vice president, and other regulators who have been dealing with the browser-choice technology that Microsoft has begun distributing to millions in Europe as part of an antitrust case against the software company. The top five browsers dominate the market, but more obscure browser makers hope the EU antitrust action will grant … Read more

Viacom vs. Google court fight heats up

The copyright fight being waged by Viacom against Google will move into a crucial stage on Friday.

According to documents filed in federal court on Thursday, both companies are expected to file motions for summary judgment--when a judge decides enough undisputed evidence exists for a ruling to be made without sending the case to trial.

In addition to Viacom and Google, a group of copyright owners that also sued Google for copyright infringement in 2007 is expected to file for summary judgment as well. What this means is that the time of taking depositions and exchanging documents is over. The … Read more

One-man show to depict Steve Jobs' career

Monologist Mike Daisey plans to perform at the Berkeley (Calif.) Repertory Theatre early next year in a monologue called, "The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs."

Although details are fairly scant right now, the theater wrote on its site that the monologue will "dive into the epic story of a real-life Willy Wonka whose personal obsessions profoundly affect our everyday lives." Daisey will also travel "to China where millions toil in factories to create iPhones and iPods."

On his home page, Daisey specifically addressed tech journalists (that would be me, I guess) who have … Read more

RSA 2010: Taking on cyberthreats

These days, it seems everyone has cybersecurity on the brain--the White House, Web and software giants, and vendors specializing in products designed to stomp out online threats. They've all descended on San Francisco this week for the annual RSA security conference.

Symantec exhibit makes cybercrime tangible In a highly visual, hands-on display at RSA, the security firm shows tools and methods used for cybercrime and identity fraud. (Posted in InSecurity Complex by Elinor Mills) March 4, 2010 3:52 PM PST

Study lauds IE for blocking Web's social attacks The study, funded by Microsoft, concludes that Microsoft's … Read more

EchoStar injunction upheld in victory for TiVo

TiVo scored a major victory in its long-running patent battle against Dish Network parent company EchoStar Thursday, but it's not over yet.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District upheld a lower court's ruling that changes EchoStar made to its DVR software were not enough to get around TiVo's patents, meaning that EchoStar failed to comply with an injunction against the sale of those products and was subject to additional penalties. TiVo and EchoStar have been fighting over DVR patents since 2004, and with EchoStar unable to overturn a 2006 court decision … Read more

Is Apple launching a patent war?

First, there was the Macintosh. Then it was the iPod, the iPhone, and now the iPad. Next up in Apple's arsenal: The lawyers.

No doubt, when Apple announced Tuesday that it was suing HTC for allegedly infringing on its patents, only one company may have been named, but Jobs & Co. were issuing a legal warning to nearly every company that's released an iPhone-like device.

But how far will this fight go? That's the unanswered question.

The HTC lawsuit could be the first of many as the company stakes its territory in the smartphone market. Larger manufacturers, … Read more

RealNetworks surrenders in RealDVD case

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel has issued a permanent injunction that bars RealNetworks from selling RealDVD, the DVD-copying software that Hollywood claimed in a lawsuit violated copyright law.

Real and the Motion Picture Association of America reached a settlement, according to statements issued by both companies, that called for Real to stop selling RealDVD or any similar products and to pay $4.5 million to reimburse the studios for legal fees.

"We are gratified by the successful conclusion of this important matter," said Daniel Mandil, the MPAA's general counsel. "Judge Patel's rulings and … Read more

Report: China Unicom to sell Android phones

China's second largest mobile phone company will be selling Google Android phones after all, according to a report from Reuters.

China Unicom's chairman Chang Xiaobing told Reuters Wednesday, on the sidelines of a conference in Beijing, that the carrier "recognizes that Android is a mainstream system." And he told the news service that the company "will definitely use Google's Android in our mobile handsets."

Google postponed the launch of two Android-based mobile handsets in China on Unicom's network earlier this year after Google discovered a sophisticated and targeted attack on its network … Read more

EU gives obscure browsers a big chance

It took Mozilla more than five years of concerted effort and a lucrative partnership with Google to dent Internet Explorer's dominance. But maybe it doesn't have to be so hard.

Courtesy of an antitrust case against Microsoft in the European Union, several small-fry browsers are getting a helping hand that could boost their efforts to attain relevance. At least as long as Europeans notice a particular scroll bar.

"The ballot represents an enormous opportunity for Maxthon," said Ron White, a spokesman for one of those relatively obscure browsers that will be brought to the attention of … Read more