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===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- February 14, 2003
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com 

o Verizon Asks Judge to Suspend Order for Subscriber Data in RIAA Dispute
o BMX Rider Dave Mirra Sues Game Maker Acclaim Over "BMX XXX" Endorsement
o Reuters: AOL Time Warner Considering Dropping "AOL" From Name
o Game Accessories Firm Mad Catz Sued by Rival Pelican Over GameShark Deal
o Korean Online Games Firm NCSoft Sees $123.3 Million Revenue in 2002
o Vivendi's Universal Music Intl. Takes Control of Net for Mobile Unit
o FT: Reuters To Restructure, Shed 1,000 Jobs
o Yahoo to Beef Up Premium Services, Broadband Offerings 
> Note to Readers: Presidents' Day Holiday

> DMW Digital Music Forum: Keynote Speakers Confirmed 
> DMW Publications: January Law and Policy Report

o Briefly Noted: Blu-ray DVD technology, UrbanWorld Wireless - Snoop Dogg,
Overture Services - MSN Japan, New Frontier Media, Multicast Technologies
- Future of Music Policy Summit
_____________________________________________

> Jobs: Web Editor

> Events: Games & Mobile Forum: April 28 | NYC, Global Entertainment &
Media Summit

> Marketplace: Multimedia production firm, Entertainment & Corporate
Legal Services, Game Industry Report, iTV Chronicle,
Interest-Based Navigation

Full Classifieds located beneath "Briefly Noted" section below.

To post a Classified Ad:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/mainpostingpage.html
or contact Tinzar Than at tinzar@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________

o Verizon Asks Judge to Suspend Order for Subscriber Data in RIAA Dispute

Washington -- Internet service provider Verizon Wireless on Thursday tried
to convince a federal judge to postpone his order compelling the company
to turn over the identity of an alleged music file-trader to the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA), while the company seeks an appeal
of the ruling to a higher court. The RIAA served Verizon a subpoena for
the subscriber data under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, claiming
the subscriber is a copyright infringer, but Verizon argued that the RIAA
should have to go through a tougher process to gain access to its
subscribers' private data. Verizon said that if U.S. District Judge John
Bates does not suspend his order, it will appeal to a higher court for a
suspension.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=2225726 
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-02-13-piracy_x.htm 
_____________________________________________

o BMX Rider Dave Mirra Sues Game Maker Acclaim Over "BMX XXX" Endorsement

Los Angeles -- Professional BMX bike rider Dave Mirra has sued video game
developer Acclaim Entertainment for $21 million, alleging the company
improperly used his name and image to promote "BMX XXX," a controversial
game featuring nudity and other adult content. Mirra previously served as
spokesman and cover athlete for Acclaim titles such as "Dave Mirra's
Freestyle BMX." In his suit, Mirra claims that New York-based Acclaim made
the game racier after he signed an endorsement agreement, and that the two
parties later agreed to disassociate Mirra's name from the title. "During
the ongoing development of (XXX), but after obtaining Dave Mirra's
approval of the initial concept, Acclaim changed the concept of the game
to become more sexually explicit and pornographic, ultimately settling on
nudity as a major selling point," the suit alleges. Acclaim spokesman Alan
Lewis told Reuters, "It's a baseless lawsuit and we're going to vigorously
fight it."
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030214/media_acclaim_1.html 
http://www.bmxxxx.com 
http://www.davemirra.com 
_____________________________________________

o Reuters: AOL Time Warner Considering Dropping "AOL" From Name

Dulles, Va. -- Reuters reported on Friday that AOL Time Warner executives,
at a retreat to discuss new strategies, debated whether to drop "AOL" from
its corporate name. Such a move would be a major blow to America Online,
the company's interactive subsidiary that has dragged down growth at the
company in recent years. Most of the original top executives of America
Online have also been removed from key management positions at the company
over the last year. "Investors and some executives have been advocating
for months to drop 'AOL' from the group's name as the America Online
division, once viewed as the crown jewel, has dragged down overall
growth," Reuters reported.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030214/media_aoltimewarner_1.html 
_____________________________________________

o Game Accessories Firm Mad Catz Sued by Rival Pelican Over GameShark Deal

San Diego -- Mad Catz, a manufacturer of video game accessories, said on
Friday it will vigorously defend a lawsuit brought by rival Pelican
Accessories, alleging that Mad Catz and U.K.-based, Fire International,
Ltd. competed unfairly with Pelican in the development and marketing of
certain video game products. The suit also alleges the auction whereby Mad
Catz acquired video game enhancement firm GameShark was not fairly and
legally conducted. "This ludicrous lawsuit is baseless and spurious. It is
an offensive attempt to improperly use the courts to achieve an end that
Pelican could not achieve commercially," said Mad Catz CEO Morris Perlis.
"GameShark was acquired by Mad Catz in an auction that was fairly and
legally conducted." Both Mad Catz and Fire said they are considering
filing countersuits against Pelican and its principals.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030214/142090_1.html 
http://www.madcatz.com 
http://www.pelicanacc.com 
http://www.gameshark.com 
_____________________________________________

o Korean Online Games Firm NCSoft Sees $123.3 Million Revenue in 2002

Seoul, South Korea -- Korean online video game developer NCSoft announced
on Friday that the company saw revenues of $123.3 million in 2002, a
figure it claims is the highest ever recorded in the Korean game industry.
The company's popular online game "Lineage" currently claims 300,000
concurrent users and 3.2 million active users around the world. "Our
company was able to maintain favorable growth last year amid the
systematic slump of the local industry thanks to the breakthrough
expansion of the online game market," said NCSoft CFO Hong Heo. "This year
we will strengthen our internal capabilities and give added momentum to
our current ongoing projects to set the stage for a second growth spurt."
The company plans to advance into the Chinese market this year and will
also launch "Lineage Tournament" in South Korea.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/230450152&ticker= 
http://www.ncsoft.net 
http://www.lineage.com  
_____________________________________________

o Vivendi's Universal Music Intl. Takes Control of Net for Mobile Unit

London -- Universal Music International, a division of Vivendi's Universal
Music Group, announced on Friday that it has acquired 100 percent of
Vivendi Universal Net for Mobile, purchasing Vivendi Universal Net's 50
percent stake in the company and re-branding it Universal Mobile. The unit
offers wireless entertainment including ringtones, logos, dedications,
mailbox personalization and multimedia messaging to wireless network
operators in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Portugal. "Our decision to take 100 percent
control of Vivendi Universal Net for Mobile underlines our commitment to
becoming a leader in the mobile telephone content-provider market and
confirms our confidence in the Universal Mobile team," said Universal
Music International chairman and CEO Jorgen Larsen.
http://www.umusic.com 
http://www.vivendiuniversal.com 
_____________________________________________

o FT: Reuters To Restructure, Shed 1,000 Jobs

London -- Reuters, the troubled financial news and information provider,
will next week announce plans to focus on its core information services
and cut more than 1,000 jobs, according to a report in Friday's Financial
Times. The paper said that Reuters will announce cutbacks on technology in
its latest attempt to rebuild profits and sales in the financial services
industry. The 151-year-old company has already shed 2,000 workers in an
effort to cut losses.  Reuters declined comment on the report in the
Financial Times.
http://shorterlink.com/?5JKSXD 
_____________________________________________

o Yahoo to Beef Up Premium Services, Broadband Offerings 

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Yahoo will look to flush out revenue wherever
possible this year under a new growth plan, Dow Jones reported on
Wednesday. The plan revolves around expanding the company's premium
services, giving users, especially those with broadband access, the option
of paying to use more complete versions of services that Yahoo offers at
no charge. The company is expecting subscriber growth this year of 50-90
percent, with a 60 percent jump in cash-flow earnings. Yahoo also plans to
expand its broadband access offerings through distribution agreements in
the U.S.
http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030212/1813001154_1.html 
_____________________________________________

> Note to Readers: Presidents' Day Holiday 

In observance of the Presidents' Day holiday in the U.S., Digital Media
Wire will not be published on Monday, Feb. 17. The next edition will
arrive on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
_____________________________________________

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==========================================
DMW Presents. DIGITAL MUSIC FORUM
==========================================
March 3, 2003 | New York City | 9:00AM - 7:00 PM 
Full list of speakers and agenda:
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.
 
Featuring: An Interview & Jam Session with the Legendary Les Paul 

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:
Lyor Cohen | Chairman & CEO, The Island Def Jam Music Group
Chris Gorog | CEO, Roxio "Why We Purchased Napster"
Steve Rennie | REN Management (Artist Manager for Platinum-selling
Incubus)

And panelists from: Sony Music, MTV/VH1, Roxio, Listen.com, FullAudio,
Moviso, Columbia Records, United Musicians, LAUNCHcast/Yahoo!, pressplay,
Astralwerks/EMI, Morpheus/Streamcast Networks, U.S. Copyright Office,
Electric Artists, Audible, Music Choice, Terra Lycos, AT&T Wireless

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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_____________________________________________
 
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==========================================
DMW Publications: January Law & Policy Report
==========================================
Contact tinzar@digitalmediawire.com or call 323-464-0793 to order your
copies.
To purchase directly, go to:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm

Digital Media Law & Policy Report - New Issue
Must-read publication on legal and policy matters related to digital
media. 35+ pages of case summaries, news and analysis, policy updates,
court filings, and exclusive interviews with legal counsel and business
leaders.
Published monthly. January issue on sale now!
**Special Reduced Rates available for a limited time**   
Price:   $19.00 Per Issue   |   $195.00 Annual Subscription  
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm

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_____________________________________________

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==================
FEATURED SECTION
==================
Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm  

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_____________________________________________

Briefly Noted:

(Los Angeles) The nine consumer electronics firms that have been
collaborating on the development of Blu-ray DVD disc technology have
announced that they will begin licensing the technology on Monday. The
Blu-ray format uses a different type of laser that yields disc capacity of
27GB, as opposed to the current technology's 4.7GB capacity discs. Firms
that helped develop the technology and are currently developing products
that utilize it include Hitachi, LG Electronics, Matsushita, Pioneer,
Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Thomson.
http://www.blu-raydisc.info 
http://www.blu-raydisc.info/press_release.pdf  

(Hollywood, Calif.) UrbanWorld Wireless, a developer of urban
entertainment mobile marketing services, announced on Friday that Priority
Records artist Snoop Dogg will use its services to promote his current
album, "Paid Tha Cost To Be The Boss." Hollywood-based UrbanWorld Wireless
said the SMS text-messaging campaign will include both push and pull
messages geared towards the album's target audience.
http://www.priorityrecords.com 
http://www.urbanworldwireless.com  

(Pasadena, Calif.) Overture Services, a provider of pay-for-placement
search engine listings, announced that it has signed a two-year agreement
to provide paid search results to Microsoft's MSN Japan service.
Pasadena-based Overture said that since the two companies partnership
began in Dec. 2002, it has signed on over 1,000 advertisers who bid on
listing placements for searches made on MSN Japan.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030213/130130_1.html 
http://www.overture.com 

(Boulder, Colo.) New Frontier Media, an electronic distributor of adult
entertainment content, announced on Friday that chairman and CEO Mark
Kreloff will leave the company to pursue personal interests. The company's
board appointed executive vice president Michael Weiner to the position of
president. Boulder, Colo.-based New Frontier recently secured a deal to
provide adult video-on-demand programming to hotel broadband services firm
On Command.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030214/laf033_1.html 
http://www.noof.com  

(Fairfax, Va.) Multicast Technologies, a provider of webcasting services,
announced that its streaming video archive of footage shot at the recent
Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. is now online.
The event aimed, through keynote speeches and panel discussions, to unite
the media, citizens, creators of music, elected officials and policy
makers on the topics of opportunities and effects of new and emerging
technologies.
http://www.futureofmusic.com 
http://www.multicasttech.com/fmc2003 
_____________________________________________

=================== 
CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
===================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm 

Web Editor

Variety.com is looking for an experienced Web Editor to work on the daily
production of the Los Angeles newspaper's site. You must have excellent
journalism credentials and know the entertainment industry from a business
perspective. You must:  have worked for a content web site, have
journalism in your blood, know Dreamweaver and the AP Style Guide. Hours
vary from noon-midnight, Sun. - Fri. To apply, send a resume, cover
letter, 2 URLS. No word attachments Send to
hrlosangeles2@reedbusiness.com, include the job title WEB EDITOR and job
ID# RBI 505 in the subject.
_____________________________________________

====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm 

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:
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1025
_____________________________________________

Global Entertainment & Media Summit
February 28-March 2, New York City 

The Global Entertainment and Media Summit returns to New York City for a
productive three days of conferences, workshops and   keynotes all
dedicated to helping to facilitate the growth of our industries.  Keynotes
include Danny Goldberg, Dave Marsh, Lee Abrams of XM Satellite Radio and
Jack Healey, of the Human Rights Action Center--formerly of Amnesty
International. The event will feature over 20 productive panel sessions
over the course of the three-day event.
Show dates are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 28, March 1 and March
2. Registration is $75 per person and includes admission to all events.
Details: http://www.globalentertainmentnetwork.com
Schedule: http://www.globalentertainmentnetwork.com/schedule.htm
Tickets: http://www.globalentertainmentnetwork.com/tickets.htm 
_____________________________________________

==========================
CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm 

Dangerously Creative EarthNatives for Hire

EarthNative is a film/video and multimedia production company bringing the
sky's limit down to Earth and original creations to you. We provide a
variety of production services for projects or produce completed programs
to suit your style. Stock library available for licensing. Fully equipped
to produce multimedia projects including behind the scenes, event coverage
and DVDs. Cameramen with 35mm and DV camera packages available, extensive
equipment rental list, editing, graphic artists and directors for hire.

Drop a line to: hightech@earthnative.com or 323.876.6503
http://www.earthnative.com
_____________________________________________

Entertainment & Corporate Legal Services
 
Top Credentialed Attorney with 9 years of experience representing major
studios, entertainment start-ups, VCs, investment banks and other blue
chip clients provides legal and business consulting for exclusive
clientele at reasonable rates. Services include entity formation, private
equity financings, licensing (entertainment and software products),
trademark registration and disputes, copyright issues and other
transactional and contract law services. Qualified in California and
Texas. Retainer required to commence services. Tel. 323-363-3620.
_____________________________________________

Game Industry Law & Policy Report 

Special industry report covering law & policy matters impacting the game
industry. The 15-page report includes case summaries, news and analysis,
feature article and an exclusive interview with Doug Lowenstein,
President, Interactive Digital Software Association.  Price: $19.00
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm
_____________________________________________

For those who believe in ITV - "Interactive TV: The Definitive Chronicle"
 
Covering the period 2000 to the present, this sourcebook presents a
complete history of the news and events that have shaped the business of
iTV since the beginning of the 21st Century. Culled from countless
sources, including the Digital Media Wire database, this 175 pages PDF (on
CD) covers all of the major players as well as the legal and financial
issues that helped shape the industry. Key research and industry
projections as well as a host of facts, figures, resources and thousands
of iTV-related links are included. Price: $ 55.00.
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.htm
_____________________________________________

Etronica helps you "Find the Good Stuff FAST!"

Etronica's unique software toolset enables "Interest Based Navigation" of
Digital Content. The Patent Pending software tools can be incorporated
directly into content websites and portals, installed in TV settop boxes
or integrated as OEM components. The tools drive the automatic tagging,
indexing, and categorization of text. A recommendation engine suggests
highly relevant new information to users as they interact. Personalized
advertising and commerce offerings can also be automatically served.
Contact us to learn more: info@etronica.com
http://www.etronica.com
_____________________________________________

Digital Media Wire, Inc. leverages its integrated media network to provide
exceptional value to individuals and companies determined to capitalize on
the convergence of media, entertainment and technology. Digital Media
Wire, the first in a series of business-intelligence publications,
delivers original daily briefings on the business, legal and financial
developments shaping digital media.

Digital Media Wire is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an international
network of publications that includes Potomac Tech Wire, New England Tech
Wire, Southeast Tech Wire, Bay Area Tech Wire, Tri-state Tech Wire and
European Tech Wire. The network reaches more than 62,000 individuals from
over 70 countries worldwide each business day.

Upcoming publications, events & information at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com 

Questions, Comments & Suggestions to:
tinzar@digitalmediawire.com 

News Tips, Scoops & Press Releases to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com 
_____________________________________________

Editor: Mark Hefflinger
Chief Executive Officer: Ned Sherman
VP, Marketing and Events: Tinzar Than

Copyright 2003 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.