Google and Microsoft join President Obama's fight on $75 billion illegal drug e-market, as Obama meets with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to discuss bolstering the US economy.

WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange granted bail (but Sweden vetoes) as supporters pay $360,000 for New York Times ad.

Audi and Mercedes-Benz lead automaker push to go social for 2011 Super Bowl.

Best Buy share price plunges on lowered forecast, despite brighter November for US retail sales.

Brett Favre draws criticism for trying to profit from end of winning streak.

CNBC launches subscription CNBC Pro, "for the serious investor."Continue reading...

Android is booming thanks to Asia.

Boeing boosts jet prices, drops short-range carrier.
 
Boston Scientific abandons sale of pain-management unit.  

Brett Favre sits out Vikings vs. Giants game, ends streak at 297 NFL games. 

Comcast tests combo web/TV service.

Costco rebuffed by U.S. Supreme Court in challenge against Swatch's Omega watch brand.Continue reading...

Terrell Owens may not be the irresistible force he once was on the football field. But the wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals remains practically unparalleled in the increasingly competitive arena of sports-star branding, with a children’s book, breakfast cereal and VH1 reality show among the properties in his personal-brand portfolio.

Owens also has gained trademark protection for “I Love Me Some Me,” one of his constantly repeated catch phrases. Still on a trademark-office docket somewhere: “Getcha Popcorn Ready,” reflecting “T.O.’s” unique end-zone bit after he scores a touchdown — grabbing a fan’s bag of popcorn and throwing it all over himself.

But Owens is getting more competition in the phrase-trademarking arena.Continue reading...

Playoff expectations remain murky after nine weeks of a National Football League season in which competitive parity seems to hold more sway than ever. But halfway through the NFL calendar, one thing already has become clear: Fans can’t take their eyes off the sport this year.

The NFL is continuing to rewrite TV record books this season, as USA Today puts it. An unprecedented 175 million viewers have watched at least part of an NFL game so far, the league announced, breaking the former record of 170 million viewers year-to-date in 2009.

The fact that the last Super Bowl became history’s most-watched TV show around the globe might have been a good harbinger for the 2010-11 season. But average viewership per game this year has jumped to 18.3 million people from 16.6 million a year ago -- a remarkable 10 percent, in what can only be described as an extremely mature industry.

Put another way: 14 of the 15 most-watched shows since the season began have been NFL games; last year, six of the top 15 were NFL games.Continue reading...

AOL rolls out homepage redesign amid declines in traffic and ad revenue.

BP and Halliburton challenged by report saying they knew about problem cement before well explosion.

Brett Favre's personal brand is being battered by sexting allegations.

Coca-Cola is on the look-out for another billion-dollar brand.

Conde Nast announces major reorganization and strategy shift.

Credit Suisse deemed tops for consumer M&A advice.

Domino’s Pizza uses radical authenticity in brand makeover.Continue reading...

Last night, future Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Brett Favre threw his 500th touchdown. The next closest quarterback is in the low 400s. He threw that touchdown against a team for which he played one year in 2008. Yet, the news surrounding Favre was all about a sports blog's accusations that Favre engaged in sexual harassment while on the New York Jets team. These accusations from Gawker Media's Deadspin blog against the legendary NFL icon raised an interesting questions about legacy and reputation... specifically, Deadspin's.Continue reading...

Alibaba develops China search engine with Microsoft as challenger to Baidu.

Apple is in talks to bring the iPhone to India, and will sell the iPad at Wal-Mart.

AT&T's U-verse TV is coming to Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

Bank of America and other mortgage lenders face lawsuits from up to 40 state attorneys general.

Beijing Auto hopes to reinvigorate brand with $2.7 billion marketing push, as China car sales cool down.

Blockbuster begins search for a new CEO.

Bloomberg LP plans a data service catering to U.S. government.

Bloomingdale's, Macy's, J.C. Penney and other retailers go beyond discounts (incl. BOGO) to compete.Continue reading...

Australia's Gold Coast unveils new place branding campaign.

Brett Favre apologizes to Minnesota Vikings teammates for distraction of sexting inquiry.

Google competes with the Consumer Price Index by tracking inflation with its own Price Index.

Gymboree was sold today for $1.8 billion.

Hasbro transitions to a "branded play" company.

HBO lands all-star cast for Too Big to Fail movie.

IBM shares hit an all-time high today.Continue reading...