Blackberry maker RIM told to pay $147m in patent case
Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM) has been ordered to pay $147m in damages after losing a patents case.
A jury in San Francisco upheld claims by Mformation Technologies Inc that RIM infringed patents it took out in 1999.
The software involved allows companies to access employees' mobile phones remotely for upgrades, password changes or to delete data.
The fine was calculated by the judge as $8 per Blackberry device in use since the claims were first filed in 2008.
"We believe [the patents have] been fundamental to the success of Research in Motion," said Amar Thakur, a lawyer for the winning side.
The damages only relate to royalties on past sales in the US, and does not cover future sales or sales outside the US.
"Mformation created the mobile device management category in the late 1990s and was innovating in this area well before most of the market understood the fundamental importance of wireless mobility management," said the firm's founder Rakesh Kushwaha in a press release.
The case adds to RIM's problems. Since the introduction of Apple's iPhone in 2007, sales in the Canadian firm's core Western market have been steadily declining.
The company is cutting 5,000 jobs - almost a third of its workforce.
RIM said in a press release that it was: "disappointed by the outcome and is evaluating all legal options.
"Additionally, the trial judge has yet to decide certain legal issues that might impact the verdict. RIM will await those rulings before deciding whether to pursue an appeal."
Visa and Mastercard make $7.25bn fees dispute settlement
Credit card companies Visa and Mastercard and major US banks have agreed to a $7.25bn (£4.65bn) settlement to retailers over card fees.
The case, which has been going on for seven years, is over firms colluding to fix the fees that stores pay to process credit and debt card payments.
The settlement is thought to be the largest of its kind in US history.
It involves a $6bn payment to stores and an agreement to reduce swipe fees for eight months, valued at $1.2bn.
An additional $525 million has been set aside to pay to the stores which sued individually, including grocery chains Kroger and Safeway and the Rite Aid pharmacy chain.
Previous settlements
The settlement involves credit card giants Visa and Mastercard, as well as major US banks which issue their cards including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citibank.
Craig Wildfang, the lead lawyer representing the merchants, told AFP: "Over time, the reforms induced by this case and in this settlement should help reduce card-acceptance costs to merchants, which in turn, will result in lower prices for all consumers."
Visa and Mastercard already paid a combined $3bn to settle a lawsuit over their "honour all cards" policies, which tied acceptance of credit to debit cards.
The US Department of Justice also brought and settled a civil suit against the two firms in 2010 over policies that prevented stores from offering their customers cheaper forms of payments.
However, that settlement left in place credit card company rules that stop stores from charging customers more when they use certain payment cards.
Lawyers representing the credit card companies said Friday's settlement was in the best interests of all involved.
Visa and Mastercard stock both climbed in after-hours trading following the announcement of the deal.
Lopez to leave American Idol
Following the departure of Aerosmith's Steve Tyler, singer Jennifer Lopez has announced that she too is giving up her role as American Idol judge.
"I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I've put kind of on hold," she said on Friday.
Lopez spent two seasons as a judge on the US talent search, whose viewing figures have slumped in recent years.
The programme's 12th season is due to commence in the autumn.
"I just don't feel like I can be there every single day all the time like I have been for the past two years," Lopez said in a phone call to Idol host Ryan Seacrest's radio show.
The 42-year-old had earlier said it would be "hard" to continue on the show without Tyler on the judging panel.
Her departure comes amid reports that broadcaster Fox is seeking to recruit younger judges in an attempt to revitalise the show.
Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Mary J Blige are among the star names that have been mooted as potential replacements.
With Tyler and Lopez gone, record producer Randy Jackson - a judge since the show's 2002 inception - is the sole remaining member of the panel.
In a statement, the 56-year-old said Tyler and Lopez were "truly two of the most talented and consummate professionals I've worked with".
Speaking on Thursday, Tyler said he had thought "long" and "hard" about whether to continue but said the time was right to return to his band Aerosmith.
The band is on a nationwide tour with an album due out in the autumn.
Based on the UK show Pop Idol, American Idol first aired in 2002 and had become the biggest show on US television by 2005.
But it has struggled to retain viewers since Simon Cowell left the show in 2010 to launch the American version of X Factor.
Son of Sylvester Stallone, Sage, found dead at 36
Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has been left "devastated and grief-stricken" following the sudden death of his actor son, Sage.
Sage Stallone, 36, was found unresponsive in his flat in Studio City, near Hollywood, on Friday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, amid some media reports of a medication overdose.
There was no sign of foul play or trauma, and no suicide note was found, a coroner said.
Sage Stallone appeared alongside his father at the age of 14 in Rocky V.
Bottles of prescription pills were recovered from the flat, but it was unclear what medication they contained or whether they were connected with the death, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said.
A post mortem examination will be performed in the next few days, but it will take several weeks before toxicology tests can be completed, Mr Winter told the Associated Press.
The website TMZ quoted unidentified sources as saying that Sage Stallone had died of an overdose of pills, and that the authorities were trying to find out whether it was accidental or intentional.
'Tragedy'
"Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son, Sage Stallone... His loss will be felt forever," the star's publicist, Michelle Bega, said in a statement.
"His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha," the statement added, referring to the star's first wife, Sasha Czack. "Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man."
Sage Stallone's lawyer, George Braunstein, said the body had been found by a housekeeper.
"He was in good spirits, and working on all kinds of projects... He was planning on getting married," Mr Braunstein told the New York Post.
"I am just devastated. He was an extremely wonderful, loving guy. This is a tragedy."
Sage Stallone appeared in several films and made his debut as Sylvester Stallone's on-screen son in the 1990 film Rocky V.
He also acted alongside his father in the 1996 film Daylight.
Christina Milian Throws Poo at The Dream – Bad Dad
Break ups can get really ugly, especially when there are kids involved.
Despite The Dream and Christina Milian being separated for some time now, some mud is still being thrown.
Christian interviewed with Houston’s 97.9 The Box recently and discussed working with the Cash Money crew as well as her relationship between her, her ex-husband and their daughter, Violet.
Well, daddy is sort of not in Violet’s life at the moment and is playing deadbeat.
“I’m not happy at the moment, but I have come to the realization that I have to be 200% mom for her and it’s not about finances, it’s about spending time,” she said. “We live in different cities, he’s in Atlanta and I’m in LA. There are planes and plenty of money for airplanes so… as far as Skyping: I’m just gonna leave it at that. My daughter is a great kid and someday their will be a healthy man in my life that will love her the way I do.”
Despite her playing both roles, Christina is doing her thing and is working on some new music after signing with Cash Money. She calls it her new family and says she’s happy where she’s at.
World Junior 200-metre champ keen to join Racers
Turks and Caicos' first-ever World Junior Championships medal winner, Delano Williams, is keen on joining Jamaica's Racers Track Club.
Williams, who studies and trains in Jamaica at Munro College, won the 200m final at the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships last Friday in a new national-record time of 20.48 seconds.
The University of the West Indies, Mona-based club has an impressive contingent of 200-metre runners, who are conditioned by head coach Glen Mills. These include reigning Olympic and World champion plus world record holder Usain Bolt.
In addition to Bolt, there is Yohan Blake, whose time of 19.26 seconds is next only to Bolt's world record of 19.19 seconds, and Warren Weir, who entered the sub-20 club this year.
"This is their (Turks and Caicos') first IAAF World Junior medal. I am grateful because they have done a lot for me," Williams expressed after his victory.
"I am sure other things can be put in place to ensure I go to a great school and a track club while I am staying in Jamaica."
He added: "Well, actually, (I want to join) Racers Track Club. I have seen tremendous talent there and performance. Warren Weir, for example, he just took up the 200 metres this year and ran 19.90 (19.99 seconds), that's spectacular. That (Racers) is a 200 metres club, so I think I might be leaning to that club."
TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING
Williams revealed that his triumph was the result of a two-year plan following his failure to make the final at the 2010 championship staged in Mocton, Canada.
"I didn't even make the semi-final. I ran 21.56 (seconds) and got beat out of the semis by 100th of a second by a Venezuelan guy. I will never forget that," he expressed, while crediting his development to Jamaica.
"I want to say thanks to the Turks and Caicos Federation; they brought me here. Thank you, very much, I really appreciate it," Williams said. "I want to say also 'big up' to Jamaica. They have done a lot for me. I train and study there, so if I didn't run in Jamaica, I wouldn't be this fast. So thanks to Jamaica and I will be back soon," he added.
Williams intends to go back to the Turks and Caicos to spend time with his family, including his twin sister, before returning to Jamaica to begin upper-sixth form studies at Munro.
"I am not really going to celebrate. I just want to get back to Jamaica. I really love that place."
He is also looking forward to making the transition to the senior level, having failed in his bid to make this year's British Olympic team.
"This is like a pool, so I have to go in the ocean and see what I can find," Williams stated. "I know it is going to be harder, but if others can do it, I know I can do it as well," he added.
New York to let Jeremy Lin walk
With point guard Raymond Felton on his way to New York via a sign-and-trade deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, evidence is mounting that the Knicks will not match the Houston Rockets' offer sheet to Jeremy Lin.
Team sources say the Knicks are still deliberating whether they can pay Lin more than $25 million over three years, but one source within the Knicks organization tells ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that the Knicks will not match the offer.
A team source tells ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley that the third year of the Rockets' offer -- worth $14.8 million -- makes it unlikely the Knicks would match. If the Knicks were to match the offer, they would also be subject to a luxury tax in the third year, bringing their total out-of-pocket cost for Lin to approximately $30 million in 2014-2015.
The Rockets' offer to Lin would pay him $5 million in the first year, $5.225 million in the second and $14.8 million in the third, according to sources.
A source close to the process told ESPN.com's Marc Stein the Knicks received the offer sheet Saturday night, meaning they have until 11:59 p.m. ET Tuesday to match it or let Lin go to the Rockets.
When asked on Sunday if he thought Lin would be back with the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony was unsure but took a swipe at the Rockets' contract offer to the point guard.
"It's not up to me. It's up to the organization to say that they want to match that ridiculous contract," he told the paper.
Anthony also said, "I'd love to see him back, but I think he has to do what's best for him right now."
Jared Jeffries, headed to Portland in the sign-and-trade deal that will bring Felton to the Knicks, is one who shares the sentiment that Lin won't be back with the Knicks.
"I never thought they would let him go," he told ESPN New York via text message on Sunday.
A source close to Lin told ESPNNewYork.com that the Knicks' trade for Felton caught Lin off guard.
"He was very surprised," the source said. "He felt the whole time that the Knicks would just match the offer."
Initial reports had the Rockets offering Lin a four-year deal for around $28 million. That deal included salaries of more than $9 million in each of the last two years, which would be a big hit on the Knicks' salary cap.
Still, the organization seemed intent on matching.
They will match any offer on Lin up to $1 billion," a source told ESPN.com's Stein last week.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that Lin would not only be back but would enter next season as the Knicks' starting point guard.
It's not clear, however, if the new deal has changed that thinking since the third year of the current deal carries an even bigger cap hit.
If the Knicks re-sign Lin, they'll have $75 million tied up in four players -- Lin, Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler -- in 2014-15.
Lin, a restricted free agent, made $788,000 last season. He averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 35 games with 25 starts before his season was cut short because of surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee.
But in the 35 games he was healthy, Lin went from an end-of-the-bench afterthought to an international phenomenon. The undrafted guard out of Harvard, who was cut twice in the preseason (once by the Rockets) and played in the D-League, set the league on fire in February, leading the Knicks to seven consecutive wins. He scored at least 20 points in nine of 10 games during that stretch.
Felton, meanwhile, will return to New York, where he played 54 games during the 2010-11 season before being traded to the Denver Nuggets as part of the Anthony blockbuster. Felton played well in half a season in New York, averaging 17.1 points before the Knicks sent him to Denver.
He struggled this season with the Trail Blazers, scoring 11.4 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting and briefly losing his starting job.
Felton's agent, Tony Dutt, told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that returning to New York has been Felton's first choice all along.
ESPN
Jason Kidd charged with DWI
New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd was arrested early Sunday and charged with a misdemeanor of driving while intoxicated, according to Southampton Town police.
A police spokesman said Kidd was involved in a single-car accident in which his 2010 Cadillac Escalade struck a telephone pole and went into the woods in hamlet of Watermill at around 2 a.m. Water Mill is a serene, mainly residential community east of Southampton Village.
Kidd, 39, suffered minor injuries, according to the spokesman, and was treated at Southampton Hospital.
He was then transferred to police headquarters to be processed. He was held for arraignment Sunday morning and was released on his own recognizance.
Police did not say whether Kidd had taken a breathalyzer test.
Kidd's agent didn't immediately respond to phone or email messages from The Associated Press. The Knicks, who signed the 10-time All-Star in free agency this week, had no immediate comment.
Kidd's next court date wasn't immediate available. The DWI charge carries the potential for up to a year in jail.
The Knicks signed Kidd away from the Dallas Mavericks this week in a deal that will pay him about $3 million a year. Kidd had played in New Jersey, leading the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances, before being traded to Dallas and remains fond of the New York City area, where his children continued to live.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been in trouble with the law before. While playing with Phoenix in 2001, he was arrested on a domestic violence charge, acknowledging that he struck his former wife.
Kidd is second on the NBA's career list in assists and steals. The Knicks believe Kidd, who helped the Mavericks win the 2011 NBA championship, would be a good mentor to point guard Jeremy Lin if the team opts to keep him.
Ian Begley is a regular contributor to ESPNNewYork.com. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tour de France: Bradley Wiggins halts stage 14 amid sabotage
The 14th stage of the Tour de France was marred by a series of punctures, caused by tacks thrown on to the road, on the final climb of the day.
Race leader Bradley Wiggins temporarily called a halt to competitive racing after defending champion Cadel Evans was among those to suffer a puncture.
Wiggins, who still leads by more than two minutes, slowed the pace to allow Evans to return to the group.
Spain's Luis-Leon Sanchez, who was involved in a breakaway, won the stage.
However, the day's drama was unfolding back at the summit of the Mur de Peguere, a Pyreneean mountain which was making its debut as a climb in the Tour.
Race official Jean-Francois Pescheux confirmed: "The nails were mainly thrown on the ground around 200m from the summit.
"It was obviously done on purpose. We have the tacks but we don't know who spread them. They are imbeciles."
However, he was quick to praise the actions of Wiggins. "Sky showed they are for fair play," he added. "They saw that something had happened and they slowed the peloton so that things could come together for the ride to the finish."
Tour etiquette dictates that rivals do not take advantage of another rider's misfortune and, as soon as he realised what was happening, Team Sky's lead rider called for a truce.
"I thought it was the honourable thing to do," said 32-year-old Wiggins who is aiming to become the first British rider to win the race. "Nobody wants to benefit from someone else's misfortune."
Wiggins, who was spending a British record seventh day in the yellow jersey, conceded though that the riders are powerless to stop such actions.
"It's something we can't control," said Wiggins, who was hit by a flare on Saturday. "There's nothing stopping more of that sort of stuff happening. It's sad. These are the type of things we have to put up with as cyclists.
"I think people take that for granted sometimes, just how close they can get to us. If that happened in a football stadium, or wherever, you'd be arrested, CCTV.
"But we're out there, quite vulnerable at times, very close to the public on climbs. We're just the riders at the end of the day and we're there to be shot at, literally."
Wiggins, Froome, Evans and Vincenzo Nibali, the four riders in contention to win this year's race, all reached the summit together but BMC rider Evans immediately jumped off his bike and removed his damaged back wheel.
However, the Australian's support car was struggling to get up the narrow mountain road which was lined with thousands of spectators and his first team-mate who could offer support, Britain's Steven Cummings, also had a rear wheel puncture.
Evans waited for more than one minute for assistance and then suffered two more punctures on the descent.
George Hincapie, Evans's BMC team-mate, who is riding in a record 17th Tour de France, said: "There was something on the road. I've never seen anything like that."
Any thoughts that Evans would lose significant time in the race though were tempered by the actions of Wiggins, who also had to change his own bike on the descent, although it is unclear whether he too suffered a puncture.
Evans acknowledged the sportsmanship of Wiggins as the peloton crossed the line more than 18 minutes after race winner Sanchez.
Rabobank rider Sanchez escaped from a group of five others, which included green points jersey leader Peter Sagan, with 11km of the 191km race from Limoux to Foix remaining and he held his form to complete the fourth Tour de France stage win of his career.
Serena Williams to face Coco Vandeweghe in Stanford final
Wimbledon champion Serena Williams advanced to the Stanford Classic final after she swept aside Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-1 6-2.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion will meet fellow American Coco Vandeweghe, who made her first WTA final after beating Yanina Wickmayer 6-2 3-6 6-2.
Williams struggled with serve but was still too good for the world number 43.
Meanwhile, Britain's Heather Watson, 20, made the doubles final with partner Marina Erakovic.
The British number one and New Zealander Erakovic beat third seeds Natalie Grandin and Vladimira Uhlirova 7-5 6-7 (6/8) 10-7 in just over two hours.
And they will now face top seeds Jarmila Gajdosova and Vania King in the final.
In contrast to her performance at Wimbledon, Williams managed to get only 38% of her first serves in but she broke Cirstea four times in the match and only faced one break point, which she easily fought off.
Cirstea, meanwhile, committed 32 unforced errors.
World number four Williams said: "I think we were both disappointed tonight because we both have big serves, and tonight for whatever reason we weren't able to do it.
"I feel like I haven't served well all week and 38% is outrageous."
The final between Williams and Vandeweghe will be the first all-American WTA final since November 2009 and it guarantees world number 120 Vandeweghe a move into the world's top 100 and a place in the US Open.