Lichtenstein vs. Germany: Slippery Slopes Abound

So for those of you who (apparently, like most of the blogosphere) have glazed over this little fiasco, check out the WSJ's solid summary of the situation here.

While the Journal does a very good job explaining the facts surrounding the controversy, they don't take it out a step further to consider the implications of, and myriad questions raised by German investigators' actions.

Is it now not only commonplace, but a widespread and acceptable method of obtaining information in an investigation to blatantly pay employees to steal from their employers? Are the tactics employed by German investigators against firms essentially owned by another sovereign nation right, in the legal, ethical, or even pragmatic sense of the word? Taking this one step further, I cannot help but wonder as to how widespread such practices are, and to what extent or magnitude they are practiced. The next question really though, is where does it end? One could very easily make the argument that such tactics amount to the very same espionage practiced by the KGB or CIA during the cold war, if not worse, since the perpetrators are open about their espionage, and yet still completely unapologetic, as if Germans are rubbing it in Lichtenstein's face.

I'm not exactly an expert in Euro-zone or Lichtenstein law, but there are many things going on here that suggests the truth of the matter might be more complicated than it seems on the surface. If all is as the Journal would have us believe, one might imagine Lichtenstein banks having more recourse against the employees who stole client data and attempted (sometimes successfully) to blackmail the Banks.

Any readers out there familiar with extradition or employment law in Eastern Europe?

Welcome Back to the Blog!

So, admittedly its been quite a while since my last post (although I've racked up quite an impressive inventory of drafts), but I'm back, rip roarin' and ready to go!

A Few things you'll be seeing in greater detail in the near future:

• My reaction to the WSJ article today (2/6/08) mentioning Disney's relatively miserable quarterly results, buoyed by solid results in the Cable & Networks division. While I haven't read through the 10-q, I expect ESPN (and its sub networks) had ALOT to do with it. I still have more research to do, but lets just say I am OFFICIALLY calling for Disney to investigate a carve-out or spin off ESPN from the rest of the Company.

• A discussion of human nature in corporate environments, namely (mid-level) managers' propensity to act not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders, but in such ways that actually damage those interests. Lets just say I've spent some time 'in the trenches' this past year, and its given me the opportunity to see dysfunction the likes of which I had previously thought impossible. I will also seek to discuss methods of dealing with this.
  

• Many of my reactions to the undulations of the Equity and Credit markets, and the Economy in general, with special focus on the underlying causes of our current predicament.
  

• Various investing strategies , some relatively original, others not so much.

• Aaaaand, last but certainly not least, my reaction to news, events, and the writings and rantings of others (especially so-called "experts").

So, I look forward to hearing from you, engaging in (semi) intelligent debate, and of course, bringing you new and unique perspectives in Business, Technology, and Innovation!