Mr. Ellison has sought to paint Leo Apotheker, SAP AG's (SAP, SAP.XE) former chief, as culpable for a SAP unit's illegal downloads of Oracle documents, accusing him personally of 'overseeing an industrial espionage scheme.' SAP has accepted liability for the downloads and a trial to determine damages is scheduled to begin Monday in a federal court in Oakland, Calif.
'H-P Chairman Ray Lane has taken the position that Leo Apotheker is innocent of wrongdoing because he didn't know anything about the stealing going on at SAP while Leo was CEO,' Mr. Ellison said in a statement Wednesday. 'The most basic facts of the case show this to be an absurd lie.'
He continued: 'It's time to change the H-P tagline from 'Invent' to 'Steal.''
The two companies disagree sharply on how much SAP should pay. Oracle is seeking $2 billion, but SAP estimates that the damages were in the 'tens of millions of dollars.' On Wednesday, SAP said it has set aside up to $160 million to cover the costs associated with the trial and with shutting down the TomorrowNow unit.
H-P declined to comment on Mr. Ellison's latest statement. On Tuesday, H-P did respond to a statement he issued that day, which included Mr. Ellison's suggestion that H-P might try to keep Mr. Apotheker from appearing in court.
'Oracle had ample opportunity to question Leo during his sworn deposition in October 2008,' an H-P spokeswoman said. 'Given Leo's limited knowledge of and role in the matter, Oracle's last-minute effort to require him to appear live at trial is no more than an effort to harass him and interfere with his duties and responsibilities as HP's CEO.'
H-P declined to say whether Mr. Apotheker would appear in court if called to testify, nor would it discuss his whereabouts--which could affect Oracle's ability to subpoena him. In an Oct. 1 call with analysts to discuss his appointment, Mr. Apotheker said he would spend the 'following weeks and even months' travelling around the world meeting with H-P employees, customers and shareholders.
An SAP spokesman said the German software giant has already agreed to pay restitution to Oracle for TomorrowNow's actions and called Mr. Ellison's repeated allegations regarding Mr. Apotheker's role in the matter 'a sideshow.'
2010年10月27日星期三
United States, "billboards family" two dollars a day selling the family
A family of four in the US have put themselves up for sale offering to advertise companies for $2 a day.
In a unique marketing pitch they have offered to wear company sponsored clothing all day and will use social media such as Twitter to promote sponsors.
Calling themselves "The Billboard Family" they promise to travel around the US and spread the word about any company that wants to sponsor them.
In a video posted on YouTube, the family introduce themselves as father Carl, mother Amy, son Layne and daughter Kaitlyn.
There is also a hospital scan photo of their child that is due on December 31st.
Explaining the idea to sell themselves father Carl said: "We are a real family of 4 (with one on the way) who wears your company shirts all day long, taking loads of photos and videos.
"We then promote your company online on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and our website, as well as to all of the many people who ask us why we are all wearing the same shirts."
The family charge companies $2 (£1.26) a day to wear their logo, but special days such as New Year's Eve carry a $730 (£460) price tag.
Carl, who has a computer sciences degree, was "inspired" to advertise his family "by his desire to make a respectable living."
He also said to me he "wanted to teach our kids about self-reliance and business".
"They're very young but they have been very involved. They also love the attention," he said.
The family come from St Louis, Missouri, but on their webpage say they plan to travel around the US.
In a unique marketing pitch they have offered to wear company sponsored clothing all day and will use social media such as Twitter to promote sponsors.
Calling themselves "The Billboard Family" they promise to travel around the US and spread the word about any company that wants to sponsor them.
In a video posted on YouTube, the family introduce themselves as father Carl, mother Amy, son Layne and daughter Kaitlyn.
There is also a hospital scan photo of their child that is due on December 31st.
Explaining the idea to sell themselves father Carl said: "We are a real family of 4 (with one on the way) who wears your company shirts all day long, taking loads of photos and videos.
"We then promote your company online on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and our website, as well as to all of the many people who ask us why we are all wearing the same shirts."
The family charge companies $2 (£1.26) a day to wear their logo, but special days such as New Year's Eve carry a $730 (£460) price tag.
Carl, who has a computer sciences degree, was "inspired" to advertise his family "by his desire to make a respectable living."
He also said to me he "wanted to teach our kids about self-reliance and business".
"They're very young but they have been very involved. They also love the attention," he said.
The family come from St Louis, Missouri, but on their webpage say they plan to travel around the US.
2010年10月26日星期二
Since jaw-jaw is always better than war-war
Finance ministers went further than expected in agreeing to cooperate to reduce global imbalances and avoid a currency war.
They agreed to move toward more market-driven exchange-rate systems, albeit without a time frame. They also acknowledged a need for policy coordination to avoid 'worse outcomes for everyone.'
But the G-20 communique left plenty of room for interpretation. Countries agreed to 'refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies,' but currency skirmishes so far have largely been about preventing currency over-appreciation -- not necessarily precluded under this formula. The G-20 also agreed to continue with monetary policy appropriate to providing price stability.
But further quantitative easing in the U.S., combined with European austerity, may yet raise volatility in exchange rates, something the countries pledge to avoid elsewhere in the communique. And the G-20's plan to reduce global imbalances was left unfinished.
The International Monetary Fund will be asked to assess progress toward sustainability and the consistency of policies, but Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the fund's managing director, admitted that his organization has no real teeth to force changes in policy. 'Indicative guidelines' on what constitutes an imbalance aren't yet agreed on. Germany gave a hint of the difficulties ahead with its insistence that its current-account surplus wasn't a problem for the global economy.
The G-20 moved to address concerns, but achieved little concrete. As such, there is little reason for markets to change direction: The dollar is likely to continue to weaken in expectation of more easing by the Federal Reserve and that more hot money will flow into emerging markets, chasing both higher growth and currency appreciation.
They agreed to move toward more market-driven exchange-rate systems, albeit without a time frame. They also acknowledged a need for policy coordination to avoid 'worse outcomes for everyone.'
But the G-20 communique left plenty of room for interpretation. Countries agreed to 'refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies,' but currency skirmishes so far have largely been about preventing currency over-appreciation -- not necessarily precluded under this formula. The G-20 also agreed to continue with monetary policy appropriate to providing price stability.
But further quantitative easing in the U.S., combined with European austerity, may yet raise volatility in exchange rates, something the countries pledge to avoid elsewhere in the communique. And the G-20's plan to reduce global imbalances was left unfinished.
The International Monetary Fund will be asked to assess progress toward sustainability and the consistency of policies, but Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the fund's managing director, admitted that his organization has no real teeth to force changes in policy. 'Indicative guidelines' on what constitutes an imbalance aren't yet agreed on. Germany gave a hint of the difficulties ahead with its insistence that its current-account surplus wasn't a problem for the global economy.
The G-20 moved to address concerns, but achieved little concrete. As such, there is little reason for markets to change direction: The dollar is likely to continue to weaken in expectation of more easing by the Federal Reserve and that more hot money will flow into emerging markets, chasing both higher growth and currency appreciation.
2010年10月25日星期一
On Friday ruling Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Renho got a tongue-lashing for her recent spread in Vogue
And no, the scolding of the anchorwoman-turned-lawmaker did not come from disapproving fashionistas. It came from Japan's senior government spokesman, Yoshito Sengoku.
Sengoku's tut-tut was over the shoot's location: Japan's parliament, which has never been on the cutting edge of Japanese fashion.
'She has gone beyond parliamentary activities,' rebuked Mr. Sengoku during a parliamentary committee meeting, according to the Japanese daily Nikkei.
Adding that 'she also made inappropriate responses on the matter in a question-and-answer session.'
Renho - arguably Japan's most powerful female politician - was indeed quick to hang her head in shame. She promptly apologized for her ill judgment and pledged to get back to business
Sengoku's tut-tut was over the shoot's location: Japan's parliament, which has never been on the cutting edge of Japanese fashion.
'She has gone beyond parliamentary activities,' rebuked Mr. Sengoku during a parliamentary committee meeting, according to the Japanese daily Nikkei.
Adding that 'she also made inappropriate responses on the matter in a question-and-answer session.'
Renho - arguably Japan's most powerful female politician - was indeed quick to hang her head in shame. She promptly apologized for her ill judgment and pledged to get back to business
2010年10月22日星期五
China's gross domestic product rose 9.6% from a year earlier in the third quarter
The moderation in economic growth was in line with economists' expectations. Given the central bank's surprise decision to raise benchmark interest rates earlier this week, the data likely indicate the authorities are comfortable with the current slowdown and are more concerned about rising inflation and property prices.
'The economic recovery trend was further consolidated, and is developing in the direction [targeted by] macroeconomic controls,' the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement announcing the latest figures.
China's consumer price index rose 3.6% in September, the bureau's data showed, up from August's 3.5% and matching economists' expectations. Analysts still expect consumer inflation to moderate in coming months as the impact of poor summer weather on food prices fades, but elevated food prices have already lasted longer than many analysts expected.
Recent economic data have also suggested that China's economic momentum, after slowing for several months, bottomed out around July and has begun to stabilize or even pick up since then.
The purchasing managers' index, a widely followed gauge of manufacturing activity, in September hit its highest level since May. Housing sales also recovered in September, and imports of commodities like oil picked up as well.
A series of government measures this year, including mandated higher down-payment requirements, have attempted to stave off a property bubble but have had only a limited effect. Nationwide property prices started rising again in September, which analysts think may have been one of the triggers for the central bank's rate rise.
The rate increase sparked a global sell-off earlier this week in stocks, commodities and emerging-market currencies on concern that demand from China, one of the main engines of the global economic recovery, would decrease.
But officials from across Asia were quick to say that they didn't anticipate a major impact from moderately higher Chinese rates.
'The Chinese economy will likely continue Amid such concern in Asian countries that depend on Chinese purchases of their exports, oto grow strongly, so that our exports to China, especially coal exports, will unlikely be affected much,' said Budi Mulya, deputy governor of Indonesia's central bank.
Chinese analysts and property developers said the quarter-percentage-point rate increase itself is too small to significantly curb mortgage demand or make borrowing costs unbearable for developers.
However, the market outlook could deteriorate dramatically if Beijing signals an extended monetary tightening cycle or harsher measures such as a real-estate tax.
'The economic recovery trend was further consolidated, and is developing in the direction [targeted by] macroeconomic controls,' the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement announcing the latest figures.
China's consumer price index rose 3.6% in September, the bureau's data showed, up from August's 3.5% and matching economists' expectations. Analysts still expect consumer inflation to moderate in coming months as the impact of poor summer weather on food prices fades, but elevated food prices have already lasted longer than many analysts expected.
Recent economic data have also suggested that China's economic momentum, after slowing for several months, bottomed out around July and has begun to stabilize or even pick up since then.
The purchasing managers' index, a widely followed gauge of manufacturing activity, in September hit its highest level since May. Housing sales also recovered in September, and imports of commodities like oil picked up as well.
A series of government measures this year, including mandated higher down-payment requirements, have attempted to stave off a property bubble but have had only a limited effect. Nationwide property prices started rising again in September, which analysts think may have been one of the triggers for the central bank's rate rise.
The rate increase sparked a global sell-off earlier this week in stocks, commodities and emerging-market currencies on concern that demand from China, one of the main engines of the global economic recovery, would decrease.
But officials from across Asia were quick to say that they didn't anticipate a major impact from moderately higher Chinese rates.
'The Chinese economy will likely continue Amid such concern in Asian countries that depend on Chinese purchases of their exports, oto grow strongly, so that our exports to China, especially coal exports, will unlikely be affected much,' said Budi Mulya, deputy governor of Indonesia's central bank.
Chinese analysts and property developers said the quarter-percentage-point rate increase itself is too small to significantly curb mortgage demand or make borrowing costs unbearable for developers.
However, the market outlook could deteriorate dramatically if Beijing signals an extended monetary tightening cycle or harsher measures such as a real-estate tax.
2010年10月21日星期四
China's gross domestic product rose 9.6% from a year earlier in the third quarter
The moderation in economic growth was in line with economists' expectations. Given the central bank's surprise decision to raise benchmark interest rates earlier this week, the data likely indicate the authorities are comfortable with the current slowdown and are more concerned about rising inflation and property prices.
'The economic recovery trend was further consolidated, and is developing in the direction [targeted by] macroeconomic controls,' the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement announcing the latest figures.
China's consumer price index rose 3.6% in September, the bureau's data showed, up from August's 3.5% and matching economists' expectations. Analysts still expect consumer inflation to moderate in coming months as the impact of poor summer weather on food prices fades, but elevated food prices have already lasted longer than many analysts expected.
Recent economic data have also suggested that China's economic momentum, after slowing for several months, bottomed out around July and has begun to stabilize or even pick up since then.
The purchasing managers' index, a widely followed gauge of manufacturing activity, in September hit its highest level since May. Housing sales also recovered in September, and imports of commodities like oil picked up as well.
A series of government measures this year, including mandated higher down-payment requirements, have attempted to stave off a property bubble but have had only a limited effect. Nationwide property prices started rising again in September, which analysts think may have been one of the triggers for the central bank's rate rise.
The rate increase sparked a global sell-off earlier this week in stocks, commodities and emerging-market currencies on concern that demand from China, one of the main engines of the global economic recovery, would decrease.
But officials from across Asia were quick to say that they didn't anticipate a major impact from moderately higher Chinese rates.
'The Chinese economy will likely continue Amid such concern in Asian countries that depend on Chinese purchases of their exports, oto grow strongly, so that our exports to China, especially coal exports, will unlikely be affected much,' said Budi Mulya, deputy governor of Indonesia's central bank.
Chinese analysts and property developers said the quarter-percentage-point rate increase itself is too small to significantly curb mortgage demand or make borrowing costs unbearable for developers.
However, the market outlook could deteriorate dramatically if Beijing signals an extended monetary tightening cycle or harsher measures such as a real-estate tax.
'The economic recovery trend was further consolidated, and is developing in the direction [targeted by] macroeconomic controls,' the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement announcing the latest figures.
China's consumer price index rose 3.6% in September, the bureau's data showed, up from August's 3.5% and matching economists' expectations. Analysts still expect consumer inflation to moderate in coming months as the impact of poor summer weather on food prices fades, but elevated food prices have already lasted longer than many analysts expected.
Recent economic data have also suggested that China's economic momentum, after slowing for several months, bottomed out around July and has begun to stabilize or even pick up since then.
The purchasing managers' index, a widely followed gauge of manufacturing activity, in September hit its highest level since May. Housing sales also recovered in September, and imports of commodities like oil picked up as well.
A series of government measures this year, including mandated higher down-payment requirements, have attempted to stave off a property bubble but have had only a limited effect. Nationwide property prices started rising again in September, which analysts think may have been one of the triggers for the central bank's rate rise.
The rate increase sparked a global sell-off earlier this week in stocks, commodities and emerging-market currencies on concern that demand from China, one of the main engines of the global economic recovery, would decrease.
But officials from across Asia were quick to say that they didn't anticipate a major impact from moderately higher Chinese rates.
'The Chinese economy will likely continue Amid such concern in Asian countries that depend on Chinese purchases of their exports, oto grow strongly, so that our exports to China, especially coal exports, will unlikely be affected much,' said Budi Mulya, deputy governor of Indonesia's central bank.
Chinese analysts and property developers said the quarter-percentage-point rate increase itself is too small to significantly curb mortgage demand or make borrowing costs unbearable for developers.
However, the market outlook could deteriorate dramatically if Beijing signals an extended monetary tightening cycle or harsher measures such as a real-estate tax.
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