Apple balks at Proview's iPad trademark demands; held cross-licensing talks with Motorola, EU reveals.

AT&T expands 4G LTE rollout.

Audi said to be in talks to buy Ducati.

BabyBjorn gets a boost from Beyonce, while New York Times logo gets boosted by Jay-Z in Amex-sponsored show at SXSW.

Bob Lutz defends the Chevy Volt.

China promotes its homegrown brands.

Coca-Cola lobbyists spend millions to defeat soda taxes, hires Jean-Paul Gaultier as Diet Coke's European creative director.

Facebook sued by Yahoo for allegedly infringing patents, while Timeline apps inspire developers.

Friendly's ice cream chain expands ordering and loyalty online.

Intel reportedly eyes web TV service.

Jeremy Lin may endorse Volvo in China.Continue reading...

What a kerfuffle a year-end promo can make. L'Oreal's recent new year promo, above, sparked rumors that it was replacing global brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai, the Bollywood actress and former Miss World, with younger Indian actress/model Freida Pinto, who rose to fame in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire.

Perish the thought, per this statement by the cosmetics giant: 

"We are shocked and surprised to read in some sections of the media/press about Ms. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan being replaced as the face of L'Oreal Paris... Ms. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan continues to be our valued spokesperson, as she has since 2000. While she remains an integral part of the L'Oreal Paris world wide Dream Team, she was unfortunately unavailable for our New Year commercial shoot due to prior commitments. She is one of the most iconic women of our times and is certainly the face of L'Oreal Paris internationally and in India for a range of products which include campaigns for Total Repair 5, Excellence Crème, Color Riche, Hydrafresh."

Other current L'Oreal celebrity endorsers include Beyonce, Diane Kruger, Jane Fonda, Rachel Weisz, Gerard Butler, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez.

If Madonna's getting into the fitness business, it should come as no surprise that the original entertainer turned workout guru would return to the mat. Cue actress Jane Fonda, who recast her Hanoi Jane activist image (and bolstered her fortune) by adding fitness icon to her list of credits in the 1970's.

Sure enough, she's officially relaunching Jane Fonda's Workout, only this time she's joined by a handpicked cadre of trainers (dubbed "Team Fonda"). A new series of DVDs aimed at baby boomers and a related line of branded fitness equipment are launching at Target on Dec. 26 — just in time for all those New Year's resolutions.Continue reading...