Carl Freer
Encyclopedia
Carl Johan Freer is a Swedish
businessman and technology entrepreneur
.
The company went into liquidation
in February 2006, and Freer is currently engaged in relaunching the Gizmondo product, citing a potential launch in 3rd quarter of 2008
In 2008, Freer founded a startup called Media Power Inc. In May 2008, a partnership was announced where Media Power would donate $5M over five years to Georgia Tech to further Augmented Reality research.
Freer was Chairman of the Board of Tiger Telematics Inc
and is now engaged in numerous technology companies. He is currently Founder and President of GetFugu Inc.
In 2006, Los Angeles police raided Freer's Bel-Air mansion and his yacht moored in Marina Del Rey shortly after his alleged associate and partner, Stefan Eriksson
, was arrested on various charges, and found twelve rifles and four handguns. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, arrested Freer on suspicion of impersonating a police officer in order to purchase a .44 Magnum handgun. No formal charges were filed and Freer claimed that the whole situation was a misunderstanding.
A civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO) action against Carl Freer, Media Power, GetFugu, many of its officers and directors, and other businesses related to Freer was filed on November 25, 2009 in a United States district court
. On August 27, 2010, the court dismissed all of the charges because the alleged conduct would have been actionable as securities fraud and as such could not be pursued as a RICO action. Following the dismissal, GetFugu countersued for defamation, malicious prosecution and attempted extortion, claiming damages of US$
500 million.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
businessman and technology entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
.
Business activities
Freer founded Gizmondo in 2002, and was Chairman of the board of directors at Gizmondo Europe until he resigned his position in October 2005.The company went into liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
in February 2006, and Freer is currently engaged in relaunching the Gizmondo product, citing a potential launch in 3rd quarter of 2008
In 2008, Freer founded a startup called Media Power Inc. In May 2008, a partnership was announced where Media Power would donate $5M over five years to Georgia Tech to further Augmented Reality research.
Freer was Chairman of the Board of Tiger Telematics Inc
Tiger Telematics
Tiger Telematics or Tiger, was a Swedish electronics company, best known for the failed Gizmondo handheld game console.-History:In 2000, Carl Freer formed Eagle Eye Scandinavian, a small electronics distribution business in Sweden...
and is now engaged in numerous technology companies. He is currently Founder and President of GetFugu Inc.
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. 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."In 2006, Los Angeles police raided Freer's Bel-Air mansion and his yacht moored in Marina Del Rey shortly after his alleged associate and partner, Stefan Eriksson
Stefan Eriksson
Bo Stefan M. Eriksson is a Swedish criminal from Uppsala involved in the UK gaming company Gizmondo until it became insolvent in 2005. In 2006 he became known for wrecking an Enzo Ferrari in southern California, USA...
, was arrested on various charges, and found twelve rifles and four handguns. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, arrested Freer on suspicion of impersonating a police officer in order to purchase a .44 Magnum handgun. No formal charges were filed and Freer claimed that the whole situation was a misunderstanding.
A civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(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
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
. 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. Following the dismissal, GetFugu countersued for defamation, malicious prosecution and attempted extortion, claiming damages of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
500 million.