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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- January 23, 2003
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Today's Edition Sponsored By: Information Management Solutions
http://www.imn.org
o RIAA CEO Hilary Rosen to Step Down At End of 2003
o Calif. Lawmaker to Introduce Bill Outlawing "Mature" Game Sales to Minors
o U.K. Video Game Developer Rage Shuts Down
o Chip-based Microphone Developer Akustica Raises $2.25 Million
o Interactive TV Firm Gemstar Announces Further Earnings Restatements
o Game Accessories Firm Mad Catz Buys GameShark Brand for $5 Million
o Game Developer Take-Two Announces $25 Million Stock Buyback
> DMW Publications: Special Rates for DMW Subscribers
> DMW Events: Early Bird Discount - Digital Music Forum | March 3 | NYC
> Featured: Storage Services Summit
o Briefly Noted: 989 Sports - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Zingy - Nextel,
Salon.com - subscription changes, HarperCollins - e-books, Carmel Group,
Tickets.com - Boston Red Sox, RCN Corporation - Listen.com Rhapsody, 2015
- "Men of Valor: Vietnam," SunnComm - Apple, 'Net gambling - e-cash -
money laundering
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> Events: IMN Executive Summit, Games & Mobile Forum: April 28 | NYC
> Marketplace: UCLA Extension, Entertainment & Corporate Legal Services,
Game Industry Report, iTV Chronicle, Homeland Security Directory,
Interest-Based Navigation
Full Classifieds located beneath "Briefly Noted" section below.
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o RIAA CEO Hilary Rosen to Step Down At End of 2003
Washington -- Hilary Rosen, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry
Association of America (RIAA), the lobbying group for the major record
labels, has announced her intention to resign from her positions at the
end of 2003. Rosen served with the organization for 17 years and has
headed it since 1998, spearheading the industry's reactions to Internet
file-sharing and slumping CD sales. Rosen said she is stepping down to
spend more time with family; she and partner Elizabeth Birch have
four-year-old twins. "This has been the most exciting job I can imagine,"
said Rosen. "During my tenure here, the recording industry has undergone
dramatic challenges and it is well positioned for future success." The
RIAA said it will conduct an executive search for a replacement, adding
that RIAA president Cary Sherman will retain his current role.
http://www.riaa.org/PR_story.cfm?id=600
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.02/hating.html
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-981744.html?tag=fd_top
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o Calif. Lawmaker to Introduce Bill Outlawing "Mature" Game Sales to Minors
Los Angeles -- A California Congressman plans to introduce legislation
that would make it a crime to sell "Mature"-rated video games to minors,
Reuters reported. Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) will introduce a new version of
the "Protect Children from Video Game Sex and Violence Act," which debuted
last year but stalled in Congress. The new version will reportedly treat
violent video games as a form of obscenity in the eyes of the law,
trumping any First Amendment issues with free speech. Baca's office said
the bill may be introduced as early as next week.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030122/media_videogames_1.html
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o U.K. Video Game Developer Rage Shuts Down
London -- British game developer Rage plc has shut down, after failing to
sell enough of its assets to remain in operations, Reuters reported. The
company, which developed titles including "Rocky" and "David Beckham
Soccer," shut its four studios and laid off 145 of its 162 employees. Some
will stay on to help secure a possible sale of the company or its various
game property licenses, aided by the accounting firm of Ernst and Young.
"It is obviously extremely disappointing for all concerned that the legal
risk could not be overcome sufficiently to achieve the sales of all or
parts of the business as going concerns," Ernst and Young's Hunter Kelly
told Reuters.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2087588
http://www.rage.co.uk
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o Chip-based Microphone Developer Akustica Raises $2.25 Million
Pittsburgh -- Akustica, a provider of chip-based microphones for wireless
communications and consumer electronics, announced on Thursday that it has
raised an additional $2.25 million from private investors, capping its
first round of venture capital financing at $4.5 million. The round was
led by Chamberlain Investments. Pittsburgh-based Akustica's technology
eliminates the need for products to incorporate conventional microphones
or speakers by combining the functionality of those components with
microelectronics and software onto a single chip. The solution includes
features such as directionality, noise cancellation, voice recognition and
voice encryption. The company will use the funds for continued product
development.
http://www.akustica.com/pdf/Series_A4_Final1.pdf
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o Interactive TV Firm Gemstar Announces Further Earnings Restatements
Pasadena, Calif. -- Gemstar-TV Guide International, the beleaguered
provider of electronic program guides for digital television, announced on
Thursday that it will make additional amendments to its financial earnings
statements, adjusting for new accounting irregularities it has discovered.
Pasadena-based Gemstar said that $19.0 million in previously reported
licensing revenues will not be recognized, and an aggregate of $8.2
million in previously reported interactive programming guide advertising
revenues will also not be recognized. Another $26.8 million in licensing
revenues will be reclassified as either a reduction of operating expenses
or as other income. The company said it may announce further restatements,
as its investigation is still ongoing. Gemstar founder and CEO Henry Yuen
stepped down in November 2002; he remains chairman of the board.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030123/232208_1.html
http://www.gemstartvguide.com
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o Game Accessories Firm Mad Catz Buys GameShark Brand for $5 Million
San Diego -- Mad Catz Interactive, a manufacturer of video game
accessories, announced on Thursday that it has acquired the GameShark
brand and website from Recoton Corporation for $5 million. GameShark
provides video game enhancement software that enables players to take
advantage of the secret codes, short cuts, hints and cheats incorporated
by video game publishers into their games. San Diego-based Mad Catz said
it will begin shipping GameShark products in March, ensuring continued
supply at retail stores. For 2002, GameShark reported revenues of $30
million.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030123/232093_1.html
http://www.recoton.com
http://www.madcatz.com
http://www.gameshark.com
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o Game Developer Take-Two Announces $25 Million Stock Buyback
New York -- Take-Two Interactive Software, publisher of such video game
titles as the top-selling "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," announced on
Thursday that its board has authorized a plan to buy back $25 million of
its own common stock. "At current market levels, we believe our stock
represents an attractive investment opportunity. The plan to repurchase
Take-Two stock reflects our ongoing commitment to enhance shareholder
value," said Take-Two chief financial officer Karl Winters.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030123/232191_1.html
http://www.take2games.com
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December Law & Policy Report
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DMW Events: Digital Music Forum, March 3 | NYC
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Digital Media Wire Presents...
DIGITAL MUSIC FORUM
March 3, 2003 | New York City | 9:00AM - 7:00 PM
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events/MusicForum_030303.htm
A full-day forum focusing on business & legal issues impacting the music
industry today. The agenda includes 2 keynote addresses, 4 moderated
panels and breakout sessions.
Sponsors:
Roxio (http://www.roxio.com)
Gateway (http://www.gateway.com)
Gray Cary (http://www.graycary.com)
BMI (http://www.bmi.com)
ASCAP (http://www.ascap.com)
Audible.com (http://www.audible.com)
Digital Media Law Report (http://www.digitalmedialawreport.com)
Global Entertainment and Media Summit
(http://www.globalentertainmentnetwork.com)
Early bird registrations: $150 until January 31
February registrations: $200 until February 28
At the door: $250.
Pre-Register at: http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1024
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==================
FEATURED SECTION
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Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS:
THE BUSINESS SIDE OF STORAGE IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR EXECUTIVE
SUMMIT
http://www.imn.org/2003/a437
February 19-20, 2003, Crowne Plaza Times Square, New York, NY
INCREASE REVENUES, IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCE IT COSTS BY ALIGNING IT
AND CORPORATE BUSINESS STRATEGIES.
The Business side of Storage * The Technology side of Storage *
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Briefly Noted:
(San Diego) 989 Sports, a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America,
announced on Thursday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Oakland
Raiders 28-8 in its annual "Game Before the Game" Super Bowl simulation,
played with the company's "NFL GameDay 2003" title for PlayStation 2. The
video game has successfully predicted the winner of the actual Super Bowl
game for the last seven consecutive years.
http://www.989sports.com/promotions/gamebeforethegame
(New York) Zingy, a provider of cell phone ringtones to mobile network
operators, announced on Thursday that it will provide polyphonic ringtones
to Nextel subscribers who own wireless phones from Motorola. The 16-chord,
polyphonic MIDI ringtones produce richer, fuller sounding compositions
when compared with traditional monophonic ringtones.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030123/nyth055_2.html
http://www.zingy.com
http://www.nextel.com/idenupdate
(San Francisco) Online magazine Salon.com on Thursday introduced a new
subscription scheme, whereby readers will have to either subscribe to the
site's premium service or else agree to click-through multi-page sponsor
ads in order to view any of the site's original articles. The company said
that, although it has 60,000 paying subscribers, it still needs to
generate more revenue to remain in operations. "It's a good deal for
advertisers because if they're paying for readers' entry into Salon, they
should be assured that their ads will actually be seen," said Salon editor
David Talbot. "And it's a good deal for Salon, because it will bring in
new revenue and ensure that we keep publishing well into the future."
http://www.salon.com/letters/editor/2003/01/22/new_deal
(New York) Publisher HarperCollins announced on Thursday that it will
begin selling e-books to libraries so that they may be loaned out to
patrons. The company partnered with e-book distributors OverDrive and
netLibrary to sell its PerfectBound e-books to libraries. Titles will
include fiction and non-fiction works such as "Prey" by Michael Crichton,
"Abraham" by Bruce Feiler and "The Princess Diaries" by Meg Cabot.
http://www.harpercollins.com
http://www.overdrive.com
http://www.netlibrary.com
http://www.perfectbound.com
(Carmel By The Sea, Calif.) A new report released by consulting and
research firm The Carmel Group predicts that video games will penetrate an
estimated 50% of U.S. TV households by 2007, up from 39% today. Also,
video game hardware revenues are expected to decline to 25% of total sales
in 2003, down from the predicted 30% in 2003.
http://www.carmelgroup.com/index.cfm
(Costa Mesa, Calif.) Tickets.com, a provider of online ticket sales
technology, announced on Thursday an agreement with MLB Advanced Media to
enable online ticket sales for the Boston Red Sox. Costa Mesa,
Calif.-based Tickets.com now provides online ticketing services for 21 of
the 30 professional baseball teams.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030123/lath071_1.html
http://www.tickets.com
(Princeton, N.J.) RCN Corporation, a provider of bundled cable TV, phone,
and high speed Internet services, announced on Thursday an agreement with
San Francisco-based Listen.com to distribute the company's Rhapsody
digital music subscription service. New Jersey-based RCN will offer its
customers a free 30-day trial of the Rhapsody service, which includes
access to 275,000 tracks from major and independent record labels.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030123/phth031a_1.html
http://www.listen.com
http://www.rcn.com/premium
(Bellevue, Wash.) Vivendi Universal Games announced on Thursday that
Tulsa, Oklahoma-based developer 2015 is currently at work on "Men of
Valor: Vietnam" for Microsoft's Xbox and the PC. 2015 also developed
"Medal of Honor Allied Assault." VU Games' Sierra Entertainment will
publish the title some time in 2004.
http://www.vugames.com
http://www.2015.com
(Phoenix, Ariz.) SunnComm, a developer of CD copy-protection technology,
said on Thursday that its MediaMax CD-3 copy-protection is now fully
compatible with Apple Macintosh computers. Arizona-based SunnComm recently
announced that it would integrate its technology with Microsoft's new
Windows Media Data Session Toolkit, that company's foray into CD
copy-protection.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030123/230279_1.html
http://www.sunncomm.com
(Redmond, Wash.) MSNBC.com on Thursday reported on the current state of
proposed legislation that would effectively prohibit online gambling in
the U.S., and how the use of "e-cash" accounts could foil these efforts
and also raise concerns about unabated money laundering.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/862204.asp?0dm=C11MT
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INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS:
THE BUSINESS SIDE OF STORAGE IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR EXECUTIVE
SUMMIT
http://www.imn.org/2003/a437
February 19-20, 2003, Crowne Plaza Times Square, New York, NY
_____________________________________________
Digital Media Wire Presents...Games & Mobile Forum
April 2003, New York City
Focusing on games and mobile entertainment opportunities and business
models. Panel topics will include "The Battle to Control the Living Room:
Is the Game Industry Winning?", "Mobile Games: Business Models & New
Opportunities", "Legal & Policy Issues Impacting the Game Industry &
Mobile Entertainment", and "Home Networking: Technology for Modern Living
& Entertainment."
Door Tickets Price: $250. For Early Bird Specials, pre-register at:
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CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
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UCLA Extension Course: Digital Entertainment
The definitive course on the intersection of entertainment and technology
is returning to UCLA Extension this January. Digital & Hollywood: How Do
We Pick Up The Pieces & Move Forward? begins Tuesday, January 28th @ 7pm.
This nine week program features informative, stimulating, and
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enter the following special registration code: N8513
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Only 35 copies remaining of Directory of Homeland Security
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