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===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- September 30, 2002
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com 

o Liquid Audio Sells Patents to Microsoft for $7 Million Ahead of Merger
o Napster Signs Letter of Intent to Sell Assets to Undisclosed Buyer
o Prince Sues Website Operator Over Bootleg MP3s
o Adobe Systems Approves $100 Million Stock Buyback Plan

> Digital Media Wire Event: "Interactive Marketing" | NYC | Oct. 15
> Digital Media Wire Event: "iTV Visions" | NYC | Nov. 14
> Featured Section: Streaming Media East, Online Grad. Certificate

o Briefly Noted: Overture - MSN, Google AdWords - Europe, Nokia -
Mediamaster 230 S, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment - GoPlayTV,
Microsoft - IFP/New York, GameSpy Industries - Take Two Interactive,
OpenTV - Shanghai Cable Network, NTT Comware, Princeton Video Image, "The
Sopranos" - Internet episode leaks
_____________________________________________

> Jobs: VP Product Mgmt., Senior Contract Mgr., VP of Media

> Events

> Marketplace

Full Classifieds located beneath "Briefly Noted" section below.

To post a Classified Ad:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/mainpostingpage.html 
or contact David Peebler at david@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________

o Liquid Audio Sells Patents to Microsoft for $7 Million Ahead of Merger

Redwood City, Calif. -- Liquid Audio, a provider of digital music
distribution technology, announced on Monday that it has sold its patents
to Microsoft for $7 million, in preparation for its pending merger with
media distributor Alliance Entertainment. Redwood City, Calif.-based
Liquid Audio's patents covered digital rights management together with
technology for secure content transfer to portable devices, as well as the
ability to honor territorial restrictions for digital music content.
Liquid Audio will also retain a royalty-free license to continue using the
technology in its own digital distribution system. "This direction is
consistent with our move away from product development and toward an
exclusive focus on the digital distribution of media to the retail
community, which is entirely complementary to Alliance's physical media
distribution business for home entertainment products," said Liquid Audio
president and CEO Gerry Kearby. The company said it will announce the
outcome of last week's shareholder vote regarding its pending merger with
Alliance on Friday.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020930/sfm077_1.html 
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-960076.html?tag=cd_mh 
http://www.liquidaudio.com 
_____________________________________________

o Napster Signs Letter of Intent to Sell Assets to Undisclosed Buyer

Redwood City, Calif. -- Napster has signed a non-binding letter of intent
to sell its assets to an undisclosed buyer, according to an attorney
representing a committee of the company's unsecured creditors, CNET
News.com reported. Attorney Rick Antonoff also said that Private Media
Group, the Spanish adult entertainment firm that bid $2.4 million for
Napster's trademark and domain to start an adult video sharing service,
"did not enter in the running for the most qualified bidders." Bloomberg
News reported that the judge handling Napster's bankruptcy proceedings has
also agreed to the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee for the company,
after the U.S. Trustee dropped its request to convert the case to a
Chapter 7 liquidation. The appointment of a trustee will allow the company
to remain in Chapter 11, where its assets will likely bring more money at
auction. Another hearing is scheduled this week.
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-959946.html?tag=cd_mh 
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/88953_napster28.shtml 
_____________________________________________

o Prince Sues Website Operator Over Bootleg MP3s

Minneapolis -- Recording artist Prince has sued the operator of a website
who posted links to bootleg recordings of live performances from his
recent "Xenophobia" concert tour, the Associated Press reported. Prince's
Minneapolis-based Paisley Park Enterprises filed copyright infringement
claims against Seattle resident Matthew Lankford, who runs
FreeMyHeart.com, a fan site devoted to another artist, Me'Shell
Ndegeocello. Lankford denies having done anything wrong. "One of my
favorite artists is coming after me for promoting him on my Web site,"
Lankford told the AP. "For him to seek $150,000 per song to try to ruin me
for doing nothing more than promoting him is ... overdoing it." Prince
plans to release a 3-CD box set of recordings of performances from the
tour through his NPGMusicClub.com website.
http://www.billboard.com/billboard/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1725983 
http://freemyheart.com 
http://www.npgmusicclub.com 
_____________________________________________

o Adobe Systems Approves $100 Million Stock Buyback Plan

San Jose, Calif. --San Jose-based Adobe Systems, a maker of network
publishing software, said on Friday that it plans to repurchase 5 million
shares of its stock in a buyback program. The company already has two
similar programs in place. The first, initiated in 1992, is designed to
offset dilution from the company's employee stock programs, while the
second, authorized last year, also is buying back 5 million shares.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020926/260342_1.html 
http://www.adobe.com 
_____________________________________________

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===================================
EVENT -- DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE Presents...
===================================
Interactive Marketing: Where Success Lies Now and in the Future

New York City | Tues. October 15 | 6:00-9:00 PM

Produced with the New York New Media Association, in association with the
Interactive Advertising Bureau.

Sponsors: KMZ Rosenman | NYNMA | IAB

This executive forum brings together leaders from companies such as MSN,
Google, About.com, GoldPocket Interactive and others that are succeeding
in online media. Hear firsthand the strategies, tactics and technologies
that are working today and get a glimpse what is in store for the future.

For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events/imarketing_101502.htm

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iTV Visions: Technology Transforming Entertainment

New York City | Thurs. November 14 | 1:30-7:30 PM

In association with the Interactive Television Alliance

Sponsors: Etronica | ITA | Filter Media | AIM

This half-day executive forum will present views on the future of
entertainment based on next generation interactive television technologies
emerging today. Thought leaders from leading edge companies that are
driving these technologies into the marketplace will gather to show how
entertainment is on the verge of yet another radical transformation.

For more information and to register:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/events/itv_visions_111902.htm

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_____________________________________________

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

STREAMING MEDIA EAST 2002: Javits Convention Center, NY
Conference: September 30 - October 3
Exhibition: October 1 - 3

***EXHIBITION OPENS TOMORROW*** Download your FREE Exhibition Pass at: 
http://www.streamingmedia.com/east/registration.asp

Exhibition attendees have full access to both the Streaming Media East and
Internet World Fall Exhibition floors and Keynotes.
Visit http://www.streamingmedia.com/east for full information.

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Univ. of Bridgeport Creates Online Training for E-Commerce Managers

"Managing the Digital Enterprise" is a new online graduate certificate
program offered by the U. of Bridgeport (CT). Specifically for working
adults, the 4 courses required for the Certificate are offered online,
available 24/7, and can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. The courses
for this program lead to an understanding of the business, management, &
technical issues that drive e-commerce and the digital economy as a whole.
More info: ubonline@bridgeport.edu or call 800-470-7307.
http://www.bridgeport.edu/scps/managdigital.htm

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_____________________________________________

Briefly Noted:

(Pasadena, Calif.) Overture Services, a provider of pay-for-placement
search engine listings, announced on Monday that it has expanded its
agreement to provide listings to Microsoft's MSN. Under the agreement,
Pasadena-based Overture will provide its listings to the MSN search pane
and MSN sites through December 2003 and December 2004, respectively, in
the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany and France.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020930/300061_1.html 
http://www.overture.com  

(London) Search engine provider Google announced on Monday that it is
launching its "AdWords" paid listings service to the European market. The
service allows advertisers to buy search terms that are closely related to
their products and services. Google has been offering this type of
paid-placement advertising in the U.S. for more than a year. Omid
Kordestani, a vice president at Google, said more than half of the 150
million daily Google searches come from outside the U.S.
http://www.google.co.uk/press/pressrel/adwords_uk.html  

(Helsinki) Nokia on Monday announced its Mediamaster 230 S, a satellite
digital television receiver that allows users to transfer digital pictures
wirelessly from their cell phones to the device for viewing on a TV.
Images may be sent from any Bluetooth version 1.1-enabled camera phone,
such as Nokia's 7650 model. The Mediamaster 230 S will become available in
Europe by the end of the year.
http://press.nokia.com/PR/200209/875143_5.html 

(Culver City, Calif.) Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment on Monday
announced the launch of GoPlayTV, an interactive TV games channel for Sky
Digital satellite TV subscribers in the U.K. The first games offered are
interactive versions of "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy." London-based
design group Amassmedia created the visuals for the service, while U.K.
media services company GoInteractTV provided application development and
hosting for the channel.
http://www.gointeract.tv 
http://www.amassmedia.com 
http://www.goplaytv.com 

(New York) Microsoft on Monday said that four independent films, still
works in progress, have been encoded digitally with Windows Media 9 Series
and will screen at the IFP Market in New York this week. The films are
part of the IFP Market Rough Cut Showcase, and include Aion Velie's
"Taft," Tod Harrison's "The Big Bend," Elizabeth Dimon's "Private
Property" and Ghazi Albuliwi's "West Bank Brooklyn."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020930/sfm063_1.html 
http://market.ifp.org/market24 

(Irvine, Calif.) GameSpy Industries, a provider of video game content and
technologies, announced on Monday that video game publisher Take Two
Interactive has signed a year-long agreement to use its online technology
middleware and related back-end services to launch online games for Sony
PlayStation 2 and the PC. New York-based Take Two's subsidiary labels
include Rockstar Games, which developed titles including "Grand Theft Auto
3" and "State of Emergency."
http://www.take2games.com 
http://www.gamespy.net 

(Mountain View, Calif.) OpenTV, a provider of interactive TV software and
services, announced on Monday that China's Shanghai Cable Network, the
company's largest broadband cable TV customer, has launched interactive
services for 3.5 million subscribers. Mountain View, Calif.-based OpenTV's
service will offer near video-on-demand, impulse pay-per-view, an
interactive news magazine, online stock and financial services, and the
PlayJam interactive games channel. Last week, OpenTV acquired interactive
TV firms ACTV and Wink Communications from Liberty Corp.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020930/300194_1.html 
http://www.opentv.com 

(Tokyo) NTT Comware, a unit of Japanese telco NTT, announced on Monday the
release of two new digital rights management systems. The Copyright
Clearance System handles copyright clearance procedures between the owners
of copyrights and distributors, while the Dynamic Value Creation DRM
System enables owners and distributors to assign charges and value to
content at the time of use by the customer, not when content is provided
on the network.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/222730450&ticker= 
http://www.nttcom.co.jp 

(Lawrenceville, N.J.) Princeton Video Image, a provider of virtual ad
technologies for broadcasters, announced on Monday that it has appointed
Peter Green as president and chief operating officer. Previously, Green
served as an executive at Disney and Pixar, and as CEO at two of his own
start-ups, Sabela Media and GiantBear.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020930/302050_1.html 
http://www.pvi-inc.com  

(Redmond, Wash.) MSNBC.com on Monday reported that the first four episodes
of cable TV network HBO's series "The Sopranos" were leaked onto Internet
file-sharing services in late August, presumably lifted from review copies
of the episodes sent to journalists. HBO spokesman Quentin Schaffer told
MSNBC.com that HBO is now looking into copy-protection for review copies,
and is actively sending cease-and-desist letters under the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act whenever it sees the episodes posted online.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/814083.asp?0dm=C12KT 
_____________________________________________

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

VP Product Management - Key Management Team Member Needed

Seeking a VP of Product Management for new healthcare ASP venture. This
position will serve as the company's domain application expert and product
visionary. Extensive healthcare and claims adjudication knowledge is
required. Verbal, written, and presentation skills are key. The VP will
serve as the company's product champion, guiding all product enhancements
and new features based on market need and legislative requirements such as
HIPAA. VA based, equity opportunity. Send resumes and inquiries to
itoff@erols.com
_____________________________________________

Senior Contract Manager - Google - Mountain View, CA

Google is seeking an experienced contract negotiator. Responsibilities
include daily review of standard contracts, limited authority to draft
contractual terms and conditions for licenses and advertising services
agreements, intensive in-house client interaction. Communicate company
policies and approval processes for contract changes to sales
professionals. 3-5 years of contract negotiation. Resume to
jobs@google.com or fax (650) 618-1796. Please include position.
_____________________________________________

VP Media - Mosaic - Marina Del Rey, CA

Mosaic Data Solutions is a Canadian Based Fortune 500 Marketing Firm and
the World's leading Email Marketing Firm and provider of consumer data
products. We seek a VP of Media who will be responsible for selling Mosaic
Data Solutions (CustomOffers) own proprietary products to consumers via
Banners, Pops and Keyword purchases strategically placed around the
Internet. For immediate consideration, contact Thomas Geraci at:
tgeraci@mosaicdatasolutions.com
_____________________________________________

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

_____________________________________________

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

_____________________________________________

Digital Media Wire, Inc. leverages its integrated media network to provide
exceptional value for 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, a nationwide
network of publications that includes Potomac Tech Wire, New England Tech
Wire, Southeast Tech Wire, Bay Area Tech Wire and European Tech Wire. The
network reaches more than 62,000 individuals from over 70 countries
worldwide each business day.

Upcoming publications, events & information at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com 

Questions, Comments & Suggestions to:
david@digitalmediawire.com 

News Tips, Scoops & Press Releases to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com 
_____________________________________________

Editor: Mark Hefflinger
Executive Officer: Edward F. Sherman, Jr.
Operating Officer: David J. Peebler

Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.