IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 17 January
17-01-2008
by Sylvia Leatham
Payzone execs granted High Court injunction to prevent dismissal | War of words over Scrabulous
The Irish Times reports that social networking site Facebook is considering Ireland as the location for its European hub. Executives from the company have met providers of business and technology services in Ireland in recent weeks. It is still not clear whether Facebook will simply locate computer infrastructure here or establish a European headquarters in the Republic that would involve significantly more employment. Executives from the company have indicated that Ireland is one of two locations it is considering in Europe.
The paper also says that software giant Oracle has agreed to buy BEA Systems for USD8.5 billion, as reported by ENN on Wednesday.
The same paper reports that Payzone chief executive John Nagle and chief financial officer John Williamson have secured injunctions in the High Court in Dublin preventing the recently formed e-payments group from dismissing them from their posts. This followed an announcement to the stock exchange by Payzone on Wednesday morning stating that the two Dublin-based executives had left the company. Nagle and Williamson went before the High Court at 5.15pm on Wednesday and were granted three injunctions. These restrain Payzone from treating the two executives as being dismissed from their employment and as "having been removed" as directors.
The paper also says that the High Court has appointed an examiner to MobileAware, a company involved in providing mobile phone data services around the world. The firm sought the protection of the court last month after it ran into financial difficulties. An interim examiner was appointed and court protection was extended on Wednesday. In its petition to the High Court seeking to have an examiner appointed rather than see the business wound up, the company said there was a reasonable prospect of survival.
The same paper reports that the High Court has approved a scheme of arrangement for Ardmore Technologies, which designs, installs and maintains local and wide-area phone networks. The company has been under court protection since September. The examinership will be lifted on 31 January, when the scheme of arrangement will come into operation.
The Financial Times reports that Carphone Warehouse and sister company TalkTalk face prosecution unless they stop mishandling customer information, the UK privacy watchdog has warned. The Information Commissioner's Office said the companies had caused "real damage and distress" to people by opening accounts in the wrong name, allowing online clients to see other customers' account details and passing inaccurate information to credit reference agencies and debt collectors.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the companies that make Scrabble are trying to shut down Scrabulous, an online version of the game that is one of the most popular applications on Facebook. Hasbro, which owns the rights to the game in the US and Canada, and Mattel, which owns the rights elsewhere, believe the game infringes their copyrights and trademarks. The companies jointly issued cease and desist notices to four parties involved in the development, hosting and marketing of Scrabulous, according to a letter Hasbro is sending to consumers who have contacted them about Scrabulous.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 