Australian business technology services provider Data#3 has been handed two contracts for the supply of Microsoft software to the government of Western Australia.Under the terms of the two three-year deals, Data#3 will be the sole provider for Microsoft software to all of the state government's agencies.Specifically, the first contract that covers Microsoft licensing to the WA government will begin on 12 June, while the second arrangement continues Data#3's incumbency with the Department of Education."We have a long-standing history of working with the Australian government to effectively leverage technology for advantage," chief executive officer and managing director Laurence Baynham said on Tuesday. "The team at Data#3 look forward to leveraging our extensive skills in the area of Microsoft software and services to deliver real business outcomes to the Western Australian government." SEE ALSO: Microsoft Azure: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic) Data#3 was … [Read more...] about Data#3 scores WA-wide Microsoft licensing contracts
Licensing contract
FTC, Qualcomm give closing arguments in trial over mobile chip licenses
The US Federal Trade Commission's case against Qualcomm is now in the hands of a judge. The two sides on Tuesday presented their hourlong closing arguments in the case that could have big implications for the technology world. The FTC has accused Qualcomm of operating a monopoly in the mobile chip market, which hurt rivals and caused handset makers to raise their prices. For the FTC to win the case, it has the burden of showing that Qualcomm had a monopoly, that it had market power and that it used that power in negotiations with handset makers to command high royalties. The FTC also has to show Qualcomm's conduct hurt competitors and that the anticompetitive actions continue or will start again in the future. FTC attorney Jennifer Milici kicked off court Tuesday afternoon by detailing how Qualcomm used its power in the 3G and 4G chip market to force handset makers like Apple to sign licensing agreements with excessively high royalties. If Qualcomm isn't stopped, she … [Read more...] about FTC, Qualcomm give closing arguments in trial over mobile chip licenses
Qualcomm didn’t have all the license negotiating power, exec testifies
Qualcomm doesn't have all the power when it came to negotiating licensing contracts, a company executive testified Friday. Instead, handset makers have options to reach terms they view as more favorable, he said. Fabian Gonell, senior vice president of licensing strategy and legal counsel for Qualcomm's licensing business, said during a trial on Friday that Samsung, Sony Mobile and others have reached agreements with Qualcomm that differed from its normal pacts. He noted that Qualcomm didn't stop providing chips to them while the licensing agreements were being disputed, and he added there was no part of Qualcomm's licensing agreements that wasn't negotiable. "We had a provision that had to do with export compliance [that was] considered untouchable," Gonell said. "But at some point, somebody wanted to touch it, and it was touchable."Gonell's testimony on Friday shed light into Qualcomm's licensing practices. He sought to counteract statements by Apple and others … [Read more...] about Qualcomm didn’t have all the license negotiating power, exec testifies
Qualcomm must license chip patents to rival companies, court rules
Qualcomm has been ordered to make patents essential for modern modem chips available to rival companies.On Tuesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge Lucy Koh granted a partial summary judgment against Qualcomm which was requested by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).This requires Qualcomm to open up some of its portfolio of essential patents to rival companies such as Intel.See also: Broadcom-Qualcomm went from bad to worse to Trump: The whole sordid sagaThe intellectual property in question relates to some of the US chip maker's patents which protect core technologies essential for chips which permit mobile devices to connect to wireless systems. The judgment was made as part of an antitrust lawsuit levied against Qualcomm by the FTC. The court case was launched in 2017 and is set to reach the trial stage next year."Undisputed evidence in Qualcomm's own documents demonstrates that a modem chip is a core component of the cellular handset, … [Read more...] about Qualcomm must license chip patents to rival companies, court rules
Accused priest works as contract psychologist for state
Beth LeBlanc The Detroit News Published 12:11 PM EDT Oct 15, 2018 A Catholic priest who was stripped of his priestly faculties in early October also works for the state as a contract psychologist. Dr. Robert Gerl works with the state’s disability determination service out of a Kalamazoo office, said Bob Wheaton, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The department's understanding is that the psychologist working for the department is the same Gerl whose priestly faculties were revoked by the Diocese of Lansing for credible allegations of sexual assault of an adult male alleged to have occurred decades ago, Wheaton said. The department was looking into the claims, which it learned of through media reports, he said. Gerl does not work directly with patients in his role with the state, Wheaton said. Randall Levine, Gerl’s lawyer, urged people not to rush to judgment regarding his client. In a statement, Levine said he was sure … [Read more...] about Accused priest works as contract psychologist for state