archives

o Music Publishers Sue Unlicensed File-Sharing Services
o SEC Charges Xbox Graphics Chipmaker Nvidia With Insider Trading
o Aimster Lawsuits to be Heard in Chicago Federal Court
o Video Game Console Emulator Bleem Shuts Down
o Non-Profit to Purchase Assets of Bankrupt E-Book Firm NetLibrary
> Digital Media Wire Directory Launched
o Briefly Noted: Natalie Imbruglia CD - copy-protection, Nintendo GameCube
- Harry Potter, Walt Disney Internet Group - Sprint PCS, Beatnik - Symbian
OS, Xbox - Korea, Canal Plus Technologies - AccuWeather, Palm -
HarperCollins, Reprise Records - "Lord of the Rings"
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> Job Postings: Online Ad Sales Mgr., Web Research Assistant,
Web Designer

> Events/Services: "Interactive TV Roadshow," "Music Videos and Movie
Trailers on CD-ROM," "Avail. for Hire," "Shortspan Film & Video
Festival," "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
_____________________________________________

o Music Publishers Sue Unlicensed File-Sharing Services

New York -- The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) announced on
Tuesday that it has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against three
unlicensed file-sharing services. The NMPA alleges that MusicCity -- which
offers the Morpheus file-sharing software, Consumer Empowerment BV, and
Grokster operate services that are modeled after Napster, and have
infringed on its members' copyrights. The group is seeking damages of
$150,000 per work distributed and an injunction against further
distribution of its members' works. The recording and motion picture
industries filed a similar suit against the same file-sharing services in
October. "Our preliminary resolution of our legal dispute with Napster
paved the way for other Internet services to come to our music publishers
for licenses," said Gary Churgin, President and CEO of the NMPA's
licensing arm, The Harry Fox Agency. "MusicCity is trying to take us on a
voyage through the past. But the wave of the future is licensed services
and we intend to win the campaign against music piracy."
http://www.nmpa.org/pr/peer2peermusic.html
http://www.riaa.org/PR_Story.cfm?id=456
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o SEC Charges Xbox Graphics Chipmaker Nvidia With Insider Trading

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Nvidia, a developer of graphics and multimedia
chips for computers, announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged 10 of its employees with civil
violation of insider trading laws, and four additional employees with
criminal insider trading violations. Santa Clara-based Nvidia said that it
has been cooperating with the SEC and U.S. Attorney's Office
investigations for more than a year, and that, "effective immediately, the
company will place those employees who were named as defendants by the SEC
and US Attorney on a leave of absence." The charges relate to employees of
the company who allegedly profited from advance knowledge of the company's
deal to provide the graphics processor to Microsoft's recently-released
Xbox video game console. The SEC claims in its suit that the 15 employees
unfairly made profits of $1.7 million.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011120/sftu042_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/011119/n1969090_2.html
http://www.nvidia.com
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o Aimster Lawsuits to be Heard in Chicago Federal Court

San Diego -- A panel of judges in San Diego has ruled that the copyright
infringement lawsuits filed by the recording and motion picture industries
against the Aimster file-sharing services should be consolidated in a
federal court in Chicago, Newsbytes reported. The panel said the central
location would put fewer burdens on the companies suing Aimster. Aimster
allows its users to search for and download encrypted music and movie
files from other Aimster users. The decision is somewhat of a loss for
Aimster, whose CEO Johnny Deep will now incur both travel and legal fees
while operating the company out of his residence in Albany, New York and
defending his company in Chicago federal court.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/172258.html
http://www.aimster.com
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o Video Game Console Emulator Bleem Shuts Down

Los Angeles -- Bleem, a developer of software that allows users to play
Sony PlayStation games on their PCs and other game consoles, has shut
down, according to a graphic on the company's website. The picture
features Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog character weeping over a gravestone
that reads, "Bleem! April 1999 - November 2001." A U.K. website that
distributes Bleem software, however, continues to take orders for the
company's products. Bleem sold discs with software that, when loaded onto
a PC or a Sega Dreamcast console, would then allow those devices to read
Sony PlayStation games. Sony sued the company in 2000 for copyright
infringement and brand degradation; competing emulator maker Connectix
licensed its software to Sony in March and has since stopped distributing
its emulator software. Bleem countersued, alleging that Sony was trying to
monopolize the market and pressured retailers into declining to stock
Bleem products.
http://www.bleem.com
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-7924561.html?tag=cd_mh
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22910.html
http://www.bleem.co.uk/
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o Non-Profit to Purchase Assets of Bankrupt E-Book Firm NetLibrary

Dublin, Ohio -- The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) said that it has
made an offer to purchase the assets and assume the liabilities of
bankrupt NetLibrary, a provider of e-books, e-textbooks and Internet-based
content and collection management services. The OCLC is a non-profit that
provides computer-based cataloging, research and other services to 40,102
libraries in 76 countries. Part of the agreement includes a loan to
Colorado-based NetLibrary so that it can continue operations through its
bankruptcy proceedings. The sale is subject to the approval of the
bankruptcy court.
http://www.oclc.org/oclc/press/20011115.shtm
http://www.netlibrary.com
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> Digital Media Wire Directory Launched

Dear Digital Media Wire Reader:

Digital Media Wire just launched the Digital Media Directory, an online
directory and RFP engine that facilitates the search and negotiation
process between buyers and sellers.

Register as a provider in the Digital Media Directory at
http://digitalmediawire.newmediary.com/dmw111301nl
_____________________________________________

o Briefly Noted:

(San Francisco) CNET is reporting that major record label BMG
Entertainment has set up a hotline for those who are unhappy with their
purchase of a copy-protected version of singer Natalie Imbruglia's new CD.
As some consumers were unable to play the secure disc in some CD and DVD
players, replacement CDs are being offered either by retailers or the
label itself. "Certain limitations of the protection technology were
unforeseeable and only [emerged] when the CDs were released into the
general public," BMG spokeswoman Regine Hofmann told CNET. "We do need to
respond." The technology added to the CDs is intended to prevent users
from making copies or creating MP3s on their computers.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7922576.html
http://www.natalie-imbruglia.co.uk/

(Redmond, Wash.) Nintendo said on Tuesday that its GameCube video game
console generated more sales on its Sunday release date than "Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone" made at the box office this past weekend. The
company said that sales of hardware systems, games and accessories totaled
$98 million on Sunday, more than the record-breaking weekend for the film,
which grossed $93.5 million. Nintendo shipped 700,000 GameCubes for the
console's launch, "but right now it appears that none of them may be left
by this weekend," said Peter Main, executive vice president sales and
marketing at Nintendo of America.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/213242148&ticker=
http://www.nintendogamecube.com

(North Hollywood, Calif.) Walt Disney Internet Group said on Tuesday that
it will provide three wireless games to network operator Sprint PCS. The
games -- "Disney/Pixar's Monsters Inc.", "Disney's Atlantis: The Lost
Empire" and "ESPN's 2-Minute Drill" -- will be playable by Sprint PCS
subscribers with a Web-enabled cell phone.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011120/cgtu009_1.html
http://disney.go.com/corporate/press/wdig/
http://www.sprintpcs.com

(San Mateo, Calif.) Beatnik, a developer of digital audio for mobile
devices, announced on Tuesday that its technology has been closely
integrated with the Symbian operating system to provide users access to
enhanced polyphonic ring tones, game sounds and multimedia messaging. The
Symbian OS is a standard for cell phones being developed for by companies
including Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Sony. San Mateo-based Beatnik's
technology allows devices to play multiple notes simultaneously, instead
of single note progressions, and can play actual samples -- like MP3 files
-- instead of just beeps.
http://www.beatnik.com
http://www.symbian.com

(Redmond, Wash.) Microsoft will not release its Xbox video game console in
Korea until October 2002, almost a full year after its release in the
U.S., the Korea Herald reported on Tuesday. The Xbox will be released in
Japan in February and in Europe the following month. Neither Sony nor
Nintendo have ever launched a major console in the country. The article
cited the abundance of software piracy in Korea and the tendency of
Koreans to prefer PC games as reasoning for these companies' reluctance.
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2001/11/19/200111190006.asp

(Cupertino, Calif.) Interactive TV developer Canal Plus Technologies said
on Tuesday that it has partnered with online weather provider AccuWeather
to create an interactive weather application for iTV. The service will let
cable TV operators offer the current weather conditions and 5-day
forecasts for any location worldwide.
http://www.canalplus-technologies.com
http://www.accuweather.com/

(Santa Clara, Calif.) Palm, a developer of handheld computers, said on
Tuesday that publisher HarperCollins will distribute its PerfectBound line
of e-books through Palm Digital Media, the company's publishing and
distribution arm for e-books. Among the titles to be distributed are
"Coldheart Canyon" by Clive Barker, "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman and
"The Family" by Mario Puzo.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011120/sftu009_1.html
http://www.harpercollins.com/hc/perfectbound/
http://www.palm.com/ebooks

(Hollywood, Calif.) Reprise Records said on Tuesday that it will include
digital trading cards on the CD soundtrack release of "Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring." The enhanced CD will link to a website that
features the cards, in addition to a downloadable track from Enya, who
performs on the soundtrack, and streaming samples of composer Howard
Shore's score for the film.
http://search.prnmedia.com/servlet/pressroomsrv?pressid=235279&detail=story
http://www.lordoftherings-soundtrack.com

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

> Internet Advertising Sales Manager, gantthead.com, Fairfax VA

Are you passionate about the Internet as a B2B advertising medium? We have
too many leads to pursue and need you if: you have 2+ yrs exp. selling
Internet advertising (required); BA/S degree; B2B agency/account contacts;
you can identify, pursue, and close deals. Creative, autonomous work
environment. Generous package: salary, commission, benefits.
Please send resume to: gina@gantthead.com. EOE, M/F/V/D.
For more information, see http://www.gantthead.com/Gantthead/jobs
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> 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
______________________

> 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

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

> Interactive TV Roadshow, Jan 21st-25th 2002 -- NYC, Calif.

Virtual Media Partners LLC has drawn on its extensive Interactive TV
experience in the USA and Europe to design this broad based introduction
to the amazing potential of Enhanced Interactive Television - "The 4th
Dimension". A unique concept held from coast to coast on five separate
days. Contact: yaqub@virtualmediapartners.com
Info/to register:
http://www.virtualmediapartners.com/trainingevent.htm
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> Music Videos and Movie Trailers on CD-ROM

Arista, Atlantic, Warner Brothers and Columbia Pictures are participating
in the November launch of BestPreviews – a FREE CD-ROM that contains music
videos, movie trailers and software. RFM Broadcasting developed an
innovative marketing platform that enables Internet users to view
broadcast quality video. The company seeks angel investors. Send Inquiries
to andrew@rfmitv.com
or visit http://www.rfmitv.com
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> Available for Hire - Tech-Experienced Copy Writer/Marketing Manager

Marketing professional with over two years high tech experience within a
London marketing agency. Moved to DC seven months ago to set up first US
branch of UK business - seeking opportunities for full-time, part-time or
freelance marketing/communications projects.
Contact timdatwilsonharvey@hotmail.com
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> SHORTSPAN Film & Video Festival, FINAL DATES

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. The remaining dates on the tour include:

ATLANTA, GA: GSU Cinefest Theatre, Nov. 2-3, 10:00 PM
AUSTIN, TX: The Alamo Draft House, Downtown, Nov. 7-8, 9:30 PM
PITTSBURGH, PA: Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Nov. 16-18, Time TBA
NEW YORK CITY, NY: The Anthology Film Archives, Dec. 7-8, 9:30 PM
BIRMINGHAM, AL: WorkPlay, Dec. 20, 9:00 PM

More info: http://www.dreamspan.com/shortspan
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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 323-822-0344.
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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