Top Stories
o Cisco to Acquire Set-top Box Maker Scientific-Atlanta for $6.9 Billion
o SonyBMG Anti-Piracy Software May Infringe Open-Source Copyright
o Apple Denies EMI Copy-Protected CDs Will Play on iPod
o Networks: Despite Ad-Skipping, TiVo Will Increase TV Viewership
o German Lawmakers Seek Ban on All Games Depicting Lethal Violence
o ABC to Produce "Lost" Spin-Off Episodes for Mobile Phones
o Game Developer Trilogy Studios Launches With $2.9 Million
o Austria's On Demand Microelectronics Raises $8 Million
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Briefly Noted
o AOL to Offer "Earth to America" Comedy TV Special On-Demand
o Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan Team on Hong Kong Anti-piracy PSA
o Motorola Plans New Rokr Music Phones in 2006
o Abandon Mobile Develops 3 Winter Sports Games for NBC
o Singapore to Host World Cyber Games This Weekend
o CNET News.com: Costs Could Keep Small Publishers From Next-Gen Consoles
o Washington Post: Google's Stock Hits $400 a Share
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Lawrenceville, Ga. - Cisco Systems, the network equipment-making powerhouse, has agreed to pay $6.9 billion in cash to acquire Scientific-Atlanta, a manufacturer of set-top boxes for digital cable and satellite TV services. Cisco said that the acquisition completes its "triple play solution for carrier networks and the digital home." "Video is emerging as the key strategic application in the service provider bundle of consumer entertainment, communication and online services," said John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems. Scientific-Atlanta offers transmission networks for broadband access to the home, digital interactive set-tops and subscriber systems designed for video, high-speed Internet and voice over IP (VoIP) networks. Under the acquisition terms, Cisco will pay $43 per share in cash for Scientific-Atlanta, and assume outstanding options for a total purchase price of about $6.9 billion.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/051118/20051118005234.html?.v=2 
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/051118/scientificatlanta.html?.v=5 (Reuters)
http://news.com.com/Cisco+goes+for+video/2100-1034_3-5960479.html 
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.sciatl.com
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o SonyBMG Anti-Piracy Software May Infringe Open-Source Copyright

Los Angeles - The controversial CD copy-protection software that this week prompted SonyBMG to recall millions of CDs also appears to have lifted elements from open-source software, which could constitute copyright infringement, Reuters reported on Friday. Developed by U.K.-based First 4 Internet, the anti-piracy software included a "rootkit" designed to hide it deep within a computer's operating system; this tool can also be used independently by virus writers to attack PCs, and Microsoft and anti-virus firms are now actively working to remove it from PCs worldwide. The CD copy-protection software also includes a media player, which developers said makes unauthorized use of LAME, an open-source MP3 player application. One principle of free-to-use open-source software is that it if it is utilized for other applications, the derivatives must also be open-source. Failure to heed the rules of open-source software can trigger copyright infringement claims. "That's the flipside of open source: If you don't respect the open-source rules, the old regime of copy protection comes back in full force," Internet law expert Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm told Reuters.
http://tinyurl.com/8ecnw
http://tinyurl.com/7lsu3 (Reuters)
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/info-tech/dn8346.html
http://www.first4internet.co.uk
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o Apple Denies EMI Copy-Protected CDs Will Play on iPod

San Francisco - Major label EMI said that it soon plans to release copy-protected CDs whose tracks may for the first time be transferred to Apple's iPod digital music players, although Apple has denied this claim, CNET News.com reported. To this point, major developers of CD copy-protection software -- including SunnComm, First 4 Internet and Macrovision -- have utilized Microsoft's media format to encode protected tracks that can be transferred to portable players. Microsoft media files cannot be played on the iPod. "Apple is nearly finished with the technical work necessary to enable consumers to transfer music from content-protected discs to their iPods," EMI said in a statement. "This is an important step for EMI and Apple, but even more so for music consumers who will soon be able to legitimately port music from protected discs they own to the iPod." EMI is using Macrovision's copy-protection technology on its CDs. Apple, however, denied the label's claim. "The information EMI provided regarding iTunes and iPod compatibility with Macrovision's technology is not true and we have no idea why EMI made this statement," Apple said in a statement.
http://tinyurl.com/9lyl5 (CNET)
http://www.macrovision.com
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o Networks: Despite Ad-Skipping, TiVo Will Increase TV Viewership

New York - Contrary to earlier fears that the ability to skip commercials enabled by digital video recorders like TiVo would negatively impact TV networks, a report issued by the six major networks this week predicts the technology will actually increase viewership, Reuters reported. "For most of the top television programs, the audience will be greater for these programs as DVR penetration increases," David Poltrack, head of ratings research for CBS, told Reuters. "The DVR is going to increase viewership to major network television programs." The report, issued by CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, the WB and UPN, found homes with the devices watched an average of 5.7 hours of television daily, versus 5.1 hours for homes without digital video recorders. The networks also found that, while 90% said they skipped all or most commercials, 58% paid attention to them while fast-forwarding, and 53% went back to view an ad of interest.
http://tinyurl.com/df7bb (Reuters)
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o German Lawmakers Seek Ban on All Games Depicting Lethal Violence

Berlin - German lawmakers have proposed extending the country's restrictions on video game content to ban any games that depict lethal violence, Der Spiegel reported. Andreas Scheuer of Germany's Christian Social Union told Der Spiegel the group is calling for a complete ban on "killing games," saying they "have no place in Germany's bedrooms." The country removed the multiplayer shooter game "Counter-Strike" from store shelves following a school shooting in which a student shot 16 people. The game industry plans to lobby against the proposed legislation. "As far as we are concerned, there are no such things as killer games, but adult games," Olaf Wolters, manager of the German interactive entertainment software association, told Der Spiegel.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1777962,00.html
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=13086
http://www.csu.de/home/Display/Fremdsprachen/englisch
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o ABC to Produce "Lost" Spin-Off Episodes for Mobile Phones

Los Angeles - The producers of the ABC TV drama "Lost" plan to offer a spin-off of the show, "Lost Video Diaries," that will be distributed exclusively to video-capable cell phones early next year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Lost" executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse will handle production of 20 "mobisodes," set to begin shooting next month, without involvement from ABC or Touchstone Television. The spin-off will introduce two new characters not featured in the TV series. While no carrier partner has been announced, Verizon this week began offering several mobile applications based on content from "Lost" and ABC's "Desperate Housewives." ABC also recently began selling 99-cent full episodes of the two series for download to iPods, PCs and other devices, through Apple's iTunes Store.
http://tinyurl.com/bgmhn
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o Game Developer Trilogy Studios Launches With $2.9 Million

Santa Monica, Calif. - A group of former executives from video game publishers Electronic Arts and Vivendi Universal Games this week announced the formation of an independent game development firm, Trilogy Studios. Based in Santa Monica, Calif., the company says it has raised $2.9 million in its first round of venture capital financing. Trilogy will focus on developing titles for next-generation consoles "that will fill the creativity gap facing the games industry today," the company said. "We see a wealth of opportunity in new financial and distribution systems for interactive entertainment in addition to the traditional developer/publisher model, and Trilogy is building the infrastructure to support these new efforts," said Trilogy president Rick Giolito, a former vice president and executive producer at Electronic Arts.
http://tinyurl.com/9s5no
http://www.trilogystudios.com
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o Austria's On Demand Microelectronics Raises $8 Million

Frankfurt - On Demand Microelectronics (OMD), an Austria-based semiconductor developer and spin-off from Analog Devices's local design center, announced that it has raised approximately $8 million in its first round of venture capital financing. OMD claims to be the world's first company to deliver a fully software-programmable semiconductor for processing of high-definition digital video for the digital TV market. Germany-based High Tech Private Equity, gamma capital partners, Bank Austria Grunderfonds, the venture arm of Bank Austria Creditanstalt and Austria Wirtschaftsservice participated in the round.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q5EA21E2C

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o AOL to Offer "Earth to America" Comedy TV Special On-Demand

Dulles, Va. - America Online said on Friday that it will offer the TBS special "Earth to America," a comedy event to raise awareness for environmental issues, for free on-demand viewing on the AOL.com portal. Created by environmental activist Laurie David, the program will feature her husband, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator Larry David, in addition to Jason Alexander, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Al Franken, Steve Martin, Dustin Hoffman and many others. AOL will make the show available in chapters, and will offer additional material not seen in the television broadcast, scheduled for Nov. 20. AOL will offer the program beginning Nov. 21 through the end of 2005.
http://tinyurl.com/bzym5
http://www.tbs.com/shows/earthtoamerica
http://www.aol.com/comedy
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o Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan Team on Hong Kong Anti-piracy PSA
 
Hong Kong - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has teamed with fellow action movie actor Jackie Chan to produce an anti-piracy public service announcement for television audiences in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The PSA was produced by Hong Kong's Intellectual Property Department, with the cooperation of the California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth. "The fact that Hong Kong is willing to put this PSA on TV shows Hong Kong is serious about fighting piracy," Schwarzenegger told Chinese business newspaper The Standard. A Hong Kong man recently became the first person in the world to be sent to prison for uploading movies to an Internet file-sharing network. "If we don't use him as an example, then more people will do it," Chan told The Standard.
http://tinyurl.com/dgyk7
http://www.4cajobs.com
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o Motorola Plans New Rokr Music Phones in 2006

New York - Motorola said this week that it plans to release several new handsets in its music-playing Rokr cell phone line next year, Reuters reported. Motorola's first Rokr phone that integrated iTunes software, which was not as thin and sleek as its Razr model, has seen sluggish sales. The company said new Rokr models will be closer in design to the Razr; the first is slated for release in the first quarter, while another to be introduced mid-year will offer wireless song downloads, according to Ron Garriques, head of Motorola's mobile unit. Carriers will also be given the choice to include either iTunes or any competing player software on the phones.
http://tinyurl.com/8egg3 (Reuters)
http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/rokr
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o Abandon Mobile Develops 3 Winter Sports Games for NBC

New York - Abandon Mobile, a developer and publisher of mobile games (formerly AEGF Mobile Games), announced that it has developed three new winter sports mobile game titles for NBC Sports. The NBC network will broadcast the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. New York-based Abandon Mobile will distribute "Bode Miller Alpine Racing," "NBC Sports Figure Skating," and "NBC Sports Speed Skating" for cell phones.
http://www.abandonent.com/content/news/2005_08_08.html
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o Singapore to Host World Cyber Games This Weekend

Singapore - Event organizer International Cyber Marketing announced that it will host the World Cyber Games this weekend in Singapore, where some 700 participants from 67 countries will square off for a cut of the $435,000 prize purse. The event, which last year was held in San Francisco, will feature titles including "Counter-Strike," "Halo 2," "Need for Speed Underground 2" and "Dead or Alive Ultimate."
http://tinyurl.com/8k7z4 (Reuters)
http://www.worldcybergames.com
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o CNET News.com: Costs Could Keep Small Publishers From Next-Gen Consoles

San Francisco - CNET News.com on Friday reported on how sharply rising development costs may keep smaller video game publishers out of the lucrative market creating titles for the next generation of video game consoles: Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Revolution. An analyst with Envisioneering told News.com that the high-definition technology and motion capture enabled by next-generation consoles could as much as double game development costs. "It's really only big-name publishers that are going to be able to bring large numbers of next-generation titles to market," Simon Jeffery, president and COO of Sega of America, told News.com. "Success (of a game) is that much more crucial, and the barrier to entry higher." As a result, many smaller developers and publishers are expected to continue focusing on current-generation consoles.
http://tinyurl.com/7t23g (CNET)
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o Washington Post: Google's Stock Hits $400 a Share

Washington - The Washington Post on Friday reported on Google' skyrocketing stock, which on Thursday closed above $400 for the first time since it began trading at $85 a little over a year ago. "At some point, deceleration will happen," American Technology Research analyst David Edwards told Bloomberg News. "The question is whether that will happen next year." Others were less skeptical. "It is tempting to look at $400 and say it is overpriced and has gone up so fast," Piper Jaffray Safa Rashtchy told The Post. "I'm not saying it is dirt cheap, but it could be trading much higher."
http://tinyurl.com/8ke2d (Washington Post)

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