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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Carl Freer
|name = Carl Johan Freer
⚫
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|5|9}}
| birth_name = Carl Johan Freer
⚫
|residence = Los Angeles
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|5|9}}
⚫
|nationality = Swedish
⚫
| residence = [[Los Angeles, California]]
|other_names = Erik Jonsson,<ref name="eric">{{cite news |url=http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200510/31/20051031112907_Realtid365/20051031112907_Realtid365.dbp.asp |title=Så blev Carl Freer efterlyst |author=Olle Blomkvist |publisher=Realtid.se |date=2005-10-31 |language=Swedish}}</ref><ref name="times">{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article722624.ece |title=The firm that blew it all in two years |author=Anthony James, Michael Gillard |publisher=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=2006-05-21 | location=London}}</ref> Brian Littleton<ref name="brian">{{cite news |url=http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/freer-dromde-om-ett-imperium-1.552981 |title=Freer drömde om ett imperium |date=2006-04-29 |author=Lasse Wierup |publisher=[[Dagens Nyheter]] |language=Swedish}}</ref>
⚫
| nationality = Swedish
|partner = [[Mikael Ljungman]],<ref name="LjungSwed">{{cite web |url=http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200802/17/20080217212609_Realtid022/20080217212609_Realtid022.dbp.asp |title=Carl Freer: Han är Carl Freers nya högra hand|publisher=Realtid.se|date=2008-02-18|accessdate=2009-05-29|language=Swedish}} ([ author's translation])</ref> [[Stefan Eriksson]]<ref name="sec041231" />

}}
}}


'''Carl Freer''' (born 9 May 1970) is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[businessman]] and technology [[entrepreneur]]. He is known for founding the Swedish electronics company [[Tiger Telematics|Tiger Telematics Inc.]] that manufactured the [[handheld game console]] [[Gizmondo]].<ref>{{cite news | last =Gibson | first =Ellie | coauthors = | title =A Horse named Gizmondo: The Inside Story of the World’s Greatest Failed Console | newspaper =Euro Gamer | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =6 August 2012 | url =http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-08-06-a-horse-named-gizmondo-the-inside-story-of-the-worlds-greatest-failed-console | accessdate =10 January 2014 }}</ref>
'''Carl Johan Freer''' (born 9 May 1970) is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[businessman]] and technology [[entrepreneur]] who has also been identified under the aliases of '''"Erik Jonsson"'''<ref name="eric" /><ref name="times" /> and '''"Brian Littleton"'''.<ref name="brian" /> Freer has been convicted of [[fraud]] on two separate occasions. He was convicted once in Swedish court and once in the courts of Germany.<ref name="times"/><ref name="latimes"/> Freer once represented himself as an "officer" of the [[San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority]] which was investigated in the criminal case of business partner [[Stefan Eriksson]].<ref name="wired" />


==Business activities==
==Business activities==
Freer founded [[Tiger Telematics|Tiger Telematics Inc.]] in 2002<ref name="edgar">{{cite news |url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/tiger-telematics-inc/8-k-current-report-filing/2005/08/30/section6.aspx |title=Excerpt from a 8-K SEC Filing, filed by TIGER TELEMATICS INC |quote = Carl Freer, Co-founder and Chairman, Tiger Telematics |publisher=[[EDGAR Online|EDGAR Online, Inc.]] |date=2005-08-30 | location=Norwalk, Connecticut,}}</ref> (not to be confused with the already-existing and wholly unrelated [[electronic game]] manufacturer [[Tiger Electronics]] that developed the [[Furby]] and [[Giga Pets]]). Freer managed the development, launch and promotion of the [[Gizmondo]], a [[handheld game console]], along with business partner [[Stefan Eriksson]].<ref name="sec041231">{{cite web | url=http://www.secinfo.com/d16nT1.z5p.htm#1nfr | title=Tiger Telematics Inc. 10K for 2004-12-31}}</ref> With fewer than 25,000 units sold, the Gizmondo was named by [[GamePro]] as the worst selling handheld console in history.<ref>{{cite web|last=Snow |first=Blake |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110607130452/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/125749/the-10-worst-selling-handhelds-of-all-time/ |title=The 10 Worst Selling Handhelds Of All Time |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2011-06-07 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Freer is the founder of Tiger Telematics Inc., a Swedish electronics company launched in 2002. He managed the development, launch and promotion of the Gizmondo. Freer was Chairman of the Tiger Telematics board of directors until he resigned his position in October 2005.<ref name="resignation">{{cite news |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/27/gizmondo_shakeup/ |title=Gizmondo executives quit under cloud |first=Tony|last=Smith |publisher=[[The Register]] |date=2005-10-27}}</ref> By 6 February 2006, the company was forced into compulsory [[liquidation]] and the Gizmondo was discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/2432/3456/gizmondo-liquidation-europe-games-console.phtml |title=Gizmondo Europe goes into liquidation |publisher=Pocket-Lint |date=2006-02-07 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref> Freer was also engaged in relaunching the Gizmondo product, with a potential launch in the 3rd quarter of 2008.<ref name="relaunch">{{cite news | url=http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200711/13/20071113094753_Realtid421/20071113094753_Realtid421.dbp.asp | title=Carl Freer startar om Gizmondo |first=Hans |last=Sandberg |publisher=Realtid.se |date=2007-11-13}}<!--| accessdate=2008-06-05 --> ([http://sandberghans.blogspot.com/2008/01/carl-freer-starts-over-with-gizmondo.html author's translation])</ref>


Freer was Chairman of the Tiger Telematics board of directors until he resigned his position in October 2005.<ref name="resignation">{{cite news |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/27/gizmondo_shakeup/ |title=Gizmondo executives quit under cloud |first=Tony|last=Smith |publisher=[[The Register]] |date=2005-10-27}}</ref> Gizmondo Europe's director, [[Stefan Eriksson]], worked directly under Tiger Telematics chairman Freer according to the company's [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]] filings.<ref name="sec041231" /> Under Freer and Eriksson, Gizmondo lost hundreds of millions of pounds: in 2004, Tiger Telematics reported a loss of $99.29 million, and between January and September 2005, they lost $210 million, "[p]rincipally due to development costs for the Gizmondo and non-cash expenses associated with shares of restricted common stock issued for services".<ref name="resignation" /> In other words, it had bartered shares in lieu of cash payments for services provided to the company.<ref name="resignation" /> By 6 February 2006, the company was forced into compulsory [[liquidation]] and the Gizmondo was discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/2432/3456/gizmondo-liquidation-europe-games-console.phtml |title=Gizmondo Europe goes into liquidation |publisher=Pocket-Lint |date=2006-02-07 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref> In 2007, [[Gametrailers]] named it "the worst console of all time."<ref>(May 6, 2007). [http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/g08xm5/gt-countdown-top-ten-worst-consoles Top Ten Worst Consoles], [[GameTrailers]]. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref>
⚫
In 2008, Freer founded a startup called Media Power Inc and in May of that year, a partnership was announced where Media Power would donate $5M over five years to [[Georgia Tech]] to further Augmented Reality research.<ref name="georgiatech">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/05/26/daily19.html|title=Georgia Tech lands $5M to develop Augmented Reality |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-06-03 |work=Atlanta Business Chronicle |publisher= American City Business Journals }}</ref> Freer is co-founder and chairman of a networking Web site for filmmakers, financiers, actors and fans called FilmFunds.<ref name="filmfunds">{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/filmfunds-duran-duboi-3D-conversion-275802

Freer was also engaged in relaunching the Gizmondo product, claiming a potential launch in the 3rd quarter of 2008;<ref name="relaunch">{{cite news | url=http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200711/13/20071113094753_Realtid421/20071113094753_Realtid421.dbp.asp | title=Carl Freer startar om Gizmondo |first=Hans |last=Sandberg |publisher=Realtid.se |date=2007-11-13}}<!--| accessdate=2008-06-05 --> ([http://sandberghans.blogspot.com/2008/01/carl-freer-starts-over-with-gizmondo.html author's translation])</ref> however, this relaunch never occurred.

⚫
In 2008, Freer founded a startup called Media Power Inc and in May of that year, a partnership was announced where Media Power would donate $5M over five years to [[Georgia Tech]] to further Augmented Reality research.<ref name="georgiatech">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/05/26/daily19.html|title=Georgia Tech lands $5M to develop Augmented Reality |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-06-03 |work=Atlanta Business Chronicle |publisher= American City Business Journals }}</ref>

Freer is currently co-founder and chairman of a networking Web site for filmmakers, financiers, actors and fans called FilmFunds.<ref name="filmfunds">{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/filmfunds-duran-duboi-3D-conversion-275802
|title=FilmFunds Acquires 3D Conversion Specialists Duran Duboi U.S.|date=2011-12-20|accessdate=2011-12-27|work=Hollywood Reporter |publisher= The Hollywood Reporter
|title=FilmFunds Acquires 3D Conversion Specialists Duran Duboi U.S.|date=2011-12-20|accessdate=2011-12-27|work=Hollywood Reporter |publisher= The Hollywood Reporter
}}</ref><ref name="thewrap">{{cite news |url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/filmfunds-use-crowdsourcing-pitch-3d-conversions-33790|title=FilmFunds to Use Crowdsourcing to Pitch 3D Conversions (Exclusive)|date=2011-12-20 |accessdate=2011-12-30|work=The Wrap Covering Hollywood |publisher= The Wrap News Inc. }}</ref><ref name="variety">{{cite news |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118047793?refCatId=19|title=FilmFunds buys post house - Crowdsourcing venture wants to be one-stop shop|date=2011-12-20 |accessdate=2011-12-30|work=[[Variety (magazine)]] |publisher= [[Reed Business Information]] }}</ref>
}}</ref><ref name="thewrap">{{cite news |url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/filmfunds-use-crowdsourcing-pitch-3d-conversions-33790|title=FilmFunds to Use Crowdsourcing to Pitch 3D Conversions (Exclusive)|date=2011-12-20 |accessdate=2011-12-30|work=The Wrap Covering Hollywood |publisher= The Wrap News Inc. }}</ref><ref name="variety">{{cite news |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118047793?refCatId=19|title=FilmFunds buys post house - Crowdsourcing venture wants to be one-stop shop|date=2011-12-20 |accessdate=2011-12-30|work=[[Variety (magazine)]] |publisher= [[Reed Business Information]] }}</ref> In 2011, Sue Basko, an entertainment lawyer for independent music and film, investigated FilmFunds and reported on her blog that "it does not seem legit and there does not seem to be any film fund."<ref name="suebasko">{{cite web |url=http://suebasko.blogspot.com/2011/09/indie-film-funds-beware-of-this.html |title=Indie Film Funds: Beware of This! |last1=Basko |first1=Sue |last2= |first2= |date=October 24, 2011 |website=Sue Basko, Lawyer for Independent Media |accessdate=23 July 2013}}</ref>


==Legal issues==
==Legal problems==


In his teens Freer forged his parents' signature for a loan and was convicted of fraud though Freer says he had his parents' permission to sign on their behalf for a student loan.<ref name="times">{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article722624.ece |title=The firm that blew it all in two years |author=Anthony James, Michael Gillard |publisher=[[The Sunday Times]] (subscription required) |date=2006-05-21 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="latimes">
In his teens Freer forged his parents' signature for a loan and was convicted of fraud though Freer says he had his parents' permission to sign on their behalf for a student loan.<ref name="times"/><ref name="latimes">
{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ferrari15may15,0,3415150.story?page=1&coll=la-home-headlines |title=Life in Fast Lane Long Before the Ferrari Crash |author=Jeffrey Fleishman |coauthor=Richard Winton |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2006-05-15}}
{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ferrari15may15,0,3415150.story?page=1&coll=la-home-headlines |title=Life in Fast Lane Long Before the Ferrari Crash |author=Jeffrey Fleishman |coauthor=Richard Winton |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2006-05-15}}
</ref> In 2005 he was fined by a German court for buying luxury cars with bounced cheques under the assumed name of Erik (Eric) Jonsson, though Freer says he cancelled the cheques himself because he "thought he was being sold stolen cars."<ref name="times"/><ref name="latimes"/>
</ref> In 2005 he was fined by a German court for buying luxury cars with bounced cheques under the assumed name of Erik (Eric) Jonsson, though Freer says he cancelled the cheques himself because he "thought he was being sold stolen cars."<ref name="times"/><ref name="latimes"/>


In 2006, Los Angeles police raided Freer's Bel-Air mansion and his yacht moored in Marina Del Rey<ref name="latimes2">{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/27/local/me-ferrari27 |title=2nd Arrest Made in Ferrari Case |author=Richard Winton |coauthor=David Pierson |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2006-04-27 |accessdate=2011-12-09}}</ref> and found twelve rifles and four handguns.<ref name="timesuk">{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article722624.ece |title=The firm that blew it all in two years |author=Anthony James |coauthor=Michael Gillard |publisher=[[The Times]] |date=2006-05-21}}</ref> Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, arrested Freer on suspicion of impersonating a police officer by using [[San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority]] identification in order to purchase a .44 Magnum handgun. No formal charges were filed.<ref name="wired">{{cite news |url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/gizmondo.html?pg=1&topic=gizmondo&topic_set= |title=Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up |author=Randall Sullivan |publisher=[[Wired Magazine]] |date=2006-10-01}}</ref>
In 2006, Los Angeles police raided Freer's Bel-Air mansion and his yacht moored in Marina Del Rey<ref name="latimes2">{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/27/local/me-ferrari27 |title=2nd Arrest Made in Ferrari Case |author=Richard Winton |coauthor=David Pierson |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2006-04-27 |accessdate=2011-12-09}}</ref> shortly after his alleged associate and partner, [[Stefan Eriksson]], was arrested on various charges, and found twelve rifles and four handguns.<ref name="timesuk">{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article722624.ece |title=The firm that blew it all in two years |author=Anthony James |coauthor=Michael Gillard |publisher=[[The Times]] |date=2006-05-21}}</ref> Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, arrested Freer on suspicion of impersonating a police officer using [[San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority]] identification in order to purchase a .44 Magnum handgun. No formal charges were filed and Freer claimed that the whole situation was a misunderstanding.<ref name="wired">{{cite news |url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/gizmondo.html?pg=1&topic=gizmondo&topic_set= |title=Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up |author=Randall Sullivan |publisher=[[Wired Magazine]] |date=2006-10-01}}</ref>

A civil [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] (RICO) action against Carl Freer, Media Power, GetFugu, many of its officers and directors, and other businesses related to Freer was filed on November 25, 2009 in a [[United States district court]].<ref name="rico">{{cite web |url=http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/oxaah |title=RICO filing}}</ref> On August 27, 2010, the court dismissed all of the charges because the alleged conduct would have been actionable as securities fraud and as such could not be pursued as a RICO action.<ref name="rico1">{{cite news |url=http://www.getfugu.com/rico_dismissal/getfugu_order.pdf|title=United States District Court Order - Simon Davies et al vs GetFugu Inc et al. |date=2010-08-28}}</ref>


Freer was sued by shareholders of Getfugu where he was a company director. Shareholders of the company alleged that he and the company violated the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] as well as fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.<ref name="Law360Getfugu">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Lessons From Patton Boggs Defamation Case | newspaper =Law360 (subscription required)| location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =26 November 2013 | url =http://www.law360.com/articles/489588 | accessdate =14 January 2014 }}</ref> During the legal proceedings, Plaintiff's law firm [[Patton Boggs]] issued a press release titled "FBI Said to be Investigating Getfugu’s Carl Freer."<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology">{{cite news | last =Hansen | first =Mark T. | coauthors =Robert B. Milligan | title =Allegedly false statements posted on internet regarding pending litigation can support defamation claim | newspaper =Lexology| location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =25 October 2013 | url =http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=b8c87bda-2d4b-4917-bbf6-44f75522b145 | accessdate =14 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> The press release claimed that Freer was being investigated by the FBI and Danish officials in a matter unrelated to the RICO lawsuit and cited an article from [[The Copenhagen Post]].<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology"/> Richard Parton, attorney for the Plaintiffs also sent a Tweet stating "Getfugu runs an organization for the benefit of its officers and directors, and not shareholders and employees.<ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> The RICO suit is not frivolous. The 500K lawsuit is frivolous, however, so buyer be wary."<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology"/> The suit against Freer and the company was dismissed by the court on the same day the Tweet was sent. Freer, along with GetFugu, filed suit against shareholders and Patton Boggs for malicious prosecution, declaratory relief and defamation.<ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> The court granted declatory relief and Freer won judgement against Patton Boggs in November 2013.<ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> After notification, The Copenhagen Post removed the article.<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology"/><ref name="Law360Getfugu"/>
Freer was sued by shareholders of Getfugu where he was a company director. Shareholders of the company alleged that he and the company violated the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] as well as fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.<ref name="Law360Getfugu">{{cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Lessons From Patton Boggs Defamation Case | newspaper =Law360 (subscription required)| location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =26 November 2013 | url =http://www.law360.com/articles/489588 | accessdate =14 January 2014 }}</ref> During the legal proceedings, Plaintiff's law firm [[Patton Boggs]] issued a press release titled "FBI Said to be Investigating Getfugu’s Carl Freer."<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology">{{cite news | last =Hansen | first =Mark T. | coauthors =Robert B. Milligan | title =Allegedly false statements posted on internet regarding pending litigation can support defamation claim | newspaper =Lexology| location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =25 October 2013 | url =http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=b8c87bda-2d4b-4917-bbf6-44f75522b145 | accessdate =14 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> The press release claimed that Freer was being investigated by the FBI and Danish officials in a matter unrelated to the RICO lawsuit and cited an article from [[The Copenhagen Post]].<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology"/> Richard Parton, attorney for the Plaintiffs also sent a Tweet stating "Getfugu runs an organization for the benefit of its officers and directors, and not shareholders and employees.<ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> The RICO suit is not frivolous. The 500K lawsuit is frivolous, however, so buyer be wary."<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology"/> The suit against Freer and the company was dismissed by the court on the same day the Tweet was sent. Freer, along with GetFugu, filed suit against shareholders and Patton Boggs for malicious prosecution, declaratory relief and defamation.<ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> The court granted declatory relief and Freer won judgement against Patton Boggs in November 2013.<ref name="Law360Getfugu"/> After notification, The Copenhagen Post removed the article.<ref name="AllegedlyFalseLexology"/><ref name="Law360Getfugu"/>

Revision as of 03:06, 19 January 2014

Carl Johan Freer
Born (1970-05-09) May 9, 1970 (age 53)
NationalitySwedish
Other namesErik Jonsson,[1][2] Brian Littleton[3]
Partner(s)Mikael Ljungman,[4] Stefan Eriksson[5]

Carl Johan Freer (born 9 May 1970) is a Swedish businessman and technology entrepreneur who has also been identified under the aliases of "Erik Jonsson"[1][2] and "Brian Littleton".[3] Freer has been convicted of fraud on two separate occasions. He was convicted once in Swedish court and once in the courts of Germany.[2][6] Freer once represented himself as an "officer" of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority which was investigated in the criminal case of business partner Stefan Eriksson.[7]

Business activities

Freer founded Tiger Telematics Inc. in 2002[8] (not to be confused with the already-existing and wholly unrelated electronic game manufacturer Tiger Electronics that developed the Furby and Giga Pets). Freer managed the development, launch and promotion of the Gizmondo, a handheld game console, along with business partner Stefan Eriksson.[5] With fewer than 25,000 units sold, the Gizmondo was named by GamePro as the worst selling handheld console in history.[9]

Freer was Chairman of the Tiger Telematics board of directors until he resigned his position in October 2005.[10] Gizmondo Europe's director, Stefan Eriksson, worked directly under Tiger Telematics chairman Freer according to the company's SEC filings.[5] Under Freer and Eriksson, Gizmondo lost hundreds of millions of pounds: in 2004, Tiger Telematics reported a loss of $99.29 million, and between January and September 2005, they lost $210 million, "[p]rincipally due to development costs for the Gizmondo and non-cash expenses associated with shares of restricted common stock issued for services".[10] In other words, it had bartered shares in lieu of cash payments for services provided to the company.[10] By 6 February 2006, the company was forced into compulsory liquidation and the Gizmondo was discontinued.[11] In 2007, Gametrailers named it "the worst console of all time."[12]

Freer was also engaged in relaunching the Gizmondo product, claiming a potential launch in the 3rd quarter of 2008;[13] however, this relaunch never occurred.

In 2008, Freer founded a startup called Media Power Inc and in May of that year, a partnership was announced where Media Power would donate $5M over five years to Georgia Tech to further Augmented Reality research.[14]

Freer is currently co-founder and chairman of a networking Web site for filmmakers, financiers, actors and fans called FilmFunds.[15][16][17] In 2011, Sue Basko, an entertainment lawyer for independent music and film, investigated FilmFunds and reported on her blog that "it does not seem legit and there does not seem to be any film fund."[18]

Legal problems

In his teens Freer forged his parents' signature for a loan and was convicted of fraud though Freer says he had his parents' permission to sign on their behalf for a student loan.[2][6] In 2005 he was fined by a German court for buying luxury cars with bounced cheques under the assumed name of Erik (Eric) Jonsson, though Freer says he cancelled the cheques himself because he "thought he was being sold stolen cars."[2][6]

In 2006, Los Angeles police raided Freer's Bel-Air mansion and his yacht moored in Marina Del Rey[19] shortly after his alleged associate and partner, Stefan Eriksson, was arrested on various charges, and found twelve rifles and four handguns.[20] Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, arrested Freer on suspicion of impersonating a police officer using San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority identification in order to purchase a .44 Magnum handgun. No formal charges were filed and Freer claimed that the whole situation was a misunderstanding.[7]

A civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) action against Carl Freer, Media Power, GetFugu, many of its officers and directors, and other businesses related to Freer was filed on November 25, 2009 in a United States district court.[21] On August 27, 2010, the court dismissed all of the charges because the alleged conduct would have been actionable as securities fraud and as such could not be pursued as a RICO action.[22]

Freer was sued by shareholders of Getfugu where he was a company director. Shareholders of the company alleged that he and the company violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act as well as fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.[23] During the legal proceedings, Plaintiff's law firm Patton Boggs issued a press release titled "FBI Said to be Investigating Getfugu’s Carl Freer."[24][23] The press release claimed that Freer was being investigated by the FBI and Danish officials in a matter unrelated to the RICO lawsuit and cited an article from The Copenhagen Post.[24] Richard Parton, attorney for the Plaintiffs also sent a Tweet stating "Getfugu runs an organization for the benefit of its officers and directors, and not shareholders and employees.[23] The RICO suit is not frivolous. The 500K lawsuit is frivolous, however, so buyer be wary."[24] The suit against Freer and the company was dismissed by the court on the same day the Tweet was sent. Freer, along with GetFugu, filed suit against shareholders and Patton Boggs for malicious prosecution, declaratory relief and defamation.[23] The court granted declatory relief and Freer won judgement against Patton Boggs in November 2013.[23] After notification, The Copenhagen Post removed the article.[24][23]

References

  1. ^ a b Olle Blomkvist (2005-10-31). "Så blev Carl Freer efterlyst" (in Swedish). Realtid.se.
  2. ^ a b c d e Anthony James, Michael Gillard (2006-05-21). "The firm that blew it all in two years". London: The Sunday Times.
  3. ^ a b Lasse Wierup (2006-04-29). "Freer drömde om ett imperium" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter.
  4. ^ "Carl Freer: Han är Carl Freers nya högra hand" (in Swedish). Realtid.se. 2008-02-18. Retrieved 2009-05-29. ([ author's translation])
  5. ^ a b c "Tiger Telematics Inc. 10K for 2004-12-31".
  6. ^ a b c Jeffrey Fleishman (2006-05-15). "Life in Fast Lane Long Before the Ferrari Crash". Los Angeles Times. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b Randall Sullivan (2006-10-01). "Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up". Wired Magazine.
  8. ^ "Excerpt from a 8-K SEC Filing, filed by TIGER TELEMATICS INC". Norwalk, Connecticut,: EDGAR Online, Inc. 2005-08-30. Carl Freer, Co-founder and Chairman, Tiger Telematics{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  9. ^ Snow, Blake (2011-06-07). "The 10 Worst Selling Handhelds Of All Time". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  10. ^ a b c Smith, Tony (2005-10-27). "Gizmondo executives quit under cloud". The Register.
  11. ^ "Gizmondo Europe goes into liquidation". Pocket-Lint. 2006-02-07. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  12. ^ (May 6, 2007). Top Ten Worst Consoles, GameTrailers. Accessed November 14, 2012.
  13. ^ Sandberg, Hans (2007-11-13). "Carl Freer startar om Gizmondo". Realtid.se. (author's translation)
  14. ^ "Georgia Tech lands $5M to develop Augmented Reality". Atlanta Business Chronicle. American City Business Journals. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
  15. ^ "FilmFunds Acquires 3D Conversion Specialists Duran Duboi U.S." Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  16. ^ "FilmFunds to Use Crowdsourcing to Pitch 3D Conversions (Exclusive)". The Wrap Covering Hollywood. The Wrap News Inc. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  17. ^ "FilmFunds buys post house - Crowdsourcing venture wants to be one-stop shop". Variety (magazine). Reed Business Information. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  18. ^ Basko, Sue (October 24, 2011). "Indie Film Funds: Beware of This!". Sue Basko, Lawyer for Independent Media. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  19. ^ Richard Winton (2006-04-27). "2nd Arrest Made in Ferrari Case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-12-09. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Anthony James (2006-05-21). "The firm that blew it all in two years". The Times. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "RICO filing".
  22. ^ "United States District Court Order - Simon Davies et al vs GetFugu Inc et al" (PDF). 2010-08-28.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Lessons From Patton Boggs Defamation Case". Law360 (subscription required). 26 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  24. ^ a b c d Hansen, Mark T. (25 October 2013). "Allegedly false statements posted on internet regarding pending litigation can support defamation claim". Lexology. Retrieved 14 January 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

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