Each day, Inc.'s reporters scour the Web for the most important and interesting news to entrepreneurs. Here's what we found today:
Larry Ellison takes Google to court. It's been a bad week for Google. Today, the Wall Street Journal reports that Oracle is suing the search company for copyright and patent infringement, casting "a legal cloud over the growing number of cellphones that use the Android operating system." The lawsuit alleges that the Android operating system improperly uses Java software owned by Sun Microsystems, which Oracle purchased earlier this year. The drama, which pits Oracle's brash founder Larry Ellison against Google CEO Eric Schmidt, is bad news for the growing number of app developers because "an Oracle injunction could block developers from building applications and shipments of Android phones," according to the article. Meanwhile, earlier this week Google's seeming walk-back on net neutrality (at least for the mobile Internet) caused start-ups to cry foul.
Meet the 16-year-old millionaire. Christian Owens is a humble British teen from Northamptonshire who's been computing since age 7. He's inspired by Steve Jobs, and has made nearly $2 million. How'd he do it? He set up a website at age 14 that sold bundles of neat Mac OS X applications for a limited time and for a tenth of their regular price, Gizmodo reports. It had almost a Groupon-esque word-of-mouth promotion, because if enough people purchased the bundle, a new app would be unlocked for everyone who purchased it. He also gave to charity. Anyway, Owens is now working on Branchr, a pay-per-click advertising company that has already made $800,000 in its first year. A star employee? Christian's 43-year-old mum, Alison.
Beating back the counterfeiters. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in the business world, you'd rather have your flattery in forms other than copycatting. That's the case for Vibram FiveFingers, an Italian company that started making "barefoot" shoes, the glove-like toe-separating running shoes that have become a health and fitness trend. While the company's revenue shot up from $430,000 in 2006 to $11 million last year, it costs the company $2,500 in legal fees to shut down each of more than 200 fake Vibram sites that have popped up all over the Web, CNN Money reports. "It's like Whack-a-Mole," says Georgia Shaw, a marketing associate at the company. "It's become a really huge problem, taking a lot of our time and energy." The company is working with Google to stifle the paid search ads for these knockoff sites and hiring an investigator to look into Chinese factories duplicating their brand. Here are some strategies for keeping tabs on the competition.
Mixing business with politics. Target's recent donation to a conservative gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota is damaging both its reputation and opportunities for growth. After the Supreme Court eliminated the ban on corporate election donations earlier this year, the AP reports that Target contributed $150,000 to back Republican Tom Emmer's campaign. Now, gay rights organizations, including Human Rights Campaign, are boycotting the corporation for supporting Emmer, who staunchly opposes gay marriage, and Target's plans to open two stores in San Francisco are in question. One San Francisco supervisor tells the AP, "It just illustrates their disconnect, I think, from a city that they would want to establish a successful business in," which she refers to as "the epicenter of the LGBT rights movement." Target is now in talks with HRC to negotiate an equal donation to "gay-friendly candidates."
Each day, Inc.'s reporters scour the Web for the most important and interesting news to entrepreneurs. Here's what we found today:
Larry Ellison takes Google to court. It's been a bad week for Google. Today, the Wall Street Journal reports that Oracle is suing the search company for copyright and patent infringement, casting "a legal cloud over the growing number of cellphones that use the Android operating system." The lawsuit alleges that the Android operating system improperly uses Java software owned by Sun Microsystems, which Oracle purchased earlier this year. The drama, which pits Oracle's brash founder Larry Ellison against Google CEO Eric Schmidt, is bad news for the growing number of app developers because "an Oracle injunction could block developers from building applications and shipments of Android phones," according to the article. Meanwhile, earlier this week Google's seeming walk-back on net neutrality (at least for the mobile Internet) caused start-ups to cry foul.
Meet the 16-year-old millionaire. Christian Owens is a humble British teen from Northamptonshire who's been computing since age 7. He's inspired by Steve Jobs, and has made nearly $2 million. How'd he do it? He set up a website at age 14 that sold bundles of neat Mac OS X applications for a limited time and for a tenth of their regular price, Gizmodo reports. It had almost a Groupon-esque word-of-mouth promotion, because if enough people purchased the bundle, a new app would be unlocked for everyone who purchased it. He also gave to charity. Anyway, Owens is now working on Branchr, a pay-per-click advertising company that has already made $800,000 in its first year. A star employee? Christian's 43-year-old mum, Alison.
Beating back the counterfeiters. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in the business world, you'd rather have your flattery in forms other than copycatting. That's the case for Vibram FiveFingers, an Italian company that started making "barefoot" shoes, the glove-like toe-separating running shoes that have become a health and fitness trend. While the company's revenue shot up from $430,000 in 2006 to $11 million last year, it costs the company $2,500 in legal fees to shut down each of more than 200 fake Vibram sites that have popped up all over the Web, CNN Money reports. "It's like Whack-a-Mole," says Georgia Shaw, a marketing associate at the company. "It's become a really huge problem, taking a lot of our time and energy." The company is working with Google to stifle the paid search ads for these knockoff sites and hiring an investigator to look into Chinese factories duplicating their brand. Here are some strategies for keeping tabs on the competition.
Mixing business with politics. Target's recent donation to a conservative gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota is damaging both its reputation and opportunities for growth. After the Supreme Court eliminated the ban on corporate election donations earlier this year, the AP reports that Target contributed $150,000 to back Republican Tom Emmer's campaign. Now, gay rights organizations, including Human Rights Campaign, are boycotting the corporation for supporting Emmer, who staunchly opposes gay marriage, and Target's plans to open two stores in San Francisco are in question. One San Francisco supervisor tells the AP, "It just illustrates their disconnect, I think, from a city that they would want to establish a successful business in," which she refers to as "the epicenter of the LGBT rights movement." Target is now in talks with HRC to negotiate an equal donation to "gay-friendly candidates."
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Coast Guard: No Sheen At Site Of Platform Explosion - New Orleans <b>...</b>
NEW ORLEANS -- An oil platform explodes in the Gulf, and the US Coast Guard is monitoring for signs of leaks. Thursday, September 2, 2010.
'SNL' <b>News</b>: Jay Pharoah Eyed As FOURTH New Cast Member (VIDEO)
Since news came last week that Will Forte would be leaving 'Saturday Night Live,' three people have already been confirmed as new cast members, and now we might have a fourth newcomer. The Comic's Comic has the exclusive news that Lorne ...
Small Business <b>News</b>: Social Media Power!
If you haven't figured it out, gotten on board, jumped on the bandwagon (pick your own expression)...well, we're not going to try to talk you into it. Just be.
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