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March 1, 2004 -- About Us | Advertise | Events | Publications | Subscribe

Main Stories
o Bronfman Group Seals $2.6 Billion Warner Music Buy; Hilfiger Invests $25M
o Appeals Court Rules DeCSS Code Free Speech in Trade Secret Case
o Disney Licenses Acacia Research Patent on Streaming Media
o Rockstar Games Sets October Release for "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"
o Search Engine Contextual Ad Developer Quigo Raises $5 Million
o Disney Mobile to Offer Content to Vodafone Subscribers in 14 Countries
o Digital Camera Sensor Maker IC Media Raises $22.5 Million


 > DMW Announcements
 --DMW Events
   -Games & Mobile Forum - Early-Bird Registrations

 > Featured Advertisement:
 --Digital Media Law Report
 --PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment and Media Outlook
 

o Briefly Noted: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - 2004 Athens Olympics game, Majesco - Nickelodeon, Fandango - "Passion" advance sales, Mforma - CBS SportsLine.com, Nokia - Hudson Soft, DivXNetworks, News sites - user registration forms

 
> Job/Event/Marketplace Classifieds:
 --
HireStrategy - Financial Manager
 --Senior Manager, Corporate Public Affairs - Washington, DC
 --
Advertising Services CFO
 --Sr. Accountant
 --Director of Finance 
 --Product Manager
 --PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment and Media Outlook
 --Reach Federal Contractors Selling Technologies for Homeland Security
 --IT Perm and Contract Placement Services
 --Participate in the NJTC - Rutgers Business Climate Survey 
 


o Bronfman Group Seals $2.6 Billion Warner Music Buy; Hilfiger Invests $25M

New York -- Time Warner announced on Monday that it has completed the sale of its Warner Music Group record label division to an investor group led by Thomas H. Lee Partners, Edgar Bronfman, Jr.'s Music Capital Partners, Bain Capital and Providence Equity Partners, for $2.6 billion in cash. Under the terms, Time Warner retains the right to buy up to 19.9% of the company under certain circumstances. "Over the past several weeks, members of the investor group and I have been working very closely with WMG's senior management, and we intend to move quickly to implement a strategy that will enable the company not only to meet the challenges of the current environment, but also to take full advantage of future opportunities," said Edgar Bronfman, Jr., the new chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group. Sources told The Los Angeles Times that Bronfman plans to lay off 20% of Warner Music Group's 5,300 employees in a restructuring aimed at saving the company an annual $200 million. Also, The New York Post reported on Monday that clothing retailer Tommy Hilfiger has invested $25 million in the new company.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040301/15702_1.html 
http://www.latimes.com/business/cl-et-leeds1mar01,1,3752802.story
http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040301/15/3if52.html 
http://www.wmg.com
_____________________________________________

o Appeals Court Rules DeCSS Code Free Speech in Trade Secret Case

San Jose, Calif. -- A California appeals court has overturned a 1999 ruling that banned publication of computer code that can crack the encryption security on DVD movies, saying that the ruling was unconstitutional in that it violated First Amendment free speech protections. California's Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that the DVD Copy Control Association's CSS code was in fact no longer a "trade secret" -- as it was commonly available on the Internet -- when defendant Andrew Bunner published the DeCSS code that may be used to defeat it online. The case deals with a specific instance of publication and California's trade secret laws, and does not make it legal to publish DeCSS online. "The Court of Appeals correctly recognized the obvious conclusion that information that is in the public domain and that has been republished for years around the world can't be a trade secret," said Bunner's attorney, Richard Wiebe.
http://www.eff.org/IP/Video/DVDCCA_case/20040227_eff_pr.php
http://news.com.com/2100-1026-5166887.html 
http://www.dvdcca.org
_____________________________________________

o Disney Licenses Acacia Research Patent on Streaming Media

Newport Beach, Calif. -- Acacia Research, a company claiming to hold a patent that covers basic streaming media technology, announced last week that it has entered into a license agreement with Disney Enterprises, for use of its "Digital Media Transmission" technology on Disney, ESPN and ABC News websites. Many experts have doubted Acacia's patent claim on technology commonly used to deliver audio and video on the Internet, but a growing number of companies have licensed the technology rather than battle the company in court. Although Newport Beach, Calif.-based Acacia has mainly targeted smaller webcasters and adult entertainment providers with their licensing activities, the company said it has now entered into 116 license agreements for its technology with companies in the hotel in-room entertainment, e-learning, and online music, movie, sports, news, information and adult entertainment industries. These other licensees include Radio Free Virgin, LodgeNet and Vivid Entertainment.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040226/265278_1.html 
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3318751
http://www.acaciaresearch.com
____________________________________________

o Rockstar Games Sets October Release for "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"

New York -- Rockstar Games, the video game publishing unit of Take-Two Interactive responsible for the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise, announced on Monday that it will release the next game in the series, "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" for PlayStation 2, on Oct. 19 in North America and Oct. 22 in Europe. New York-based Rockstar said that over 30 million units of the Grand Theft Auto franchise have been shipped to date, including over 11.5 million units of "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" and over 10.5 million units of "Grand Theft Auto 3." The games have also been a continuous source of controversy for their violence, prompting an outright ban in Australia, protests over the treatment of Haitians within the game, and impetus for U.S. lawmakers in several states to attempt to impose penalties on the sales of such games to minors.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040301/15419_1.html 
http://www.take2games.com 
http://www.rockstargames.com ____________________________________________

o Search Engine Contextual Ad Developer Quigo Raises $5 Million

New York -- Quigo Technologies, a developer of search engine marketing technologies including contextual advertising solutions, announced on Monday that it has raised $5 million in its first round of funding, from Highland Capital Partners. In connection with the funding, Lycos founder Bob Davis, now with Highland Capital, will take a seat on Quigo's board of directors. New York-based Quigo's products AdSonar and FeedPoint are used by partners including Overture Services and AltaVista to provide publishers and advertisers with more precise methods of targeting consumers with the ads they place on Internet search engines. The company will use the funds to support growth and the continued research and development of its search and contextual advertising technologies.
http://www.quigo.com/press030104.htm ____________________________________________

o Disney Mobile to Offer Content to Vodafone Subscribers in 14 Countries N

orth Hollywood, Calif. -- Walt Disney Internet Group on Monday announced an agreement with wireless network operator Vodafone, to provide Disney Mobile services to Vodafone customers in 14 international markets. Disney-branded content -- based on both live-action and animated properties -- including logos, wallpapers, animated wallpapers and mobile games will now be available to Vodafone subscribers in Australia; Egypt; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Malta; The Netherlands; New Zealand; Portugal; Spain; Sweden and Switzerland.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040301/15240_1.html 
http://www.vodafone.com 
http://disney.go.com/disneymobile ____________________________________________

o Digital Camera Sensor Maker IC Media Raises $22.5 Million

Santa Clara, Calif. -- IC Media, a manufacturer of digital camera sensors used in mobile phones, announced on Monday that it has raised $22.5 million in its third round of venture capital financing, led by UMC Capital. In addition to cell phones, Santa Clara, Calif.-based IC Media's CMOS digital sensors are also used in digital still cameras, PC cameras, digital camcorders, toys, surveillance systems, environmental monitors and applications for the automotive, medical and industrial markets. The company will use the funds to accelerate its production process, as well as for general corporate purposes.
http://www.ic-media.com

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 > DMW Events:



2nd
Annual
GAMES & MOBILE FORUM

April 15
, 2004  |  New York City
www.gamesandmobile.com

Overview
Games & Mobile Forum is 1-day executive forum focused on business and technology developments impacting games and mobile entertainment.  In 2003, leading executives from entertainment and technology companies including, Yahoo! Games, AOL Games, Atari,  Acclaim, Warner Bros. Online, AtomShockwave, CNET, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Endeavor Agency, Mythic Entertainment and Digital Bridges participated in a series of panels on topics, including "Mobile Games: The Coming Wireless Revolution", "Developing Games Based on Film, Television & Music Properties and Visa-Versa"", and "Advergames: Recent Developments & Opportunities".

REGISTRATION
Early Bird Special: $ 195 (until March 12)
Pre-Registration: $ 295 (until April 9)
Registration: $ 395 (after April 9)

Online :  http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1060 
Phone: 323-464-0793

To submit speakers for the 2004 conference, please send a bio and photo (optional) to Tinzar Than, VP, Marketing & Events, Digital Media Wire, Inc. at tinzar@digitalmediawire.com.


Past Events | Sponsorship Materials | Partners & Clients
 

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> Featured Advertisement: 

Digital Media Law Report
New Featured Section - Volume 1 - 2004

We are pleased to announce that we have added a "Featured Section" to Digital Media Law & Policy Report. This month's featured coverage includes reports on the oral arguments held before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in MGM v. Grokster and a "Post-Conference Report" from MidemNet 2004. We will use this section to provide in depth coverage of certain cases, events and policy developments each month. Subscriptions - Order

Available Now - Volume 1 - 2004 Report - 30 pages - Order



 

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o Briefly Noted:

(London) Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) on Monday announced a licensing agreement with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), exclusive licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to create a game based on the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. U.K.-based developer Eurocom will recreate the seven actual Olympic venues in Athens for the title, which will be released for PlayStation 2 in July just prior to the launch of the Olympics in August.
http://www.eurodltd.co.uk

(Edison, N.J.) Video game developer Majesco announced on Monday an agreement with children's cable TV network Nickelodeon, to distribute its TV series with Majesco's accessory for Nintendo Game Boy Advance that allows users to view video on the handheld gaming device. New Jersey-based Majesco said that its accessory, which enables viewing of up to 45 minutes of video content embedded on a game cartridge, will be released later this year. The Nickelodeon deal includes episodes of programs including "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Jimmy Neutron" and "The Fairly OddParents."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040301/15310_1.html 
http://www.majescogames.com 
http://www.nick.com 
http://www.gba-video.com

(Hollywood) Fandango, a provider of online advance movie ticket sales, said on Monday that the company accounted for an estimated $8.8 million of the $117.5 million five-day opening weekend box office for "The Passion of The Christ," or nearly 8% of the film's ticket sales. Hollywood-based Fandango said that the only film to achieve greater advance sales through its service was "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
http://www.fandango.com

(Santa Monica, Calif.) Mforma, a publisher and distributor of mobile entertainment content, said on Monday that it has partnered with CBS SportsLine.com to create mobile sports products for wireless subscribers. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Mforma will create 18 arcade-style games for sports including baseball, track & field, golf, boxing, football, basketball and hockey; wireless versions of SportsLine.com's online fantasy sports products; and a subscription content product that will offer breaking news, scores and statistics.
http://www.sportsline.com 
http://www.mforma.com

(Helsinki) Nokia announced on Monday that Japanese game developer Hudson Soft will publish a version of its "Bomberman" title for Nokia's N-Gage hybrid cell phone/handheld video game in the second quarter of 2004. The original version of the title, released in 1985 for NES, has sold over one million units worldwide.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040301/295122_1.html
http://www.hudsonsoft.net/ww/index.html 
http://www.n-gage.com

(Guildford, U.K.) DivXNetworks, a provider of video compression technologies, announced that it has opened a European sales and marketing office in Guildford, England. The company's key product is the DivX video codec, a video compression technology with an estimated 100 million users worldwide.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q4C724297 
http://www.divxnetworks.com

(San Francisco) Wired News on Monday reported on what is becoming an industry standard practice for news websites, of asking users for basic demographic information to pass on to advertisers in exchange for free access to their websites. Sites for publications including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post require users to complete an online form before they may access articles. Users are asked to provide as little as their zip code, gender and birth date, or in some cases more detailed information such as household income.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,62467,00.html

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> Classifieds:

> HireStrategy - Financial Manager

Join a progressive health care firm seeking an analyst to assist with valuation and due diligence of health care clinics to assist with corporate growth initiatives. The right candidate must have four plus years of experience with a Big-4 background and exposure to modeling in Excel, or a Wall Street background with exposure to generating discounted cash flows. The manager will oversee a team of five analysts, while providing hands-on deal support. If interested please email resume to mmolinas@hirestrategy.com  or visit http://www.hirestrategy.com/quicklinks/hire170.asp
___________________ 

> Senior Manager, Corporate Public Affairs - Washington, DC

Come work with a dynamic and talented team committed to providing the industry's best online grassroots and constituent management applications. Applicant will be responsible for managing the entire sales cycle from lead generation, to account strategy, to closing; should have demonstrated experience and success selling software or services to government relations, public affairs and/or public relations professionals; or have significant agency experience working with Fortune 1000 companies. Send resumes to salesjob@getactive.com
___________________ 

> Advertising Services CFO

Our client, a leading New England based Advertising Agency, is seeking a CFO. All candidates must have Financial Services experience working within a creative driven marketing services firm. Also, all candidates require a CPA and at least 10 plus years of professional experience. This marketing services firm has roughly 200 people and three, multi-state satellite offices. The CFO will have financial responsibilities for all and a small team of reports. This position is located in New England, not Boston, and will require 100% company paid relocation. Send resumes to info@market-search.net
___________________ 

> Sr. Accountant

Support the CFO of fast-growing, Information Technology firm in Silver Spring. Responsibilities: A/R and A/P; monthly financial forecasts and cash flow statements; bank reconciliations; benchmarking and other financial analysis; financial presentations; and administrative accounting support. Required: B.S. in Accounting or Finance, demonstrated exp. in Excel. Knowledge of QuickBooks, past exp. in government accounting environments a plus; CPA preferred. Starts PT March 1, transitions to FT April 1. Competitive compensation pkg. w/ great benefits. Send resume to info@e-mcinc.com
___________________ 

> Director of Finance

Supervise an effective system of internal accounting controls and safeguarding of assets. Establish/Understand company-wide budgets and forecasts and oversee implementation among departments. Prepare and oversee Irides accounting and financial reporting including: gl, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit and collections, payroll, fixed assets, budgeting, bank account and balance sheet account reconciliation. Provide accounting and analytical support to the COO and other members. Comply with corporate policies and procedures. Send resumes to jobs@irides.com  No calls please.
___________________ 

> Product Manager

Top Tier Software Manufacturer, based in New York looking for experienced Product Manager for the Princeton, NJ, Manhattan or Lisle, IL locations. Define and manage product strategy and requirements for mainframe Performance Management solutions. Perform market research, competitive intelligence and analysis. Work with Development to plan product release deliverables. 4+ years Mainframe Performance Management experience. Strong mainframe(z/OS) configuration and performance tuning skills. Experience with product life cycle. Send resumes to fgreene@lloydit.com
___________________

> PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment and Media Outlook

Purchase the book every entertainment and media executive must have. The PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2003-2007 analyzes key trends and forecasts spending in the U.S. and Canada across 14 industry segments, including a Global Overview that forecasts spending and analyzes trends worldwide (also sold separately). More Information
___________________

> Reach Federal Contractors Selling Technologies for Homeland Security

The 2003-2004 Directory of Homeland Security has complete listings for 532 companies selling technologies and services devoted to homeland defense. Nearly all major federal contractors are included in the section, which includes company names, key personnel, addresses, phone and fax numbers, urls, annual revenues, number of employees, business sector, general descriptions and homeland security relevance. To order the 2003-2004 edition, click here.
___________________

> IT Perm and Contract Placement Services

Technical Staffing Solutions specializes in recruiting the hard to find candidates with or with high level DoD security clearances. We can provide your firm with solutions ranging from 1 permanent employee to a team of consultants for the duration of your short/long term engagement. Send inquiries to skearnes@techstaffsolutions.com or call 703-451-3882 for more information.
___________________ 

> Participate in the NJTC - Rutgers Business Climate Survey

The New Jersey Technology Council and Rutgers University School of Business at Camden are conducting their fourth semi-annual survey to measure the economic health of the technology industry in the region. Please take a few moments to complete the brief questions at the below link. Survey closes 2/29. Send inquiries to pfrank@njtc.org  Visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=70772368163

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About Us
Digital Media Wire, Inc. is a news organization, publisher and events company serving the digital media industry since May 2000. Our daily newsletter delivers original briefings on business, legal and financial developments shaping digital media and read by over 30,000 executives and professionals. To subscribe for free, please click here.

Digital Media Wire, Inc. is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an international network of publications that includes Digital Media Law Report, 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 70,000 individuals from over 70 countries each business day.

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