Five tech stories you might have missed last week
Former Atea execs jailed, the end of the longest-running feud in tech and farting unicorns are just some of the stories that may have passed you by this week
CRN rounds up some of the quirkier channel news from the week.
1. Former Atea directors get jail time over bribery case
Our sister publication Channelnomics Europe reported that four ex-employees of Oslo-based reseller Atea were handed prison sentences after being found guilty in a Danish court of "systematic" bribery and defamation. Former group CEO Claus Hougesen received a 10-month custodial sentence for his role in bribing public sector employees to the amount of €34,321 (£30,386). Its former Danish managing director Peter Trans was sentenced to eight months for bribery.
In efforts to distance itself from the allegations, Atea became the first company in Denmark to attain the "highest international anti-bribery certification" last December - while its former employees were facing trial for bribery.
2. Samsung and Apple bury the hatchet
The infamous long-running feud between the tech giants has come to an end, seven years after their initial bust-up over a patent dispute.
The formerly feuding firms told a US court that they had resolved their first filed and last standing legal dispute under undisclosed terms.
In 2011, Apple threw down the gauntlet to its South Korean competitor claiming that it had copied iPhone features in its own smartphones. Court battle after court battle ensued, until the companies called a ceasefire this week.
3. AI vs GP
The company behind the NHS GP at Hand app has claimed that its software achieves medical exam scores similar to its human counterparts, reports the BBC.
However, the Royal College of General Practitioners disputes this claim, arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) will never be able to do the same job as a doctor, and that every medical scenario is different to the next.
4. Elon Musk and the case of the farting unicorn
An American potter is seeking monetary compensation from the CEO of the Tesla electric car company for what he claims is a breach of copyright. Tom Edwards' farting unicorn mug was praised by Musk in a tweet last year, but the image has recurred on various Tesla marketing, including a Christmas card and as an image to promote its ‘sketch pad' feature, which allows drivers to draw on a touchscreen.
In behaviour fitting of a farting unicorn, Musk tweeted Edwards' daughter that the potter should be happy to receive the attention and that it was "lame" to sue, The Guardian reported.
5. IBM staff told to "Act normally" during CEO visit
A leaked note to IBM Staff in Austin, Texas instructed them to act normally during a two-day visit to their office by CEO Ginni Rometty, reported The Register. Staff were told not to approach Rometty or her group during the visit, unless approached first. Selfies, water cooler chats and bathroom run-ins were also prohibited during the visit.
Members of staff who had planned a holiday during the visit were instructed to tell their supervisor so that their seats could be filled during the tour. "We are a fun and vibrant team of marketeers" seems to conflict with their instructions not to use the toilet at the same time as the head honcho and her team.