Google vs Goojje

Goojje.com

Google accused Goojje (above) of infringing on its trademark rights, saying the logo of the Chinese website could make users believe it was authorised by or linked to the US company.

When you google the word 'goojje', though, you'll come across the first site (with Chinese characters) & it shall bring you to http://dierqi.com/. I'd have expected the website address is simply http://goojje.com.

Anyway, what I'm curious about is how Google is able to enforce their threat against the artful copycat Goojje. See, I doubt Chinese government will bother to entertain Google's demand. Remember about 4 weeks ago, Google made the dramatic announcement that it will no longer censor its search results in China, even if that means exiting that huge Internet market. The decision, Google said, was prompted by its discovery that a China-originated attack let malicious hackers steal Google intellectual property and partially break into the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. (More in ComputerWorld, "After China pull-out bluster, will Google backtrack?")

Google can bark, but it can't bite...at least not in China.

GOOGLE has warned a copycat Chinese website to stop using a logo that resembles the US Internet giant's or face possible legal action, state media reported on Monday.

The warning issued to the 'Goojje' website comes as Google is contemplating its future in China after saying it would no longer obey government censorship rules and could pull out entirely over alleged cyberattacks.

Google accused Goojje of infringing on its trademark rights, saying the logo of the Chinese website could make users believe it was authorised by or linked to the US company, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

In a letter sent to Goojje by Google's lawyers, the US Internet firm demanded the Chinese site stop using the logo by Monday, the report said.

Reports have said Goojje was launched last month by a 20-strong team led by a college student identified only by the surname Wen, after Google issued its threat to pull out from China. The operators of Goojje have posted vague statements on the website construed by some media as offering support for Google.

Goojje's homepage imitates Google's design and its Chinese name ends with a character that means 'big sister'. Google's Chinese name, meanwhile, ends with a character that is a homonym for 'big brother'.

From Straits Times, "Google warns Goojje". (08/02/10)

If imitation is the best form of flattery, Google has been paid the ultimate compliment by a group of 20 fans paying homage with copycat search engine goojje.com, a site currently racking up a million clicks a day.

Upon hearing the news that google.cn would possibly pull out from the Chinese market on January 12, the group, comprised of both students and professionals from a QQ discussion forum, decided on creating the online tribute.

"We didn't want google. cn to leave us, so we built this website in commemoration. If google-fans feel lonely when google.cn leaves, they can visit our site and feel not so lonely," he said. Xiaoxuan, a member of the goojje.com operation and handling press relations, told the Global Times.

Organized by a 20-year-old university sophomore surnamed Wen, googjje.com officially registered its domain name and was up on January 14.

However, the site refused to provide any more information about its founder, explaining that at present she is reluctant to comment.

Designed in similar white background and simple format, the "jj" added to the col-ored logo stands for "jiejie" or "sister," a pun on the Chinese translation of google, "gu ge," the "ge" sounding like the word "brother."

Also different from "brother google," the logo also sports the blue paw print logo of baidu. com, the second database from which goojje.com draws its search results. The site hopes "to combine the strong points of both engines into their searches"

Although the page has several features such as news and polls, it also features a forum focused on creating an online community of google fans, according to Xiaoxuan.

"We chat, make friends and introduce goojje to more and more people. I think it is a good thing."

And so does its growing community. Goojje is quickly expanding, now with more than 150 people on staff, 80 of them university students hailing from such top-tier schools as Peking University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

An additional 2,000 applicants are also looking to sign up from all over the country, as well as some studying abroad in the US and Germany.

When asked to comment on the site, Google spokesman Lynn Lin issued a one sentence statement reading "The site is not affiliated with Google."

But Google doesn't seem to have any reason to worry. These fans are just showing their love for their digital "brother."

"Making a profit is not the aim in opening the website," Xiaoxuan said. "We just want to have fun, and make every visitor feel at home," he said.

From Global Times, "Student starts Google copycat search engine". (02/02/10)

Cache Logistics Trust IPO

I'm puzzled at the timing of this Cache Logistics Trusts or CLT to be listed in Singapore stock markets. Then again, there is no exact dates mentioned in any of the news reports so far. Perhaps this could be a hype being (attempted to be) built on.

Mainboard-listed ARA Asset Management and CWT said their joint venture REIT has obtained a letter of eligibility to list its units on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

The joint venture REIT, called Cache Logistics Trust or CLT, will invest principally in logistics properties in the Asia Pacific region.

It will be managed by ARA-CWT Trust Management, which is 60 per cent owned by ARA and 40 per cent by CWT.

CLT will have an initial portfolio of six high quality logistics properties located in Singapore valued at about S$730 million.

It will also have a right of first refusal to acquire logistics properties in the Asia-Pacific region owned by CWT and its substantial shareholder, C&P Holdings.

From Channel NewsAsia, "ARA-CWT joint venture REIT gets go-ahead to list units on SGX". (08/02/10)

Cache Logistics Trust, a REIT investing principally in logistics properties in the Asia Pacific region, has obtained a letter of eligibility to list on the SGX. CLT will have an initial portfolio of six properties located in Singapore and valued at S$730m (US$513m). The REIT will be managed by ARA-CWT Trust Management, a joint venture owned 60% by ARA and 40% by CWT. The two are currently speaking to banks ahead of appointing underwriters.

From ifrasia, "Cache Logistics Trust Talking To Banks Ahead Of SGX Listing". (08/02/10)

CWT, the global supply chain logistics solutions provider, says it is planning a sale and leaseback agreement of CWT Commodity Hub and CWT Cold Hub in connection with the listing of Cahe Logistics Trust (CLT).

Both logistics facilities, with a total value of $443 million, are part of CWT’s primary assets and close to PSA Terminals, major ports and central business district.

CWT says $65 million will be settled in the form of CLT units and the balance in cash. Given the current net book value of the properties, the disposal is expected to result in a one-off gain of $157.7 million.

The sales proceeds will be used to expand CWT’s logistics business and for early settlement of outstanding borrowings.

The setting up of CLT will be the first of its kind in Asia to capitalise on the positive outlook of the global logistics sector and the synergistic business models of CLT and CWT.

“CLT is also expected to leverage on the rights of first refusal granted by CWT and the strengths of CWT to pursue yield accretive acquisitions to achieve long term, regular and predictable distributable income for unitholders,” says CWT in an SGX statement.

The proposed trust holds an investment mandate that targets logistics properties in the Asia Pacific region, with an initial portfolio of six high quality logistics properties in Singapore, including CWT Commodity Hub and CWT Cold Hub.

“The creation of CLT to invest in yield-accretive logistics properties in Asia is a historic milestone and enables CWT to own a capital-efficient asset-owning vehicle to complement our core logistics business operations as well as enhance the Group’s ability to expand its business regionally and globally,” said Loi Pok Yen, Group CEO of CWT. “In addition, the sale and leaseback will enable the Group to participate in CLT through its holdings of CLT units and derive a stable income stream from CLT's distributions.”

From The Edge, "CWT plans sale and leaseback of 2 properties to prepare for Cache Logistics Trust listing". (01/02/10)

OCBC sued

The confusing case of the year...and it's barely begun!

A WOMAN, whose 93-year-old adoptive mother has sued OCBC Bank for freezing her bank accounts, yesterday conceded that the bank was justified in being suspicious when the two women went to open a joint account nearly two years ago.

The bank refused their application, doubting the elderly woman's mental competence to manage her financial affairs.

But Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei, 44, said that the bank in its prudence should have found out more about their mother-daughter relationship.

'If they are suspicious of me, they should find out who I am... the number of years I spent with my mum, how long my mum and I lived together, the number of years she raised me,' said Ms Hsu, under cross-examination by the bank's lawyer.

Adopted by Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu at a young age, Ms Hsu is the only child of the retired teacher.

As Madam Hwang's health deteriorated last year, Ms Hsu was ordered by the court to be her mother's legal representative to continue the suit against OCBC for freezing her accounts containing $8.9 million.

From Straits Times, "OCBC 'did its duty'". (27/01/10)

Also from the same article above, more ABOUT THE CASE:

Yesterday was Day 2 of the hearing into the lawsuit that Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu, 93, has brought against OCBC Bank for freezing her accounts containing $8.9 million.

The legal dispute arose after Madam Hwang and her daughter Amy Hsu went to the bank to open a joint account but were turned down.

OCBC's stand is that it was acting as prudent bankers and safeguarding Madam Hwang's interests as it had concerns about her mental capacity to handle her accounts.

Madam Hwang, alleging that OCBC has breached its contract by refusing to comply with her instructions, is seeking unspecified damages.

She contends that by locking up her funds, OCBC has deprived her of opportunities to invest in property.

Since filing the suit, she has applied to court for various sums to be paid out as expenses. The balance has been moved to a court account pending the outcome of the case.

As Madam Hwang's health deteriorated last year, Ms Hsu was ordered by the court to continue the suit on her behalf.

Ms Hsu continues on the stand today.

From Straits Times, "OCBC 'did its duty'". (27/01/10)

THE judge hearing the suit brought by a 93-year-old woman against OCBC on Thursday expressed scepticism over why the elderly woman needed monthly expenses of $18,000, including payments for her adopted daughter and her husband.

It was Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei's third day on the stand in the suit that Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu has brought against OCBC for freezing her accounts containing $8.9 million.

OCBC's lawyer, Mr Adrian Wong, was trying to establish that Ms Hsu was unduly influencing her mother. Between March and August 2008, Madam Hwang changed her will three times.

One will was made in May, when the person authorised to act on her behalf was changed from her nephew, senior lawyer Michael Hwang, to Ms Hsu.

Mr Wong brought up the fact that before the trial, Madam Hwang had applied for $18,000 to be paid out a month for living expenses.

This included $3,600 for Ms Hsu as her caregiver, $2,000 for a 'driver', who was Ms Hsu's husband, and Ms Hsu's phone bills and club memberships.

From Straits Times, "$18,000 expenses questioned". (28/01/10)

Long before the lawsuit between Madam Nellie Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu and OCBC Bank reached the courtroom, bank representatives initiated a sit-down to "address" her concerns and to "move forward", OCBC's lawyer Adrian Wong disclosed on Friday.

In return, it received "a slap in the face", two months after it froze the elderly woman's accounts in May 2008.

"We were accused of raising new issues and evasive tactics," charged Mr Wong to Mdm Hwang's only child, Madam Amy Hsu Ann Mei, 44, as she took the witness stand for the fourth straight day.

Mdm Hsu conceded that the bank's overtures were amicable but, at that time, she did not want her mother to be subjected to a grilling by bankers.

Mr Wong shot back: "The dispute was sufficiently serious, and lawyers from both sides would be attending ... so why didn't you agree to come?"

In response, Mdm Hsu - who maintained that she was only acting on her mother's wishes and had remained "passive" throughout the episode - said the intention might have been "miscommunicated".

On day five of the hearing, which involves Mdm Hwang's $8.9-million fortune, Mr Wong said the bank was told that Mdm Hsu had the power of attorney only after mother and daughter tried to close their accounts.

So, why did she not inform the bank of her authority, asked the lawyer? Mdm Hsu only replied: "I didn't know (I had to)."

The bank, the lawyer maintained, was trying to be prudent because of the suspicion that Mdm Hwang was being influenced.

OCBC then received a letter on June 10 from Mdm Hwang, "stating that the matter would be referred to a higher authority", said Mr Wong. The letter was not baseless, replied Mdm Hsu, since her mother "was entitled to express her view towards a service provider".

To which Mr Wong remarked: "Let me just say that if your mother was in control, I'm surprised she didn't carry out (the legal action against OCBC)."

Instead, all the correspondence initiating the legal action - although in Mdm Hwang's name - was signed by the daughter.

The problems between Mdm Hwang and the bank began when the pair tried to open a joint bank account, but were rejected. Bank officers became suspicious when Mdm Hsu gave the instructions, not Mdm Hwang.

During the court proceedings, OCBC lawyers have continually stated that Mdm Hwang, who has mild dementia, did not have the mental capacity to make any decisions on her finances.

Although Mdm Hsu maintained that she is "filial", it was also revealed in court on Thursday that Mdm Hwang's savings was used to pay for Mdm Hsu's mobile phone charges, Tanglin Club membership, National University of Singapore Society membership as well as salary for her and her husband.

The hearing continues on Monday.

From Channel NewsAsia, "OCBC wanted to meet: Lawyer". (30/01/10)

As the trial went into its eighth day, details emerged on Wednesday of the 94-year-old woman who is suing OCBC for not letting her close her bank account.

A former teacher, Mdm Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu, was born in Mei Xian county, Guandong province, China. Her father was one of the founders of the Bank of China (BOC), and she had three siblings.

The family moved to Hong Kong when Mdm Hwang was six years old. After obtaining her university education, she went to Australia to teach Chinese in an English school.

She met her husband, who also worked in BOC, through mutual friends. When he was posted to Singapore, Mdm Hwang accompanied him and became a Chinese teacher at Chung Cheng High School.

In the 1960s, she adopted Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei and retired from work to look after her when the girl turned four.

These details were narrated by Mdm Hwang to senior consultant psychiatrist Francis Ngui on Jan 15, 2009 when she was ordered by the court to take a psychiatric assessment.

Taking the stand on Wednesday, Dr Ngui told the court that Mdm Hwang, who has been suffering from dementia since 2000, was an "emotionally feisty elderly lady with a witty personality".

She told Dr Ngui that she was very annoyed that OCBC had locked up her money unreasonably. Mdm Hwang said she wanted to use the money to travel and buy property. She also wanted Ms Hsu to look after her money if her memory worsened.

She spoke clearly and had a knack for deflecting questions when she could not come up with the answers, said Dr Ngui.

For instance, when she was unable to name the Prime Minister and the President, Mdm Hwang said: "I can recognise his face. His name is 'President', that's good enough."

When Dr Ngui visited Mdm Hwang's house last August for a second assessment, the elderly woman was frail and her short-term memory was "significantly impaired".

Based on his interview with Mdm Hwang in January 2009, Dr Ngui told the court that she "had an independent mind of her own" and was "adamant" about closing her OCBC account.

He added that "the presence of dementia is not synonymous with being mentally incompetent to make financial decisions" and it must be severe enough to affect her judgement for her to be deemed incompetent.

Mdm Hwang wanted to close her OCBC account in May 2008 after the bank refused to let her open a joint account with Ms Hsu. The bank refused both requests because it was doubtful of Mdm Hwang's mental capacity to give instructions.

The trial continues.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Psychiatrist report on woman suing OCBC: 'Emotionally feisty elderly lady'". (04/02/10)

In her complaint letter about court-appointed psychiatrist Francis Ngui, she described herself as an "outspoken" person who is helping her ill mother to carry on the lawsuit against OCBC over its refusal to close the older woman's account.

But seemingly worn down by the trial - now into its ninth day - Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei broke down outside the courtroom on Thursday.

Dr Ngui, a senior consultant psychiatrist appointed to determine Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu's mental capacity, had said that Ms Hsu hindered his work by being uncooperative.

Halfway through the hearing, Ms Hsu, 44, left the courtroom and cried uncontrollably for almost five minutes. Her husband and a woman tried to comfort her.

Questioned by OCBC's lawyer Adrian Wong, Dr Ngui related on Thursday that Ms Hsu had called him a day after his interview with Mdm Hwang on 15 January 2009, to complain about his having asked her mother how she wanted to manage her finances.

She also wanted to postpone a second interview to be conducted on video in Mdm Hwang's house in February.

When Dr Ngui wrote to Ms Hsu's lawyer to inform that he was unable to complete the interviews, Ms Hsu then sent Dr Ngui a complaint letter.

In it, she said she was only trying to speak up on her mother's behalf to ensure that the interview would be conducted properly. Her mother would never be comfortable with a stranger in her house and is upset with having to record the interview, wrote Ms Hsu.

But Dr Ngui told the court that Mdm Hwang had kept quiet when Ms Hsu agreed to his suggestion then of the video interview.

Asked by Mr Wong what he thought about Ms Hsu's character - based on her letter - Dr Ngui said: "It sounds like she is a very meticulous person, very careful and she covers every base".

He also said that Ms Hsu is "reactive emotionally" and gets upset about events, "especially those concerning her mother" and that "she is close to her mother and she feels for her mother's plight during this difficult time with the banks".

From Channel NewsAsia, "Daughter of woman suing OCBC sends complaint letter to psychiatrist". (05/02/10)

of racist jokes & online pseudonyms

To state the obvious, there's no such thing as being completely anonymous. No, not even me using the nick 'anonymous_x', I've got to admit. There are always ways to trace the online persona to his/her real-life identity.

Why bother, though? You may ask.

Just for the thrill of hunting & identifying, I guess. There are some of us who are truly having a lot of spare time to kill.

The latest case has 3 teenagers being investigated over "racially insensitive remarks" on Facebook. I wish them a very good luck. The investigation will be thorough & mentally taxing & these not-so-young youngsters might be swearing off the Internet on the end of their ordeal (whether proven guilty or not is another issue).

LIKE it or not, no number of online pseudonyms nor privacy controls can grant you true anonymity in the vast public space that is the Internet. And you can bet that what you say online can and will be used against you if the situation calls for it.

The Sunday arrest of three teenagers, aged 17 to 18, over racially insensitive remarks on Facebook demonstrates just that very fact.

The arrest came on the back of a report lodged by a netizen last Saturday. While investigations are underway, this we know for sure: The concept of online privacy is dubious, and that everyone is ethically responsible for what they do and say.

Netizens can create social- networking groups on an invitation-only basis, restrict access to their blogs, or join a forum under a nickname. But that doesn't mean messages posted can't be traced, as the police have shown.

There's nothing stopping someone who has access to an online message from easily capturing a screen grab of a webpage or taking a digital photograph of it, and then forwarding it to other people.

And we aren't even talking about what hackers can do yet, nor the prospect of Internet service providers giving details of a person's online activity to the authorities.

This latest case also brings to light the callous attitude many young Singaporeans have when expressing themselves online.

Apparently, the three youths had posted what were racial jokes, but which quickly unravelled to become racist.

Such is the quick-fire danger of Internet postings, yet concepts of action and consequence in cyberspace appear to still elude many.

Back in 2005, three young men were charged under the Sedition Act for making inflammatory remarks about Muslims and Malays online. Two got jail sentences, and one was put on probation.

Yet, in 2006, another young man nearly got himself into trouble under the same Act for putting up offensive cartoons of Jesus Christ on his blog. He received a police warning.

Now, we have three more youths who are none the wiser.

Lawyer Bryan Tan, a director at Keystone Law Corporation, said the ease with which people can instantly publish their views on the Internet, as compared to doing so through traditional media, can contribute to the undertone of racism and allow defamatory views to surface.

As a result, worrisome defamatory cases linked to social networking sites have started to appear.

So, kudos to the authorities for not taking these cases lightly. In the long term, more can be done to help the young understand the importance of Internet ethics.

Schools are already teaching students how to use the Internet responsibly.

And, while I applaud netizens who help to moderate online platforms and remain voices of reason, the ultimate solution lies in family upbringing.

Through my interaction with social workers, it's evident that parents play a vital role in inculcating their children with the right values, starting from a very young age.

So parents, familiarise yourself with your kids' Internet activity ? before it's too late.

From Asiaone, "Nothing online is ever private".

WHEN full-time national serviceman Prhabagaran joined a Facebook discussion on the things parents do to frighten their children into behaving, he expected to be amused.

Instead, he was offended to find remarks being made about Indians. He felt some of the comments were racist, and made a police report on Jan 31.

On Wednesday, police said three Chinese youths aged between 17 and 18 had been arrested for sedition and were out on bail while investigations continued.

They are believed to have been involved in the postings on the Facebook discussion site, which drew more than 2,000 members in two weeks.

An avid Facebook user, Mr Prhabagaran told The Straits Times that he found a Jan 29 post by someone calling himself Desmond Tan especially offensive for the things said about Indians. Mr Prhabagaran, who uses the moniker 'Prab Nathan' online, said: 'It started to hit me that what could have started as a joke had become mindless, point-blank racism.'

He and other members - including those with Chinese names - ticked off 'Desmond Tan' and others who had put up offensive posts, but to no avail.

From Straits Times, "Online joke turns nasty".

China Hu An Cable IPO

Interesting? More study needed. Considering the company "China Hu An Cable Holdings" had made its intention to list here known quite some time ago. Well about 1 month ago, to be rather specific.

But the timing of the IPO launch is quite gloomy, I'd say. Let's just take a look at the recent Tiger Airways IPO. Today it's closed at $1.46 (down from the IPO offer price of $1.50 & its first day trading's closing price of $1.58).

So very likely I'll give this counter a miss. (And still considering Sin Heng Heavy Machinery IPO, instead.)

China Hu An Cable Holdings has applied to list on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Mainboard.

The China-based integrated wire and cable manufacturer lodged its preliminary prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore on Thursday.

In the document, the firm said it intends to channel S$28 million of the net proceeds from the listing and/or bank borrowings to the construction of new workshops, production lines and acquisition of new production machinery.

These expansion plans are expected to commence six months after listing.

Another S$1 million from the net proceeds will be used to strengthen its research and development capabilities in order to broaden its product range.

China Hu An Cable said its order book stands at about RMB173 million of unfulfilled secured contracts, which it expects to deliver in the next six months.

From Channel NewsAsia, "China Hu An Cable applies to list on SGX Mainboard". (31/12/09)

CHINA Hu An Cable Holdings Ltd, an integrated wire and cable manufacturer, has launched its initial public offering (IPO) for a Singapore Exchange mainboard listing.

The China-based company's offering comprises 118 million new shares and 58 million vendor shares, of which five million are public-offer shares and 171 million placement shares. Each share is priced at 42 cents. The offer opens today and closes on Feb 4. Trading of the shares is expected to begin on Feb 8.

The company aims to raise about $44.6 million in net proceeds to help expand and enhance its manufacturing facilities to better cater to the high-end cable market.

CIMB Bank, Singapore branch, is the manager and CIMB-GK Securities Pte Ltd is the underwriter and placement agent.

According to executive chairman and chief executive officer Dai Zhi Xiang, the IPO will place Hu An Cable in closer access to international markets, and allow it to better tap growing demand from sustained infrastructure spending, nationwide power infrastructure upgrades, and niche but promising sectors such as the mining and ship-building industries.

The company said it has developed a strong brand reputation in its 11 years of establishment. It is situated in the wire and cable hub of Yixing in Jiangsu Province and is said to have a strong focus on research and development.

Hu An Cable is supplier to companies such as State Grid Corporation of China and China Huadian Group. It has also participated in state projects such as the Beijing Workers' Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

For the nine months ended Sept 30, 2009, the group recorded 103 million yuan (S$21 million) in net profit on revenue of 943.5 million yuan.

From Business Times, "China Hu An Cable launches mainboard IPO". (29/01/10)

Kingdom Come | Kingdom Comedy

Currently re-reading DC graphic novel "Kingdom Come". Used to find the story unbearably dull with Alex Ross' gouache style of painting pretentious. (Really, it's much an ache to see not only the cover page, but also the whole content of the book drawn that way.)

Used to.

But after having chanced to read "Thy Kingdom Come" (which by the way is also a graphic novel), I came to appreciate Alex Ross' technique of drawing (See, he drew the cover page for the series) & made me want to give a previously scorned "Kingdom Come" a second chance.


Well, I still hate "Kingdom Come". Then again I'm grateful that it gave me enough reason to try to dedicate a post for this "Kingdom Come" which led me to the discovery of this hilarious redrawn of the cover. Featuring the almost forgotten DC character, "Captain Carrot"! Heh.

The good old days when Life can be so bright with a simple comic book. Sigh.