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Marketing in a recession – Desiring results in dire times
Opinion: Desire is the raging river that turns society's wheels. And though its force may be at a low ebb right now, that river does not run dry. Even in 2009, savvy marketers will find the right currents and deliver exceptional results to their bosses or clients.
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Covering your intangible assets – Intellectual property insurance
TechLaw: The number of intellectual property claims involving patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secrets has skyrocketed in recent years. The American Intellectual Property Law Association estimates that the average cost to litigate a patent infringement suit exceeds one million dollars. A competitor can financially wreck a company that does not have adequate funds to protect and enforce its intellectual property. Proper insurance can help avert disaster.
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Sony Vaio Pocket leaked — Hope you have cargo pants
The leaked specs for Sony’s Vaio Pocket, as it’s to be called, are calling into question just how low cost it could be - and how big.
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Sex, lies and e-mails: Marriage and divorce in the age of the World Wide Web
TechLaw: We have rushed head first into the world of quick and easy electronic communication by e-mails, text messages, and social networking sites such as MySpace® and Facebook®. But what an impact these communications can have on our lives if they are found and publicly disclosed.
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What next for Lenovo? Look for focus on efficiency
Analysis: Global economic slowdown gives world’s No. 4 PC maker a chance to improve internal operations and emerge as a stronger company.
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Investment or enjoyment: Are we now looking at our homes differently?
National indicators show housing values falling from 10 to 20 percent over the past year. The numbers aren't quite as dire for North Carolina. The bottom line is that our view of homeownership has now shifted back toward consumption and away from investment.
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Tenants beware: Record your lease or prepare to lose your rights
TechLaw: Most business owners know that their lease must be in writing to be enforceable against the landlord. Many do not know that something more must be done to make the lease enforceable against persons other than their landlord.
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Apple developing inexpensive a counter to ‘netbooks’
Analysis: Look of Steve Jobs to unveil a new mobile device in January that will be more than an iPhone but not just a less expensive Mac.
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Global economic crisis impacts on foreign workers and their home countries
A potentially bigger threat to the well-being of developing countries than global slowdown is that remittances - the cash that migrant workers send to the loved ones they leave behind - appear to be falling, for the first time in decades.
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SEC to change accounting rules: Bridging the gap between GAAP and IFRS
TechLaw: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently announced a proposed timetable to change the accounting rules that public companies use to prepare financial statements filed with the SEC. This change could impact your business in the future.
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Employer Labor Certification Filing using PERM – The possible results that await
TechLaw: After an employer has followed the recruitment steps required by the Department of Labor to begin the process for obtaining permanent residence status for a foreign worker, the employer is ready to file the application for labor certification using PERM.
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Recessions aren’t new – But current one (13th since 1940s) will be long one
North Carolina won’t escape harm, either. State’s the unemployment rate will rise to above 8 percent in 2009 and perhaps hit 10 percent in early 2010.
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Step one in employment-based permanent residence: Getting to know Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) system
TechLaw: If an employer wants to hire a talented foreign worker on a permanent basis, it must apply for permanent residence on the worker's behalf – for a "green card." The employer must follow recruitment steps required by the Department of Labor.
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The genomic frontier: Personalized medicine in action
The day we begin aggregating and analyzing data across large numbers of genomes in earnest is the day we will be able to expose the genetic underpinnings of humanity’s most complex diseases.
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Startups: Finding the upside of a global downturn
Analysis: Veteran exec Vivek Wadhwa's advice for tech entrepreneurs thinking of launching right now? Don't wait. A recession can be your ally in building a lean, thriving company.
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Cell phones and e-mail: Are you compromising your confidential information?
TechLaw: The advent of new technologies such as PDAs and other wireless handheld devices has made communication more convenient than ever. As useful as these technologies are, it is important to recognize that they could have dramatic implications relating to the confidentiality of information.
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What recession? Videogame sales surge 18% in October
Hardware, software, accessory sales also increase worldwide. Data tracking firm expects 2008 to be a record year.
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Can new leaders lead to a new economy?
Are there any quick silver bullets to make things better, or do economic questions have, at best, only long-run answers? The challenges are many – and huge.
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Do you extend credit to customers or check credit reports? Mandatory compliance with FTC identity theft red flag and address discrepancy rules is required.
TechLaw: Does your business extend credit to customers or regularly use credit reports? If so, you need to put policies and procedures in place to comply with the recently enacted Red Flag and Address Discrepancy Rules of the Federal Trade Commission.
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An agenda for the Obama and Bush meeting
As president-elect huddles with president today, Competitive Enterprise Institute has some suggestions for topics to discuss – with an emphasis on freedom, not more central planning.
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A pigskin perspective on intellectual property and the economy
TechLaw: Like a football team in a rebuilding year, what a company does in down economic times to protect its intellectual property rights can create competitive advantages for years to come.
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‘In re Bilski’ case: Back to the future for ‘process patents’
Federal court decision breathes new life into the Supreme Court's tests of the early 1970s and 1980s addressing what constitutes patent eligible subject matter.
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Don’t let tough times get you down – Tech companies can still accelerate sales
How, you ask? By improving your lead quality. Most marketing campaigns are still being evaluated based on the quantity of leads produced or cost-per-lead, but not on actual lead quality.
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Technology and the next president – Where do candidates stand? (Part II)
Innovation Exchange: Among many challenges facing the new president will be numerous technology specific issues. What are John McCain and Barrack Obama saying? Here’s part two of our breakdown.
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Technology and the next president – Where do candidates stand?
Innovation Exchange: Among many challenges facing the new president will be numerous technology specific issues. What are John McCain and Barrack Obama saying?
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‘Life is like a videogame – Everybody’s got to die sometime’: Can makers be held liable?
TechLaw: Many videogames contain graphic depictions of violence. Can videogame developers and manufacturers be held legally responsible if a gamer or viewer ‘acts out’ the violence in real life?
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Families embrace videogames as mainstream entertainment
Survey shows more than half of married couples and nearly half of families share in videogame entertainment.
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Can government steer the economic ship?
Analysis: The federal government is taking steps to try to ease the economic pain. But how is the government doing this, and what are the possible pitfalls and costs.
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What next for Microsoft? Diversification means growth even in tough times
Analysis: Microsoft’s spending control efforts likely will remain shallow since the company’s core business will likely remain strong in spite of the current economic downturn.
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‘E3’ show will be bigger in 2009 – but will interactive entertainment showcase be better?
The bottom line is that E3 is broken, and the Electronic Software Association is trying to fix it. It's likely this year is the last chance to get it right.
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Another strong quarter for Apple – Core products, products strong
Analysis: Steve Jobs and company appear to be well positioned to deal with adversity.
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Programs initiated to speed travelers on their way
TechLaw: Tired of long security lines at the airport? Pre-approved travelers now can benefit from new programs implemented to streamline the entry and departure process into and out of the United States.
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With Wall Street a bit quieter, what do you do next with your dollars?
Bottom line is this: Living beyond your means can be hazardous to your financial health.
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The times they are 'changing' – but how can execs make sure change is better?
Most ‘change’ programs fail, but a consistent and structured change management approach can yield tangible benefits, says IBM survey.
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'Max Payne' movie delivers on gaming action
Mark Wahlberg elevates the videogame film genre with Max Payne, the first adaptation that should satisfy both gamers and mainstream audiences.
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IBM’s earnings: Software ‘remains bedrock’ for success
Big Blue’s software business continues to produce strong revenue and profit growth, but the segment is experiencing changes in the nature of its business due to the worsening financial environment. However, 2009 growth looks stable.
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Managing employee absenteeism: They have to enter to win
TechLaw: Frequent absences by employees not only hamper company productivity, but also can send a clear signal (good or bad) to other employees about whether or not such behavior will be tolerated by an employer. For this reason, it is extremely important to address excessive absenteeism early, before it becomes an epidemic among all.
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Many money lessons learned – the hard way
Analysis: What can you learn from the financial meltdown? A great deal. Here are just a few pointers: Knowledge, diversification, risks, age.
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Gaming for a good cause
Website Play2Cures provides casual game entertainment – and opportunity to support fund raising, research.
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Attention, gamers: Attend BlizzCon from the comfort of your home
Pay-per-view event to offer inside look at sold-out gaming convention.
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The company workout plan: Legal considerations when implementing an employee wellness program
TechLaw: Rising health-insurance costs have caused many employers to implement employee wellness programs to encourage healthy lifestyles for employees. The consequences of not complying with regulations surrounding such wellness programs, however, could make employers sick.
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In midst of economic maelstrom, some are seeking, will find next wave
The perennial gale of creative destruction incessantly destroys the old economic structure and incessantly creates a new one.
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Looking for leadership in time of crisis
Innovation Exchange: Upcoming ‘Security, Threats & Risk’ conference will explore variety of threats we face.
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Wall Street crisis: No easy answers to ‘bailout’ questions
Bottom line: Most economists think a Great Depression type downturn is out of the question. We’re a bigger, stronger, and more resilient economy than seventy years ago. But also, fixing the financial system won’t automatically cause unemployment to drop and incomes to rise. The housing market must first be balanced, and that will still take time – probably at least a year.
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Don’t let this election season become open season on your workplace
TechLaw: The presidential election and the age, race, and gender characteristics of the candidates have generated significant debate concerning age, racial, and gender issues. While this election is interesting and historically groundbreaking, when this debate spills over into the workplace, employers must react carefully to avoid claims of unlawful harassment by employees.
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Why is it so hard to stimulate innovation inside big corporations?
Silo mentality certainly plays a role. How to break through? Creating a small, ad hoc team to get initial traction for a new idea is exactly right in our experience.
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Video gaming isn’t ending world as we know it after all …
New survey shows teens’ gaming experiences lead to social interaction – and civic engagement.
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Online gamers don’t fit stereotypes, new survey shows
Not everyone is a nerd. The average age is 31, playing time increases with age, and 20 percent of players are women. Oh, they also are 10 percent leaner than most Americans.
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State securities regulation: Selling the blue sky
TechLaw: You are ready to take your business to the next level. All you need is an infusion of capital from willing investors. You've already determined that you can issue securities under an exemption to the registration requirements of the federal securities laws, so you immediately can start offering securities to investors, right? Not so fast! There are at least 50 other securities regulators out there, and some of them might have something to say about your securities offering.
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What factors determine what you earn? How can you increase your value?
Do something that many people place a high value on, be one of only a few who can do it and you'll be able to write your own ticket.
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Game contests let you test your skills – and perhaps win prizes
GameStop looking for Guitar Heroes, and EA Sports offers a football challenge.
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Applications market for digital cars is revving up
A dominant computing platform to build to for cars has yet to emerge, but automotive original equipment manufacturers are feeling the pressure from consumer electronics devices and are slowly adopting third-party technologies.
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Healthy profits, sick marriage: Estate planning for the separated business owner
TechLaw: Your business is soaring, but your marriage has crashed. As a separated business owner, you need to keep in mind several estate-planning considerations. This article provides tips that can't save your marriage, but may save your business.
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NHL season gets an early start – through videogames
EA Sports, 2K Sports offer new titles for on-ice gamers, but 2K strikes deeper with Wii version.
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Digital rights management war may be brewing – Hollywood vs. Apple?
New consortium creating Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem as a counter to Apple’s closed DRM technology.
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Pay-if-paid: Can they really not pay me for my work?
TechLaw: You have submitted your work, which is wholly satisfactory, but it was performed under a subcontract which says you are paid when the primary contractor gets paid – and the party to whom the work ultimately was delivered isn’t paying. Will you ever get paid?
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When will the housing crunch end?
In the early part of this decade, in order to combat the 2001 recession and the aftermath of 9/11, the Federal Reserve pushed interest rates to a generation low and simultaneously flooded the economy with money and credit. The table was set for a huge borrowing spree. Residential housing was a likely recipient for this borrowing.
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Browser wars: Chrome more than capable of taking on IE, Firefox
While it’s still a few iterations from displacing Firefox as my browser of choice, Chrome already provides a much more pleasant web experience than Microsoft’s newest competitor Internet Explorer 8 (also in beta).
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NCSU conducting Internet Privacy Survey, participants welcome
A new online survey is under way to gather information about Internet privacy policies and user opinions and values.
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Thank you SEC: Recent securities law changes may increase the value of your company's stock
TechLaw: Restricted stock is a key medium of exchange in the tech world. Employees, angels, and owners of sold or merged companies often receive restricted stock. The SEC recently relaxed some of the restrictions on resale.
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The complex science of buying light bulbs, at least in North Carolina
How many North Carolinians does it take to buy a light bulb? Millions, thanks to centrally-planned energy efficiency programs.
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Interesting in gaming career? More colleges are offering degree programs
Video game industry is booming, and colleges such as Wake Tech are responding to help train workers of future.
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What’s next for China’s economy? A post-Olympic slowdown
Effects are likely to be felt most in manufacturing sector as companies shift IT focus to cost savings from revenue generation – just as many Western companies are doing.
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GPL 3 – The good, the bad, and the patent protected
TechLaw: In the midst of the one-year anniversary of the final release of version 3 of the General Public License ("GPL 3"), all seems relatively quiet. After the heated debate over draft releases in 2006 and early 2007, little may be left for the final version itself. However, there are provisions in GPL 3 that are controversial, and only time will tell the impact they will have on the open source community.
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Should you keep up with the Joneses or yourself?
‘Look at your own paycheck’ is one way to measure whether you are really better off economically than others.
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Is Seinfeld Microsoft's new pitchman?
Microsoft is still being very secretive about its new $300 million advertising campaign that it plans to unleash shortly, but comedian Jerry Seinfeld will play a key role in it, the Wall Street Journal reported this week.
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Get the credit you deserve – The North Carolina Research and Development Tax Credit
TechLaw: The General Assembly just extended the life of the state's research and development tax credit for five years. Large and small businesses should not ignore this powerful tax savings tool.
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RIAA speaks on Muxtape: Illegal content
Illegal content. That’s why the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) took down the online music mix tape maker Muxtape on Tuesday, it said in a statement to Portfolio’s Sam Gustin.
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The goal is simple with Yahoo Buzz: Yahoo! homepage or bust
True to its name, Yahoo’s social voting news site Buzz has garnered a lot of buzz since its launch back in February. But, as the site truly opens up to the public this week, we’ll see if it’s worthy or not.
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Economic Rivalry: Keep up with the Joneses or Yourself?
Perspective is important. Life is more complicated for a “keeping up with the Joneses” person. Gains must be compared to the gains of others. But, which approach you decide to use will determine not only how you view your own situation, but also how you view the progress of the entire economy.
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Sales and use tax collection: Pinning the tail on Internet retailers
TechLaw: The state of New York's most recent attempt at imposing on Internet retailers the obligation to collect use tax on sales to residents of New York already is causing controversy. If this law withstands challenge, it may result in similar revisions in other states.
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Are you ready for some Madden? Get ready for hits – and action
How's Madden 09? I've had the chance to play the game several times over the past few months, and have had an early code and final copy for some time now. I can tell you the game's the best football videogame ever made.
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N.C. counties are growing further apart – Education is key differentiator
North Carolina has some of the fastest growing counties in the country, including counties that are attracting the very highest paying jobs. Unfortunately, our state has many counties struggling to keep jobs.
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Doing business as a woman in North Africa? Tread carefully
International Business Corner: Cultural challenges for female executives are compounded by a relationship-based business environment to the extreme. Plus, according to Transparency International, it’s one of the more corrupt regions of the world.
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Downstream without a paddle? Patent exhaustion
TechLaw: The United States Supreme Court has ruled that a patent holder's patent rights do not extend beyond the first purchaser, but hinted that the patent holder might extend its rights by artfully drawn contracts.
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$ounds of cash in video games – Audio companies tune in on gamers
New systems deliver dynamic audio performance optimized for gaming. They also are designed to meet the demands of movie audio and music playback.
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Real threat or imagined - If Silicon Valley ignores China, will it go away?
The Valley’s tech dominance really is threatened and, rather than confront the challenge, prefers to remain in a state of denial. It’s easier in the short term.
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Women and business in Brazil – Freedom to be female
International Business Corner: Career and family, being a woman and having a career are not like trying to mix oil with water.
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Women-owned businesses: It requires more than being women-owned
TechLaw: It is a common misperception that having a woman or women own the majority of the stock or other ownership interests in a business is all that is required to open the door to winning contracts designated for women-owned businesses from governmental agencies and large corporations.
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Makes $ense: Ilog acquisition adds proven toolset to IBM’s software offerings
Analysis: Big Blue can leverage its management and distribution network to rapidly scale revenue and at the same time optimize operations and increase profitability of Ilog.
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Gaming at Comic-Con 2008
Hollywood, game companies flock to convention, which has evolved to become about a lot more than comics.
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Being American and female – Challenges and opportunities in Europe
International Business Corner: In a culture shaped by two devastating wars, women find acceptance in workforce that many have not found in U.S.
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Preserving U.S. competitiveness – It’s more than science, engineering and math degrees
Leading companies across India in workforce development and training are setting an example American firms should emulate, says new report. 'The time has come for the guru to learn from one of its disciples - India," writes entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa.
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On the face of things, Facebook is gaining on MySpace
Yes, MySpace is still nearly twice as large. But Facebook is growing at much faster rate. Other social media sites show strength, too, in latest stats from comScore.
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What does the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act have to do with employers?
TechLaw: Employers beware - The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 prohibits more than you might think.
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Apple looks good to the core – Mac sales surge, and iPhone is just fine
Analysis: ‘Product transition’ comment also means more cool stuff is on the way. Apple is likely to continue to thrive.
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A Lab, a Grant & a bad odor
The decision of the Golden LEAF Foundation to spend $262,248 in public funds to promote the biodefense project and respond to its critics smells.
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Denial of femaleness – A reality check in doing business
International Business Corner: We in the US should think that we have achieved an elevated position on the subject in comparison to the position of women in business in other countries.
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Trademark protection in China: A primer
TechLaw: The trademark system in China is based on many of the same procedures and principles found in the west, but some unique aspects need to be considered when seeking protection in China.
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Fuel for thought: If it can be done, should it be done?
People are excited about fuel from crops, grass, animal waste, wind, rocks (oil shale), the sun, ocean tides, under the ground (geothermal) and from hydrogen, to name just a few. But are these alternatives practical?
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Vacation means more game time for most kids, survey shows
Games serve as great individual activity and also provide a solid bonding activity for the family. Parents want in on the interactive fun, with one-third of parents more likely than usual to play video games with their kids while on vacation.
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Banana Pudding and you – a recipe for success?
Innovation Exchange: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. Don't ask why. Say: "Why not?"
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Women and international business – Be wary of cultural issues
International Business Corner: How women are viewed and respected in foreign cultures, and how the individual adapts and copes with these cultural differences greatly impacts the ability to be successful in international business.
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Tax planning on the sale of your company to benefit both you and charity
TechLaw: The tech company in which you have a significant interest is about to be sold. With planning, you can enjoy considerable tax savings, provide yourself with a lifetime income stream, and support your favorite charity, all at the same time.
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Ultimate Fighting Championship fans finally getting a quality videogame
‘UFC 2009’ looks gorgeous with photorealistic visuals, but it also looks realistic because punches land correctly and cause bruising, blood and sweat.
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Our STEM winner: ‘Changing The World One Problem At A Time’
Innovation Exchange: Science, technology, engineering and math contest winner is SAS art director Brian Lloyd. ‘STEM can literally mean the stem of a leaf, which leads to the idea of growth. That's what the program is about … growing, learning and the knowledge that can be returned to the world,’ he says.
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International law challenge: Beware the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
International Business Corner: Many business environments and cultures depend economically on the exchanging of favors. While bribery and corruption are not legal in any country, the line of legality is often different from that in the US.
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Are we in a recession? Yes, says N.C. Bankers Association economist
However, North Carolina is faring better than most states due to manufacturing for export and a housing market that isn’t the drag on the economy it is elsewhere.
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Unauthorized disclosure of your confidential information on the Internet: Plugging the leak without breaking the levee
TechLaw: Whether for profit, sport, or revenge, more and more employees, former employees, and others are posting confidential business information on the World Wide Web. What are the alternatives when worldwide exposure of your business's information seems imminent?
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Will education always pay off? If so, for whom?
While the demand for educated workers isn't expected to slow down, supply may catch up. However, what is different is that this increased supply may not come from U.S. workers.
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How did Bill Gates get popular? It started with Xbox
Everybody has an opinion about whether Gates is a good guy or a bad guy. But there is no doubting that his image is a lot different these days.
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International law can be a sticky wicket for U.S. businesses
International Business Corner: At what point do the business culture, business standards, business concepts and domestic law of the foreign country prevail in a transaction in a foreign country that includes a U.S. person?
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Regulation D: Selling stock without registration
TechLaw:It's time to raise capital to get your company off the ground. The sale of stock seems like the best approach, but what about the expensive registration requirements? Is there a way around them?
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The real iPhone 3G rip-off: Text messages
A text message is data, and a very small amount of it. So why am I paying so much extra — let alone anything extra for it?
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Global conference captures passion of entrepreneurs
Annual event demonstrates that as long as there are innovative ideas, there will be entrepreneurial opportunities, writes Charlotte executive Eric Dudley. New technology spurs new business opportunities and new ways to generate revenue.
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What is international law?
International Business Corner: Execs need to understand rules governing business overseas.
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Will $4 gas lead you to embrace technology change in what you drive?
When household incomes were rising, many drivers simply gritted their teeth and paid more for gas. But now, with the economy either in a recession or on the brink of one, households are therefore scrapping to find ways to cut back, and an obvious way is to reduce driving.
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Looking for venture capital? Consider asking the federal government to invest in your R&D
TechLaw: For the right company with the right product, the federal government may provide much-needed venture capital. But watch out for the complicated application process and the strings that come attached to federal dollars.
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E-commerce fight over taxes broadens
Overstock joins Amazon in suing New York State; There is a better way to settle this argument
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Judgment day: Top entries to STEM contest to be judged by you
Innovation Exchange: Science, technology, engineering and math awareness efforts generates strong entries. You be the judge to determine our winner.
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Global integration – Being successful requires more than being ‘ready in country’
International Business Corner: Thinking expansion? Integration of global business should be one of the areas addressed in your global expansion analysis.
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Properly securing your loan or credit advance: A secured transactions primer
TechLaw: Many companies routinely make loans or otherwise extend credit to other businesses or individuals. Often the company making the loan will want some collateral from the borrower to secure repayment of the loan. How does the company obtain a valid security interest in the collateral, and how is that security interest protected and enforced?
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U.S. schools: Not that bad
America's educational system is easier than those in China and India—but it's still teaching valuable life lessons.
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Could death of early termination fees be near? Yes, but at what cost?
FCC, lawmakers target long-term service plans for variety of products, offerings.
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Ideas that make you laugh – Rambling on about innovation and life
We should all reflect on occasion. After all, how often have random thoughts led to innovation, entrepreneurship and success?
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Hosted software solutions can offer big payback in hard economic times
By using hosted software solutions, a business eliminates the need to acquire and maintain the resources necessary for supporting a large-scale in-house software deployment, including hardware, software upgrades and maintenance.
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Want to succeed overseas? Then know your market size and sophistication
International Business Corner: Understanding your market is essential in your strategic analysis. Developing countries each have profiles that must be understood. The size of the domestic markets and the nature of the consumers must be considered in your strategic analysis.
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Electronic signatures – Are they worth the paper they’re not printed on?
Techlaw: With the recent emphasis on going "green," it may be time for you to consider electronic documents and the use of electronic signatures. Are electronic signatures binding in the same manner as those on paper?
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How can you cope with less? Adjust
The economy is constantly sending us signals - signals about what jobs pay more, what investments are good, and what basic necessities cost. Pay attention to these signals, especially when they change.
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The Global TransPark's new LEAF
Golden LEAF is again being used as a political slush fund rather than acting as a nonpartisan grantmaker serving rural North Carolina.
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Who are the next 'real' American Idols? STEM is key
Innovation Exchange: Superstars in science, technology, education and math are rising stars, says Kemi Jona, a leader in STEM education
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Brazil’s debt rating receives an upgrade – that’s good for business
International Business Corner: Move by Standard & Poor’s signals that Brazil is now officially recognized as a safe place for investors to invest.
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Going gaming at the Louvre
Ubisoft showcases Tom Clancy franchise titles, other new games at one of world’s most famous museums.
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When they won’t say it to your face: How to respond to online defamation
TechLaw: Is someone with a vendetta out to get you or your business? Are they using the Internet to spread false and malicious rumors about you? An anonymous malcontent can defame you online with remarkable ease and be seen by millions of people. What can you do about it?
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Vodafone deal shows social networking is going mobile
Acquisitions represents part of an intelligent effort by major telephone service providers to facilitate the movement of social networking services from PCs to the mobile phone.
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Blocking the future? The possible selling out of online advertising
New York lawmakers are now considering a bill that would spell doom for the advertising models that could fuel the Internet's future.
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Tiers for success: Know your market, know your cities
International Business Corner: In developing countries the distinctions between the first tier cities, second and third tier cities, and the remaining rural areas of the country are extremely significant and must be analyzed in the development of your strategy for most, if not all businesses.
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Is real inflation being hidden?
From food to fuel, what price news gets hyped and what we remember may not be the whole story A good example of this is today's inflation. But does this make you feel better?
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Is my invention obvious? The patent world after KSR case
TechLaw: You developed a product that will revolutionize business practices for years to come. You want to patent your product. Can you do so, or is your product obvious? Will the application of a new obvious standard doom your desire to patent your product?
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The beach of tomorrow – where high tide meets high tech
Innovation Exchange: Going to beach now can include WiFi access, Nintendo Wii, GPS and more – even RFID. That’s "radio frequency identification" chips for those who may have been out in the sun too long and missed the news.
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Vodafone deal shows social networking is going mobile
Acquisitions represents part of an intelligent effort by major telephone service providers to facilitate the movement of social networking services from PCs to the mobile phone.
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Be careful - Chinese (guanxi) and Brazil (jeito) concepts of favors could mean trouble
International Business Corner: Execs must keep U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in mind when doing business overseas.
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H-1Bs: Can I recoup the costs of my visa holders who quit?
TechLaw: Most tech companies do not flinch at the prospect of sponsoring a highly qualified foreign national for an H-1B visa. Nor are the fees incurred in obtaining the visa important – at least not until the visa holder quits only a few months after the fees have been paid. Can the employer require the employee to pay those fees back if the employee leaves before the end of the visa term?
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Keep `em coming: STEM contest extended
Innovation Exchange: The contest is open to parents, companies, students, and anyone else who is concerned about the future of our education system and our nation's future work force.
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When Relationships Go Bad
International Business Corner: Personal is intertwined with business. This is very much the case in countries such as China and Brazil.
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Nintendo Wiis on the high seas
Gaming Guru: It’s not just the kids that play Wii. As anyone who has a Wii knows, its motion-sensor controls invite new and relapsed gamers into the hobby. It’s so easy to play that seniors aboard the ship are going crazy over Wii Bowling.
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Absolute Novelty is not always absolute
TechLaw: Assuming that the patenting of inventions in countries other than the United States is barred when the invention previously has been disclosed may deprive an inventor of available patent opportunities.
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Will North Carolina do better in a recession?
You Decide: Will the state repeat its unfortunate experiences of the past with a worse unemployment rate and a greater drop in commerce than other parts of the country? Or will our state break with the patterns of the past and be a place that outperforms other regions?
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Friends and family - In Brazil, business often includes favors, payments
International Business Corner: Before entering Brazilian market, executives need to understand the culture of doing business there.
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STEM-ulating: It's time to start doing
Innovation Exchange: Science, technology, engineering and math need more attention to prepare workers for global workforce.
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Gray matter: How to foster tech entrepreneurship
Startup hotshots are older and more educated than generally thought; it follows that training and finance skills should be offered to all age groups.
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Employee handbooks: Personalize personnel policies or prepare to pay the piper
TechLaw: Many employers either do not have a formal employee handbook or use one that is out of date and doubles for a dust collector. Keeping an updated employee handbook is a relatively inexpensive potential method to minimize costly employment-related claims.
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Grand Theft Auto: Masterpiece or abomination?
Game’s release has re-ignited public debate over how games affect kids and whether new laws are needed to protect children from the gratuitous violence found in many video games.
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‘STEM’ Education - Are Today's Students Ready For Tomorrow?
Innovation Exchange: If U.S. is to stem tide of growing competitive demand, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills are essential.
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Do You Have the Right ‘Guanxi’ To Do Business in China?
International Business Corner: Guanxi means relationships in Chinese, and doing business is world’s most populous country requires just that.
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Can IT Fuel the Race to the $1,000 Human Genome?
In the race for the first $1,000 genome, several next-generation DNA sequencing system providers have announced significant breakthroughs in their technologies to reduce the costs of decoding a whole human genome, leading to the question: Is IT ready for next-generation sequencing?
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Patents in China – Is There Any Real Protection?
TechLaw: Manufacturing or even the simple exposure of your product in China, whether it be computer hardware, product components, pharmaceuticals, or toys, carries a risk not present in the United States: will your patent rights be stolen? If they are, will a Chinese court help you get them back?
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What Slowdown? Video Game Sales Continue to Skyrocket
Gaming Guru: Many new titles are coming to market. Video game hardware sales also are strong.
