California International Business Report » Europe

YouTube to block music videos in United Kingdom

editor — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:40:00 +0000

Online video site YouTube will block most music videos in the United Kingdom because talks with a royalty group there failed and an earlier license between YouTube and the group expired. San Bruno-based YouTube, which is owned by giant Google Inc. said the Performing Rights Society for Music asked for too much money in licensing fees, more than YouTube was willing to pay.

Chancellor Merkel and Governor Schwarzenegger open German trade show

editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:03:28 +0000

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger jointly inaugurated CeBIT, one of the top annual fairs in the technology industry. CeBIT exhibits computers, software and communications products, mainly for corporate and manufacturing buyers. At the event this year, California has been declared ‘partner,’ an honorary status usually awarded to entire nations. Schwarzenegger, speaking in both English and German to an invited audience, highlighted California’s advanced computer technology. “Technology is really our great hope for creating extra revenues and stimulating the economy — especially green technology is where the action is,” said Schwarzenegger. Speaking in English, our Austrian-born governor said environmental-technology companies represent the only sector of California’s economy that is creating jobs. Schwarzenegger praised Germany’s commitment to renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and attacked economic protectionism. “The world is the marketplace … and the only way we can protect the consumer is if we let the consumer choose from products all over the world no matter where they come from,” he said. The Governor also tried to encourage the executives attending to be more upbeat, “”Losers whine but winners move forward in a strong and powerful way and I know that everyone who is here at the CeBIT is a winner!” In spite of the upbeat speeches, to mood at CeBIT was reported to be gloomy as a result of the worldwide economic slowdown and slump in the computer industry. This year’s CeBIT has suffered a 25-per-cent slump in exhibitor numbers to 4,300.

California shown as part of Mexico in Absolute Vodka advertisment

editor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:20 +0000

Absolute vodka company set off a minor controversy by showing California, Texas and much of the Western U.S.as part of Mexico in advertisements in Mexico. As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle:

The campaign, which promotes ideal scenarios under the slogan “In an Absolut World,” showed a 1830s-era map when Mexico included California, Texas and other southwestern states. Mexico still resents losing that territory in the 1848 Mexican-American War and the fight for Texas independence.

But the ads, which ran only in Mexico and have since ended, were less than ideal for Americans undergoing a border buildup and embroiled in an emotional debate over illegal immigration from their southern neighbor. .. Absolut said the ad was designed for a Mexican audience and intended to recall “a time which the population of Mexico might feel was more ideal.”

“As a global company, we recognize that people in different parts of the world may lend different perspectives or interpret our ads in a different way than was intended in that market, and for that we apologize.” Vin & Sprit, Absolut’s Sweden-based parent company, will be acquired by French spirit maker Pernod Ricard SA under a deal reached last week.

Bridges to Italy economic development group launched

editor — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:58:28 +0000

Bridges to Italy has launched as a first-of-its-kind economic development organization focused on helping Southern California entrepreneurs, researchers and investors pursue new business opportunities with their colleagues in Italy and throughout the world. The nonprofit organization will foster cooperation and collaboration through an ongoing series of networking events that highlight Italy’s emerging technology sectors. The first such event was held February 25th at UC Irvine, and introduced business leaders from Southern California and throughout the US to some of Italy’s most renowned biotechnology pioneers. “The goal of Bridges to Italy is to help business and research leaders in Southern California connect one-on-one with their foreign colleagues to build successful new ventures in the technology sector,” said Bridges to Italy founder Bianca Dellepiane. “Information and personal relationships are the building blocks of international business collaboration.”

Bridges to Italy events present information about business, research and investment opportunities in a format that transcends language and cultural barriers. The organization’s approach to international business introduces Italian and US participants to each other’s unique cultural, as well as business, resources and opportunities. This in turn helps its events attract a uniquely multicultural and multidisciplinary crowd. “We want to make learning about international business opportunities an approachable and even fun endeavor,” Dellepiane explains. More information about Bridges to Italy can be found at www.BridgesToItaly.org

EU raids Intel’s German office

editor — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:18:40 +0000

European regulators raided the German office of Intel Corp. as part of antitrust investigation into possible anticompetitive practices, according to a report in Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal. Santa Clara-based Intel said the EU raided its offices in Munich, and said it is cooperating with the investigation. The Wall Street Journal reported that German conglomerate Metro AG confirmed that the EU also raided its computer sales businesses Media Markt and Saturn Holding GmbH. In July, the EU charged Intel with conducting illegal competition against rival Sunnyvale-based Advanced Micro Devices Inc. by offering computer hardware manufacturers rebates, discounts and cash. The Journal said AMD has a separate case against Media Markt that accuses the retailer of only selling Intel-based PCs. Intel is due to appear in Brussels for a hearing on the issue in March, and the company also faces a similar probe in New York by the State Attorney General’s office.

BTAnnounces Solar Energy System for California Headquarters

editor — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:54:12 +0000

Press release: HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, will join BT today to announce the ground-breaking of a renewable energy initiative at BT’s office complex in Southern California. Next month, BT will begin construction of a solar photovoltaic system for its North American corporate headquarters site in the City of El Segundo (Los Angeles County). Once the system is fully operational by late summer, BT expects to reduce carbon emissions by 642,000 pounds (more than 290 metric tons) annually as well as decrease its overall power costs for the site in future years. HRH Prince Andrew, the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, commented, “British companies continue to demonstrate their interest and investment in the United States and in solutions to help reduce the impact of climate change.” He continued, “I commend BT for its leadership in producing significant renewable energy solutions in the UK. With this solar project, BT extends its environmental consciousness to its operations in the U.S.”

Oracle acquires Netherlands-based Moniforce

editor — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:50:22 +0000

Redwood City-based Oracle Corp. has announced that it has acquired Moniforce, a Netherlands-based software vendor whose products monitor the availability and performance of any Web application. Oracle said the acquisition “significantly broadens the scope of business exceptions addressed by Oracle Enterprise Manager, allowing administrators to proactively monitor and analyze the application experience from a user’s standpoint.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

California Micro opens Finland office

editor — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:21:40 +0000

California Micro Devices Corp. opened a Northern Europe office in Espoo, Finland, the company has announced. Milpitas-based California Micro said mobile handset suppliers based in Northern Europe represent almost half of the total market. The company also has offices in Chicago, San Diego, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. California Micro Devices supplies application specific analog and mixed signal semiconductor products for the mobile handset, digital consumer electronics and personal computer markets.

Armenia trade office gets axed

editor — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:58:18 +0000

Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed Senate Bill 515, that would have extended the statutory sunset for the privately funded California trade office in Armenia until 2010. This will possibly end California’s experiment with privately funded, but officially sanctioned trade offices in foreign countries. California eliminated all its official foreign trade offices in 2003 after an Orange County Register investigative reporter found them to be greatly exaggerating, and in some cases completely fabricating success stories related to their own performance. At about the same time, a proposal for a privately funded trade office was pushed through the State Legislature by the State’s powerful Armenian community, and a small trade promotion office was established in Yerevan, Armenia. While the office received no State Government funding, it was officially sanctioned and the California Business Transportation and Housing Department was charged with oversight of the program. A recent performance review of the Armenia trade office by this agency found its performance to be mediocre at best and noted that the office had not been able to meet investment targets for its own funding, and could only identify one significant deal it had facilitated.

Mercedes introduces clean diesel to California

editor — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:48:58 +0000

Mercedes-Benz USA has unveiled a version of its E320 BLUETEC, a diesel sedan that will immediately be available in limited numbers to California customers through a special two- year/24,000-mile lease. California’s stringent emissions requirements have kept new diesel automobiles models off the California market for the better part of a decade. “In order to be able to provide the power and economy of diesel technology throughout the world, we had to make the diesel version as clean as the gasoline model,” said Dr. Leopold Mikulic, head of powertrain development at Mercedes-Benz Cars. According to Tom Cackette, executive director for the California Air Resources Board (CARB), “This vehicle has shed the reputation of diesel as a dirty technology. And we hope California has shed its anti-diesel reputation by certifying this vehicle as the first diesel passenger car to meet the most stringent smog emission standards in the world.”