McDonald's old hand quits
Los Angeles: US hamburger chain McDonald's Corp. recently received a jolt when its president and chief operating officer Mike Roberts, who has been credited with revitalising its US business, suddenly tendered his resignation after 29 years with the company.

Ralph Alvarez, 51, the head of McDonald's North American business, will step into Robert's shoes immediately the company said.

Don Thompson, 43, chief operations officer for McDonald's USA, was promoted to president of that division.

In an email to employees Roberts said the decision was his own.

Roberts was named to the company's No. 2 job in November 2004 following the resignation of former CEO Charlie Bell, who later died of cancer.
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Apple to pay $100 mn to Creative Tech to settle patent cases
San Francisco: Apple Computer Inc. will pay $100 million to Creative Technology to settle all patent litigation over Apple's popular iPod music player.

The agreement gives Apple a license to use a Creative patent in its music player and other products and settles all legal disputes between the two companies, Apple said.

U.S.-traded shares of Singapore-based Creative surged 37 percent following the announcement as Creative said it would start making iPod accessories, which could raise profits beyond the 85 cents per share the settlement will add this quarter.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said the agreement ends five lawsuits between the companies and removes the uncertainty and distraction of prolonged litigation. Creative, which makes MP3 music players, sued Apple in May this year alleging the company had infringed a patent on its "Zen" player. Creative's patent covers the way music tracks are selected on a device using a hierarchy of three or more successive screens.

In June Apple countersued Creative, and the latter took the case to the U.S. International Trade Commission and sought a permanent cease-and-desist order against Apple.
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