1. APPLE FACES A SALES BAN
In the latest development in the ongoing patent war between Samsung and Apple, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Tuesday that Apple had violated a Samsung patent covering technology used to send information over wireless networks. Unless President Obama or an appeals court blocks the ruling, Apple will be barred from selling certain iPhones and iPads in the U.S., including the AT&T versions of the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Last year, a jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $1 billion for violating design patents on the iPhone. [The Wall Street Journal]
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2. AMAZON EXPANDS ITS GROCERY BUSINESS
After operating quietly in Seattle for five years, AmazonFresh is expanding its services to San Francisco and Los Angeles. If all goes well in the new test market, "the company may launch AmazonFresh in 20 other urban areas in 2014, including some outside the United States," says Reuters. The service lets users place grocery orders with a smartphone app, and AmazonFresh delivers to their doorstep the next day. In the same way Amazon destroyed book retailers like Borders (not to mention countless small book stores), some fear that AmazonFresh could pose a problem for grocery stores like Safeway and Whole Foods. [Reuters]
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3. BLOOMBERG LAUNCHES VENTURE CAPITAL FUND
Bloomberg L.P., parent company of Bloomberg News, has announced the creation of Bloomberg Beta, a $75 million venture capital fund that will invest in start-ups. The fund has already invested in Newsle, a service that alerts users to news about their friends, and Codecademy, a site that offers coding tutorials. Unlike Bloomberg Ventures, which invested in new businesses that could later be part of Bloomberg Products, Bloomberg Beta will directly collect any profits from its investments. [The New York Times]
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4. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO RECALL 2.7 MILLION JEEPS
Chrysler is refusing the National Highway Safety Administration's request that the automaker recall 2.7 million Jeep SUVs made with a gas tank design the government agency says is unsafe. The design in question was used in the 1993 to 2004 models of Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2002 to 2007 models of Jeep Liberty. "We believe NHTSA's initial conclusions are based on an incomplete analysis of the underlying data, and we are committed to continue working with the agency to resolve this disagreement," Chrysler said in a statement. [CNN]
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5. SAUDI PRINCE REPORTEDLY SPENT $20 MILLION AT DISNEYLAND
On a recent trip to Paris, Saudi Prince Fahd al-Saud reportedly spent $19.5 million at Disneyland. How does one spend that much money at an amusement park? Agence France-Presse says the prince rented out whole sections of the park for him and his 60 friends, and enjoyed "tailor-made events involving 'rare Disney characters,'" according to sources. (Lumiére the candlestick? Gus Gus?) [The Los Angeles Times]
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