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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- February 15, 2001
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To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com

o Sen. Orrin Hatch Orders Third Round of Hearings on Digital Music
o CNET: Digital Locker Provider MyPlay to Lay Off 41% of Staff
o Interactive TV Developer ACTV to Acquire Intellocity for $32 Million
o Intel to Shut Down Streaming Media Services Division
o Gemstar Files Patent Infringement Complaint Against Rival iTV Companies
o Sunhawk.com CEO Resigns; Acquisition Will Lead to New Leadership
o ASC and Creative Planet Launch Cinematographer.com
> Digital Media Wire Interactive Gaming Panel: -- SOLD OUT
o Briefly Noted: Video game piracy, NVIDIA - Xbox, Videosport.com,
BroadBang, Jon Brion, Musicmaker.com, MSNBC.com - BET.com
_____________________________________________

> Job Postings: Dir./Mgr. of Public Relations, Biz Dev/Sales,
Project Mgr./E-Commerce

> Events: "2001 Wharton Technology & Media Conference"

Full Job/Event descriptions listed below "Briefly Noted" section or at
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/postings.html

To Post a Job: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobs.html
To Post an Event: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html
_____________________________________________

o Sen. Orrin Hatch Orders Third Round of Hearings on Digital Music

Washington -- Prompted by the recent ruling of the Ninth Circuit court
against Napster, Sen. Orrin Hatch has called for a third round of hearings
on digital music issues, Inside.com reported. Hatch has criticized major
record labels, which have been slow to license copyrights they hold on the
majority of the world's recorded music necessary for a legal file-sharing
service. Although Hatch admitted that the current version of Napster
"threatens" the principle of artists being paid for their creativity, the
Senator said that shutting down Napster would not serve the public
interest. "I would expect that my colleagues, like me, will be contacted
by the over 50 million Napster fans who oppose the injunction and fear the
demise of Napster," Hatch said. "This may prompt a legislative response."
Napster was quick to applaud Hatch's comments and action in a statement:
"On behalf of Napster, I want to commend Senator Hatch for his ongoing
leadership, his decision to hold hearings, and his willingness to offer
assistance to reach a resolution between Napster and the major recording
companies," said Hank Barry, CEO of Napster. "I have contacted the RIAA
about how to best work with Senator Hatch on moving forward toward an
agreement, which we have been seeking for nearly a year. Our alliance with
Bertelsmann can and should stand as a model." Hatch said on the Senate
floor on Wednesday that Napster's alliance with Bertelsmann to create a
paid subscription service for music file-sharing was a step in the right
direction. "I was pleased when Bertelsmann took the initiative in
harnessing the consumer demand evidenced by Napster and decided to work
cooperatively together to develop a service that would benefit both of
them and those they seek to serve -- the artists and music fans," said
Hatch.
http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=23618&pod_id=9
http://www.napster.com
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o CNET: Digital Locker Provider MyPlay to Lay Off 41% of Staff

Redwood City, Calif. -- MyPlay, a provider of online digital music
storage, said it will lay off 41 percent of its staff, or 22 employees,
CNET reported on Thursday. The company cited the current advertising
market as reason for the layoffs, which will affect its marketing,
administration and communications departments. Redwood City-based MyPlay
also announced that it will soon launch a business service that offers
websites the technology to create subscription-based music services.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4835775.html?tag=mn_hd
http://www.myplay.com
_____________________________________________

o Interactive TV Developer ACTV to Acquire Intellocity for $32 Million

New York -- ACTV, a developer of interactive television technology,
announced on Thursday that it will acquire Intellocity, a Denver-based
interactive television firm for $32 million in stock. The company will
remain in Denver and maintain its current management. Intellocity develops
iTV portals, "walled garden" content, enhanced television programs, VOD
systems and interactive advertising for clients including AT&T, ESPN and
Sony. New York-based ACTV will integrate Intellocity's products and
services into its own technical and creative services, tools and products
for the deployment of interactive television. The company's partners
include set-top box maker Motorola, Liberty Digital and interactive
television software developer OpenTV.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010215/ny_actv_in.html
http://www.actv.com
http://www.intellocity.com
_____________________________________________

o Intel to Shut Down Streaming Media Services Division

New York -- Intel has announced that it will shut down its Intel Internet
Media Services Division, citing "changes in market conditions,"
Streamingmedia.com reported. The content distribution unit had been in
existence for less than a year, offering streaming services to companies
such as Nasdaq.com, StreamAudio and Premiere Radio Networks. "The business
models for content delivery haven't developed as expected and there's a
general economic downturn," an Intel spokesperson told Streamingmedia.com.
"Being a content distributor wasn't the right decision for us… Intel still
believes in the audio and video space and is still continuing use in that
area, but just not in distribution."
http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?news=6826
http://www.intel.com/internetservices/media/
_____________________________________________

o Gemstar Files Patent Infringement Complaint Against Rival iTV Companies

Pasadena, Calif. -- Gemstar-TV Guide International, developer of an online
program listing for interactive television, has filed a complaint with the
International Trade Commission against rival interactive television
developers Pioneer, Scientific Atlanta, EchoStar and SCI Systems
Corporation. The complaint alleges the companies are illegally importing
set-top boxes that contain interactive program guides that infringe on
Gemstar's patents. The company's claims fall under a section of the Tariff
Act that prohibits the importation into the United States of articles that
infringe valid U.S. patents. Gemstar is seeking an end to the imports, an
injunction against the companies selling imported set-tops, and damages
for units already sold. "Gemstar-TV Guide keeps an open licensing policy
and has always been ready to offer reasonable licensing terms to
accommodate licensee needs," said Jonathan Orlick, Senior Vice President
and Deputy General Counsel. Pasadena-based Gemstar's interactive program
guide is an updated service downloaded to set-top boxes, which allows
users to see what's on television and choose programs they wish to record.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010215/ok_tv_guid.html
http://www.gemstar.co.uk
_____________________________________________

o Sunhawk.com CEO Resigns; Acquisition Will Lead to New Leadership

Seattle -- Sunhawk.com, an Internet digital asset management and digital
publishing company, announced on Thursday that CEO Marlin J. Eller is
resigning from the company and will acquire the assets of Sunhawk.com's
digital sheet music publishing unit. Following the sale of the unit to
Eller, the company plans to acquire A.N.N. Automation, Inc., a provider of
digital video asset and resource management systems for the news broadcast
industry. Sunhawk will acquire all of A.N.N's outstanding stock in
exchange for 36 percent of Sunhawk's outstanding stock. A.N.N.'s
management team will take over leadership of Sunhawk, which expects to
change its name and move its operations to Los Angeles. Seattle-based
Sunhawk.com says that its copyright control services have aided in
shutting down over 5,000 illegal Internet sites and removed from Internet
distribution over 500,000 pieces of illegal software.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010214/wa_sunhawk.html
http://www.sunhawk.com
http://www.copyrightcontrol.com
http://www.nmaker.com
_____________________________________________

o ASC and Creative Planet Launch Cinematographer.com

Hollywood, Calif. -- Creative Planet, a business-to-business provider of
production management technology and Internet resources for the film, TV,
commercial and music video industries, announced on Thursday that it has
partnered with The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) on a new
Cinematographer.com website. The site will offer news and discussion of
cinematography, global vendor and equipment directories, online portfolio
services and job and event listings. Content will be provided by ASC
members, American Cinematographer magazine and Creative Planet's editorial
staff. "Our goal is to provide a broad platform for distributing reliable
news, and discussing issues that are important to cinematographers and the
broader community of filmmakers," said ASC president Victor J. Kemper.
"This is consistent with our primary mission of advancing both the art and
craft of filmmaking." Los Angeles-based Creative Planet provides online
resources for the motion picture industry as well as proprietary software
that can be used in coordinating production and movie budgets.
http://www.creativeplanet.com/msnewsroom/film/0,8100,163|25509,00.html
http://www.cinematographer.com
_____________________________________________

***EVENT IS SOLD OUT***
> Digital Media Wire Panel: "Interactive Gaming on the Internet"

Interactive gaming is a $6.5 billion market with sales rivaling those of
the motion picture box offices. Forrester Research forecasts that
interactive gaming will be a $26 billion market by 2005. Which
technologies and business models will drive this expanding market? Will
entertainment companies profit from gaming on the Internet? Digital Media
Wire will hold a dinner and panel discussion: "Interactive Gaming on the
Internet: Recent Developments and New Opportunities" on Thursday, February
15, 2001 at the Argyle Hotel in Los Angeles. Moderator: Victor Hwang, COO,
larta. Confirmed panelists: Jim Charne, Attorney and former President,
Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences; Brian Dearth, CEO, Hollywood
Stock Exchange; Tracy Fullerton, President, Spiderdance; Chris Kantrowitz,
CEO, The Groove Alliance; Mark Kapczynski, Principal Consultant, Microsoft
Media & Entertainment Group.

For more information:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/panel1.html
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(San Francisco) Twelve game developers have filed copyright infringement
lawsuits against four website operators who offer illegal "warez" or "rom"
versions of their games for free on the Internet, the Associated Press
reported. The suit seeks to shut down the sites, as well as $150,000 per
infringement. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include 3DO, Activision, Capcom,
Eidos Interactive, Electronic Arts, LucasArts Entertainment, Interplay,
Microsoft, Midway Games, and Nintendo.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4821147.html?tag=cd_mh

(Santa Clara, Calif.) Graphics chipmaker NVIDIA announced that it has
completed the processors commissioned by Microsoft that will be used in
the company's Xbox gaming console. The Graphics Processing Unit and Media
Communications Processor will now be sent in development kits to game
developers. Microsoft will soon begin manufacturing the game console in
plants worldwide for its scheduled fall release.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010214/ca_nvidia.html
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,41826,00.html
http://www.nvidia.com
http://www.xbox.com

(Dallas, Texas) Live sporting event webcaster Videosport.com will today
begin offering users pay-per-view streaming video of European soccer
matches, Streamingmedia.com reported. The first game -- between AEK Athens
and Barcelona -- will be broadcast on Thursday and cost $6.99. Texas-based
Videosport.com -- which has ties to Bertelsmann and has formed
partnerships with over 300 European soccer clubs -- believes that the
market for European soccer is underserved by television in the U.S.
http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=6830
http://www.videosport.com

(New York) BroadBang, a developer of interactive television programming
for Hispanic audiences, announced on Thursday the launch of its services.
The company creates programming -- such as soap operas -- that invite
audience members to determine the fate of their favorite characters, as
well as interactive advertising. New York-based BroadBang is developing
its technology for a range of interactive television platforms and is
currently developing a proprietary cross-platform programming pilot
targeting the U.S. Hispanic audience.
http://www.broadbang.tv

(Los Angeles) Online music network ARTISTdirect.com announced on Thursday
that musician Jon Brion will release his first solo recording,
"Meaningless," exclusively through ARTISTdirect. Brion has produced albums
for such artists as Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple and Rufus Wainwright, and
composed the score to the film "Magnolia," which received a Grammy
nomination last year. Los Angeles-based ARTISTdirect provides artists such
as At the Drive-In and Beck with websites and marketing services.
http://www.jonbrion.com
http://www.artistdirect.com

(Reston, Va.) Musicmaker.com, a company that formerly provided online
custom CDs, announced on Thursday that it will make a cash distribution of
$3.00 per share. Last month, the company -- which had substantial cash,
but faced a very difficult business climate -- approved a plan to
liquidate all of its assets and pay out the remaining cash to its
shareholders. The company's site is no longer in operation.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010215/wr/musicmaker_payout_dc_1.html

(Redmond, Wash.) MSNBC.com announced on Thursday that it has formed a
content distribution partnership with African American site BET.com. Under
the deal, BET.com will be provided with daily headlines from MSNBC.com,
while BET.com will provide African American news, features and special
reports to various sections of MSNBC.com, including its "Race in America"
running feature.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/raceinamerica_front.asp
http://www.bet.com

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Job Postings:
===================================================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobs.html

> Load Media Network, Director/Manager of Public Relations - Los Angeles

Develop and execute Load Media's PR strategy. Manage relationship
with external PR agency. Implement standard public relations and
communications practices including but not limited to: media tours, events
and trade shows, desk side briefings, media pitching, press release
development, approvals and distribution, and message documents. 4-8 years
marketing/advertising experience. Send resumes to danderson@loadmedia.com
http://www.loadmedia.com
______________________

> everse, Business Development / Sales - Los Angeles

Internet professional services firm seeks star sales person to identify
and drive strategic business to closure. Assist clients in defining
business objectives, goals and budgets. Position requires establishing
and maintaining long-term relationships with client base. Bachelor's
degree, MBA preferred. History of closing web service business or
agency-related. Ability to generate leads through cold-calling. Send
resumes to stevey@everse.com
http://www.everse.com
______________________

> RichFX, Project Manager / E-commerce - New York City

Change the face of on-line shopping by helping to create the world's
first ONE PAGE storefront. This is an opportunity to work on truly
breakthrough, cutting-edge technology. Very competitive salary and equity
in a well-funded mature startup. Professional, but business casual
environment. Comprehensive benefits package.
Send resumes to nyrecruiter@richfx.com
http://www.richfx.com

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Event Postings:
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To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html

> 2001 Wharton Technology & Media Conference, Feb. 15-17 - Philadelphia

"Managing in a Converging World" -- Featured Keynote Speakers: George
Conrages, CEO, Akamai Technologies; Joseph P. Nacchio, Chairman and
CEO,Qwest Communications International; Ellen Hancock, Chairman and
CEO, Exodus Communications. Panelists include Hank Barry, Napster,
and Jonathan Sacks, AOL Service. For more info:
soyoung2@wharton.upenn.edu
http://www.whartontechmedia.com
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