PakMonitor - News Around The Globe : Apple

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NEW YORK: 
Four Silicon Valley companies including Apple and Google failed to 
persuade a U.S. judge to sign off on a $324.5 million settlement to 
resolve a lawsuit by tech workers, who accused the firms of conspiring 
to avoid poaching each other's employees. 
 
In a ruling 
on Friday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, said 
the class action settlement was too low, given the strength of the case 
against the companies. Intel and Adobe were also part of the proposed 
deal. 
 
There is "substantial and compelling evidence" that 
late Apple Inc co-founder Steve Jobs "was a, if not the, central figure 
in the alleged conspiracy," Koh wrote. The judge provided details in 
evidence of anecdotes involving Jobs and other Valley executives to show
 why she thought the workers deserved more. 
 
Representatives
 for Apple and Google Inc declined to comment. Intel spokesman Chuck 
Mulloy said the company is disappointed Koh rejected an agreement "that 
was negotiated at arm's length over many months," but appreciates that 
Koh provided additional information on her views. 
 
Lawyers for the workers, along with an Adobe representative, were not immediately available to comment. 
 
In
 their 2011 lawsuit, the tech employees said the conspiracy had limited 
their job mobility and, as a result, kept a lid on salaries. The case 
has been closely watched because of the possibility of big damages being
 awarded and for the opportunity to peek into the world of some of 
America's elite tech firms. 
 
The case was based largely on 
emails in which Apple's Jobs, former Google Chief Executive Officer Eric
 Schmidt and some of their rivals hatched plans to avoid poaching each 
other's prized engineers. 
 
PARIS BLUES 
 
Koh 
referred to one email exchange which occurred after a Google recruiter 
solicited an Apple employee. Schmidt told Jobs that the recruiter would 
be fired. Jobs then forwarded Schmidt's note to a top Apple human 
resources executive with a smiley face. 
 
Koh also disclosed
 a 2006 exchange over Google's plans to open an engineering center in 
Paris. Google sought to hire three former Apple engineers for the 
project, but Jobs objected. Jobs wrote that his company would "strongly 
prefer that you not hire these guys." Google then told Jobs it had 
scrapped plans for the Paris center, "based on your strong preference." 
 
The
 four companies agreed to settle with the workers in April shortly 
before trial. The plaintiffs had planned to ask for about $3 billion in 
damages at trial, which could have tripled to $9 billion under antitrust
 law. 
 
Plaintiff attorneys argued Koh should approve the 
deal because the workers faced serious risks on appeal had the case gone
 forward. Some tech workers filed objections to the settlement, however,
 saying both sides should go back to the negotiating table in the hopes 
of obtaining a larger amount. 
 
Daniel Girard, a lawyer for 
one of the objectors, said he is "very pleased that the court agreed 
with his position." It is unclear whether objectors would be included in
 any future settlement negotiations. 
 
In her ruling, Koh 
repeatedly referred to a related settlement last year involving Disney 
and Intuit. Apple and Google workers got proportionally less in the 
latest deal compared to the one involving Disney, Koh wrote, even though
 plaintiff lawyers have "much more leverage" now than they did a year 
ago. 
 
To match the earlier settlement, the latest deal "would need to total at least $380 million," Koh wrote. 
 
The
 judge also said the plaintiffs had strong evidence to prove how the 
no-poaching deals impacted wages. In response to hiring pressure from 
Facebook, Google co-founder Sergey Brin announced a policy in 2007 of 
making counteroffers "within one hour" to any Google employee approached
 by the social networking company. 
 
Google then tried to 
entice Facebook into a no-poaching deal, Koh wrote, but Facebook 
refused. The Facebook threat eventually led Google to alter its salary 
structure and increase all salaries by 10 percent, Koh wrote. 
 
A further hearing in the case is scheduled for September 10. 
 
The case is In Re: High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California 11-cv-2509.

Judge rejects $324.5 million settlement over Apple, Google hiring

NEW YORK: Four Silicon Valley companies including Apple and Google failed to persuade a U.S. judge to sign off on a $324.5 million set...

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US: Apple Inc has scheduled a big media event related to the iPhone for September 9.

According to the media reports, the analysts claim that Apple may 
launch two iPhone models with 4.7 and 5.5 inch screens this year.

It is reported that the Apple is to unveil the iphone 6 on september 9th. Sources claim that 
Apple’s current iPhone models, the 5S and 5C, have a 4-inch display panel.

The company has asked suppliers to manufacture 70-80 million units of
 the new large-screen iPhones by the end of the year, the Wall Street 
Journal reported in July.

Apple usually launches the newest version of its iPhone in September.
 The company did not immediately return emails seeking comment.Apple’s 
shares were down 0.8 per cent at $94.81 in late afternoon trading.

Apple to launch “iphone 6″ on september 9th!

US: Apple Inc has scheduled a big media event related to the iPhone for September 9. According to the media reports, the analysts claim ...