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Past Editions

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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- April 12, 2001
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To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com

o Webcasters, RIAA Propose Plans to Charge Royalties for Web Radio
o Report: Digital TV Recorders Will be in 20 Million Homes by 2005
o Yahoo To Lay Off 12% of Worldwide Staff
o Linux-Based Video Game Maker Indrema Ceases Operations
o Microsoft to Limit Support for MP3 Format in New Version of Windows
o Aroma Technology Developer DigiScents Shuts Down, Laying Off 70
o New York Times Company Announces Layoffs
o Digital Media Delivery Firm Loudeye Lays Off 45% of Staff
o Industry Standard's European Magazine Suspends Operations
> Digital Media Wire Panels: "Digital Copyright Crossroads" - LA, D.C.
> Note to Readers: Next edition to publish on Monday
o Briefly Noted: Comcast - TVGateway, Webnoize, Liquid Audio patent,
BeHere - NBA, Gemstar-TV Guide, Planetweb - Playstation 2
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> Job Postings: Ad Sales Exec., Development Associate, Media Planner

> Events/Services: "Call for Entries: Short Attention Span Festival"

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 Webcasters, RIAA Propose Plans to Charge Royalties for Web Radio

Washington -- The RIAA and the Digital Media Association (DiMA) -- a group
representing webcasters -- have both submitted proposals to the U.S.
Copyright Office on how to charge webcasters royalties to be paid to
composers, Wired News reported Thursday. The DiMA proposal would charge
online radio stations $0.0015 per listener hour to play music, which is
similar to the rate charged to terrestrial radio stations. The RIAA's
proposal would charge webcasters $0.004 for each song that is streamed to
listeners. The differing proposals could be very significant though, as
the plan that is eventually adopted will make webcasters retroactively pay
royalties on songs streamed since October 1998, when the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act went into effect.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,42994,00.html
http://www.digmedia.org
http://www.riaa.org
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o Report: Digital TV Recorders Will be in 20 Million Homes by 2005

Boston -- The integration of hard drives and digital TV recording software
into electronic devices -- particularly satellite receivers and cable
set-top boxes -- will lead to their adoption into 20 million U.S. homes in
the year 2005, according to research firm The Yankee Group. The firm
predicts that the integration of TiVo and UltimateTV-type products with
satellite and digital cable services will result in 880,000 units
installed in U.S. homes by the end of this year.
http://www.yankeegroup.com/webfolder/yg21a.nsf/press/208D3F16E90B978D85256A2A0062FFC6?OpenDocument
_____________________________________________

o Yahoo To Lay Off 12% of Worldwide Staff

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Internet portal Yahoo announced that it will lay
off 400 employees, or about 12 percent of its entire workforce, as part of
adjustments the company is making to cut costs. The company's earnings
report, however, did beat analysts' expectations. Yahoo said that the
layoffs will result in savings of $7 to $9 million per quarter. The
company also said it would make additional efforts to save money by
eliminating some secondary services, spending less on promotions and
marketing, and outsourcing some operations. "We made some decisions that
were difficult, but which ultimately balance the investment in our growth
areas with the adjustments to our near-term business plan to better
position Yahoo for long-term growth," said Yahoo CEO Tim Koogle.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010411/0403.html
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o Linux-Based Video Game Maker Indrema Ceases Operations

Alameda, Calif. -- Indrema, a company working to develop a video game
console based on the Linux operating system, has ceased operations. A note
on the company's website reads: "This decision marked the end of a
prolonged and unsuccessful attempt to secure subsequent round funding to
support continued operation. Our vision to empower independent game
developers to take control of their future and redefine the next
generation of interactive entertainment lives on in the hearts of many
hopeful and ambitious creators, artists and innovators." CNET reported
that the company laid off its 50 or so employees last week. The company
hoped to encourage smaller developers to make games for its system. Due to
its reliance on the free, open-source Linux system, developers would not
be charged royalty fees on the software kits needed to develop games.
http://www.indrema.com/servlet/site?page=closure_info.html
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5578733.html?tag=mn_hd
_____________________________________________

o Microsoft to Limit Support for MP3 Format in New Version of Windows

New York -- Microsoft said it will only support playback of MP3 files in
low-quality audio in its upcoming Windows XP operating system, The Wall
Street Journal reported on Thursday. The move is seen as an effort to push
consumers to instead use its Windows Media Audio format for digital music,
which comes embedded with digital rights management technology that makes
it harder for users to copy files. The Microsoft audio format has been
endorsed by the recording industry, and is currently being used by a
number of record labels to distribute music online.
http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,23659,00.html
_____________________________________________

o Aroma Technology Developer DigiScents Shuts Down, Laying Off 70

Oakland, Calif. -- DigiScents, a developer of technology that produced
familiar smells based on chemical combinations released through a box
connected to a PC, has shut down its U.S. and Israeli operations and fired
all 70 employees, TheStandard.com reported on Thursday. The company was
looking to market its technology to game developers, who could have used
it to provoke a more realistic experience in their games. "The fact that
we are such a novel technology and application has always made it
difficult for us because we didn't fit very neatly in any of the existing
categories for venture investors or traditional investors," said
DigiScents CEO and co-founder Joel Bellenson.
http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,23654,00.html
http://www.digiscents.com
_____________________________________________

o New York Times Company Announces Layoffs

New York -- The New York Times Company announced on Thursday that it will
begin a "staff reduction program" that will affect all units within the
company. The company did not disclose how many employees would be laid off
during the three-month program. "Given the slowdown in advertising and the
cloudy economic outlook for the remainder of the year, we believe that it
is prudent to accelerate our ongoing cost control efforts, including a
reduction in staffing levels," said Russell T. Lewis, president and CEO of
The New York Times Company. "Once the economic clouds dissipate, we expect
to emerge stronger than ever."
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/cnn-storydisplay.cgi?story=/www/bw/webbox/bw.041201/211022430.htm
_____________________________________________

o Digital Media Delivery Firm Loudeye Lays Off 45% of Staff

Seattle -- Loudeye Technologies, a provider of digital media delivery
services, announced that it will lay off 45 percent of its staff, or about
135 employees, and will close some offices in an effort to reduce costs.
Seattle-based Loudeye said the measures will save the company about $12
million annually. The company also said it is currently integrating the
services of recently-acquired streaming song sample provider DiscoverMusic
and online radio firm OnAir Streaming Networks.
http://www.loudeye.com/news-events/releases/restructure_4_11_2001.html
_____________________________________________

o Industry Standard's European Magazine Suspends Operations

San Francisco -- Standard Media International, the company that publishes
technology business publication The Industry Standard, has suspended
publication of its European edition, Reuters reported. A source said that
eight employees will remain to run the European version of the company's
website and to staff the company's bureaus in Europe. The total number of
layoffs was undisclosed. The source also told Reuters that Standard Media
was seeking a buyer for the magazine to avoid shutting it down.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5573319.html?tag=ch_mh
http://www.thestandard.com
_____________________________________________

> Digital Media Wire Panels: Los Angeles, CA and Washington, D.C.

"Digital Copyright Crossroads:
Does Digital Rights Management Have The Right of Way?"

Los Angeles | Sponsored by Jones Day Reavis & Pogue

MODERATOR:
- Jim Griffin, CEO of Cherry Lane Digital, Founder of Evolab,
Co-founder of the 'pho' list

PANELISTS:
- Scott Dinsdale, EVP of Digital Strategy,
Motion Picture Association (MPA)
- Russell Frackman, Attorney, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP,
Lead counsel for the RIAA in their litigation vs. Napster
- Robin Gross, Attorney, Fair Use & Intellectual Property,
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
- Jonathan Potter, Executive Director, Digital Media Association (DiMA)

*Additional panelists TBA.
Date: Wednesday, April 25th, 2001
CLE credit has been applied for with the California State Bar.
CLE credit may be available in other states as well.
For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/LAcopyright.html
Sponsorships >> Michael Hoinski at michael@digitalmediawire.com

- - - - -
Washington, D.C.

SPEAKERS:
- Fritz Attaway, EVP & Washington General Counsel,
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
- Russell Frackman, Attorney, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP,
Lead counsel for the RIAA in their litigation vs. Napster
- Declan McCullagh, Washington Bureau Chief, Wired News
- Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights, U.S. Copyright Office
- Jonathan Potter, Executive Director, Digital Media Association (DiMA)

*Additonal panelists TBA.
Date: Wednesday, May 9th, 2001
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/DCcopyright.html
Sponsorships >> Michael Hoinski at michael@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________

> Note to Readers

Digital Media Wire will not publish on Friday, April 13, in observance of
religious holidays. The next edition will be published on Monday, April
16.
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(Philadelphia, Pa.) Cable TV provider Comcast Cable Corporation announced
on Thursday that it will deploy an interactive program guide developed by
TVGateway for 250,000 of its digital cable subscribers. TVGateway is a
joint venture of a group of cable TV operators, including Adelphia,
Charter, Comcast, Cox and WorldGate. Pennsylvania-based Comcast also has a
20-year deal with Gemstar-TV Guide Intl. to provide interactive program
guides that list program times and allow for easy recording.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010411/2544.html
http://www.comcast.com

(Cambridge, Mass.) Internet analyst firm Webnoize predicts that by 2006
online music and video services will generate annual revenues of $2.9
billion from content streamed directly to mobile devices, according to a
recently published report. The company also says that it believes
consumers are willing to pay for content streamed to their devices. "As
new wireless networks unleash the services they crave, tens of millions of
consumers around the world will use wireless devices to gain ubiquitous
access to content, generating billions of dollars in revenue in the
process," said Webnoize analyst Matt Bailey.
http://www.webnoize.com

(Redwood City, Calif.) Downloadable music distributor Liquid Audio said on
Thursday that it has been granted a patent for its technique of embedding
watermark data in digital music files. Watermarking is a process whereby
data that defines permissions for a digital music track is converted into
sound, then "mixed" with the music.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010411/sfw095.html
http://www.liquidaudio.com

(Cupertino, Calif.) BeHere Corporation said on Thursday that the NBA will
use its 360-degree streaming video technology in its free webcast of a
Dallas Mavericks-Sacramento Kings game. Cupertino-based BeHere will place
a camera on the scorer's table during the game that will allow Internet
users to pan, tilt and zoom-in on the game at will.
http://www.behere.com/nba.htm
http://www.nba.com/theater/live_game.html?nav=SiteFragment

(New York) Gemstar-TV Guide International announced on Thursday the launch
of Web Guide, a daily guide to live Internet events. Coverage will include
music, sports, television, movies and news. Editorial content on notable
online events in each content category will also be provided. New
York-based Gemstar's Web Guide will compete with five-year-old Yack.com,
which recently announced layoffs and the departure of its CEO.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010412/0116.html
http://www.tvguide.com/webguide/

(Redwood Shores, Calif.) Planetweb, a provider of applications and
services for consumer electronic devices, said on Thursday that it will
offer a Web browser and email software compatible with Sony's Playstation
2 game console to the Japanese market. The Egbrowser will be compatible
with multiple modems developed for Playstation 2.
http://www.planetweb.com/news/releases/release.html?file=pr041201

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

> emap usa, Advertising Sales Executive - New York City

Publishers of specialist & general interest lifestyle magazines is
currently seeking candidate with relentless drive and enthusiasm for
FHMus.com, the online version of men's magazine FHM. Focusing on
optimizing advertising and sponsorship revenue, you will create strategic
promotional programs and implement web initiatives. Require advertising /
sales exp. in dot-com environment.
Send resume and cover letter to digitalresume@emapusa.com
http://www.emapusa.com
______________________

> iNetNow, Development Associate - Los Angeles

Developer needed to enhance both internal and external web-based
applications, data synchronization and CRM products. Will perform in-depth
programming in a Microsoft development environment. Architectural and
design experience with relational database systems and experience with
NT/Win2k networks required. Must be able to work under minimal
supervision. Send resume to employment@inetnow.com
http://www.inetnow.com
______________________

> Circle.com, Media Planner - New York City

Leading Internet solutions provider to Fortune 1000 companies and emerging
Internet businesses seeks a Media Planner to assist in development of
online media plans and review online advertising reports by placement, by
creative, by site - to provide analysis and optimization recommendations.
Online advertising experience is required.
Send resume to nyjobs@circle.com
http://www.circle.com

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

> Call for Entries: Short Attention Span Festival

The Ninth Annual Short Attention Span Film and Video Festival will travel
to 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Entries up to 2 minutes TRT will be
accepted. This year there is NO ENTRY FEE! Cash prizes and all kinds of
other good stuff will be awarded to the lucky winners. Official Entry
Form: http://www.shortspan.com/submit_work/index.cfm
ACT NOW! DEADLINE IS APRIL 15TH!!!
______________________

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