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===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE - May 2, 2003
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com 

o U.S. Reporter Petitions U.N. for Relief from Australian Defamation Suit
o New Jersey Institute of Technology Bans File-Sharing on Campus Network
o Sony Pictures Digital Acquires Sonic Foundry Software for $18 Million
o Stung by Criticism, Microsoft Dumps European Ad Agency 
o Game Developer Namco Gives Sega May 9 Deadline for Merger Proposal
o Pay-TV Companies Fostering E-Piracy, Says European Commission
o Ukraine Has World's Worst Piracy-Fighting Record, U.S. Says
o Game Publisher Eidos Announces Roster of New Games for E3 Game Convention

> DMW Publications: April Law and Policy Report
> Featured Section: Special Offer from Discreet cleaner XL

o Briefly Noted: Activision - "X2: Wolverine's Revenge," England -
high-speed cable Internet, Electronic Arts - LEGO Interactive, Infinium
Labs, Recommendation software
_____________________________________________

> Jobs: VP Technical Product Mgmt.

> Events: Streaming Media NY, May 6-8, NYC, Pipeline Safety & Security Expo

> Marketplace: 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 U.S. Reporter Petitions U.N. for Relief from Australian Defamation Suit

San Francisco -- A reporter facing a defamation charge in Australia for an
article published on a website in the U.S. has asked the United Nations to
intervene on his behalf, arguing that his free-speech rights under U.N.
conventions are being violated, CNET News.com reported on Friday. Barron's
reporter Bill Alpert is facing charges for an article he published on the
Web about an Australian businessman, who claims he was defamed in the
article. Several Australian courts have ruled that Alpert may stand trial
in the country, in a case that would test whether content published on the
Internet can be subject to the laws of every country where it is
accessible. Alpert has petitioned the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights, arguing an Australian trial would violate his
free-speech rights under the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights. The United Nations is currently gathering information
from both sides on the matter.
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-999525.html?tag=cd_mh 
_____________________________________________

o New Jersey Institute of Technology Bans File-Sharing on Campus Network

San Francisco -- In the wake of a lawsuit filed by the recording industry
against four college students accused of copyright infringement via
file-sharing networks, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has
banned the use of file-sharing software like Kazaa, Grokster and Gnutella
on its campus network, Wired News reported on Friday. The school is using
"traffic shaping" software to monitor its network for the telltale signs
of file-sharing, in addition to prohibiting the use of the well-known
file-sharing services. "Our institution was receiving calls from the
Recording Industry Association of America on almost a daily basis,
identifying addresses that belonged to our students," Jack Gentul, dean of
students at NJIT, told Wired News. "It was growing in number to the point
in which we couldn't handle it. When I can't get my own 13-year-old to
stop (file-sharing), I don't know how I can get my entire campus to stop."
The record industry lauded the school's decision. "The specific action a
higher education institution chooses to take to prevent this type of
illegal behavior varies and is up to the individual university, but we
absolutely applaud those who take such theft seriously," an RIAA
spokesperson told Wired.
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,58698,00.html 
http://www.njit.edu 
_____________________________________________

o Sony Pictures Digital Acquires Sonic Foundry Software for $18 Million

Culver City, Calif. -- Sony Pictures Digital, a unit of Sony that oversees
the digital production and online assets of Sony Pictures Entertainment
and develops new forms of online content, announced on Friday that it has
acquired all of Sonic Foundry's desktop software products and related
assets for $18 million in cash. Madison, Wisc.-based Sonic Foundry's
software includes the Vegas video-editing application, SoundForge
audio-editing software, and ACID sound effects and audio loop library.
Culver City, Calif.-based Sony Pictures Digital, which teamed with Sonic
Foundry to release its Screenblast consumer media-editing software suite,
said it anticipates maintaining Sonic Foundry's staff and operations in
Wisconsin.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030502/25281_1.html 
http://www.sonypictures.com 
http://www.sonicfoundry.com 
_____________________________________________

o Stung by Criticism, Microsoft Dumps European Ad Agency 

London -- Microsoft said on Friday it has dumped London-based Bartle Bogle
Hegarty as the European advertising agency for its Xbox video game system,
moving the account to McCann-Erickson. One of BBH's television commercials
for Xbox Live was banned by British regulators in March. It graphically
showed the birth of a baby who then fast-forwarded through life and
slammed into the grave. The ad's slogan was "Life is short. Play more."
Microsoft contended the commercial was a "positive life statement," but
Britain's Independent Television Commission disagreed, calling it
offensive to those who had recently lost loved ones.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?P24F25B64 
_____________________________________________

o Game Developer Namco Gives Sega May 9 Deadline for Merger Proposal

Tokyo -- Japanese video game publisher Namco has given fellow game company
Sega until May 9 to respond to a merger proposal it has submitted to the
company, The Financial Times reported on Friday. Sega also has an offer on
the table from Sammy, a Japanese manufacturer of pinball machines, and
said its board is currently considering both offers. The deadline from
Namco, however, may spur the company to make its decision some time next
week.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X58923D64
http://www.namco.com 
http://www.sega.com 
_____________________________________________

o Pay-TV Companies Fostering E-Piracy, Says European Commission

Brussels -- European Union regulators and pay-TV companies have locked
horns once again, as the European Commission has accused several
broadcasters of tacitly promoting piracy by restricting services to
individual markets within the EU. Because most pay-TV companies do not
offer subscriptions to people without a residential address or telephone
line in their base country of operations, illegal smart-card and decoder
sales have skyrocketed, an EC report contends. Electronic piracy in the EU
has risen by five times since 1996. Industry analysts say pay-TV giants
like BSkyB in the U.K. and Canal Plus in France should take the report as
a warning that new legislation could be in the offing if they refuse to
change their policies.
http://europa.eu.int 
_____________________________________________

o Ukraine Has World's Worst Piracy-Fighting Record, U.S. Says

London -- According to a report issued by the U.S. government, Ukraine has
the worst record in world when it comes to fighting piracy. As a result,
the U.S. will continue to apply sanctions to the tune of $75 million
against Ukraine, which reportedly turns a blind eye to the rampant copying
of CDs, DVDs and computer software. The report said that Poland, Russia,
Belarus and Israel were other European countries that need to do more to
stop piracy. The International Intellectual Property Alliance estimates
that piracy costs U.S. companies more than $22 billion every year.
http://www.ustr.gov/index.html 
_____________________________________________

o Game Publisher Eidos Announces Roster of New Games for E3 Game Convention

San Francisco -- Video game publisher Eidos Interactive announced on
Friday the roster of new game titles it plans to showcase at next month's
Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game convention in Los Angeles.
The company plans to introduce sequels in several of its popular game
franchises, including "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness" for
PlayStation 2 and PC; "Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home" for
PlayStation 2 and the Xbox; "Deus Ex: Invisible War" for Xbox and PC;
"Commandos 3: Destination Berlin" for the PC; and "Republic: The
Revolution" for the PC. In addition, Eidos will debut several new titles
at the show, including game developer Ion Storm's "Thief" for Xbox and PC;
Crystal Dynamics' "Legacy of Kain: Defiance" and "Chain Gang;" and
Climax's "Italian Job," based on the upcoming May 30 film release from
Paramount Pictures.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030501/sfth063_1.html 
http://www.eidos.com 
_____________________________________________

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==========================================
DMW Publications: April Law & Policy Report
==========================================
Contact tinzar@digitalmediawire.com or call 323-464-0793 to order.
To purchase directly, go to:
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php

Digital Media Law & Policy Report - New Issue

Must-read publication on legal and policy matters related to digital
media. Thirty-two pages of case summaries, news and analysis, policy
updates, court filings, and exclusive interviews with legal counsel and
business leaders. Published monthly. April issue on sale now! **Special
Reduced Rates available for a limited time**
Price:   $19.00 Per Issue   |   $195.00 Annual Subscription  
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php

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

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_____________________________________________

Briefly Noted: 

(Santa Monica, Calif.) Game developer Activision announced on Friday that
its "X2: Wolverine's Revenge" title for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube,
Game Boy Advance and the PC is now available in stores, on the same day
that "X2: X-Men United" premieres in theaters. The game was written by
comic author Larry Hama, who has written issues of "Spider-Man,"
"Daredevil" and "G.I. Joe."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030502/laf018_1.html 
http://www.activision.com  

(London) According to recent figures released by Britain's two cable
firms, Telewest and NTL, 1 million people are currently connected to
high-speed Internet services via cable. The figure reflects the growing
battle for broadband supremacy in the country, as cable's broadband
milestone is slightly higher than the number of people in the U.K. who
connect to ADSL via phone lines.
http://www.telewest.co.uk 
http://www.ntl.com/index.html 

(Redwood City, Calif.) Video game developer and publisher Electronic Arts
said on Friday that it has teamed with LEGO Interactive on the development
of "Bionicle," based on the Lego product of the same name, for PlayStation
2, Xbox, GameCube and the PC. The title is being developed by U.K.-based
Argonaut Games and will be co-published by Electronic Arts and LEGO
Interactive in the fall.
http://ERTS 
http://www.lego.com/interactive 
http://www.argonaut.com 
http://www.bionicle.com  

(Longboat Key, Fla.) Infinium Labs has launched a new website showcasing
its "Phantom," an on-demand video game console that plays PC games, online
games, ported console games, game rentals and game demos. Florida-based
Infinium plans to show the device sometime this summer, and will release
the product to market in 2004.
http://www.infiniumlabs.com/press/002.html 

(New York) The New York Times recently published an article on
recommendation software used by companies such as Amazon.com, TiVo and
Netflix to recommend products their customers might like based on past
purchases or choices. Companies including DigiMine, TripleHop
Technologies, Choicestream and MediaUnbound offer such software, which has
produced mixed results with consumers. A recent Forrester Research survey
found that only 7.4 percent of online consumers who noticed these systems
said they often purchased recommended products, while 22 percent said they
found the recommendations valuable, and 42 percent said the products
listed were not of interest.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/01/technology/circuits/01reco.html 
_____________________________________________

===================
CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
===================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm 

VP, Technical Product Management

Interested in creating cutting edge financial service products and
bringing them to market? The VP Technical Product Management will be a key
driver of platform strategy and leader in translating customer needs/wants
into product features and functional specifications. Brokerage system
experience required.
Send resumes to recruiting@foliofn.com 
Visit http://www.foliofn.com
_____________________________________________

====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm 

Streaming Media NY, May 6-8, New York City

Streaming Media NY is rapidly approaching. In less than a month, business
leaders from all over the world will gather to learn about and explore the
latest trends, products, and services in streaming and digital media
technologies. The event features cutting-edge exhibitors and an intensive,
four-day Conference program with industry leading keynotes and the
brightest minds in the business.
For more information, or to register to attend, go to
http://www.streamingmedia.com/NY
_____________________________________________

Protecting Energy Infrastructure - Pipeline Safety & Security Expo

May 22-23, 2003 at the Crystal City Marriott in Crystal City, VA. Top
Keynotes presented by government officials; Middle East Oil Security,
Reconstruction, & Legal Issues; Terrorism Table Top Simulation Exercise by
Naval Warfare College; Environmental Rules & Guidelines for Pipeline & Oil
Companies. For more information please contact Cory Capps at
capps@ejkrause.com or call 301-493-5500.
http://www.pipelinesecurityexpo.com
_____________________________________________

==========================
CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm 

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://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
_____________________________________________

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://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
_____________________________________________

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.

Advertising, 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.