archives

o RIAA, MPAA Sue File-Sharing Services FastTrack, MusicCity and Grokster
o Entertainment Site UGO Networks Lays Off Half of Staff
o Online Ad Firm DoubleClick Buys Technology from L90
o Activision Acquires Game Developer Treyarch for $20 Million
o Digital TV Chip Developer NxtWave Raises $12.5 Million in Fourth Round
o Briefly Noted: "Majestic" on CD, Intertainer - Adelphia, Gemstar-TV
Guide - SeaChange International, Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing
- EJay, Decisionmark, TDK Mediactive - "Ultimate Book of Spells"
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> Job Postings: Dance Music Mktg/BizDev, General Mgr., Ad Sales Mgr.

> Events/Services: "Silicon Alley Community Meeting," "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 RIAA, MPAA Sue File-Sharing Services FastTrack, MusicCity and Grokster

Washington, D.C. -- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
and Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) filed copyright
infringement lawsuits against several of the most popular
Napster-alternative file-sharing services late on Tuesday, calling them a
"21st century piratical bazaar where the unlawful exchange of protected
materials takes place across the vast expanses of the Internet." The
defendants named include Netherlands-based FastTrack, which distributes
the Kazaa program; Tennessee-based MusicCity, which offers Morpheus; and
Nevis, West Indies-based Grokster. CNET reported that collectively, users
have downloaded over 34 million versions of the file-sharing programs from
Download.com in recent months; Webnoize figures show that users downloaded
1.5 billion files from FastTrack in September. Unlike Napster or Scour,
these services operate without the need of a central server, meaning that
even if the parent companies that developed and currently distribute the
software are shut down, file-sharing will likely continue. The lawsuit
brought by the labels and studios contends that the defendants "are
capable of controlling the activities of their users and the infringing
digital files available through their network." Damages sought in the case
will likely be equal to the $150,000 per infringement sought by the RIAA
in its ongoing suit against Napster. "We cannot sit idly by while these
services continue to operate illegally, especially at a time when new
legitimate services are being launched," said RIAA CEO Hilary Rosen.
http://www.riaa.org/PR_story.cfm?id=456
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7389552.html?tag=cd_mh
http://news.webnoize.com/item.rs?ID=14331
http://www.dotcomscoop.com/riaa1003.html
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o Entertainment Site UGO Networks Lays Off Half of Staff

New York -- UGO Networks, a network of entertainment websites targeted at
18 to 34-year-old males, has laid off about half of its staff -- 40
employees -- as a result of the current downturn in the online advertising
market, according to published reports. New York-based UGO Networks' 350
sites cover video games, TV, music, wrestling and other areas of interest
to young men. The company raised $13 million in March of this year.
http://www.ugo.com
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o Online Ad Firm DoubleClick Buys Technology from L90

New York -- Online advertising technology firm Doubleclick announced on
Wednesday that it has acquired technology assets from L90, another
provider of 'Net ad technology. Financial terms of the deal were not
disclosed. Included in the purchase is L90's ad serving and tracking
software, which has been used by 1,700 clients. L90 will continue to
support its clients in the short term; its clients will also be given the
opportunity to use other DoubleClick technology. Los Angeles-based L90
said the sale will allow it to "focus on core media and direct marketing
businesses while also streamlining [our] cost structure." Reuters reported
on Wednesday that DoubleClick is also in negotiations to acquire rival ad
firm Real Media.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011002/21325_1.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011002/wr/tech_realmedia_dc_1.html
http://www.doubleclick.com
http://www.l90.com
http://www.realmedia.com
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o Activision Acquires Game Developer Treyarch for $20 Million

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Game developer Activision announced on Wednesday
that it has acquired Treyarch Invention, a developer of action and
action-sports games, in a stock transaction valued at $20 million. Santa
Monica-based Treyarch has worked with Activision on the development of
games including "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2" and "Spider-Man: The Movie" for
multiple video game consoles. Activision said the additional 140 employees
from Treyarch will help to bolster its in-house game development
capabilities.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011003/law052_1.html
http://www.treyarch.com
http://www.activision.com
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o Digital TV Chip Developer NxtWave Raises $12.5 Million in Fourth Round

Langhorne, Penn. -- NxtWave Communications, a developer of chips used in
digital television set-top boxes, digital TVs and PC TVs, announced on
Wednesday that it has raised $12.5 million in the first closing of its
fourth round of venture capital financing. Previous investors who
participated the round were Anadigics, C.E. Unterberg Towbin Capital
Partners, Intel Capital, Millennium Technology Venture Partners,
Mitsubishi International Corp., MC Capital, MC Silicon Valley, Oak
Investment Partners, Venture First Associates and Whitney & Co. New
investors included Alps Electric, NEC and The Walt Disney Co.
Pennsylvania-based NxtWave will use the funds for the development,
introduction and marketing of new products and for general corporate
purposes.
http://www.nxtwavecomm.com
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o Briefly Noted:

(Redwood City, Calif.) Game developer Electronic Arts said on Wednesday
that it will no longer distribute its online game "Majestic" over the
Internet, in favor of a $39.99 CD-ROM sold at retail that will contain the
necessary software. The CD version of the game will still be played
online, and immerse players with faxes, voicemails and emails related to
game play. The game will accessible for "several months," according to
Redwood City Electronic Arts, which said it is still considering a second
season of "Majestic" for 2002.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011003/30344_1.html
http://www.majestic.ea.com

(Culver City, Calif.) Video-on-demand services provider Intertainer
announced that it has signed a three-year agreement with cable TV operator
Adelphia Communications. Under the terms, Intertainer will provide its
services to Adelphia's digital cable and high-speed Internet subscribers.
Adelphia plans to offer Culver City-based Intertainer's services to
375,000 Internet and 175,000 digital cable subscribers by the end of the
year.
http://www.intertainer.com
http://www.adelphia.com

(Pasadena, Calif.) Gemstar-TV Guide, a developer of interactive TV program
guides, announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with digital video
server and software firm SeaChange International to provide
video-on-demand program guides. The guides will resemble Pasadena-based
Gemstar's guide for digital TV, and allow viewers to navigate, preview,
select and buy video-on-demand movies through their TVs. Viewers will be
able to pause, fast-forward and rewind movies purchased on the system. The
Gemstar-SeaChange video-on-demand system will be available to cable TV
operators using Motorola set-top boxes in North America, Europe and Asia.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011003/30608_1.html
http://www.gemstartvguide.com/
http://www.seachangeinternational.com

(Los Angeles) Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing (VUIP) said on
Wednesday that it has signed a three-year marketing and distribution
agreement with EJay AG, a developer of music entertainment software.
Stuttgart, Germany-based EJay's software allows consumers to convert,
generate, mix and manage MP3 music files.
http://www.vivendiuniversalpublishing.com/english_version/games.html
http://www.ejay-ag.com

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Decisionmark, a developer of streaming media
technology, announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Patent Office has awarded
the company a patent on its technology that relates to rebroadcasting
local TV signals on the Internet. Iowa-based Decisionmark's technology
rests between broadcasters and Internet users, and can verify whether or
not a particular user's unique IP address is within the over-the-air
signal area of a broadcaster and send the appropriate station feed to the
user.
http://www.decisionmark.com/news_AWBR_Patent.html

(Calabasas, Calif.) Video game publisher TDK Mediactive said on Wednesday
that it has signed a five-year licensing agreement to develop games based
on the new animated children's TV series "UBOS" ("Ultimate Book of
Spells"). Calabasas-based TDK Mediactive will publish games based on the
show for next-generation videogame consoles, handhelds and PC platforms.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011003/30053_1.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/ubos/
http://www.tdk-mediactive.com

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

> Dance Music Marketing/Business Development Pioneer

Needed: BizDev trailblazer with experience in the independent electronic
music industry, to spearhead a unique and rapidly developing music
subscription service. Must understand what's new and good in the dance
music world, niche brand marketing, and why people still crave 12 inch
records.
Please send a short bio (including last 5 CDs purchased) to
ajobforme@mindspring.com
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> CyberRep, General Manager- Coos Bay, OR

Lead the activities associated with the management of all departments
within the Customer Interaction Center. This includes the analysis and
review of the day-to-day operations, risk assessment planning, P&L
management, and budget review.
Send resumes to pmadison@cyberrep.com
http://www.cyberrep.com
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> 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 

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

> Silicon Alley Community Meeting, October 3, 2001 - New York City

In response to the recent terrorist attacks in New York City, The New York
Software Industry Association (NYSIA) is hosting a Silicon Alley Community
Meeting on "Relief, Recovery, and Rebuilding" for all displaced and
affected companies in New York's technology community. This meeting will
offer "one stop shopping" for displaced companies. For more information,
please contact: nchen@nysia.org
http://www.nysia.org/community_meeting.cfm
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> 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
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
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> 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
______________________

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Copyright 2001 Digital Media Wire