Happy New Year Techies! This is the second edition of the Johnsonese Brokerage Technology Insurance Newsletter. The goal of our quarterly newsletter is to provide useful information about insurance to independent technology businesses . This edition is all about lawsuits between technology companies. The examples from the news involve technology giants, but similar lawsuits between smaller tech companies are just as common.
What does this have to do with insurance? Technology Errors & Omissions insurance can both help to pay for legal costs to defend against infringement of patents, copyrights and trade secrets suits, as well as to pay for settlements of these cases when necessary.
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New Logo, New Website |
 With the assistance of Beall Creative we released a new logo and launched a new website at the end of 2010. The concept of the logo is to reflect our goal of always seeking better insurance solutions for out clients; and of growing with our clients as they move to ever larger projects. The new website allows us to provide information of interest to our target markets. Please visit www.johnsonese.com and send us your comments.
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Tables Turned on Oracle | |
Oracle - which recently won $1.3 billion in court damages for the theft of its trade secrets by an SAP subsidiary - faces a $100 million lawsuit alleging it engaged in similar behavior.
The complaint, filed in late December by Texas software company 2FA Technology, claims Oracle executives turned a blind eye when security company Passlogix stole source code for strong authentication and credential management software. Oracle went on to acquire Passlogix in November for $42 million and continues to sell rebranded Passlogix software containing the misappropriated code, the lawsuit alleges.
According to the 31-page complaint, Passlogix stole thousands of pages of trade secrets and hundreds of thousands of lines of source code after licensing 2FA's technology for credential management systems. Passlogix eventually used the code in its v-GO UAM product line, "in direct violation of the license agreement's non-compete and exclusive source provisions." Oracle in turn folded it into its Oracle Enterprise Single Sign-on offerings.
According to 2FA, the license agreement expressly barred Passlogix from marketing its own credential management system.
- Software & Security, 10th January 2011
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Microsoft and Motorola Exchange Lawsuits for the Holidays | |
The International Trade Commission has apparently agreed to hear Motorola Mobility's patent-infringement complaint against Microsoft, accelerating the rivalry between the two companies.
Motorola and Microsoft have spent the fall locked in an escalating series of legal battles, which rose to an extra-special level of ire on Nov. 10 when Motorola Mobility filed patent-infringement complaints against the software giant in U.S. court. Motorola accused Microsoft's PC and Server software, Windows Phone software and Xbox products of violating some 16 patents.
The action seemed a direct response to Microsoft's Nov. 9 lawsuit, which alleged that Motorola had violated agreements to license at "reasonable rates" patents related to video compression and wireless LAN.
eWeek, December 21, 2010
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Sony Sues LG over Cell Phone Technology |
Sony Corp. has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission as well as a lawsuit in U.S. District Court. It says its patents related to mobile phones, which are sold by Sony Ericsson, were infringed by Korean electronics maker LG Electronics. The patent infringement complaint covers 10 LG smartphones.
However, while Sony fired a salvo of patents against LG, its own joint venture Sony Ericsson was in the firing line when SmartPhone Technologies LLC filed a patent suit against Sony Ericsson, Excedea, Nokia, HTC and Kyocera in October. SmartPhone LLC had also sued Apple, AT&T, LG, Motorola and RIM in March.
As the smartphone market continues to expand, a clear leader has failed to emerge. With multiple platforms vying for space, the intense fight for market share has resulted in companies resorting to acquiring patents as a preemptive tool or charging each other with patent lawsuits to protect their turf. Also in the game are "patent trolls" that are seeking to milk the growing smartphone industry.
- International Business Times, December 30, 2010
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Winter Driving Tips from The Hartford | |
For those of us living in the Great White North, it doesn't hurt to refresh our winter driving skills. Follow the link to a video with some safe driving tips from the Hartford, one of our insurance partners:
Hartford Driving Tips |
The Johnsonese Brokerage can assist you with most of your art insurance needs. To get started immediately call 773.857.0242 or Email info@johnsonese.com. Happy New Year! Christopher Johnson |
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About the Johnsonese Brokerage |
The Johnsonese Brokerage LLC is a licensed and bonded independent insurance agency focused on insuring independent creative businesses.
Who we insure:
- Computer Consultants
- Computer Equipment Distributors
- Computer Maintenance and Repair
- Database Developers
- Electronics Design Consultants
- Electronics Distributors
- NEDA Members
- Network Consultants
- Manufacturers Reps
- Outsourced IT Service Providers
- Software Developers
- Software Programers
- Technology Sales & Marketing
- Technology Solopreneurs
- Technology Trade Shows
- Telecom Service Providers
- Value-Added Re-sellers
- Website Developers/ Designers
We are licensed in the states of California (license #0G69323), Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
How are we doing? Your feedback is always welcome!
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Common Insurance Terms
1. Business Income Interruption
Insurance that pays for loss of earnings when operations are curtailed due to loss of business property
2. Errors & Omissions
Insurance that pays for losses due to professional errors and oversights (also called Professional Liability)
3. EDP Coverage
Insurance for Electronic Data Processing equipment (more commonly called computer equipment) and related storage devices and software |
Our Business Partners
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AmWins -
AXA -
Chubb -
CNA -
Hartford -
Insurance Noodle -
Markel -
Philadelphia -
Risk Placement Services
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