Brands to Watch: HP, AOL, Google

* HP sued former CEO Mark Hurd after Oracle hired him. GigaOm's Mathew Ingram notes why: non-competes are unenforceable in California, but protection of trade secrets is allowed.

* AOL hopes new partnership with Ellen DeGeneres will drive traffic across its network of sites.

* Google TV will launch this year, confirms CEO Eric Schmidt, while today's discombobulated logo baffles Web searchers.

* GM's OnStar is offering free services to combat Ford's Sync system.

* Amazon is pushing manufacturers to make their packages easier to open, hoping to reduce consumer "wrap rage."

* BP pins hopes on "Future BP" positioning.

* HSBC's chairman exit (to become UK's trade minister) leaves a void at the global bank.

* J&J seeks damages from Merck over Remicade partnership.

* JetBlue's infamous (and former) flight attendant Steven Slater is negotiating a plea deal.

* Nokia is getting ready to unveil its new E7 smartphone.

* Ryanair's CEO isn't giving up on his pay toilet idea.

* Samsung reveals low-power chip, implies that Apple's iPad is driving down chip prices.

* Terra Firma filed suit in New York, claiming it was tricked into buying the EMI music label by Citigroup.