Amazon invests $175 million in LivingSocial.

California Pizza Kitchen debuts brand in China.

Ford edges out GM in government fleet orders.

Gawker paid $12,000 for Brett Favre scoop.

Google vows to get tougher on web piracy, launches "Earth Engine" to map climate change.

LeBron James overcomes booing Cleveland fans as his Miami Heat down the Cavaliers.Continue reading...

Amazon booted WikiLeaks off its servers following political pressure, the whistleblowing site confirmed on Twitter. Bank of America, meanwhile, grapples with rumors it's next on the WikiLeaks hotseat as Julian Assange sets sights on corporate reputations.

Apple's iPhone takes top spot in US smartphone market.

Bloomberg's annual World AIDS Day breakfast disrupted by activist bagel protest.

EU proposes end to branded cigarettes.

USA makes final pitch (incl. Morgan Freeman, Bill Clinton) to host 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Google Doodles expand to mobile; clamps down on business trolling.

Groupon expands in Asia with three acquisitions ahead of Google deal.Continue reading...

Amazon tops buzz meter on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Bank of America dismisses speculation that it could be the next target of WikiLeaks.

Boots, the Co-operative, and Fairy rank as the top “family” brands in the UK.

CBS replaces The Early Show anchors.

Coca-Cola, Nestle, Walmart and other Western brands aim to grow in Africa.

ESPN ramps up tech innovation to stay ahead of the competition.Continue reading...

ABC ratings dip without Bristol Palin, Dancing With the Stars.

Alberto-Culver settles Unilever suit.

Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us led e-commerce sales on Cyber Monday, boosted by Facebook.

BP suspends Alaska project over safety concerns.

Bank of America stock dips on news it's next on WikiLeaks' radar as Interpol targets site founder.

Clear Channel signs three-year, $60 million deal with Ryan Seacrest.Continue reading...

Apple's iPad eats into global PC market.

Big East conference adds Texas Christian University in 2012.

Bing search trends: The Year of the Kardashian (even as sisters cut ties with prepaid credit card).

British Airways and Iberia agree to £5bn merger amidst strike action.

Cadillac returns to PGA sponsorship following two-year break.

Clinique tops L2 Digital IQ study on beauty.

Disney may make Tangled its last animated fairytale feature.Continue reading...

Airtel's new logo — "blobby" or "modern, vibrant and friendly"?

Apple is preparing for patent showdowns with Nokia, Motorola and HTC.

Audi puts focus on US Sunday TV advertising.

Batten & Company, a new unit of BBDO, opens shop.

Black Friday sales saw more foot traffic but lower-than-expected sales as retailers cross fingers for Cyber Monday.

BP is commissioning a feature-length documentary about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill — but the company says it is not intended to scrub its reputation clean.

Delta and Southwest Airlines aim to emerge from among branding-challenged air carriers.Continue reading...

Best Buy sets terms for Black Friday Twitter contest.

BP marks return to deep water with Egypt gas discovery.

CNN Heroes event draws cause-marketing crowd.

DuPont sues cleaning products company over Teflon trademark.

H&M acquires rest of Cheap Monday brand owner.

HarperCollins, Gawker resolve lawsuit over Sarah Palin’s memoir.

Issuu gives up on Apple app store after three rejections.Continue reading...

As Google and Verizon defend a net neutrality proposal that exempts wireless services, Google faces privacy questions over an alleged order of a “microdrone” from a German company.

BSkyB challenges Skype over logo.

BP nears a deal with U.S. government on guarantees for $20B compensation fund.

Dish Network experiences slippage in subscribers even while rival DirecTV posts gains.

H-P navigates its future after the resignation of CEO Mark Hurd in an ethics scandal, as customers by and large remain loyal – but investors knock down the company’s share price.Continue reading...