Tag Archives: Cook

Technology

Tim Cook and other Apple executives will testify against Epic in Fortnite trial

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The case concerns a fallout between the maker of one of the world’s most popular video games and the preeminent mobile device company over Apple’s control of its App Store. Epic is suing Apple for alleged antitrust violations.

Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, software engineering chief Craig Federighi and Apple fellow Phil Schiller are a few of the executives that may testify, according to a court filing of tentative witnesses. Others include those who handle payment processing, combating fraud and those involved with App Store development, policies and tools.

“Our senior executives look forward to sharing with the court the very positive impact the App Store has had on innovation, economies across the world and the customer experience over the last 12 years. We feel confident the case will prove that Epic purposefully breached its agreement solely to increase its revenues, which is what resulted in their removal from the App Store,” Apple said in a statement. “By doing that, Epic circumvented the security features of the App Store in a way that would lead to reduced competition and put consumers’ privacy and data security at tremendous risk.”

Epic Games’ plans to call its founder and CEO Tim Sweeney and other senior executives to testify on matters such as its business model, financial performance and its campaign against app stores. Epic declined to comment.

The iPhone maker and creator of popular video game Fortnite have been ensnarled in a legal battle since last year after Apple removed the Fortnite game from its App Store in August. The removal came after Epic pushed a software update to the app that allowed players to circumvent Apple’s proprietary in-app payment system of 30% — which is contractually prohibited. Google also removed Fortnite from its store.
Sweeney believes that the requirement violated antitrust laws because it forced developers to use Apple and Google’s payment systems. Epic then filed lawsuits against both tech companies after the store removals, arguing that the courts should intervene and order Apple and Google to allow developers to sell in-app purchases without the 30% revenue cut.

The Apple versus Epic Games trial could begin as early as May 3, according to court documents.

— CNN’s Brian Fung and Shannon Liao contributed to this report.

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Technology

Apple CEO Cook, executives on tentative list of witnesses in Epic Games case

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FILE PHOTO: Apple CEO Tim Cook testifies remotely via videoconference during a U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law hearing on “Online Platforms and Market Power” in this screengrab made from video as the committee meets on Capitol Hill, in Washington, U.S., July 29, 2020. U.S. House Judiciary Committee via REUTERS

(Reuters) – Apple Inc’s CEO Tim Cook, software chief Craig Federighi and other executives were named on a tentative list of witnesses in the software giant’s case against Epic Games, a court filing dated March 19 showed.

App Store Vice President Matt Fischer and Apple Fellow Phil Schiller were also named on the list submitted to the U.S. District Court Northern District of California Oakland Division, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.

The iPhone maker has been at loggerheads with Epic Games, the creator of the popular game Fortnite, which last year tried to avoid a 30% fee which Apple charges developers on the App Store by launching its own in-app payment system. The move prompted Apple to ban Fortnite from its store.

In a separate court filing, Epic Games listed its founder and Chief Executive Tim Sweeney among its own witnesses in the case.

Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, but told Bloomberg here in a statement that it felt “confident the case will prove that Epic purposefully breached its agreement solely to increase its revenues.”

A direct message to Epic Games on one of its official Twitter handles did not elicit an immediate response.

Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Derek Francis in Bengaluru; editing by Jason Neely

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Entertainment

‘She’s All That’ Star Rachael Leigh Cook Divorce Final, Keeps Flyer Miles

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Rachael Leigh Cook is officially single and ready to … travel, because her final divorce settlement calls for her to keep her frequent flyer miles and her whip.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ … the “She’s All That” star gets to keep her own jewelry, clothing plus her 2020 Audi Q5 after a judge signed off on her divorce judgment.

As for property … she’s keeping a Redondo Beach, CA pad … while she and her ex, Daniel Gillies, are selling a Studio City home and will split any profits.

Rachel’s keeping all of the rewards points she’s earned through credit cards in her name … including frequent flyer miles/points, as well as ownership of Ben’s Sister Productions Inc.

She and Daniel are sharing expenses for their 2 dogs and 2 cats.

For his part … Daniel gets to keep all of his jewelry and clothing too as well as a 2019 BMW X6.

Neither party will pay spousal or child support, and they’ll have joint legal and physical custody of their 2 kids. Daniel and Rachael got married in 2004 and separated in 2019 … before Daniel filed for divorce in July 2020.

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Sports

New Orleans Saints terminate contracts of tight ends Josh Hill and Jared Cook

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New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has terminated the contracts of tight ends Josh Hill and Jared Cook .Hill, 6-5, 250 pounds, filled various roles for the Saints as a receiver, blocker, fullback and special teams contributor after making the team in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State. Hill appeared in 117 regular season games with 62 starts for New Orleans and posted 116 receptions for 1,071 yards with 15 touchdowns and posted 27 special teams tackles. In nine postseason games with four starts, he posted 15 receptions for 166 yards with one touchdown.In 2020, Hill played in 14 games with seven starts and posted eight receptions for 46 yards with one touchdown, one season after posting career-highs in catches (25) and receiving yards (226) in 2019.”He is a true professional,” Loomis said of Josh Hill. “He has done so many things that very few people noticed but his coaches and teammates certainly were aware of his contribution to the team’s success over the better part of the last decade. He played with tremendous heart and determination and personified the characteristics that we highly value. He certainly earned our respect and admiration throughout his time in our program.””Josh joined us an undrafted free agent in 2013 and has been a model of consistency throughout his eight seasons with us,” said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. “He has been reliable, selfless and filled numerous roles for us, oftentimes on the fly and in the middle of games, filling each role at a very high level. We appreciate everything he has done for our team and know he will have continued success as he moves forward.”Cook, 6-6, 254, was signed by New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent in 2019 and is a 12-year NFL veteran who was originally selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans out of the University of South Carolina. He has appeared in 178 career games with 89 starts, posting 505 receptions for 6,673 yards (13.2 avg.) with 41 touchdowns.Since joining New Orleans in 2019, Cook, played in 29 games and recorded 80 receptions for 1,209 yards (15.1 avg.) with 16 touchdowns, tied for the second-highest scoring grab total at the position during that period. After being named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, recording 43 grabs for 705 yards (16.4 avg.) with nine touchdowns, Cook played in 15 games in 2020 and led the tight ends group with 37 catches for 504 yards (13.6 avg.) and a team-best seven touchdown receptions.”Jared consistently displayed the playmaking skills that attracted us to him as a free agent two years ago,” said Payton. “He made a lot of big plays for us and was a positive influence on his teammates. Jared is a consummate professional who is dedicated to his craft and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

NEW ORLEANS —

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has terminated the contracts of tight ends Josh Hill and Jared Cook .

Hill, 6-5, 250 pounds, filled various roles for the Saints as a receiver, blocker, fullback and special teams contributor after making the team in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State. Hill appeared in 117 regular season games with 62 starts for New Orleans and posted 116 receptions for 1,071 yards with 15 touchdowns and posted 27 special teams tackles. In nine postseason games with four starts, he posted 15 receptions for 166 yards with one touchdown.

In 2020, Hill played in 14 games with seven starts and posted eight receptions for 46 yards with one touchdown, one season after posting career-highs in catches (25) and receiving yards (226) in 2019.

“He is a true professional,” Loomis said of Josh Hill. “He has done so many things that very few people noticed but his coaches and teammates certainly were aware of his contribution to the team’s success over the better part of the last decade. He played with tremendous heart and determination and personified the characteristics that we highly value. He certainly earned our respect and admiration throughout his time in our program.”

“Josh joined us an undrafted free agent in 2013 and has been a model of consistency throughout his eight seasons with us,” said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. “He has been reliable, selfless and filled numerous roles for us, oftentimes on the fly and in the middle of games, filling each role at a very high level. We appreciate everything he has done for our team and know he will have continued success as he moves forward.”

Cook, 6-6, 254, was signed by New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent in 2019 and is a 12-year NFL veteran who was originally selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans out of the University of South Carolina. He has appeared in 178 career games with 89 starts, posting 505 receptions for 6,673 yards (13.2 avg.) with 41 touchdowns.

Since joining New Orleans in 2019, Cook, played in 29 games and recorded 80 receptions for 1,209 yards (15.1 avg.) with 16 touchdowns, tied for the second-highest scoring grab total at the position during that period. After being named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, recording 43 grabs for 705 yards (16.4 avg.) with nine touchdowns, Cook played in 15 games in 2020 and led the tight ends group with 37 catches for 504 yards (13.6 avg.) and a team-best seven touchdown receptions.

“Jared consistently displayed the playmaking skills that attracted us to him as a free agent two years ago,” said Payton. “He made a lot of big plays for us and was a positive influence on his teammates. Jared is a consummate professional who is dedicated to his craft and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

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Technology

Apple shareholders approve Tim Cook equity grant; dividend to increase

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Apple CEO, Tim Cook waves as he opens the door of the newly renovated Apple Store at Fifth Avenue on September 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo credit should read KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

KENA BETANCUR | AFP | Getty Images

Apple shareholders on Tuesday voted to approve compensation for Apple executives, including an equity package announced last year that could net CEO Tim Cook 1 million new shares, if the company hits certain goals.

The vote was non-binding and advisory. Apple shareholders also voted down a shareholder proposal opposed by Apple that would compel the company to reduce executive pay compared to median Apple employee pay.

The votes, which were expected, are another sign that Apple’s shareholders are satisfied with Apple’s management and CEO. Apple, valued at over $2.1 trillion, recently reported a quarter with $114.4 billion in revenue and sales growth in every product category, even during a pandemic year.

Apple’s board strongly supported Cook’s pay package in a filing, citing a 867% return to shareholders, including dividends, from when he took over as Apple CEO in 2011 through September 2020.

Cook also said that Apple planned to increase the company’s dividend. Dividends totaled over $14 billion in the last four quarters, Cook said. The company paid a dividend of $0.205 per share in the last two quarters.

Covid-19 and Apple’s success as a business during a pandemic year was major theme of Cook’s remarks to shareholders. Last year, Cook said the pandemic was the most challenging environment Apple’s ever faced.

“A year later, you have to pause, and say wow,” Cook said.

Cook said in a question and answer session that while Apple had adapted well to remote work — Apple employees have been working from home since March — that the company still “can’t wait until we can gather together in the office again,” suggesting that Apple will still be office-focused after the pandemic, in comparison to rival tech companies that have announced plans to shift to a remote-work model.

Cook said that one advantage of working from an office was serendipitous interactions between employees.

Cook also talked about Apple’s acquisitions strategy. Cook said that Apple has acquired 100 companies over the last 6 years. Ultimately, Apple acquires a company every 3 to 4 weeks, Cook said, mostly aimed at acquiring technology and talent.

In response to a shareholder question about whether Apple faces regulatory challenges around its control of the iPhone App Store, Cook said that Apple doesn’t have a monopoly. “While scrutiny is always fair, accusations like these fall apart on a reasonable examination of the facts,” Cook said.

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