Apple loses iPad Mini trademark, and finds a fan in Kim Jong-un as North Korea rattles saber and tensions rise with U.S., while increased China headaches include hacking threat and iPad regulation.

Discovery Communications expands global channel reach and launches scripted programming.

Novartis loses cancer drug patent battle in India.

Amazon buys Goodreads community-driven user reviews website.

AMC reveals new tagline and logo.

Armani hires Cate Blanchett for $10M campaign.

AT&T scores with March Madness Twitter campaign.Continue reading...

Yahoo! work-from-home edict by CEO Marissa Mayer sparks debate.

Barnes & Noble breakup possibility highlights leadership differences.

Weight Watchers sees workers push back over low pay.

Airbus considers adding assembly line for A350.

Alcatel bets on AT&T and Verizon to keep U.S.-market growth.

Amazon losing its edge in e-commerce satisfaction.

BP begins its trial in 2010 Gulf oil spill.

Diageo hopes to create frozen-cocktail frenzy in U.K.

Google is the most trusted online brand in India, followed by Facebook.

HP board signals more oversight of CEO.

Hooters launches new brand campaign.

IKEA pulls more meatballs over horse meat.Continue reading...

Brands and marketers are heading to Las Vegas for the International CES show this week, which is expected to be an "evolutionary" showcase for "phablets," smart cars, mobile entertainment, celebrity-gawking and trend-watching. So what's in store for this year's edition of "the mother of all trade shows"?

A lot of noise from the many brands looking to make some noise in Vegas, including:

• Audi and Toyota will unveil self-driving cars among other auto brand moves.
• Corning will unveil tougher Gorilla Glass for smartphones and tablets.
• Google TV news is being closely watched, along with YouTube integration, while execs speak on "Brand Matters" lunch panel.
• Huawei is bringing the Ascend D2 among other "competitive" new devices.Continue reading...

Just as it did with the last Spider-Man movie, Sony has released a movie tie-in commercial for the upcoming James Bond movie that showcases the Xperia TL, the official smartphone of Skyfall. Sony Classical has also announced that it will release the Skyfall soundtrack on Nov. 6th.

Sony joins Heineken, Walther, Coke Zero, Omega, Tom Ford and other brands tapping into Skyfall fever. As  Anderson Cooper's recent 007 profile on 60 Minutes reported, "companies don't pay to be placed in a Bond film but agree to spend millions marketing the movies. Heineken, 007's beer of choice in Skyfall, is spending $75 million on a worldwide ad campaign."

The sure-to-be-blockbuster's most unexpected product placement so far?Continue reading...

HuffPost called it "when product placement goes wrong." Bloomberg called it "a curious cameo." Slashgear said it "makes us giggle." Another declared it Spider-Man fans' biggest gripe.

But more than anything, Bing's product placement in the new #1 movie at the box office, The Amazing Spider-Man, is turning out to be an amazing missed opportunity for Microsoft to defend itself and its search engine.Continue reading...

Fresh from his retro commercials for Hyundai during the Oscars telecast, director Wes Anderson has been tapped by Sony to create the new global TV campaign, called "Made of Imagination," for the Sony Xperia smartphone.

Sony today released a trailer (watch below) to tease the commercial — which will bring to life kids' concepts for their dream smart phone — which is breaking on Saturday, March 24th, in Europe first. Next up: Anderson brings to life the kid's cyborg unicorn thank you note to a weatherman that has gone viral. We wish.Continue reading...

YouTube jumped to 3 billion ad-linked views weekly, integrates with LG mobile devices. Online video viewing overall rose 47% in January, with Nielsen naming Netflix #1 for time spent per viewer on its streaming site, up 23% from December to over 11 hours.

Twitter looks to expand language versions.

Chrysler dealers will offer “Imported from Detroit” merchandise related to Eminem's Super Bowl video.

Allstate bets on soccer sponsorship.

Apple audit details changes at Foxconn.

Barnes & Noble woos Amazon affiliates burned by state sales tax.

Berkshire Hathaway pull-out a vote of no-confidence for Bank of America. 

CBS continues to deal with Two and a Half Men mini-drama.Continue reading...

Sony Ericsson is revving up its marketing for Xperia PLAY, including a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of its Super Bowl commercial that was shot in the back alleys of Bangkok (and included the world's first animatronic Google Android).

Previously known as Arc (and among gamers as the PlayStation Phone), Xperia PLAY just launched at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona with news that it's adding two additional Android-powered smartphones (Xperia neo and Xperia pro). It will launch next month with Orange in the UK and Verizon in the US.

Check out the Xperia commercial that launched during the Grammys last night after the jump.Continue reading...