Business

Yahoo filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Facebook on Monday, ensnaring the social network heavyweight in a legal entanglement weeks before it's scheduled to go public. The suit regards 10 patents related to instant messaging, advertising systems, privacy settings and methods for customizing...

Reports are circulating that CNN is finalizing a $200 million deal to acquire the social news and technology website Mashable. CNN has been looking to match CBS' acquisition of Cnet for at least three years, said Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group, but network officials were unable to reach an agreeme...

Now is a good time to be a startup looking for funding, suggests the Halo Report, which provides data and identifies trends affecting early stage entrepreneurs and investors. Angel Resource Institute, Silicon Valley Bank and CB Insights collaborated in the development of the report. Most notable amo...

Pandora reported a 62 percent increase year-over-year in active users for its fiscal fourth-quarter, which ended Jan. 31, along with a 74 percent increase in advertising revenue and a 99 percent rise in listening hours. However, those gains were accompanied by increases in royalty payments the onlin...

Netflix is reportedly in talks with cable TV providers to bundle its services with cable packages. Although the streaming online media provider wouldn't confirm a Tuesday report quoting insiders, a Netflix spokesperson did not deny talks are ongoing with cable operators. "What's revolutionary is evo...

Google tore down the silos around its app, music, movie and ebook stores Tuesday and melded them into a single outlet called "Google Play." The move emulates Apple's highly successful iTunes model. "Apple has set the standard with the iTunes store where you can get books and music and apps all in on...

Authorities in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom and in Ireland, have arrested five suspected hackers affiliated with Lulz Security, more commonly known as "LulzSec," a group of so-called hacktivists. Among those arrested is Hector Xavier Monsegur, the suspected leader of the group...

Yahoo may be readying for a significant change in corporate structure -- and headcount. CEO Scott Thompson is getting ready to restructure the company in a move that will entail layoffs that could number in the thousands. "The indications are that the layoffs will be massive," said David Cadden, a p...

The FCC is seeking public comment on the subject of when or if government entities can intentionally jam cellphone signals and Internet service for the sake of public safety. The comments will help inform FCC deliberations regarding what, if any, rules or policy guidance may be appropriate regardin...

Yelp had an excellent first day as a publicly traded company. It opened on the New York Stock Exchange Friday at $22.01 per unit -- up 47 percent from its IPO price of $15. By the end of the day, shares were trading at $24.58. The first-hour pop was surprising, even for enthusiastic advocates of the...

Zynga is launching its own platform this month as a beta, with a number of features designed to lure players away from their comfort zone on Facebook. There is, for example, a way for players to meet and connect with other players -- in other words, you don't need a set of already-connected friends ...

Google's new privacy policy, which took effect Thursday, violates EU law, European Union Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said on the BBC's Radio Four Thursday morning. Google has rebuffed requests by the European Union privacy body to delay implementation of changes to the policy due to its conc...

There has been a shakeup in LightSquared's executive ranks following the Federal Communications Commission's refusal to let the company launch its high-speed wireless network due to potential disruptions to devices that rely on the Global Positioning System. LightSquared's chief executive, Sanjiv Ah...

Google on Tuesday rebuffed a request by a European Union privacy body to delay implementation of changes in the search giant's privacy policies set to take effect on March 1. "[W]e have notified over 350 million authenticated Google users and provided highly visible notifications on our homepage and...

Yahoo is pressuring Facebook to pay licensing fees on several patents covering a variety of website functions like advertising, website personalization, social networking and messaging. Yahoo has a responsibility to its shareholders, employees and other stakeholders to protect its intellectual prope...