Google releases user, govt data

Google has released an application that highlights the issue of government censorship and the government demand for data stored by Google from the users of its services, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The search giant recently disclosed a number of requests it received from government agencies for data about its users. It created an application that further discloses information about how many government requests it gets to remove content from its sites.

David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer, says the company decided that greater transparency about its activities could lead to less censorship. "We hope this tool will shine some light on the scale and scope of government requests for censorship and data around the globe."

A class-action lawsuit has been settled against cable provider RCN that states the company has been throttling P2P protocols, writes Ars Technica.

RCN was charged with violating the Consumer Fraud and Abuse Act by promising its users fast and uncapped broadband Internet services, while engaging in peer-to-peer throttling practices.

The company has agreed to settle the suit without admitting any guilt.

Apple has filed a counter suit against Kodak, three months after Kodak initially sued Apple for patent infringement, says CNET News.

The countersuit accuses the film and imaging company of violating two digital photography patents owned by Apple.

Apple filed the suit in the federal court for the northern district of California. Kodak has recently been on the warpath targeting other technology companies in a series of patent infringement suits.