archives

o Universal Considering Worldwide Use of Copy-Protection on New Eminem CD
o Sony Takes 1% Stake in RealNetworks, Will Collaborate on Technology
o Google Wins Search Results Contract for AOL from Rival Overture
o TiVo, AOL Renegotiate Deal; Will No Longer Collaborate On New Set-top
o Freenet Founder's New Company Uprizer Launches First Product
> Digital Media Wire Wine Tasting Event: Los Angeles | May 9
o Briefly Noted: U.S. Copyright Office roundtable - live webcast, Acclaim
- Software Creations, Moviso - Motion Picture and Television Archive -
Verizon, AT&T Broadband SVOD - Los Angeles, Trymedia Systems, Sirius
Satellite Radio, HipTones - EMI - Warner, Bam Entertainment - "Dexter's
Laboratory," Codeonline/Springtoys - FremantleMedia - "Danger Mouse"
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o Universal Considering Worldwide Use of Copy-Protection on New Eminem CD

London -- Universal Music Group is contemplating placing copy-protection
technology on all CDs released worldwide for rapper Eminem's upcoming
album, "The Eminem Show," Reuters reported on Wednesday. The artist is
currently in negotiations with Vivendi Universal and subsidiary label
Interscope Records, and a decision is expected soon to prepare for the
album's slated June 3 overseas release date. Eminem's last album sold 17
million copies; adding copy-protection on the new album would easily be
the most comprehensive test of any such technology. The label also told
Reuters it has limited the number of promotional copies of the album sent
to radio and the media "to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands."
Versions of tracks released as radio promotions had already begun to
appear on file-sharing services on Wednesday. Some were partial loops of
songs, not containing the entire recording, while others appeared to be
complete. "Clearly, we will have a better sense of how the market feels
about copy-protection when a release of Eminem's stature, should we decide
to do it, comes with copy-protection on it," Adam White, Universal Music
International spokesman in London, told Reuters.
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=entertainmentnews&StoryID=904871
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o Sony Takes 1% Stake in RealNetworks, Will Collaborate on Technology

Seattle -- Media delivery technology provider RealNetworks on Wednesday
announced a strategic alliance with Sony, which includes Sony taking a one
percent stake in the company -- an estimated investment of $11 million,
based on Real's stock price on Wednesday. The two companies have been
collaborating since 2000, when Sony worked to integrate RealNetworks'
media players onto its PlayStation 2 video game console, and RealNetworks
integrated Sony's ATRAC3 sound compression format and OpenMG copyright
protection technology into its own products. Sony and RealNetworks will
now regularly evaluate each others' research and development efforts,
working to integrate Real's audio and video player technology into Sony
consumer electronics, and Sony's copyright protection technology into Real
products.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020430/sftu136_1.html
http://www.realnetworks.com
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o Google Wins Search Results Contract for AOL from Rival Overture

Mountain View, Calif. -- Search engine provide Google announced on
Wednesday that it will provide search engine services for America Online,
winning the contract from rival provider Overture, which offers
pay-for-performance search results. Financial terms of the multi-year
agreement were not disclosed. Mountain View, Calif.-based Google will
provide its proprietary algorithm-based search results to properties
including AOL, CompuServe, AOL.com and Netscape. The company will also
provide paid search results to AOL users wishing to place ads through its
AdWords program. The announcement is a blow to Pasadena, Calif.-based
Overture, whose contract with AOL recently expired, although it did renew
another large contract last week with Yahoo.
http://www.google.com/press/pressrel/aol.html
http://www.overture.com
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o TiVo, AOL Renegotiate Deal; Will No Longer Collaborate On New Set-top

San Jose, Calif. -- TiVo, a manufacturer of personal video recorder
devices that allow users to pause and record live television, announced on
Wednesday that it has renegotiated its existing agreement with America
Online. The companies will no longer collaborate on the creation of a new
set-top box for interactive television, and TiVo will return $48 million
of AOL's $200 million investment while relinquishing 1.6 million TiVo
shares. Under the new agreement, TiVo will work to integrate AOL features
as a service available to subscribers with a TiVo Series2 device. The
companies will also work to provide AOL members who are also TiVo
subscribers with the ability to schedule recordings on their TiVo from the
AOL service. AOL will pay San Jose-based TiVo a $4 million development fee
for these features.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020501/sfw067_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/020501/tivo.html
http://www.tivo.com
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o Freenet Founder's New Company Uprizer Launches First Product

Los Angeles -- Uprizer, the company co-founded by Freenet creator Ian
Clarke, on Wednesday announced its first product, an internal media
distribution system for businesses based on decentralized, distributed
networking technology. Freenet is a decentralized, encrypted file-sharing
application created by Clarke that enables peers on the network to send
and receive files anonymously. Los Angeles-based Uprizer, funded by Intel
Capital and a number of venture firms, has been developing a version of
Freenet's technology that can be used in business. "Uprizer provides an
efficient alternative to central servers for businesses looking to
maximize their existing infrastructure and build streamlined information
flow within their organization, while reducing technology expenditures,"
said Uprizer CEO Dave Scantling.
http://www.uprizer.com/_news/news_edntrial.html
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-896028.html?tag=fd_top
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One Show Interactive's Big Night - Wednesday, May 8th - New York City

One Show Interactive (named the top international award show for new
media) is holding its annual award gala in New York City on Wednesday,
May 8th, 2002. The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street (corner of Houston
Street) New York. Tickets $100 per person, Corporate tables for six $500.
Reception 6:30-8:00pm. Awards Show 8-10pm. Party 10-Midnight.
Come, celebrate and party and watch the best of advertising's interactive
and new media. For tickets: (212) 979-1900 or email: tickets@oneclub.com

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o Briefly Noted:

(Chantilly, Va.) The International Webcasting Association (IWA), a
non-profit group of webcasters, has partnered with webcasting services
provider TVWorldwide.com to provide a live video webcast of a U.S.
Copyright Office public roundtable discussion on May 10. The discussion
will focus on the proposed guidelines for webcasters to give the required
notice of copyrighted material they webcast and to maintain webcast
records. Many webcasters have said that the costs associated with
providing this data, in conjunction with proposed royalty rates for
streaming music, would force them off the air. The live webcast will be
available on Friday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM EDT on the IWA website as
well as at TVWorldwide.com.
http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2002/67fr18148.html
http://www.webcasters.org
http://www.tvworldwide.com

(Glen Cove, N.Y.) Game developer Acclaim Entertainment announced on
Wednesday that it has acquired the assets of Manchester, England-based
Software Creations, and has added 70 employees there to create Acclaim
Studios Manchester. New York-based Acclaim appointed former Software
Creations CEO Paul Hibbard as general manager of the new studio. Software
Creations is best known for its work in developing Electronic Arts' FIFA
soccer titles, and has also developed for THQ and Activision.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020501/12058_1.html
http://www.acclaim.com
http://www.creations.co.uk/

(Los Angeles) Moviso, a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Net USA that
provides wireless entertainment services, announced on Wednesday that it
has secured a worldwide license with The Motion Picture and Television
Archive to provide high-quality celebrity pictures and graphics on cell
phone screens. Formerly known as Premium Wireless Services, Los
Angeles-based Moviso also provides ringtones based on agreements with most
major record labels. In a separate announcement, the company also said on
Wednesday that Verizon Wireless will offer its entertainment services to
its subscribers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020501/12153_2.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020501/12154_1.html
http://www.mptv.net/
http://www.moviso.com

(Los Angeles) Cable TV operator AT&T Broadband announced on Wednesday that it has begun consumer trials of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD)
services for its Los Angeles-area digital cable subscribers. The six-month
trial will give subscribers 90 days free access to subscription
video-on-demand offerings from Showtime and Starz. AT&T Broadband said it
expects to launch additional content offerings this summer for the
service.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020501/law024_1.html
http://www.showtimeondemand.com
http://www.starzondemand.com

(San Francisco) Trymedia Systems, a developer of media distribution
technology, said on Wednesday that over 3 million games have been
downloaded on file-sharing systems such as Kazaa, Morpheus and LimeWire
using the company's content control and monetization technology.
Developers including Infogrames, EBrainy, Nine Dragons, Digital Fusion,
Fasttrak and ExelWeiss have used San Francisco-based Trymedia's technology
to distribute games in the form of product trials, which either expire
after a certain number of days or limit gameplay to a specified number of
game levels. Users can then purchase the entire game for access to the
locked content already downloaded.
http://www.trymedia.com/press/archive/050102.htm

(New York) Sirius Satellite Radio, provider of a satellite-delivered
digital radio service for consumers, announced on Wednesday that its
service has been launched in seven additional states, bringing its total
service area to 18 states. New York-based Sirius' service launched
Wednesday in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma
and Utah. The company also accelerated its rollout, saying that its $12.95
per month service will now be available nationwide by July 1, instead of
August 1.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020501/nyw012_1.html
http://www.siriusradio.com

(San Francisco) HipTones, a provider of cell phone ringtones and other
wireless entertainment, announced on Wednesday that it has signed
licensing agreements with major labels EMI and Warner Music to include
ringtone versions of songs from artists on each label on its service. San
Francisco-based HipTones' ringtones can be purchased and downloaded on 400
GSM mobile networks worldwide, including AT&T, Cingular Wireless, and
VoiceStream in the U.S.
http://www.hiptones.com

(San Jose, Calif.) Game developer Bam Entertainment said on Wednesday that
it has released a title based on the Cartoon Network series "Dexter's
Laboratory" for Sony's PS One video game console. "Dexter's Laboratory:
Mandark's Laboratory" was developed by Scotland-based Red Lemon Studios
and will become available at retailers this week. San Jose-based Bam has
already released a game based on the series for the PC and Nintendo's Game
Boy Advance.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020501/sfw036_1.html
http://www.bam4fun.com
http://www.redlemon.com
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/dexter

(London) Codeonline/Springtoys, a provider of wireless entertainment
services, announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with FremantleMedia
-- formerly known as Pearson TV -- to develop wireless games based on the
classic animated TV series "Danger Mouse" and "Rainbow." The companies
expect the games to be popular among nostalgic 20- and 30-year olds who
watched the shows in their youth, as well as with college students.
Rainbow characters including Bungle and Zippy have recently toured
colleges participating in theme nights, and since 1981 Danger Mouse has
been sold in 31 countries, airing in the U.S. on cable network Nickelodeon
in the 80's.
http://www.codeonline.com
http://www.springtoys.com
http://www.fremantlemedia.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1972/tv3.shtml
http://www.dangermouse.org/what.html
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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE PRESENTS:
A Spring Celebration and Wine Tasting Honoring
Digital Media Wire Panelists

> Thursday, May 9, 2002, Los Angeles

To register:
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=22553&Referrer_id=4074

Join us and a distinguished group of our past panelists for a Spring
celebration featuring fine wines, delicious Asian appetizers and
networking.

WHEN: Thursday, May 9, 2002 (6:30PM - 8:30PM)
WHERE: Lucky Duck Restaurant (NE corner of La Brea and Wilshire)
PRICE: $25 (pre-registration); $30 (at the door)

Tasting and wines by Beaulieu Vineyard. Since 1900, BV has been a
benchmark of excellence in Napa Valley wines. Appetizers including crispy
Vietnamese spring rolls, chicken and beef satay, shrimp summer rolls and
vegetable dumplings by Lucky Duck Restaurant. For more information,
contact Ned Sherman at esherman@digitalmediawire.com or visit

http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=22553&Referrer_id=4074

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Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire