Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sued in Seattle August 27, 2010, contending Apple, Google and others are profiting illegally from patents he owns. The 11 companies named in the suit filed in U.S. District Court are using technology created years ago by Allen's now-defunct Palo Alto. The suit alleges the companies have used technology covered by four of his patents. Besides Apple and Google, the defendants include Facebook, eBay Inc., AOL, Inc., Netflix Inc., Office Depot Inc., OfficeMax Inc., Staples Inc., Yahoo Inc. and Google's YouTube subsidiary. Microsoft was not among them. No dollar figure was listed for the amount of damages being sought. Allen, 57, is worth an estimated $13.5 billion.

eBay Inc. announced that Miriam Lahage is joining the company in the newly created role of General Manager, eBay Fashion, responsible for growing and driving innovation across the company's multibillion-dollar fashion category. A well-respected merchant, Lahage brings extensive offline and e-commerce, value-oriented and luxury brand retail experience to the role. Lahage spent more than 20 years with TJX Companies, the off-price global retailer of apparel and home fashions, rising from store manager to senior executive roles in merchandising and general management. Most recently, Lahage worked as a consultant to Natalie Massenet at NET-A-PORTER to help grow theOutnet business. In 2007, she successfully launched Koodos.com, the first online discount boutique for designer brands in the U.K., and managed the successful sale of Koodos in late 2009 to E-Trader Group.

eBay Inc. Presents at ETail East 2010, Aug-09-2010 through Aug-12-2010. Venue: The Baltimore Convention Center (Connected to the Hilton Baltimore), One West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. Presentation Date & Speakers: Aug-09-2010, Will Martin-Gill, Director of Global SEM. Aug-10-2010, Daphne Sacco, Head of Display Advertising and SEM Agency Practice.