Carl Freer
 |
Carl Freer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carl Johan Freer May 9, 1970 |
| Nationality | Swedish |
Carl Freer (born 9 May 1970) is a Swedish businessman and technology entrepreneur. He is known for founding the Swedish electronics company Tiger Telematics Inc. that manufactured the handheld game console Gizmondo. He has been convicted of fraud on two separate occasions - once in Swedish court and once in the courts of Germany.[1][2][3]
Business activities
Freer was the founder of Tiger Telematics Inc., a Swedish electronics company, which launched in 2002 and dissolved in 2006. 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.[4] By 6 February 2006, the company was forced into compulsory liquidation and the Gizmondo was discontinued.[5]
In 2007, Freer announced that he would relaunch the Gizmondo product, with a potential release in the 3rd quarter of 2008.[6]
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.[7] Freer is co-founder and chairman of a networking Web site for filmmakers, financiers, actors and fans called FilmFunds.[8][9][10]
Legal issues
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.[1][2] 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."[1][2]
In 2006, Los Angeles police raided Freer's Bel-Air mansion and his yacht moored in Marina Del Rey[11] and found twelve rifles and four handguns.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14] During the legal proceedings, Plaintiff's law firm Patton Boggs issued a press release titled "FBI Said to be Investigating Getfugu’s Carl Freer."[15][14] 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.[15] 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.[14] The RICO suit is not frivolous. The 500K lawsuit is frivolous, however, so buyer be wary."[15] 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.[14] The court granted declatory relief and Freer won judgement against Patton Boggs in November 2013.[14] After notification, The Copenhagen Post removed the article.[15][14]
References
- ^ a b c Anthony James, Michael Gillard (2006-05-21). "The firm that blew it all in two years". London: The Sunday Times (subscription required).
- ^ 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) - ^ Gibson, Ellie (6 August 2012). "A Horse named Gizmondo: The Inside Story of the World's Greatest Failed Console". Euro Gamer. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Smith, Tony (2005-10-27). "Gizmondo executives quit under cloud". The Register.
- ^ "Gizmondo Europe goes into liquidation". Pocket-Lint. 2006-02-07. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
- ^ Sandberg, Hans (2007-11-13). "Carl Freer startar om Gizmondo". Realtid.se. (author's translation)
- ^ "Georgia Tech lands $5M to develop Augmented Reality". Atlanta Business Chronicle. American City Business Journals. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ^ "FilmFunds Acquires 3D Conversion Specialists Duran Duboi U.S." Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ^ "FilmFunds to Use Crowdsourcing to Pitch 3D Conversions (Exclusive)". The Wrap Covering Hollywood. The Wrap News Inc. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
- ^ "FilmFunds buys post house - Crowdsourcing venture wants to be one-stop shop". Variety (magazine). Reed Business Information. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
- ^ 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) - ^ 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) - ^ Randall Sullivan (2006-10-01). "Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up". Wired Magazine.
- ^ 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) - ^ 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)