* Sony (SNE) hasn’t had a hit product in years, and expects to lose $6.4 billion this year alone. The New York Times offers an excellent look at Japanese giant’s fall from grace.  (The New York Times)

* Google (SNE) co-founder Sergey Brin believes the Internet’s underlying principles — openness and universal access — are being threatened more so now than ever before. There are “very powerful forces that have lined up against the open internet on all sides and around the world,” he said. “I am more worried than I have been in the past … It’s scary.” (The Guardian)

* Amazon (AMZN) Jeff Bezos released a letter to shareholders Friday discussing the company’s future outlook, in particular giving kudos to Kindle Direct Publishing, which has 1,000-plus authors now. “Kindle Direct Publishing is good for readers because they get lower prices, but perhaps just as important, readers also get access to more diversity since authors that might have been rejected by establishment publishing channels now get their chance in the marketplace,” wrote Bezos. (Amazon)

* Are Amazon’s low prices merely disguising a high cost? The New York Times’ David Carr argues an antitrust suit may help drive down e-book prices for now but enable the Seattle e-commerce company to continue its “monopolistic” ways. (The New York Times)

* Private social network Path wrapped up a $40 million round of funding led by Redpoint Ventures. This particular round values the startup at $250 million. (AllThingsD)

* Major game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) reportedly plans to lay off between 500 and 1,000 employees, or between 5% and 11% of its overall staff, as early as this week. (Startup Grind)

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