Main Stories
o RIAA Sues 80 Additional Alleged File-Sharing Copyright Infringers
o Activision Buys Remaining 70% Stake in Game Developer Infinity Ward
o Microsoft Launches Xbox Live Service in Key Korean Market
o Sohu.com, Disney Partner to Bring Disney Online Content to China
o Digital Video Delivery System Firm Harmonic Prices $66.6 Million Offering
o Digital Photo Firm Pixology to Raise $17 Million on London Exchange

o Briefly Noted: UrbanWorld Wireless - IPSH - record labels, Leapster, Sharman Networks - Kazaa v2.6 Beta, MLB.com, Fonix Corp. - Xbox, InterVideo - Samsung, Activision - PUMA, Sony - "SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs," Acclaim - "Gladiator Sword of Vengeance," Sony Online Entertainment - "PlanetSide: Core Combat," Konami - "Frogger" titles, U.K.'s The Mobile Lottery, Voom

Washington -- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said on Thursday that it has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 80 more individual users of file-sharing software. The 80 persons were part of a larger group of 204 alleged file-sharers to whom the RIAA sent letters earlier this month, urging them to contact the RIAA and settle the matter or else face litigation. The RIAA said that 124 of these letter recipients settled, and that overall a total of 156 people have agreed to settle file-sharing lawsuits with the group. "We are pleased that our efforts to extend illegal file sharers an additional chance to come clean and work out settlements are proving successful," said RIAA president Cary Sherman. "The fact that the overwhelming majority of those who received the notification letter contacted us and were eager to resolve the claims is another clear signal that the music community's education and enforcement campaign is getting the message out." The RIAA also said that 1,000 people not targeted at all by the group have come forward to apply for amnesty from litigation under its "Clean Slate" program, which includes signing an affidavit saying you have erased downloaded files, destroyed burned CDs containing the tracks, and promise not to use illicit file-sharing programs again.
http://www.riaa.org 
http://www.riaa.org/pdf/cleanSlateDesc.pdf 
http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5099738.html
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o Activision Buys Remaining 70% Stake in Game Developer Infinity Ward

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Video game developer and publisher Activision announced on Thursday that it has exercised its option to purchase the remaining 70% of game developer Infinity Ward it does not already own. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Santa Monica-based Activision acquired a 30% stake in Encino, Calif.-based Infinity Ward in May 2002. Infinity Ward's staff includes many of the developers responsible for the popular PC title, "Medal of Honor: Allied Assault;" yesterday, the company released "Call of Duty," another military-themed video game. Under the terms, Infinity Ward will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031030/lath054_1.html
http://www.infinityward.com 
http://www.activision.com
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o Microsoft Launches Xbox Live Service in Korea

Seoul, South Korea -- Microsoft on Thursday launched its Xbox Live online gaming service in Korea, arguably the top market for online gaming in the world and the country in which broadband penetration is most prevalent. The company is offering a $50 starter kit in Korea that includes a USB headset and a trial subscription for the monthly service. Microsoft has also launched Xbox Live in Japan, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Switzerland. Microsoft currently claims 500,000 worldwide subscribers to Xbox Live and said it hopes to reach 1 million subscribers by June 2004.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/031029/tech_korea_microsoft_2.html
https://www.xbox.com/en-us/live/default.htm
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o Sohu.com, Disney Partner to Bring Disney Online Content to China

Beijing, China -- Chinese Internet portal Sohu.com announced on Thursday that it has partnered with Walt Disney Internet Group to bring Disney online and wireless content and services to China. The deal follows a trial during which Sohu built the official Chinese website for Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo." Under the terms, Sohu.com will provide design, production and hosting services for Disney's Disney.com.cn website. Sohu has also licensed Disney Mobile Short Messaging Services (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) content for distribution via Disney.com.cn and the Sohu.com portal.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031030/hkth001_1.html 
http://www.disney.com.cn 
http://disneymobile.sohu.com
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o Digital Video Delivery System Firm Harmonic Prices $66.6 Million Offering

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Harmonic, a provider of digital video, broadband optical networking and IP delivery systems to cable, satellite, telecom and broadcast network operators, said on Wednesday priced its $66.6 million public offering, agreeing to sell 9 million of its shares at $7.40 each. The company increased the size of the offering after originally filing to sell 7.5 million shares. The company's stock jumped 8% in Wednesday's trading.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031029/295377_1.html ____________________________________________

o Digital Photo Firm Pixology to Raise $17 Million on London Exchange

Surrey, England -- U.K. digital photography software developer Pixology has announced plans to raise $17 million through a floatation on the London Stock Exchange. The company provides digital imaging software that lets users to print their images at vendors including Jessops and Dixons, and share and manage their photos on the Internet. The company's technology has been licensed by camera makers including Canon, Konica and Nikon. Lord Young of Graffham, former prime minister Margaret Thatcher's trade and industry secretary, owns a 40% stake in and is chairman of Pixology. The company plans to use the new funds for further product development.
http://www.pixology.com

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(Los Angeles) UrbanWorld Wireless, a provider of urban-themed wireless entertainment content, announced on Thursday that it has partnered with wireless delivery technology firm IPSH and record labels Def Jam Recordings and Elektra Records to develop a mobile advertising and marketing platform for the urban music community. The first campaigns will deliver promotions and samples for artists Ja Rule and Fabolous to opt-in audiences, who can then forward the promotions onto their friends via mobile devices. Subscribers can also sign up to receive information on special events and promotions taking place in their respective cities, and use their mobile devices as "VIP cards" if they "present special text codes at nightclubs in order to receive discounts and privileged treatment."
http://www.ipsh.com 
http://www.urbanworldwireless.com

(New York) Educational toymaker LeapFrog Enterprises on Thursday introduced its Leapster Multimedia Learning System, a handheld electronic device that includes an educational game player, electronic storybook reader, digital art studio and interactive video player. Emeryville, Calif.-based LeapFrog said the $79 device, which includes content based on TV franchises including "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer," is designed for children ages 4-9.
http://www.leapfrog.com

(Sydney) Sharman Networks has released a beta version of an update to its popular Kazaa file-sharing software, Kazaa v2.6. New features in the update include multiple simultaneous searches, one-click downloading of files and improved display of file data. It will also feature "kapsules" that allow content providers to offer multimedia packages of promotional audio, video, images and other data in a single file to Kazaa users.
http://www.kazaa.com/us/beta/index.htm

(New York) MLB.com, the website for Major League Baseball, said on Thursday that over 65 million visitors came to MLB.com during the 26 days of Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series this year, more than double the 29 million visitors to the site during last year's postseason. Fans also watched or listened to 50 million minutes of streaming video and audio of games during the 2003 postseason.
http://www.mlb.com

(Salt Lake City, Utah.) Fonix Corp., a developer of speech-recognition technology, said on Thursday that the first two Xbox games to utilize its technology -- Ubisoft's "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3" and Sierra Entertainment's "SWAT: Global Strike Team" -- were shipped to retailers this week. Microsoft licensed Fonix's technology for its Xbox Developers Kit. The software provides in-game voice features available in English and U.K. English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031030/305135_1.html 
http://www.fonix.com

(Fremont, Calif.) InterVideo, a developer of DVD creation software, announced on Thursday that Korean electronics firm Samsung will bundle InterVideo's WinCinema suite of multimedia software with its new SR-T04B line of DVD+/-RW drives, which began selling in the U.S. this month.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031030/305153_1.html 
http://www.intervideo.com

(Westford, Mass.) Apparel and footwear company PUMA announced on Thursday that it partnered with game developer Activision to place its products in Activision's "True Crime: Streets of L.A." video game. Selections from PUMA's fall 2003 apparel and footwear collections will be featured on multiple characters within the game. Additionally, the game includes a digital replica of PUMA's retail store on Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade, and billboards displaying PUMA retail advertisements are dispersed throughout the virtual city where players are sent on various missions, including "the heist of a truck filled with counterfeit PUMA gear."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031030/305574_1.html 
http://www.activision.com 
http://www.puma.com

(Foster City, Calif.) Sony Computer Entertainment America announced on Thursday that it will support the Nov. 4 release of its "SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs" title for PlayStation 2 with an expansive television, print, online and retail store marketing campaign. The U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command consulted on the creation of the sequel, which was developed by Redmond, Wash.-based Zipper Interactive and produced by Sony Computer Entertainment America's Foster City studio. Sony said the original "SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs" title has sold 1.6 million copies in North America.
http://www.zipperint.com
http://www.us.playstation.com/games/SCUS-97134.asp

(Glen Cove, N.Y.) Acclaim Entertainment, a developer and publisher of video games, announced on Thursday that it will ship its "Gladiator Sword of Vengeance" for PlayStation 2 and the Xbox to retailers on Nov. 4.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031030/nyth047_1.html 
http://www.acclaim.com

(San Diego) Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) announced that it has released "PlanetSide: Core Combat," the first expansion pack for its PlanetSide massively multiplayer online PC game. San Diego-based SOE said the $30 title will be available both at retail and as a secure download from its website.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031029/law118_1.html
http://www.planetside.com

(Redwood City, Calif.) Video game publisher Konami Digital Entertainment America announced that it has released two new titles based on its classic "Frogger" arcade game, "Frogger's Adventures: The Rescue" for PlayStation 2 and GameCube, and "Frogger's Journey: The Forgotten Relic" for Nintendo Game Boy Advance.
http://www.konami.com/usa/press/frogger102803.html

(London) TheRegister on Thursday reported on the launch of The Mobile Lottery, the U.K.'s first service to offer online lottery wagering via cell phones. The service was launched by Charles Cohen, formerly of online currency firm Beenz, and lets users over age 16 wager 1 pound ($1.70) for the chance to win 1,000 pounds. Similar to England's National Lottery, a portion of the proceeds from each wager placed with The Mobile Lottery will be donated to charity.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/33659.html
http://www.mobilelottery.org.uk

(San Francisco) Wired News on Thursday reported on Voom, a new all-high definition programming satellite TV service recently launched by Cablevision chairman Charles Dolan. The service costs $749 for hardware and installation and between $39 and $99 per month for programming, and offers 21 channels of exclusively HD programs. The Voom service is currently being sold at Sears retail stores.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60963,00.html
http://www.voom.com

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