TC Roundup: Uber battles locals for future of African taxis

Uber battles locals for future of African taxis: In the traffic-clogged, potholed streets of Kenya's capital city, there is a battle waging for the future of the African taxi ride that is pitting local startups eager to become the "Uber of Kenya" against, well, Uber. (The Wall Street Journal)

Apple gets partial win on appeal in Samsung patent case: Apple Inc was handed a mixed ruling by a U.S. appeals court in the latest twist in a blockbuster intellectual property battle with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, as a prior patent infringement verdict was upheld but a trademark finding that the iPhone's appearance could be protected was thrown out.

That means up to 40 percent of a $930 million verdict which had been won by Apple must be reconsidered. (Recode)

Tech giants tell Obama to resist calls for backdoor access to encrypted data: Apple, Google, Yahoo and more than 140 other tech industry companies have written to President Obama urging him to shoot down demands for 'backdoor' access to user data on smartphones and other communication devices and platforms, the Washington Post reports.

The tech industry has increasingly pushed the issue of user privacy since Edward Snowden first leaked the details of NSA spying initiatives back in 2013. However, some agencies of the state are uneasy about the rise of encryption. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson recently commented that the "inability to access encrypted information poses public safety challenges." In other words, the inability to access data could prevent defense agencies from actually defending the nation — or so the argument goes. (Tech Crunch)

In wake of Alibaba lawsuit, luxury fashion startup Xiu raises $30M funding: Xiu.com, an ecommerce retailer for high-end fashion products in China, today announced it has completed a US$30 million series C round of funding, according to 36kr. The investment was led by Jardine's, followed by KPCB China and others.

Founded in 2008, Xiu specializes in high-end clothing, footwear, bags, accessories, and cosmetics from international brands. Headquartered in Shenzhen, it also has offices in fashion capitals like New York, San Francisco, London, Milan, and Hong Kong. The store has over 600 brands, and at least 200 of them are exclusive to Xiu in China. (Tech in Asia)