archives

o InterTrust Sues Microsoft Over Patents for Copy-Protection Software
o Listen.com Lays Off 24% of Staff
o RIAA and SDMI Clarify Position Against Publishing SDMI Hack Results
o Audio Chip Maker Cirrus Logic Acquires Peak Audio
o Custom Web Radio Firm NextAudio Files for Chapter 11
> Digital Media Wire Seminar: The Future of Digital Entertainment - DC
o Briefly Noted: nGame - Qwest Wireless, Webby Awards, Rob Glaser, Paula
Samuelson
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> Job Postings: Director of Technology, Marketing Associate, Research
Associate

> Events/Services: "Real Road Show 2001," "Digital Horizon Conference & Expo"

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
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o InterTrust Sues Microsoft Over Patents for Copy-Protection Software

Santa Clara, Calif. -- InterTrust, a developer of digital rights
management software, announced late Thursday that it has filed patent
infringement claims against Microsoft for technology in the latest release
of its Windows Media Player. The suit asks for an injunction to prevent
Microsoft from distributing the allegedly-infringing software, as well as
unspecified monetary damages. Microsoft's latest release of its media
player touts added security and copy-protection features for copyright
owners wanting to distribute digital media. Santa Clara-based InterTrust
said the patent in question covers "systems and important system
components for receiving encrypted content and rules, securely managing
content use, and transmitting rights managed content and related rules to
other users." A Microsoft spokesperson told CNET that the company "has
innovated heavily in the area of digital rights management for many years,
and it is unfortunate that InterTrust has chosen to resort to the courts
rather than competing in the marketplace."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010426/sfth152.html
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5744735.html?tag=mn_hd
http://www.intertrust.com
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o Listen.com Lays Off 24% of Staff

San Francisco -- Online music network Listen.com has laid off about 24% of
its staff, or 35 of its 145 employees. The company previously laid off 25
percent of its staff in January, in an effort to focus on syndication of
its services to businesses. The current layoffs will affect all areas of
the San Francisco-based company, but are unrelated to the company's recent
acquisition of music streaming technology firm TuneTo.com. Listen.com
recently released technology that allows its own, authorized music
downloads and artist-related information to appear alongside search
results for users of Napster and other music software.
http://www.listen.com
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o RIAA and SDMI Clarify Position Against Publishing SDMI Hack Results

Washington -- The Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) said on Friday
that it "does not -- nor did it ever -- intend to bring any legal action
against" a Princeton University researcher for publishing the results of
his successful efforts to crack its proposed watermarking copy-protection
technology. The Recording Industry Association of America also distanced
itself from appearing to support litigation against Professor Edward
Felten, who participated in a "hacker challenge" where the SDMI asked
programmers to try to break audio watermarking technology developed by San
Diego-based Verance. The statement released by the SDMI forwards any
additional inquiries to Verance, which could potentially still sue Felten
for publishing his results under a section of the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act (DMCA) that prohibits circumventing the anti-piracy
technology used in music distribution software. Section 1201 of the DMCA
is also the statute for which the DeCSS crack of DVD copy-protection
software has come under fire.
http://www.riaa.org/PR_story.cfm?id=407
http://www.sdmi.org
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o Audio Chip Maker Cirrus Logic Acquires Peak Audio

Austin, Texas -- Cirrus Logic, a developer of microchips used in Internet
audio electronics, announced on Friday that it has acquired the assets of
Colorado-based Peak Audio, a provider of commercial audio networks.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In addition to Peak
Audio's technology assets, Austin-based Cirrus Logic has added Peak
Audio's 18-member engineering team to its staff. The company plans to
develop products that can route music from a PC or home stereo system to
other rooms in the house over a home network, or by using existing home
wiring or emerging wireless technologies. Peak Audio's products are
currently used as house speaker systems in the U.S. Senate Chamber, Sydney
Opera House and Wembley Stadium.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010427/2019.html
http://www.cirruslogic.com
http://www.peakaudio.com
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o Custom Web Radio Firm NextAudio Files for Chapter 11

Research Triangle Park, N.C. -- NextAudio, a provider of custom-branded
Web radio software and pre-licensed music for websites and other online
businesses, announced on Friday that it has filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection from its creditors. The company has secured a loan
to continue its operations until an auction of its assets, which will take
place in May. NextAudio's product offers online companies a branded music
player that downloads a number of songs in Windows Media Audio format --
as opposed to MP3 -- which users can listen to off-line and upload to
portable MP3 players.
http://www.nextaudio.com
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> Digital Media Wire Seminar: The Future of Digital Entertainment - D.C.

"The Future of Digital Entertainment: What's Next After Napster?"

Washington, D.C. | Sponsored by Katten Muchin Zavis
Wednesday, May 9th at The University Club

For more information and to register:
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=13850&Referrer_id=4074

MODERATOR:
- David Halberstadter, Attorney, Katten Muchin Zavis

PANELISTS:
- Fritz Attaway, Executive Vice President & 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)
- Jenny Toomey, Executive Director, Coalition for the Future of Music
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o Briefly Noted:

(Cambridge, U.K.) nGame, a developer of games for wireless devices,
interactive television and PCs, announced on Friday that it will provide
four wireless multiplayer games to Denver-based mobile operator Qwest.
U.K.-based nGame develops its own original games in addition to publishing
titles developed by third parties. Its partners include Yahoo, AT&T,
Sprint PCS, Telefonica and Orange.
http://www.ngame.com
http://www.qwest.com

(San Francisco) The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has
announced the nominees for the fifth annual Webby Awards, to be held in
San Francisco on July 18. A group of 135 websites in 27 categories were
nominated this year. Judging for the awards is based on criteria such as
content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality,
interactivity and the overall experience of each site. The Webbys have
gained notoriety for limiting winners to acceptance speeches of five words
or less.
http://www.webbyawards.com/nominees/index.html

(Seattle) USAToday.com recently featured an interview with Rob Glaser, CEO
of online media delivery company RealNetworks. Glaser speaks about his
company's involvement with MusicNet, a joint venture digital music
subscription service with record labels Warner, EMI and BMG. He also
reveals that his computer's hard drive features over 2,000 music files
taken from a combination of CDs that he owns and tracks downloaded from
Napster. "I tip my hat to Napster not just for showing there'd be a demand
for download music, but also for proving that a lot of what people want to
download isn't just the studio versions," Glaser told USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/review/2001-04-26-musicnet.htm

(San Francisco) Business2.com is currently featuring a "Five Questions"
interview with Paula Samuelson, the head of Berkeley's Center for Law &
Technology and a member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The
questions deal with the treatment of intellectual property in the digital
age, Napster and controversy surrounding business model patents.
http://www.business2.com/technology/2001/04/psamuelson.htm

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

> <kpe>, Director of Technology - Los Angeles

KPE is seeking a Director of Technology for its Los Angeles office who
will develop and implement relevant, cost-effective technology solutions
for its clients in the media and entertainment industries. Given the
typical solution requirement of entertainment firms, KPE seeks an
individual with depth of experience in implementing content management
systems (CMS) and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions.
Send resumes to lajobs@kpe.com
http://www.kpe.com
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> idealab!, Marketing Associate - Los Angeles

Looking for a motivated, talented & creative individual to join the
fast-growing marketing department for New.net, a leading domain name
registry. Duties include providing support for online advertising
campaigns, affiliate programs, banner production, as well as assisting
with other marketing programs & projects. Previous online marketing
experience is a plus.
Please submit resume to idealabmonster@hiresystems.com
http://www.idealab.com
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> Ziff-Davis Publishing, Research Associate - San Francisco

Research Associate for Ziff-Davis Smart Business Magazine is responsible
for ensuring that all business-technology stories we publish are timely
and accurate, as well as assist the editorial staff with research, and
build & maintain a contact list of sources & companies. This is perfect
for recent college grads interested in publishing and high-tech! Previous
writing and editing experience a plus.
Send resume to careerscal@ziffdavis.com
http://www.ziffdavis.com

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

> Real RoadShow 2001, April 26 - New York City

Join RealNetworks, the pioneer and recognized leader in streaming media,
at the Real RoadShow 2001, a free half-day seminar, to find out how
streaming media advertising can work for you. You'll hear from top
industry executives from RealNetworks, Arbitron and Millward Brown
Interactive on the state of the industry and the future of streaming media
advertising.
Register on-line at http://www.key3media.com/realroadshow or contact
Vanessa Doherty at realroadshow@key3media.com
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> Digital Horizon Conference & Expo, April 30 - May 1 - Los Angeles

The Digital Horizon Conference & Expo is a 2-day educational technology
event targeting small business owners and SOHO (small office, home office)
entrepreneurs featuring over 20 workshops, Keynote Luncheons, an exhibit
hall and daily raffles for end-user computer products.
For more information and to register: http://www.digitalhorizonexpo.com
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