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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- September 27, 2001
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com

o Streamwaves Gets License from Publishers for Music Subscription Service
o Newsbytes: IM Firm's Employees Received Warning 2 Hours Before Attacks
o XM Satellite's Shares Drop 30% on Technical Concerns
o MusicNet Technology in Place; Month-Long Test to Commence Oct. 5
o Online Magazine Salon Raises Additional $750,000
o Digital Video Technology Firm IPix Completes $24.5 Million Financing
o Music Recommendation Firm MusicBuddha Lays Off Staff
o Nasdaq Supsends $1 Minimum Listing Requirement
o Microsoft Denies Patent Infringements, Countersues InterTrust
o IFilm Lays Off 13% of Staff
> Tomorrow: DMW Panel Discussion - Microsoft vs. AOL | Los Angeles
o Briefly Noted: Yahoo - corporate webcasting, Vivendi Universal
Interactive Publishing - Interplay, OpenTV - Cablecom, Media stocks,
Photoshop tennis
_____________________________________________

> Job Postings: Ad Sales Mgr., Online Editor, Marketing Associate

> Events/Services: "SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival, Northern U.S./SoCal Tours, Oct. 10-23," "Digital Media Revolution in the Americas"

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 Streamwaves Gets License from Publishers for Music Subscription Service

Dallas -- Streamwaves, a provider of on-demand music streaming services,
announced that it has secured a licensing agreement with songwriters and
music publishers for its digital music subscription service. Under the
terms of the agreement, Dallas-based Streamwaves will pay participating
music publishers $.10 for each song added to its online database, in
addition to 10 percent of its gross revenue per month, or $1 per
subscriber, whichever is greater. "This agreement is especially noteworthy
because Streamwaves has recognized its obligation as a streaming-on-demand
service to acquire licensing rights to fix each music work in its
electronic database," said Edward P. Murphy, CEO of the National Music
Publishers' Association. Yesterday, Universal Music Group was found to be
liable for copyright infringement in failing to license songs from
songwriters and music publishers for a similar service offered on its
Farmclub.com. As a result, UMG could be liable for hundreds of millions of
dollars in damages.
http://www.streamwaves.com/IE4/popUps/press/pressrelease0926.htm
http://www.nmpa.org/legal/Scanned_.pdf
_____________________________________________

o Newsbytes: IM Firm's Employees Received Warning 2 Hours Before Attacks

New York -- Newsbytes reported on Thursday that officials at instant
messaging technology firm Odigo confirmed that two employees in its Israel
office received text messages from a user warning of the terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Center, two hours prior to the attacks. Following the
plane crashes, the employees contacted both Israeli security and the FBI
with the user's IP address and other information; an investigation is
ongoing. New York-based Odigo did not reveal the identity of the sender or
the content of the messages due to the federal investigation.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/170583.html
http://www.odigo.com
_____________________________________________

o XM Satellite's Shares Drop 30% on Technical Concerns

Washington, DC -- Shares in satellite-delivered digital radio provider XM
Satellite Radio fell 30% to $4.30 on Thursday, after an analyst report
said the company's satellites will need to be replaced sooner than
expected. A research report by C.E. Unterberg, Towbin analyst Patrick
Fuhrmann said that a flaw has been detected in XM's satellites that will
result in faster power degradation than expected. As a result, XM may be
forced to replace its satellites sooner than planned. XM is reportedly
considering filing a claim with its insurers. The company launched its
national satellite radio service in Dallas and San Diego earlier this
week.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010927/n27200079_1.html
http://www.xmradio.com
_____________________________________________

o MusicNet Technology in Place; Month-Long Test to Commence Oct. 5

Seattle -- MusicNet, a clearinghouse for digital music subscriptions being
developed by RealNetworks, major record labels Warner Music, BMG and EMI
Recorded Music, and independent label group Zomba, announced that it has
delivered the technology needed to offer the service to its online
partners and will commence a month-long preview of the service for the
media starting Oct. 5. The service -- which MusicNet said will be
available to consumers within 60 days -- is expected to cost consumers $10
per month for access to a limited number of streaming and downloadable
songs from a database of around 100,000 tracks. At launch, MusicNet will
not allow consumers to "burn" CDs of music or transfer songs to portable
devices, a policy that may change in the future. The lack of such features
could deter consumers in the beginning, a MusicNet spokesman told CNET.
"We don't expect significant numbers in the first 12 months," said
MusicNet special adviser Richard Wolpert. "It's not going to be a million
people."
http://www.musicnet.com/Frame_adform.html
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7314600.html?tag=cd_mh
_____________________________________________

o Online Magazine Salon Raises Additional $750,000

San Francisco -- Online magazine Salon.com announced on Thursday that it
has raised $750,000 in new financing, in addition to the $2.5 million
announced earlier this month. Participating investors in the new financing
include former HBO head Michael Fuchs and previous Salon investor
Wasserstein Adelson Ventures. "Over the last six years, Salon has
established one of the leading new media brands," said Fuchs. "I believe
consumers will pay for Salon's valuable content and I look forward to
working with them to achieve their subscription goals and scale its
business to even greater proportions." San Francisco-based Salon.com said
its paying subscriber base has grown to 20,000. "This provides us with
more financial strength to weather the current Internet shakeout," said
Salon CEO Michael O'Donnell.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010926/sfw098_1.html
http://www.salon.com
_____________________________________________

o Digital Video Technology Firm IPix Completes $24.5 Million Financing

San Ramon, Calif. -- IPix, a provider of 360-degree digital imaging
technology, announced on Thursday that it has completed a $24.5 million
financing, originally announced in April of 2000. The financing consisted
of $22 million from the sale of its stock and completed a $2.5 million
leasing transaction. Investors participating in the funding included First
Avenue Partners, Paradigm Capital Partners, the Memphis Angels and eBay.
"We are extremely pleased to have completed this financing in a
challenging environment," said IPix CEO Don Strickland. San Ramon-based
IPix said it expects the funds to bring it to profitability as well as
reduce debt generated from a recent restructuring. The company will use
the funds for growth in its existing markets and to enter new markets such
as security and observation.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010926/nyw142_1.html
http://www.ipix.com
_____________________________________________

o Music Recommendation Firm MusicBuddha Lays Off Staff

San Francisco -- MusicBuddha, a provider of music recommendation software,
has laid off most of its staff and is seeking a buyer, according to
published reports. A small number of employees remain with the company
while it considers prospective offers. San Francisco-based MusicBuddha
launched its software that recommends music to users based on their
tastes, and can be used by radio stations and record labels for marketing
and demographic research, in June of 2000.
http://www.musicbuddha.com
_____________________________________________

o Nasdaq Supsends $1 Minimum Listing Requirement

New York -- The Nasdaq National Market announced on Thursday that it is
suspending its $1 minimum share price trading requirement until January 2,
2002. Usually, companies whose share price falls below $1 for over a month
are put in danger of being delisted from the exchange. Hearings currently
underway between the Nasdaq and companies that were in danger of being
delisted prior to the week of Sept. 10 will be postponed until the
suspension period is over. "We believe [this action] will provide greater
stability to the marketplace during these times of economic uncertainty,"
said Nasdaq chairman and CEO Wick Simmons. Currently, over 600 companies
are trading below the Nasdaq's $1 minimum.
http://www.nasdaqnews.com/news/pr2001/ne_section01_278.html
_____________________________________________

o Microsoft Denies Patent Infringements, Countersues InterTrust

Santa Clara, Calif. -- InterTrust, a developer of digital rights
management technology, announced on Thursday that it has received a
response from Microsoft to the patent infringement claims it registered
against the company. InterTrust says that Microsoft is infringing on its
security technology with the digital rights management schemes used in its
Media Player and e-Book products, it's XP operating system and its .NET
initiative. Microsoft denied InterTrust's allegations and also filed
claims saying that InterTrust infringes upon two Microsoft patents
relating to downloading and installing software from the Internet.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010925/251147_1.html
http://www.intertrust.com
_____________________________________________

o IFilm Lays Off 13% of Staff

Los Angeles -- IFilm, a database of online films, reviews and trailers,
said that it has laid off 13 percent of its staff, or 10 employees,
VentureWire reported on Thursday. The layoffs, which came from the
company's editorial staff, leave Los Angeles-based IFilm with 69
employees. The company cited the current advertising slowdown as reasoning
for the layoffs.
http://www.ifilm.com
_____________________________________________

> 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

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

SPEAKERS:
Sonia Arrison - Director, Center for Technology Studies | Pacific Research
Mark Frauenfelder - Editor | WIRED
Jon Goodman - Executive Director | EC2 Incubator Project @ USC
Karl Ryser - Chief Financial Officer | Vidyah
Dave Wilson - Technology Columnist | Los Angeles Times

SPONSOR: Heller Ehrman
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION: larta

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

o Briefly Noted:

(Sunnyvale, Calif.) Yahoo announced on Thursday the launch of corporate
webcasting services, to address both reduced business travel and tighter
budgets at many companies. Sunnyvale-based Yahoo's new service will offer
companies the ability to broadcast video -- such as earnings reports or
training sessions -- to employees around the world simultaneously.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010927/270209_1.html
http://business.broadcast.com

(Los Angeles) Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing (VUIP), a publisher
and distributor of video games, announced on Thursday that it has
partnered with game developer Interplay to become the exclusive
distributor of Interplay titles for console and PC games through 2003. "By
leveraging the marketing and distribution capabilities of Vivendi
Universal Publishing, we will be able to maximize the exposure and reach
of Interplay's highly anticipated games," said Interplay CEO Brian Fargo.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010926/law091_1.html
http://www.interplay.com

(London) OpenTV, a provider of operating system software for interactive
television set-top boxes, announced on Thursday that Swiss cable TV
network Cablecom, a subsidiary of Ntl, will use its technology to deploy
interactive TV services to its 1.4 million subscribers. Mountain
View-based OpenTV has also recently expanded its services into Israel and
China.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010927/270015_1.html
http://www.opentv.com

(New York) The New York Times on Thursday reported on the falling stock
prices of some of the largest media companies over the last two weeks and
why some, including Vivendi Universal, instead have risen. The article
points to travel-related holdings such as theme parks, and the advertising
market. Some of its findings:
Walt Disney - down 26%
News Corp. - down 22.4 %
AOL Time Warner - down 6.3%
Vivendi Universal - up 3%

Privately-held Bertelsmann was not included in the analysis; nor was Sony
Corp., which deals predominantly in consumer electronics.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/27/business/media/27PLAC.html

(San Francisco) Wired News offered a feature story on Thursday covering
the emerging sport of Photoshop tennis. One graphic artist takes an image,
digitally manipulates it using Adobe's Photoshop image editing software,
and sends it to a fellow artist who does the same, then returns the
twice-altered image to the original sender. Spectators can watch the match
on the Web in real-time and even listen to commentary provided by an
announcer.
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,47132,00.html
http://www.coudal.com/tennis.html

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

> FierceMarkets, Ad Sales Manager - Washington, DC

Fast-growing online publisher seeks smart, creative self-starters to drive
our ad sales effort. Candidates should have a proven sales track record
with at least two years of experience. Come join the fun! Send resumes to
jeff@fiercemarkets.com

http://www.fiercemarkets.com
______________________

> American Express Publishing, Online Editor - New York City

Leading travel magazine seeks an Online Editor responsible for all site
production, in addition to editing, writing and proofreading copy for
various areas of the site; working with magazine editors to create
customized online content; writing a weekly newsletter; scheduling and
conducting online chats with writers and editors; planning ways to enhance
site design & architecture, increasing traffic, facilitating e-commerce
and improving user experience. Send resumes to angelaaexp@aol.com
______________________

> Bluefly, Marketing Associate - New York City

Manage marketing relationships with online companies for leading retailer
of designer fashions at outlet prices. Traffic creative to advertising
partners, as well as track and evaluate creative performance. Implement
marketing promos and customer retention programs. Assist in implementing
an affiliate program, as well as email marketing initiatives. Must have
atleast 6 months exp. in Internet advertising/marketing. Send resumes to:
marketingjobs@bluefly.com

http://www.bluefly.com

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

> SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival, Northern U.S./SoCal Tours, Oct. 10-23

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.

CHICAGO, IL: Columbia College - Oct. 10 - 7PM
BOSTON, MA: Boston University - Oct. 10 - Call for times
BROOKLINE, MA: Coolidge Corner Theatre - Oct. 12-18 - Call for times
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Lucky Bar - Oct. 23 - 8PM

HOLLYWOOD, CA: The American Cinematheque - Oct. 17 - 7:30PM
SAN DIEGO, CA: San Diego Museum of Art - Oct. 18 - 7:30PM

For more info: http://www.dreamspan.com/shortspan
______________________

> Digital Media Revolution in the Americas, 11/29-12/01 -- Pasadena, CA

Presented by the Institute of the Americas and Annenberg School for
Communication, this 2 1/2 day forum will include Sr. Exec. Networking w/ a
special focus on Latin Americas & U.S. Hispanic markets, copyright, rights
mgmt., dist., infrastructure, digital film, iTV, streaming, device trends,
content financing. Early-bird 40% off till 9/30. Keynote Steven Bandel,
Pres. - The Cisneros Group. Sponsors: JP Morgan, Motorola, Global
Crossing, Walt Disney Company, Digital Media Wire, Cahners International
TV, iHollywood, Motion Picture Assoc., National Assoc. of TV Prog. Exec.,
National Assoc. of Theatre owners. For more information:
martin@iamericas.org
Register at: http://www.iamericas.org/events
______________________

To subscribe, go to:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com

Questions or comments? Send email to:
mark@digitalmediawire.com

News tips, press releases. Send email to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com

Copyright 2001 Digital Media Wire