archives

o BusinessWeek: Napster Gets $25 Million More from Bertelsmann
o NetRatings Acquires Rival Jupiter Media Metrix for $71.2 Million
o EFF Disputes Justice Dept., RIAA Requests to Dismiss Felten v. RIAA Case
o Radio Giant Clear Channel Dismantling Internet Division
o InterTrust Announces Resignation of President, New Appointment
o Macromedia Adopts Shareholder Rights Plan
o Content Delivery Network Inktomi to Offer 12.5 Million Shares
o Google Considering Subscription Service for Corporate Clients
o Interplay, StreamTheory to Launch Streaming Game Rental Site
o Briefly Noted: Sonicnet Radio - shutdown, Michael Jackson, The Cure, XM
Satellite Radio - World Series
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> Job Postings: Web Research Assistant, Web Designer,
Vice President of Sales

> Events/Services: "FREE Digital Asset Management Seminar," "CTAM
Broadband Opportunity Conference," "Office Space - L.A.,"
"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
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o BusinessWeek: Napster Gets $25 Million More from Bertlesmann

Redwood City, Calif. -- Napster has received an additional investment of
$25 million from German media conglomerate Bertelsmann, BusinessWeek
reported on Friday. Bertelsmann invested a reported $60 million in Napster
a year ago to develop a secure file-sharing service, and said it would
drop its copyright infringement lawsuit against the company upon delivery
of the technology. Bertelsmann this week announced that it has licensed
some of Napster's technology, save for its peer-to-peer file-sharing
capabilities. Napster laid off 15 percent of its staff this week in order
to streamline in preparation for the launch of its new membership-based
service. Napster CEO Konrad Hilbers is scheduled to give the keynote
address at Webnoize, a digital media industry conference next week in Los
Angeles.
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2001/nf20011026_7583.htm
http://www.napster.com
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o NetRatings Acquires Rival Jupiter Media Metrix for $71.2 Million

Milpitas, Calif. -- NetRatings, the Internet ratings and measurement firm,
announced that it will acquire rival firm Jupiter Media Metrix in a deal
valued at $71.2 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first
quarter of 2002. As part of the agreement, Milpitas-based NetRatings will
loan New York-based Jupiter Media Metrix up to $25 million, and both
parties have agreed to take no further actions with regard to Jupiter's
existing patent infringement claim against NetRatings. David Toth, CEO of
NetRatings, called the purchase "a major step to establish a global
standard in Internet audience measurement and research." NetRatings also
announced that it has agreed to purchase the outstanding 80.1 percent of
ACNielsen ERatings.com that it does not already own for $16.4 million.
ERatings.com, a ratings and measurement firm with operations outside of
the U.S., was formed as a joint venture between NetRatings and ACNielsen.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011025/250619_1.html
http://www.jmm.com
http://www.netratings.com
http://www.eratings.com
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o EFF Disputes Justice Dept., RIAA Requests to Dismiss Felten v. RIAA Case

Trenton, N.J. -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital civil
liberties group that has taken on the case of Princeton researcher Edward
Felten, replied to the U.S. Justice Dept.'s and RIAA requests to have the
case dismissed, arguing instead that it should go forward. Felten sued the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), asking a judge to rule
that he may publish research on audio watermarking technology developed by
a recording industry-backed group. The research shows flaws in the
technology, and publishing the research is considered illegal under a
provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that makes it a
crime to break copyright protection on digital media. "First, the DOJ's
argument that the DMCA exempts scientific research is not binding on them
and is not supported by any court ruling or by the recording industry,"
the EFF said in a statement. "Second, although the recording industry
threats against publication of this scientific research were withdrawn,
industry representatives have insisted that the DMCA permits them to
review and censor future research on a case-by-case basis." Plaintiff and
scientist Scott Craver said in a supplemental declaration that "writing
and using tools to circumvent access or copy control technologies is
essential to our work. If we can no longer use the necessary instruments
of science, then our field of scientific work will be paralyzed."
http://www.eff.org/sc/felten/
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o Radio Giant Clear Channel Dismantling Internet Division

Los Angeles -- Clear Channel Communications said it will close down its
Los Angeles-based Internet division, letting its radio and concert
divisions host their own websites, the Los Angeles Times reported on
Friday. The company is expected to fire "dozens of employees" in the next
two months. San Antonio, Texas-based Clear Channel owns or operates
approximately 1,170 radio and 19 television stations in the United States
and has equity interests in over 240 radio stations internationally. The
company's concert division also produced over 25,000 shows and events in
2000.
http://www.latimes.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=la%2D000085113oct26
http://www.clearchannel.com
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o InterTrust Announces Resignation of President, New Appointment

Santa Clara, Calif. -- InterTrust, a provider of digital rights management
technologies, announced that company president David Ludvigson has
resigned, effective Nov. 1. The company said that executive vice chairman
David Lockwood has been appointed as its new president. Santa Clara-based
InterTrust is currently engaged in a patent infringement lawsuit with
Microsoft, who the company claims is infringing on its digital rights
management technology. InterTrust had sought to prevent the release of
Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, which began selling in stores
yesterday. Microsoft has filed a countersuit, claiming InterTrust has
infringed on its own intellectual property.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011025/sfth119_1.html
http://www.intertrust.com
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o Macromedia Adopts Shareholder Rights Plan

San Francisco -- Macromedia, a Web design software firm responsible for
the widely-used Flash and Shockwave applications, announced that it has
enacted a shareholder rights plan to protect it from any possible
unsolicited acquisition attempts. Under the plan, should any party attempt
to acquire over 20 percent of its outstanding stock, those covered by the
plan would be given the chance to buy additional shares at 50 percent off
the stock's value at the time.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011025/sfth118_1.html
http://www.macromedia.com
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o Content Delivery Network Inktomi to Offer 12.5 Million Shares

Foster City, Calif. -- Inktomi, which provides a content delivery network
that helps to speed digital media across the Internet, announced on Friday
that it will make a public offering of 12.5 million shares. The company
plans to use the proceeds from the offering for general corporate
purposes. Shares of Foster City-based Inktomi closed at $5.32 Friday on
the Nasdaq, down over 90 percent from their record high of $241.50
recorded in March of 2000. Inktomi's major rival in the content delivery
network market is Massachusetts-based Akamai.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011026/262109_1.html
http://www.inktomi.com
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o Google Considering Subscription Service for Corporate Clients

San Francisco -- Google is considering new paid subscription services that
would target corporate clients, according to a CNET report. The services
would be offered to companies interested in access to niche searches
covering periodicals, medical information or technology that Web surfers
or companies would pay to use. "Vertical search and subscription services
are ideas that we're looking at in terms of growing the business," a
source close to the company told CNET. Mountain View-based Google has no
solid plans for the service, but already offers free specialized searches
on military and government topics, Mac-related and Linux-related sites.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7661450.html?tag=cd_mh
http://www.google.com
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o Interplay, StreamTheory to Launch Streaming Game Rental Site

Santa Clara, Calif. -- StreamTheory, a provider of technology that can
stream video games and other software on the Internet, is expected to
announce on Monday the launch of a co-branded streaming game rental site
featuring content from game developer Interplay. Users will be asked to
download Santa Clara-based StreamTheory's proprietary player, which gives
them access to full streaming versions of video games without any further
downloads. "Their [StreamTheory's] security features and gamer experience
gave us a high level of confidence to rent games, like the popular "MDK,"
"Fallout" and "Virtual Pool series, on our own site," said Interplay
president Cal Morrell. The games will be offered for a fee of $5.99 per
month.
https://interplay.streamtheory.com/home
http://www.interplay.com
http://www.streamtheory.com
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o Briefly Noted:

(New York) MTVi has shut down both personal and company-programmed
streaming radio stations at Sonicnet.com, according to a note on the site.
"Strategic decisions have led us to indefinitely deactivate all personal
music stations on Sonicnet.com," the company wrote. The site allowed users
to program personal radio stations based on their own musical preferences,
which could then be listened to by any user. "We understand how much many
of you enjoyed your personal stations, and appreciate the effort so many
of you put into them. The radio team thanks you for your enthusiasm and
dedication to the service." MTVi has moved many of the pre-programmed
stations to MTV.com, VH1.com and Country.com
http://www.sonicnet.com/help/radio_answers.jhtml#1
http://www.sonicnet.com/radio/home/index.jhtml

(London) Pop star Michael Jackson is making his new album available for
streaming on the Internet for a 24-hour period that ends Saturday at 12
p.m. ET, according to a message on his official website. Jackson will also
participate in a live chat on his website Friday evening at 7 p.m. The new
album -- "Invincible" -- goes on sale in stores on Monday.
http://www.michaeljackson.com/virtual_instore/

(Toronto) Veteran goth band The Cure will experiment with Internet-only
releases following the release of its last major label album, Canadian
online news site JAM! reported. The band's contract with Warner Music has
expired, and both the band and lead signer Robert Smith as a solo act will
likely choose to remain unsigned. "I have grown pretty tired of having to
ask six people (at a label) whether I can do something," Smith said in a
telephone interview with JAM!. "I thought with the state of the Internet,
it is the perfect opportunity for me and the band to do stuff, without
consulting."
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusic/oct25_cure-can.html

(Washington, D.C.) Recently launched nationwide satellite radio provider
XM Satellite Radio announced on Friday that it will offer live
play-by-play coverage of Major League Baseball's World Series in
conjunction with ESPN Radio.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011026/dcf006_1.html
http://www.xmradio.com

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

> Katrillion, Web Research Assistant - Fort Lee, New Jersey

CityConnect, the first national city event guide for teens available on
all web and wireless platforms, is looking for an events-locating
super-sleuth to find content for posting on the web. The ideal candidate
must be -- able to find current information that may not be readily
available, a recent college grad, and possess a passion for pop culture
and teen trends. Internet savvy plus strong writing skills are essential.
Send resume and salary requirements to: ccstaff@katrillion.com
http://www.katrillion.com/cityconnect.com
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> Bookspan, Web Designer - Long Island, New York

BOOKSPAN is seeking a Web Designer with preferably 1-2 years experience
for a freelance position (possible temp-to-hire). Work with a Sr. Designer
on the design of all-new web sites from top to bottom. PhotoShop,
Illustrator, hand-code HTML, and aptitude to learn proprietary
content-management software are an absolute must. Send resume in plain
text with URLs of your work, and list the three best-looking content or
e-commerce based sites you can find to: jgiannetti@booksonline.com
http://www.booksonline.com 
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> Vice President of Sales - United States

We are a six-year-old E-Learning company expanding our sales presence in
the US. We are looking for a proven sales leader. Our streaming technology
is proprietary, our client base is outstanding, our track record is
extremely strong. We are in search of kindred spirits who believe that,
great technology companies are built by great people not hype. If your
knowledge of technology is strong and you have a demonstrable history
(10+years) of significant sales success -- we would like to speak with
you. This position can be located anywhere in the US. Send resumes to
njwlmw@aol.com

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

> FREE Seminar - A Foolproof Business and an Invincible Brand

A Digital Asset Management seminar introducing proven strategies for
strengthening global brands, improving productivity, enhancing
communication and increasing revenues. Artesia's experience with global
brands such as GM, AOL Time Warner and others has given us unprecedented
insight into how organizations can improve brand-building activities. For
more information: insidesales@artesia.com
http://www.artesia.com/seminar/
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> CTAM Broadband Opportunity Conference, Nov. 6-8 -- Tysons Corner, VA

Get the FYI on HSI and iTV at CTAM's Broadband Opportunity Conference Nov
6-8, Sheraton Premiere Tysons Corner. Keynote speakers: Maggie Bellville,
Incanta; Christopher P. Bogart, Time Warner Cable Ventures; Charles F.
Dolan, Cablevision Systems Corporation & Steve Wadsworth, The Walt Disney
Internet Group. Call CTAM at 703.549.4200. For more information contact:
tania@ctam.com
http://www.ctambroadband.com
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> Office Space For Rent - Los Angeles

Prime Sunset Boulevard location. Approx. 588 sq ft. Second floor, spacious
two + offices with private bathroom. Convenient parking. Recently
renovated. Quiet, nice work environment. Other tenants in building are
primarily entertainment and new media companies. DSL-ready. Rent is $1,175
per month. For more information, please call 323-363-3620.
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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