Trouble

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sued 11 companies alleging patent infringements. The suit claims AOL, Apple, eBay, Facebook, Google, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Yahoo and Google’s YouTube violated patents developed by Internal Research, which Allen funded in 1992. The business was closed in 2000, but the patents in question were transferred to Interval Licensing, which is owned by Allen. Google, Facebook and eBay have said they will fight the accusations.

ISE Corp., a Poway, Calif.–based provider of hybrid-electric drive systems and components for heavy-duty vehicles, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This comes less than a month after the company announced layoffs, and six months after going public in Toronto. Prior to its IPO, ISE raised around $55 million from NGP Energy Technology Partners, RockPort Capital Partners, Siemens Venture Capital, Macquarie Clean Technology Fund and DTE Energy Ventures.

Leon Shahinian, a senior investment officer at Calpers, has resigned, The Sacramento Bee said, citing Malcolm Segal, a lawyer in Sacramento. Shaninian had been named in a fraud lawsuit by California Attorney General Jerry Brown’s office against the $205 billion pension fund’s former chief executive and a placement agent.

Oriental Trading Co., a direct marketer of party supplies and children’s arts and crafts, has filed for bankruptcy protection. Its primary owners are The Carlyle Group and Bentwood Partners.