archives

 events
 about us
 resources
 privacy
 news tips
 contact us
 home

Sign up for our free daily email briefing

Past Editions

===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- February 20, 2003
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com 

o Music Publishers Sue Bertelsmann for $17 Billion Over Napster Investment
o Movie Studios to Pay Asian Informants for Info On Pirate DVD Facilities
o U. of Wyoming Using Audible Magic Technology to ID P2P Files
o Kazaa File-Sharing Service to Add Online Dating Channel from MatchNet

> DMW Digital Music Forum: Keynote Speakers Confirmed 
> DMW Publications: January Law and Policy Report
> Featured Section: I.D. Magazine Call for Entries

o Briefly Noted: USAToday.com - user data collection, Hollywood.com -
Wavexpress - MoviePick, International Multimedia Telecommunications
Consortium - royalty-free H.264/AVC standard, On Command - AtomTelevision,
Sonic Focus - Intel, MPhase Technologies - Lucent Technologies, Templar
Studios - LEGO, Nintendo's Gunpei Yokoi, Digital Rights Summit
_____________________________________________

> Jobs: Web Editor

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

> Marketplace: 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 Music Publishers Sue Bertelsmann for $17 Billion Over Napster Investment

New York -- A group of music publishers including the songwriting team of
Leiber and Stoller have sued German media conglomerate Bertelsmann for $17
billion, arguing that the company's investment in Napster helped
facilitate the pirating of their copyrighted works. The suit, filed in
U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges that Bertelsmann "made a
deliberate and calculated business decision to continue the infringing
service in order to preserve Napster's valuable user base for
Bertelsmann's own benefit." The music publishers are looking to achieve
class action status for the suit, in order to include members of the Harry
Fox Agency, which represents most music publishers. Bertelsmann has yet to
comment on the lawsuit. CD-burning software maker Roxio purchased the
assets of Napster in bankruptcy court, but as part of the transaction did
not take on any of the company's legal liabilities.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=2262259 
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-985285.html?tag=fd_top 
_____________________________________________

o Movie Studios to Pay Asian Informants for Info On Pirate DVD Facilities

Bangkok -- Reuters reports that the Motion Picture Association of America
(MPAA) is stepping up its anti-piracy efforts in the Asia-Pacific region
by allotting $150,000 in rewards for informants who provide information on
pirate DVD facilities. The MPAA began enlisting informants in Hong Kong
last year, and will now expand the practice into India, Indonesia, Korea,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. "The informants
could be anyone, plant engineers or the wife of the guard," Michael Ellis,
Asia-Pacific anti-piracy head for the MPAA, told Reuters. "We'll work with
some informants over a long period. Some people are professional
informants, they can make a good living out of working with us." The MPAA
estimates its member studios lost $3 billion in revenue in 2002 to pirate
DVDs, and $646 million in Asia.
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,57730,00.html 
http://www.mpaa.org/anti-piracy/contact/index.htm 
_____________________________________________

o U. of Wyoming Using Audible Magic Technology to ID P2P Files

Los Gatos, Calif. -- Audible Magic, a provider of audio fingerprinting
technology that can identify digital music files, announced that its
technology is being used to monitor the volume of individual song-trading
on peer-to-peer networks on the University of Wyoming's computer network.
The system could potentially allow for unauthorized files to be blocked
from transmission, while allowing legitimate files on P2P networks to be
traded freely. "There are a growing number of authorized and legitimate
uses for P2P technology within our university, and we feel that Audible
Magic's content-aware approach can provide an ideal long-term solution for
us," said Robert Morrison, director of telecommunications and systems
services at the University of Wyoming.
http://www.audiblemagic.com 
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-985027.html?tag=fd_lede1_hed 
_____________________________________________

o Kazaa File-Sharing Service to Add Online Dating Channel from MatchNet

Los Angeles -- MatchNet, a provider of online dating services, announced
on Thursday that it has entered into an agreement to exclusively provide
an online dating channel on Sharman Networks' Kazaa file-sharing service.
The co-branded content for Kazaa's "Love & Dating" will be powered by Los
Angeles-based MatchNet's AmericanSingles.com site. "We think that Kazaa is
one of the largest online communities in the world and foresee a great
potential in this deal," said MatchNet chairman and CEO Joe Shapira.
http://www.matchnet.com 
http://www.kazaa.com 
_____________________________________________

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

==========================================
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

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________
 
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

==========================================
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

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

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

CALL FOR ENTRIES! 
I.D. MAGAZINE'S INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGN REVIEW
 
I.D. is accepting entries into the 2003 Interactive Media Design Review.
This competition spotlights the year's most innovative interactive designs
in 7 categories -- from CD-ROMs, DVDs, games and kiosks to software
installations, Web sites and experimental work. Send in your best work --
all winning projects will be featured in the November 2003 issue of I.D.
and posted on our Web site at the same time.
 
CONTACT INFO: IDcompetitions@fwpubs.com
http://www.idonline.com/specialoffers.asp?DMWA

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________

Briefly Noted: 

(McLean, Va.) Joining other online newspapers such as The Washington Post,
USAToday.com announced on Thursday that it will begin asking users three
basic demographic questions -- gender, zip code and year of birth -- on
select sections of its site in an effort to provide more targeted
advertising opportunities. "This information collection will help
USAToday.com continue to develop new products and services relevant to
users while enhancing advertisers' interaction with our audience," said
Jeff Webber, senior vice president and publisher of USAToday.com.
http://www.usatoday.com 

(New York) Hollywood.com, a provider of online movie and theater listings,
announced on Thursday that it partnered with broadband technology provider
Wavexpress to launch MoviePick, a broadband PC channel offering
Hollywood-related programming. The site uses New York-based Wavexpress'
TVTonic video plug-in, which automatically downloads and stores encrypted
video on a subscriber's computer at 1500 kbps, providing higher resolution
than streaming. Content will include event coverage, interviews, previews,
reviews and movie showtimes.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030220/202185_1.html 
http://www.hollywood.com 
http://www.wave.com 
http://www.tvtonic.com 

(San Ramon, Calif.) A group of over 20 companies, working in conjunction
with the International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium (IMTC),
have formed an alliance to advocate the approval of a royalty-free profile
for the upcoming H.264 Advanced Video Coding (H.264/AVC) standard. Firms
including Cisco Systems, Deutsche Telekom and Sun Microsystems are
offering their patented technologies royalty-free in an effort to promote
wider adoption. "To promote the growth of new video applications, dozens
of companies, including vendors of proprietary codecs, have offered their
patents on a royalty-free basis for the baseline H.264, providing that
other patent holders do the same," said IMTC Requirements Working Group
chairman Dave Lindbergh.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/230510143&ticker= 
http://www.imtc.org 

(Denver) On Command, a provider of video-on-demand and other in-room
interactive services to the hotel and cruise ship industry, announced on
Thursday that it reached an agreement with AtomTelevision, a sister
company of short films site AtomFilms.com, to feature its short form
animation and live action comedic and dramatic programming. Denver-based
On Command will begin offering AtomTelevision programming to guest in
select hotel properties beginning in March.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030220/lath021_1.html 
http://www.oncommand.com 
http://www.atomfilms.com 

(San Jose, Calif.) Sonic Focus, a provider of digital audio enhancement
technology, said on Thursday that chipmaker Intel will include its
technology on its boards for desktop PCs, beginning in the second quarter
of 2003. Menlo Park, Calif.-based Sonic Focus' technology compensates for
the distortion and lack of clarity introduced by the compression processes
in MP3 files, DVDs, games and CDs, improving the clarity, dynamic range,
brilliance and hi-fidelity for digital audio.
http://www.sonicfocus.com 

(Norwalk, Conn.) MPhase Technologies, a provider of video-over-DSL
technology, announced on Thursday that it has partnered with Lucent
Technologies to develop a joint video-over-DSL product. The combined
offering, which will be marketed to telephone companies, uses
Connecticut-based mPhase's digital set-top box, Lucent's Stinger DSL
Access Concentrator, and mPhase's Broadcast Television Switch, which
provides video networking intelligence to effectively enable video
services over a DSL infrastructure.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030220/202150_1.html 
http://www.mphasetech.com  

(New York) Game developer Templar Studios said on Thursday that it will
produce a sequel to its "Mata Nui" online game for toymaker LEGO's
Bionicle product line. The Flash-based storytelling game series will
launch in the spring and receive updates throughout the year.
http://www.templar.com 
http://www.lego.com 
http://www.bionicle.com  

(San Francisco) The International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
announced on Thursday that it will honor Gunpei Yokoi, creator of
Nintendo's Game Boy handheld gaming device, with the Lifetime Achievement
Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards during CMP Media's Game
Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif.
http://www.igda.org/awards  

(Santa Clara, Calif.) Wired News, CNET News.com and the Associated Press
all provided coverage of the Digital Rights Summit, an event hosted by
Intel and DigitalConsumer.org where representatives from Silicon Valley,
analysts and lawmakers met to discuss the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act's (DMCA) affect on business. "The DMCA's blatant restriction on
circumvention threatens a few of the core foundations of Silicon Valley:
interoperability, innovation without prior permission and Silicon Valley's
[belief in] empowering the consumer," said DigitalConsumer.org co-founder
Joe Kraus. CNET News.com reported that Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said he was
close to introducing a bill that would likely require that CDs or consumer
electronics be clearly labeled if they contained anti-copying
technologies.
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,57740,00.html 
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-985207.html?tag=cd_mh 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33560-2003Feb20.html 
_____________________________________________

===================
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 

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.