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===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- September 10, 2001
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com

o New Copyright Bill Would Strengthen Control of DMCA
o Blockbuster Takes $450 Million Charge to Place Focus on DVDs
o Hackers Attacking Online Casinos, Winning Big
o Digital Rights Management Firm NetActive Shuts Down
o New Cable Modem Standard Could Triple Upload Speeds
o Former Broadcast.com CEO Launches All-HDTV Channel
> DMW Panel Discussion: Microsoft vs. AOL | Sept. 28 | Los Angeles
o Briefly Noted: Online Xbox pre-orders, Telewest - TV gambling, Sting -
Vizzavi - Yahoo, CinemaNow - PPV downloads, Hitachi Semiconductor -
SimpleTech, YourMobile - Quincy Jones Music Publishing, NDS Group -
Reuters, PC "bangs"
_____________________________________________

> Job Postings: Sr. Level BizDev, Media Relations Pro, Research Asst.,
Sales Asst./International, Freelance Animator,
Internet Game Tester

> Events/Services: "Digital Rights Management," "Cellheads Networking
Event - Sept. 11, L.A.," "Hi-Tech Mission to Israel, Oct. 20-
28," "SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival: SOUTHEAST Tour,
August 24- Sept. 22"

Full Job/Event/Services 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/Service: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events.html
_____________________________________________

o New Copyright Bill Would Strengthen Control of DMCA

Washington, D.C. -- A new copyright-related bill to be introduced by U.S.
Senate Commerce Committee chairman Sen. Fritz Hollings would, if passed,
give further protection to copyright holders than does the already
controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The new bill would
mandate government-approved copy-protection security in most consumer
electronics devices, and create new felonies wherein violators could be
served penalties of up to 5 years in prison and $500,000 in fines if they
distribute content where the government security is disabled. The Security
Systems Standards and Certification Act would make it a crime to create
any device that "does not include and utilize certified security
technologies." Under the proposed law, industry groups would have one year
to agree on a security technology standard, after which time the
government would step in and decide on its own, Wired News reported.
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,46655,00.html
http://216.110.42.179/docs/hollings.090701.html
_____________________________________________

o Blockbuster Takes $450 Million Charge to Place Focus on DVDs

Dallas, Texas -- Video rental store giant Blockbuster announced on Monday
that it will take a charge of $450 million to increase the selection of
DVD movies and eliminate 25 percent of the VHS titles at its stores
worldwide. The company will also take select video games off of its
shelves in order to make room for games developed for the next-generation
consoles that will be available this holiday shopping season. Blockbuster
will complement its greater focus on DVDs by selling DVD players directly
from their rental stores, which are being remodeled to "highlight the
digital format." "The format has clearly gone mainstream, and consumers
are demonstrating that they prefer to rent, rather than buy their movies,
a trend we predict will continue," said Blockbuster CEO John Antioco.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010910/hsm042_1.html
http://www.blockbuster.com
_____________________________________________

o Hackers Attacking Online Casinos, Winning Big

London -- Hackers have been able to launch attacks on a number of online
casinos, rigging games and costing the operators of the casinos millions
in cheated winnings, Reuters reported on Monday. Canadian software firm
CryptoLogic was attacked last week, when hackers cracked one of its
servers and made it so anyone playing craps or video slot machines
couldn't lose. During the several hours-long attack, 140 gamblers won a
total of $1.9 million, and those not suspected of aiding the attackers
were allowed to keep their easy winnings. Other casinos have experienced
security breaches, although few are willing to discuss them. "No one is
going to say it's happened, because that's bad for business. But there is
anecdotal evidence," said Steve Donoughue, managing director of The
Gambling Consultancy in London.
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=technologynews&StoryID=209247
http://www.cryptologic.com
_____________________________________________

o Digital Rights Management Firm NetActive Shuts Down

Ottawa, Canada -- NetActive, a provider of digital rights management
software for business software, digital music and video, has shut down and
laid off all 40 of its employees, VentureWire reported on Monday. The
company was unable to secure additional funding to continue operations.
Canada-based NetActive had released the latest version of its software in
June, and had a deal to provide security software to peer-to-peer network
Hotline, as well as deals to provide security for Web-based video game
rentals for Time Warner cable and Blockbuster.
http://www.netactive.com
http://www.venturewire.com
_____________________________________________

o New Cable Modem Standard Could Triple Upload Speeds

Santa Clara, Calif. -- A new standard recently approved by the cable
industry could as much as triple the rates that home users can upload and
send data on their high-speed cable modem lines. The standard -- developed
by companies including Terayon Communications, Broadcom, Conexant Systems,
Texas Instruments and Pacific Broadband Communications and approved by
Denver-based cable research and development firm CableLabs -- is slated to
be finished by the end of the year. The current widely accepted limit of
128 kbps is alright for email and Web surfing, but the higher upstream
speeds brought by the new standard will enable features such as high-end
online video game play, Internet-based phone calls and Web-based
videoconferencing, CNET reported. New cable modems equipped to handle the
new standard likely will not appear until late next year or in 2003.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010904/sftu076.html
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-7079103.html?tag=cd_pr
_____________________________________________

o Former Broadcast.com CEO Launches All-HDTV Channel

Dallas, Texas -- Mark Cuban, the former CEO of Broadcast.com and current
owner of NBA basketball's Dallas Mavericks, has launched HDNet, a TV
channel that will broadcast entirely in the high-definition format. The
channel will be available to DirecTV subscribers at no additional charge,
and will initially offer primarily live sports programming. Dallas-based
HDNet has deals with Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and
the U.S. Olympic Committee to broadcast sporting events in the HDTV
format. HDNet chairman Mark Cuban said the company will increase its
programming slate from a limited offering at launch to 16 hours per day
and seven days per week in October. Cuban sold his Broadcast.com streaming
portal to Yahoo in 1999 for around $6 billion.
http://www.hughes.com/ir/pr/01_09_05_hdnet.xml
_____________________________________________

> Digital Media Wire Presents a Panel Discussion:
"Microsoft vs. AOL: The Battle of the Internet Titans"

Los Angeles | Friday, September 28th at the Four Seasons Hotel

This panel of journalists, legal experts and others will discuss the
increasing rivalry between these two monolithic companies -- and how their
competition will affect the development of the Internet for years to come.

For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/LAbattle.html

FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Bob Badal - Attorney | Heller Ehrman
Mark Frauenfelder - Editor | WIRED
Jon Goodman - Executive Director | EC2 Incubator Project @ USC
Jim Griffin - Founder | The 'Pho' Group
***Additional Panelists TBA***

SPONSOR: Heller Ehrman

For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/LAbattle.html
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(San Francisco) Online retailers taking advance orders for Microsoft's
Xbox video game console are only offering the console as part of a bundle
that includes games and accessories that can add over $200 to the price of
the console, Wired News reported on Monday. The pre-order requirements,
set by Microsoft, make consumers buy the $299 Xbox, one Microsoft game,
two third-party games and an extra controller -- bringing the price of the
cheapest bundle, sold at ToysRUs.com, to $499.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,46645,00.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005OLWD/107-6156488-4316531
http://www.babbages.com/default.asp?sect=1160

(West Patterson, N.J.) Interactive Systems Worldwide, a developer of
interactive gambling technology, announced on Monday that Global
Interactive Gaming -- ISW's exclusive licensee -- has partnered with U.K.
cable TV and Internet access provider Telewest. Under the terms of the
deal, Telewest will offer a service that lets viewers place large
quantities of small wagers on sporting events through their televisions.
The service will allow bets of up to about $15 and will be offered to
Telewest's 1.7 million subscriber households beginning this fall.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010910/102141_1.html
http://www.prismasports.com/iventures/gig.htm
http://www.telewest.co.uk

(Theale, England) Vizzavi, an Internet portal joint venture between
Vivendi Universal and wireless provider Vodafone, announced on Monday that
it will offer a live webcast of the concert Sting will perform on Sept. 11
for viewers in the UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Greece. The
concert in Tuscany, Italy is being recorded for a live album that will be
released on Nov. 5. The concert will be webcast to U.S. fans by Yahoo, and
will be available from both Vizzavi and Yahoo until Sept. 25, as well as
during the two weeks prior to the album's release.
http://www.newstream.com/us/story_pub.shtml?story_id=3905&user_ip=64.173.231.203
http://www.vizzavi.co.uk
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010910/100081_1.html
http://broadcast.yahoo.com/music

(Marina del Rey, Calif.) CinemaNow, a film entertainment site backed by
Lion's Gate Films, announced on Monday that it will now offer pay-per-view
films for download as well as in streaming format. The service will give
users access to feature films released by Lion's Gate and other studios
for two days for between $2 and $3. Marina del Rey-based CinemaNow said
that each week up to five new films will be added to the downloadable
service, which uses digital rights management technology developed by
Microsoft.
http://www.cinemanow.com

(San Jose, Calif.) Hitachi Semiconductor and SimpleTech, two makers of the
Flash memory storage cards used in MP3 players and digital cameras,
announced on Monday the release of a new line of cards that can write data
at 2 MB/s, or up to six times faster than existing cards. The cards also
consume less power and are compatible with existing MP3 players and
digital cameras.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/212530112&ticker=
http://www.hitachi.com
http://www.simpletech.com

(Santa Monica, Calif.) YourMobile, a provider of entertainment content for
wireless devices, announced on Monday that it has secured a license for
songs in the Quincy Jones Music Publishing catalogue. The agreement will
let Santa Monica-based YourMobile create unique ringtones for cell phones
based on songs from artists including Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand
and Frank Sinatra.
http://www.yourmobile.com
http://www.quincyjonesmusic.com

(London) NDS Group, a subsidiary of News Corp. that provides interactive
television programming content, said on Monday that Reuters will provide
its news reports to customers using NDS' interactive TV services. The
agreement will allow broadcasters to create a standalone news channel
featuring Reuters content in addition to offering news reports such as
updated sports scores alongside their own programming.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010910/102002_1.html
http://www.nds.com

(Los Angeles) The Los Angeles Times reported on Monday on the growing
number of "PC bangs," or businesses where video game aficionados can go
and pay $2 an hour to access high-speed Internet connections and play
networked games with and against one another. The concept was launched in
Korea -- "bang" means "room" in Korean -- and the L.A.-area bangs are
predominantly located in Korean-populated areas.
http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la000072990sep10.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dliving

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

> Roxio, Sr.-Level Business Development Position - Silicon Valley

Hey... are you a closer? Do you like to win? If you answered yes to these
questions and you are an experienced dealmaker, we have an MBA's (or
ex-lawyer's) dream job waiting for you at Roxio, Inc., the leading digital
media company.
Send resumes to: elizabeth@cruelworld.com
http://www.roxio.com
______________________

> The SheaHedges Group, Media Relations Pro - McLean, VA

We are currently looking for a savvy media relations pro with 8+ years of
experience who excels at verbal and written communications, understands
core business issues and can strategically advance a client's message
through all levels of media and PR avenues. Background must include
technology, agency and staff management experience. Send resumes to:
tneill@sheahedges.com

http://www.sheahedges.com
______________________

> VentureOne, Research Assistant - San Francisco

In this entry-level position you will perform secondary research through
web browsing, review of journals and other publications, plus primary
research through direct contact with venture capital firms and start-up
companies. Update profiles of venture capital firms and start-up
companies. Review company data, proofread, and enter data. Assist in
surveys, analyses and general administrative support. College degree.
European language skills a plus. Send resumes to: jobs@ventureone.com
http://www.ventureone.com
______________________

> Canal+ (U.S.), Sales Asst./International - Los Angeles

Assist Senior VP & Director of International Sales w/ preparation of
markets, including making appointments with clients, arranging travel,
sending sales materials, & follow-up w/ clients. Other duties include:
answering phones, expense reports, availability checks on computer system,
coordinating deal memo process with support sales office in France,
updating client database and other administrative duties. A 4-year college
degree preferred. Knowledge of French language preferred - Spanish
helpful.
Send resumes to: shuddleston@cplus-us.com
http://www.cplus-us.com
______________________

> CGR, Freelance Animator - New York City

CGR, New York's premier staffing agency, is seeking an animator for a
freelance assignment. Our client is a scientific publisher looking to
animate, in detail, the flow of lava through the earth and out through a
volcano. The candidate must have an in depth knowledge of PhotoShop, 3D
Studio Max, Maya, Lightwave or some other rendering & animation software.
Send resumes to: jschoch@cgr.com
http://www.cgr.com
______________________

> YaYa, Internet Game Tester - Los Angeles

Candidate should have some formal game testing experience, good written
and oral communication skills, experience using Microsoft Access and a
good knowledge of the Internet and a range of web browsers (Internet
Explorer, Netscape, AOL, etc.). Knowledge of Macintosh computers desirable
but not required. This is full-time, temporary position and will include
some night and weekend work.
Send resumes to: jobs@yaya.com
http://www.yaya.com

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

> Digital Rights Management, September 20-21 - New York City

DRM for Sports, Media & Entertainment -- Learn How To Monetize & Protect
Content, Digital Assets & Intellectual Property. Featuring Forecasts, Case
Studies & Strategies from: AOL Time Warner, Sony Music, NY Times, National
Hockey League, A&E Networks, Microsoft Corporation, BET, Artisan,
Reciprocal, IBM, NASCAR Digital Entertainment and many more!
Contact dmitry@worldrg.com -- mention this ad for a special discount!
http://www.DRMconference.com
______________________

> Cellheads Networking Event, September 11, 2001 - Los Angeles

AT&T Wireless, Wireless Week, TeleCommunication Systems and Personal
Communications Industry Association will sponsor the Cellheads networking
event at the Gallery Bar in the Biltmore Hotel from 6pm to 9pm (cash bar).
These events are designed to capture the minds of all interested in
wireless technology in the Los Angeles area. Don't miss an excellent
opportunity for business development, recruitment, and intellectual
engagements.
For more information: jason.gildea@attws.com
http://www.cellheads.com 
______________________

> Hi-Tech Mission to Israel, October 20 - 28, 2001 - Israel

Visit Israel's booming hi-tech industry. Discover the latest advances in
hardware, software and bio-technology. Participate in the 6th Annual
Israel Business Forum with speakers: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Marshall
Butler, Ronald Cohen, David Colburn, Michael Dell, Andy Grove, Ronald
Lauder, Gerald Levine, Morris Levy, Les Wexner and Lord Young.
For more information: tkardash@jewishla.org
http://www.jewishla.org/html/hitechmission.htm
______________________

> SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival, SOUTHEAST Tour, Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

SHORT MOVIES! Dreamspan presents the 9TH Annual Short Attention Span Film & Video Festival. Shortspan is a non-stop two hour program of ALL NEW
two-minute-or-shorter films, including ultra-short documentaries like
"Peekaboo Sunday," a story about raising miniature horses or "Exotic
World," an inside look at the lives of some of America's first burlesque
performers-- and 57 more shorts! The tour will travel to 30 North American
cities. Southeastern tour dates include:

ATLANTA, GA: The Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center - August 24th - 8PM
ATHENS, GA: The Georgia Museum of Art - September 5 th - 7:30PM
ATLANTA, GA: Cinefest Theatre- September 14th and 15th - 9PM/12PM
ATHENS, GA: The Georgia Theater - September 18th - 10PM
SAVANNAH, GA: Trustee's Theater - September 20th - 9PM
GAINSVILLE, FL: The University of Florida - September 22nd

More info: http://www.dreamspan.com/shortspan
______________________

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Copyright 2001 Digital Media Wire