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Intel announces third-generation SSD: 320 Series – TechSpot

March 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Intel has launched the much-anticipated follow up to its popular X25-M solid-state drive. The new 320 Series is the first of the company’s drives to use 25nm MLC NAND chips, and the smaller process size has also enabled capacities up to 600GB. Performance is up as well: the 320′s sequential write bandwidth is rated at 220MB/s, contrasting with the X25-M’s 100MB/sec, while read bandwidth numbers are 270MB/s for the 320 and 250MB/s for the X25-M.

The 320 is positioned as a mainstream desktop and notebook SSD, and because it uses the same controller chip as the old X25-M, you’re still limited to 3Gbps SATA connectivity. This means Intel is leaving the high-end sector to the 34nm, 6Gbps SSD 510 series it launched late last month featuring data transfers of up to 500MB/s. Still, the company improved its controller and firmware and significantly bumped random IOPS performance with small files on the 320.

via Intel announces third-generation SSD: 320 Series – TechSpot.

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Dell takes digital forensics mobile | ZDNet

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dell on Thursday launched another installment of its digital forensics bundle so law enforcement can collect data faster from crime scenes.

The company took its digital forensic bundle—Spektor Forensic Intelligence software from Evidence Talks and rugged hardware—and extended it to mobile devices. The goal: Examine data at a crime scene and collect data on the fly from various storage devices.

Crime scenes are increasingly becoming an IT problem since evidence can reside on PCs, laptops, mobile phones, USB sticks, GPS devices and other memory devices. Dell’s goal is to allow for on-site investigation of digital evidence and analyze data with one technology bundle.

via Dell takes digital forensics mobile | ZDNet.

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RIM Confirms, BlackBerry PlayBook Will Run Android Apps – NYTimes.com

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In talking with one mobile developer recently, we spoke of all the platforms their app was available on, but one was missing – RIM. BlackBerry, they explained, was simply a pain to develop for.

Today, the company behind the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and new QNX-based BlackBerry smartphones confirmed that it would support Google Android apps on these devices moving forward.

RIM has been on a decline as of late, giving up market share to Google Android, which just earlier this month passed the popular mobile OS to take the number one spot.

It’s a much-repeated mantra of the mobile space that the apps make the platform and RIM just opened up the floodgates for apps on its devices. As Digital Daily’s John Paczkowski points out, “PlayBook isn’t launching with 100 apps. It’s launching with well over 200,000.”

via RIM Confirms, BlackBerry PlayBook Will Run Android Apps – NYTimes.com.

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Google, Others Launch Social Crisis Platform for Missing Persons – NYTimes.com

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In partnership with Google, Bearstech and European Consulting Services, France’s Red Helmets Foundation has launched a global missing persons search engine, Missing.net. The goal is to provide an instant platform for those involved in a natural or humanitarian crisis and their family, friends and coworkers, to find each other.

Until now, Google’s Crisis Response team provided Person Search sites on an ad hoc basis, including sites for the earthquake in Haiti and New Zealand, and the latest in Japan. Red Helmets hopes to make its comprehensive site an enduring, permanent global feature of rescue response.

via Google, Others Launch Social Crisis Platform for Missing Persons – NYTimes.com.

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Reining in the Patent Pirates: China Updates Administrative Enforcement

March 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

(Westlaw Business) Patent protection in China is back in the spotlight after the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC (SIPO) recently reiterated its promise to tackle enforcement against infringers of intellectual property. During the fourth meeting of the 11th National People’s Congress, SIPO’s commissioner placed the importance of building up China’s IP community alongside approving the nation’s mammoth 12th Five Year Plan for national economic development.

Putting promises to paper, the Chinese government has worked continuously over the past few years to strengthen judicial enforcement of IP rights both in civil and administrative proceedings. In addition to updating China’s patent law, the Supreme People’s Court has, in the past, also issued instructions aimed at strengthening trial procedures involving IP litigation.

To provide additional clarity on administrative proceedings, SIPO recently amended the Patent Administrative Enforcement Rules. The Rules, which came into effect on Feb. 1, 2011, outlines procedures to be followed by local Intellectual Property Offices in processing and enforcing claims involving patent disputes.

Guarding against patent infringement remains a major part of risk management for many China-focused businesses, especially those that rely heavily on their intellectual property such as biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. For some U.S.-listed entities operating in China, differences in patent protection laws leave their operations vulnerable. In a recent series of offering documents filed with the SEC, BCD Semiconductor expressed that China’s IP laws may not offer as much protection as other jurisdictions like the United States. Unlike common law jurisdictions, past court decisions in China have “limited” precedential value, which could pose challenges in predicting potential outcomes of IP disputes.

via Reining in the Patent Pirates: China Updates Administrative Enforcement.

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Justice Department, SEC cracking down on U.S. companies engaging in bribery abroad – The Washington Post

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

To win computer business with the South Korean government, IBM allegedly delivered cash bribes in shopping bags.

In pursuit of Ni­ger­ian construction contracts, Halliburton and its international business partners allegedly routed illicit payments through bank accounts in Switzerland and Monaco.

And a middleman for a middleman of the Italian energy company ENI allegedly made repeated trips to a Ni­ger­ian hotel room and handed over briefcases containing millions of dollars in U.S. currency to a government official. But paying the balance of the alleged $5 million bribe in the local currency was more problematic — the local bills were so bulky that the bagman allegedly had to deliver them by the carload.

These alleged schemes have come to light as part of an escalating effort by U.S. law enforcement officials against companies that engage in bribery abroad. Just last week, federal authorities announced they had charged IBM with corruptly pursuing contracts in Asia.

In recent years, the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission have filed an increasing number of foreign corruption cases, charging companies such as Tyson Foods, General Electric, Alcatel-Lucent and Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and the former parent of Chrysler.

The cases reach from Latin America to Africa, Asia and the Middle East, involving contracts worth billions of dollars. Together, they suggest that illicit payments often tip the scales of global business — sometimes with the blessing of top corporate executives.

via Justice Department, SEC cracking down on U.S. companies engaging in bribery abroad – The Washington Post.

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The Rise And Rise Of FCPA

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Deloitte’s fourth version of its ‘Look before you leap’ survey on global risk includes much more focus on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), due in part to increased enforcement of the regulation over the past decade.

The regulation has been on the books for significantly longer – it was enacted in 1977 to make it unlawful to make payments to foreign government officials in order to obtain business – but given increased international trade and commerce over the last 30 years and, more cynically, the profitability enforcement has garnered for the government, Deloitte’s new focus makes perfect sense.

Almost two thirds (63 percent) of respondents, who included corporate executives, investment bankers, private equity executives and hedge fund managers, say the FCPA and anti-corruption legislation have led to aborted or renegotiated deals such as M&A, joint ventures and distributor relationships.

As the trend toward increased enforcement is expected to continue, insiders say it behooves US businesses to implement compliance programs, keep careful records and thoroughly train their employees if they want to remain competitive on the global stage. And even though anti-corruption legal experts agree the FCPA may hinder US competitiveness in certain respects, they also say it may point to the need for an international set of anti-corruption standards.

via The Rise And Rise Of FCPA.

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FCPA Watch: IBM Fined for Past Violations in Asia

March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Westlaw Business) Cross-border businesses beware: U.S. regulators have been busy bringing up the past. International Business Machines Corp (IBM) is the latest to be slapped, or rather lightly tapped, on the wrist for alleged wrongdoing committed overseas. The internationally recognized computer maker recently disclosed that it had agreed to pay US$10 million in connection with alleged violations of the FCPA from 1998 to 2009.

According to IBM, the fine is categorized as follows: disgorgement in profits amounting to US$5.3 million, prejudgment interest on the disgorgement of US$2.7 million and a civil penalty of US$2 million, which covers the alleged misconduct committed by IBM subsidiaries during the time period of 1998 to 2009.

via FCPA Watch: IBM Fined for Past Violations in Asia.

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Survey: More Than 60% of U.S. Small Businesses in Danger of Losing Critical Emails | Business Wire

March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

GFI Software, a leading IT solutions provider for small and medium-sized enterprises, today announced the results of an independent survey conducted by Opinion Matters, in which more than 200 U.S.-based IT decision makers participated. The study commissioned by GFI revealed a dramatic lack of adoption of email archiving. 62.4% of SMEs do not currently use a mail archiving solution – opening the door to a host of issues including: limited email backup and restore, which could lead to data loss; an inability to search for pertinent messages in the event of an audit or eDiscovery request – which could result in costly compliance violations or legal suits; strain on Exchange servers; and storage problems.

“Email infrastructure is quickly becoming a complex beast, and IT administrators have more factors to consider than ever before – including an increasing level of compliance standards that many are apparently unaware of”

The survey also revealed that greater than 38% of the 202 businesses polled do not have an archiving or backup solution of any kind in place, further exacerbating the chances that a network failure could result in a complete loss of critical data stored in email.

Additional results from the survey:

Two-thirds (66.8%) of respondents were unfamiliar with U.S. regulatory compliance standards regarding email archiving. This number ballooned to over 90% in businesses that rely on only one IT professional.

37% said they are required to search for old or deleted emails on a monthly basis, if not more frequently, because of requests from end users, the need to meet compliance requirements, the need to provide copies of correspondence for a lawsuit or audit, or any other requirements.

31% of respondents said they would consider a hosted approach to email archiving.

via Survey: More Than 60% of U.S. Small Businesses in Danger of Losing Critical Emails | Business Wire.

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Agent’s Spoliation Results in Serious Sanctions : Electronic Discovery Law

March 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Rosenthal Collins Group, LLC v. Trading Techs. Int’l, No. 05 C 4088, 2011 WL 722467 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 23, 2011)

In this case, the court ordered default judgment, ordered plaintiff to pay $1,000,000 in monetary sanctions, and ordered counsel to pay “the costs and attorneys fees incurred in litigating this motion” where plaintiff’s agent modified metadata related to relevant source code and wiped several relevant disks and devices prior to their production and where the court found counsel participated in “presenting misleading, false information, materially altered evidence and willful non-compliance with the Court’s orders.”

After plaintiff filed for summary judgment its retained consultant admitted in deposition that he had modified relevant source code prior to its production.  Upon defendant’s motion for sanctions, the court declined to order default judgment but imposed monetary sanctions, struck the consultant’s declaration in support of summary judgment, and struck plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.

Thereafter further spoliation was revealed.  Specifically, the consultant admitted to “turning back the clock” to change the “last modified” date on the previously modified source code to make it appear that the modifications had occurred much earlier and to wiping 6 of 7 disks produced for inspection (while the seventh disk was also wiped, it remained unclear who was responsible).  It was also discovered that “various disks, USB drives and computers that RCG finally produced had been ‘wiped’” prior to production and that the hard drive produced in the “test machine” had been manufactured in 2008 (much later than would be expected in light of relevant time frames).  Accordingly, defendant moved for additional sanctions.

In its defense, “RCG [did] not dispute any of the new allegations of misconduct” but instead sought to distance itself from “its own agent, employed for the purposes of pursuing this litigation” and disavowed any “actual knowledge” of wrongdoing.  RCG’s counsel similarly disavowed “any personal wrongdoing and any actual knowledge of any wrongdoing, while unequivocally distancing themselves and RCG from [the consultant].”

via Agent’s Spoliation Results in Serious Sanctions : Electronic Discovery Law.

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