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DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- December 16, 2002
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o Norwegian DVD Hacker Trial Ends; Prosecution Asks for Suspended Sentence
o Studios Join Directors' Suit Against Retailers of "Sanitized" Movies
o Hughes to Shut Down DirecTV Broadband, Stranding 160,000 DSL Customers
o TV Graphics Tech Firms Sportvision, Ignite Sports Merge, Raise $10M
o Audio/Video Compression Developer Interact Devices Raises $2 Million
> DMW Publications: Special Rates for DMW Subscribers
o Briefly Noted: Time Inc. Interactive, Mforma Group - Index Corporation,
On Command - Choice Hotels International, Pleasurezone TV, X3D
Technologies - chess match webcast, THQ - "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,"
IMagicTV - TF1, Creative Commons
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> Events: Eventeurs
> Marketplace: Homeland Security Directory, Interest-Based Navigation
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o Norwegian DVD Hacker Trial Ends; Prosecution Asks for Suspended Sentence
Oslo -- The trial of a Norwegian teenager facing criminal charges for his
role in creating DeCSS, a controversial computer code that can crack the
encryption security on DVD discs, has ended with prosecutors suggesting a
90-day suspended sentence, Reuters reported. Nineteen-year-old Jon
Johansen, who began developing DeCSS when he was 15, faces penalties of up
to two years in prison under the charges, brought by the Motion Picture
Association of America (MPAA). The DeCSS program has caused several Web
publishers to be sued by the MPAA under the U.S. Digital Millennium
Copyright Act (DMCA), which makes it a crime to circumvent the copyright
protection on a digital device. Johansen said he originally developed
DeCSS so that DVDs could play on machines running the Linux operating
system, which is not supported by the DVD format.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=1914826
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o Studios Join Directors' Suit Against Retailers of "Sanitized" Movies
Los Angeles -- Major motion picture studios have filed a joint copyright
infringement claim against technology providers and stores that make and
sell "sanitized" movies that remove sex, violence and swearing, Daily
Variety reported. Several Utah- and Colorado-based companies, including
video retail chain CleanFlicks and ClearPlay, which offers technology that
will "edit" the offensive content from DVDs, previously sued a number of
film directors for the right to sell their sanitized movies. The Directors
Guild of America then sued a total of 14 of the companies, arguing that
they were profiting on edited films that still bear the directors' names
but do not fully represent their work. In their filing, the film studios
ask for a ruling that such sanitizing violates copyrights, as well as an
injunction against further distribution. "This is Hollywood hypocrisy at
its worst," said Bill Aho, CEO of ClearPlay, a defendant in the Directors
Guild's suit. "Given their dismal track record, the studios should be
volunteering to help families, not trying to take away the rights of
parents." ClearPlay said it will vigorously defend the claims against it
while still seeking a declaratory ruling in its favor based on First
Amendment claims.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20021213/film_nm/film_studios_dc
http://www.dga.org/news/pr_expand.php3?281
http://www.clearplay.com
http://www.mpaa.org
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o Hughes to Shut Down DirecTV Broadband, Stranding 160,000 DSL Customers
Cupertino, Calif. -- Reacting to its failed merger with EchoStar, Hughes
Electronics announced that its DirecTV Broadband unit will shut down in
approximately 90 days. About half of the unit's 400 employees received
layoff notices last Thursday, with the remainder continuing to work during
a 90-day transition period. The high-speed Internet provider, which
currently serves approximately 160,000 DSL customers, was acquired by
Hughes in April 2001. "When the merger agreement was terminated earlier
this week, we promised our shareholders and customers that we would move
quickly to strengthen the profitability and efficiency of our company,"
said Hughes president and CEO Jack Shaw. "This decision by DirecTV
Broadband is the first of those moves." Shaw said that despite continuing
subscriber growth, the service "cannot operate profitably now or in the
foreseeable future."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021213/laf049_1.html
http://www.directvdsl.com
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o TV Graphics Tech Firms Sportvision, Ignite Sports Merge, Raise $10M
Chicago -- Sportvision, a provider of interactive virtual imaging
technology for on-air and online sportscasts, and Ignite Sports, an
interactive sports marketing firm, announced on Monday a merger agreement
that includes a $10 million investment from undisclosed parties. The
merged company will be named Sportvision, will be located in Chicago and
will provide integrated marketing services as well as develop new
interactive TV technologies. Sportvision's "K-Zone" virtual strike zone
for baseball telecasts won an Emmy award; the company also provides
virtual image insertions for telecasts of NBA, NASCAR, NHL, PGA Tour,
Major League Baseball, NCAA Basketball and other sporting events.
http://www.sportvision.com/index.cfm?section=news&cont_id=151738
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o Audio/Video Compression Developer Interact Devices Raises $2 Million
Folsom, Calif. -- Interact Devices, a developer of audio and video
compression technologies, announced that it has raised $2 million in its
second round of venture capital financing. Investors in the round included
Broadcast International and Streamwave Solutions. The company develops
equipment such as servers and set-top boxes that utilize its compression
technology to deliver services like video-on-demand.
http://www.interactdevices.com
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==================
FEATURED SECTION
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Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm
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Briefly Noted:
(New York) Time Inc. Interactive, the online division of the magazine
publisher, announced on Monday it has named Business 2.0 president Ned
Desmond as executive editor of Time Interactive. The company said Desmond
will begin working immediately with its magazines to develop content,
business and technology plans in segments including women, kids, teens and
entertainment that have been identified as critical growth areas for AOL.
No successor was named for Desmond at Business 2.0.
http://www.timeinc.com
(Kirkland, Wash.) Mforma Group, a provider of wireless entertainment
content, announced on Monday a parntership with Japanese wireless content
distributor Index Corporation. Under the agreement, the two companies will
combine their content libraries as well as share resources and access to
each other's customers, which currently include more than 60 of the
world's leading mobile operators. Index supplies content to Japanese firms
including NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and J-Phone.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/223500186&ticker=
http://www.indexweb.co.jp/eg/company/company.html
http://www.mforma.com
(Denver) On Command, a provider of in-room interactive television services
to hoteliers, announced on Monday a three-year agreement with Choice
Hotels International, to market On Command's video-on-demand and
pay-per-view systems to Choice's franchisees. Choice Hotels' brands
include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo
Lodge, Rodeway Inn and MainStay Suites, representing over 300,000 guest
rooms in the U.S.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021216/lam011_1.html
http://www.oncommand.com
(London) A new interactive TV adult shopping channel called Pleasurezone
TV will launch in the U.K. on Dec. 18 for Sky TV subscribers. Developed by
Digital Interactive Television Group and Kim Interactive Media, the
channel will sell viewers adult toys and clothing, and allow them to
download "sexy" cell phone ringtones and logos. The shopping choices will
be graded so that users can access the general range of merchandise 24
hours a day, with raunchier items available after 10:00 p.m.
http://www.di3.co.uk
(New York) X3D Technologies, a provider of online 3D video delivery
technology, announced that it will provide a live webcast of the upcoming
match between legendary world chess champions and long-time rivals Garry
Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. Users wishing to view the match in 3D must
purchase New York-based X3D's $100 product, which includes software and a
pair of 3D glasses.
http://www.x3dworld.com/about/genAboutPressRelease.cfm?ObjectID=
8FBF41CB-0220-42DD-815EC742ED707F69
(Calabasas Hills, Calif.) Game developer THQ announced on Monday that it
has shipped "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" for Nintendo GameCube to
retailers. The game is based on Paramount Pictures' and Nickelodeon
Movies' digitally animated motion picture of the same name, which is also
a TV series airing on the Nickelodeon cable TV network.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/021216/160097_1.html
http://www.thq.com
http://www.jimmyneutron.com
(Saint John, New Brunswick) IMagicTV, a provider of digital and
interactive television delivery technologies to telephone and other
service providers, announced on Monday that French TV broadcaster TF1will
use its system for a six-month trial in Paris. TF1 will partner with
French broadband ISP 9Online to provide multiple TV channels and Internet
access to participants in the trial.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/021216/162038_1.html
http://www.imagictv.com
http://www.tf1.fr
(San Francisco) NowRecording, an online consortium of collaborative
musicians, announced on Monday that they have adopted licenses for some of
their compositions offered by Creative Commons, a non-profit that has
created licenses for creators of digital content who wish to dedicate
their works to the public domain or license them on terms more generous
than existing copyright restrictions. Creative Commons offers variations
on the copyright license that allow artists to designate their work as
available for sharing, reuse, or collaboration, similar to the Free
Software Foundation's General Public License (GPL) for software.
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/223502093&ticker=
http://www.nowrecording.com
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,56704,00.html
http://www.creativecommons.org
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================================================
CLASSIFIEDS - HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS & RED HOT DEALS
================================================
To Post Holiday Specials:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm
Digital Media Wire's Gift Suggestions for the Holidays:
-Verizon DSL: SIGN UP ONLINE NOW AND YOU COULD WIN $50,000.
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000559414
-Zones: Connecting Businesses & Technology.
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http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000564835
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-Bose - Acoustic Wave Systems. Environmental Speakers. Quiet Comfort.
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000555807
-Totally Fun Toys - Toys that stimulate creativity, learning, and healthy
play! http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000556187
-Watchzone - watches at great prices!!!
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000556190
Other Great Gift Ideas:
-Art Gazebo - Custom-framed prints at 40-50% off!
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000578489
-Thompson Cigar: Since 1915! Great Value!
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000574586
-Zany Brainy - Kids learn best when they are having fun!
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000580256
-Wine Enthusiast - Ultimate Wine Cellar, Accessory, and Unique Gift Guide
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000555777
-Nirvana Chocolates - Delicious Belgium Chocolates!
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000556080
-Eddie Bauer: Quality. Classic. Comfort.
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000554928
-Road Runner Sports - World's Largest Collection of Running Shoes
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000556083
-Jos. A Bank - Quality Men's Apparel.
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000000555991
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HOLIDAY PERSONAL SHOPPER
I can help anyone in any department with any gift buying needs... or offer
suggestions... be it jewelry, home, accessories, mens or ladies clothing,
etc..and can be reached at 310-550-5900 ext 2007. GEMMI
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Rock & Roll One Of A Kinds!
Hipsters Franky & Minx (www.frankyandminx.com) are getting attention with
their tattoo-designed products. There are only a few pieces left of their
hand made cami tops and undies -- which have been featured everywhere from
InStyle to Revolver. Inquiries: Christina Ward [oranjegift@yahoo.com] or
call (414) 294-4709 for availability. To purchase, go to
http://www.oranje.us
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CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
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To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm
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CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm
HOLIDAY CATERING...The best staff and food in town!
Eventeurs uses the top chefs and most attractive staff in the business. We
can do an amazing holiday party for you and work within your budget.
Please call Alan Dunn at 323.466.1835 or go to http://www.eventeurs.net
_____________________________________________
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CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm
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Copyright 2002 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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