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December 16, 2004 --
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Main Stories
o FCC:
Satellite Broadcasters Shielded from Indecency Rules
o
Illinois Gov. Proposes Ban on Sale of Violent,
Sexually Explicit Games to Minors
o Dutch
Authorities Raid P2P File-Sharing Server Operators, Arrest 8
o
Acacia Research Pays Over $7 Million for 27 New Patents
o ObjectVideo Raises $11 Million
in Third Round
o Blinkx Launches Search Engine
for Online TV, Radio Content
o Wireless Carrier Sprint to
Acquire Rival Nextel in $35 Billion Deal
o
Briefly Noted: Apple iTunes -
200 million downloads, Yahoo - video search - JibJab, Midway Games -
"Blitz: Playmakers," TVN Entertainment - Discovery Communications,
Microsoft - Live365 - PassAlong.com, Speed Channel - Proteus, Sony
BMG - First 4 Internet - CD copy-protection, FTC - peer-to-peer
file-sharing workshop
_____________________________________________
>
Job/Event/Marketplace Classifieds:
--Global Mobile Expo To Focus on Premium SMS in North America
--Market Research Professional
--VP eBusiness Consulting
--Contract Training Coordinator
--Director of Business Development - NY/NJ
--Sales Executive, Health And Life Sciences
--HireStrategy - Revenue Accounting Manager
--Sales And IT Recruiters Focused on Federal Sales, BD And
Pre-Sales
--Sr. Acct Mgr, AAA Networks, Falls Church, VA (Data, Voice,
Video Sales)
--Account Managers (Biometrics, Smart Cards, PKI)
--Marketing Communications Manager
--VoIP and Enhanced Phone Services Can Save Businesses 40
Percent
--New Release: PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook:
2004-2008
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o FCC: Satellite Broadcasters
Shielded from Indecency Rules
Washington, D.C. -- Subscription satellite radio services like
D.C.-based XM Satellite Radio and New York-based rival Sirius do not
have to abide by the same on-air decency standards as traditional
broadcast stations, the Federal Communications Commission said. The
FCC denied a request from Los Angeles-based radio broadcaster Mt.
Wilson FM Broadcasters, which had sought to prohibit satellite
stations from airing profanity and other graphic content. The ruling
is important, since Sirius recently signed a pact with radio shock
jock Howard Stern, who will join the service in 2006.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O4E625B0A
_____________________________________________
o Illinois Gov.
Proposes Ban on Sale of Violent, Sexually Explicit Games to Minors
Naperville, Ill. -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday
proposed legislation that would ban the distribution, sale, rental
and availability of violent and sexually explicit video games to
children under 18 in the state. While similar efforts to ban video
game sales to minors by the State of Washington, City of
Indianapolis and St. Louis County have been thwarted in the courts,
Blagojevich said his legislation will narrowly define what
constitutes a violent or sexually explicit game in order to pass
federal court scrutiny. "There's a reason why we don't let kids
smoke or drink alcohol or drive a car until they reach a certain age
and level of maturity. That's just common sense," said Blagojevich.
"And that same common sense should be applied to excessively violent
and sexually explicit video games." Under the proposed laws,
retailers would have to label such games themselves, and post signs
explaining the ratings system. Failure to post such warnings would
be punishable by a $1,000 fine, while violating the ban on sales to
minors would be a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to
one year in prison and a $5,000 fine.
http://tinyurl.com/6qd4d
http://tinyurl.com/46mm8
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3131-2004Dec15.html
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1494951/20041216/index.jhtml
http://www.safegamesillinois.org
____________________________________________
o Dutch
Authorities Raid P2P File-Sharing Server Operators, Arrest 8
London -- Dutch authorities have raided the operations of two
popular websites that offered links to files shared on the eDonkey
peer-to-peer network, arresting eight people and seizing eleven
servers, The Register reported. The raids follow similar actions
taken at the behest of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
against P2P server operators in Finland and France, and an
announcement from the MPAA that it would sue operators of
file-sharing servers for BitTorrent, eDonkey and Direct Connect. The
Dutch anti-piracy organization BREIN, and the government's FIOD-ECD
(Economic Inspection Service of the Fiscal Intelligence and
Investigation Service), said the two Dutch sites claimed 50,000
registered users. BREIN plans to press charges against both the
server operators and the Dutch hosting provider, Mindlab.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/15/dutch_raid_against_edonkey_sites
http://www.mpaa.org/CurrentReleases/2004_12_14_WwdeP2PActions.pdf
____________________________________________
o Acacia
Research Pays Over $7 Million for 27 New Patents
Newport Beach, Calif. -- Acacia Research, a company that has
aggressively licensed a "digital media transmission" patent,
licensing firms including Disney and Playboy and suing the country's
major satellite and cable TV providers for infringement, announced
on Thursday that it plans to acquire rights to 27 new patent
portfolios. Acacia will pay $7 million in cash and 3.9 million
shares for the assets of Illinois-based Global Patent Holdings,
which owns 11 patent licensing companies. The patents describe
technologies including video noise reduction and audio/video
synchronization; interstitial Internet advertising; peer-to-peer
network communications; broadcast equipment and credit card receipt
processing. "We look forward to working closely with Anthony O.
Brown, Global's CEO, and his team including inventors of these
patented technologies and the leading law firms that Tony has
assembled," said Acacia CEO Paul Ryan. "Acacia's licensing,
engineering and legal teams would further enhance and optimize the
revenue potential of these patent portfolios."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041216/165244_1.html
http://www.acaciaresearch.com
____________________________________________
o
ObjectVideo Raises $11 Million in Third Round
Reston, Va. -- ObjectVideo, a developer of intelligent video
surveillance software, said on Thursday that it has raised $11
million in its third round of funding, led by Novak Biddle Venture
Partners. Previous investors ABS Ventures, Updata Venture Partners
and CMGI, as well as new investors including several partners from
General Atlantic Partners and Rick Kay, Ted Leonsis, Jeong Kim, Jim
Kimsey and Mark Ein also participated. The company, founded by
Proxicom founder Raul Fernandez, plans to use the capital to further
fuel the adoption of its software, including a joint offering with
partner Texas Instruments that will embed intelligent video
surveillance technology on devices such as video cameras and digital
video recorders. ObjectVideo has also added several new individuals
to its board of directors, including Jack Kemp, the 1996 Republican
Vice Presidential candidate, Mario Morino, special partner at
General Atlantic Partners, and E. Scott Beattie, the CEO of
Elizabeth Arden, Inc.
http://www.objectvideo.com/pressrel_121604_appoint.asp
____________________________________________
o Blinkx
Launches Search Engine for Online TV, Radio Content
San Francisco -- A San Francisco-based start-up launched a service
on Thursday that lets users search for audio and video from streams
provided by radio and TV stations, and access clips over the
Internet. The beta version of Blinkx TV culls multimedia content
from sources including HBO, Bloomberg, Fox News, NPR and the BBC,
and lets users create Video Smart Folders that will populate
themselves with content based on parameters set by users. Instead of
typical Boolean keyword search, the blinkx service features a
patented "Context Clustering Technology," which utilizes automatic
transcription technology and advanced phonetic matching speech
recognition technology to index audio and video content. "Using
smart, contextual search, blinkx links users to relevant clips
anywhere in the video stream, delivering video content straight from
the television to the consumer's PC," said blinkx CEO Mark Opzoomer.
http://www.blinkx.tv
____________________________________________
o Wireless
Carrier Sprint to Acquire Rival Nextel in $35 Billion Deal
Overland Park, Kansas -- In a deal that will create the nation's No.
3 wireless carrier and stronger competition for market leaders
Cingular and Verizon Wireless, Kansas-based Sprint on Wednesday said
that it will buy Virginia-based Nextel Communications in a deal
worth about $35.2 billion. The resulting company, to be called
Sprint Nextel, will be based in Reston, Va. and serve nearly 39
million subscribers. The companies, which have a combined market
capitalization of about $70 billion and had combined revenue of $40
billion last fiscal year, said that they hope to save about $12
billion through synergies as a result of the deal. Sprint also now
plans to spin off its local phone business, which will be based out
of Kansas. Gary Forsee, the current chairman and CEO of Sprint, will
become president and CEO of the new company, while Timothy Donahue,
the president and CEO of Nextel, will become chairman. Sprint
Nextel's board will consist of six members from each company. "This
merger positions Sprint Nextel for greater success than either
company could have achieved alone," said Forsee. The deal is
expected to close in the second half of 2005.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041215/nyw069_1.html
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>DMW Events:
5th Annual
Digital Music Forum
March 2, 2005 | New York City
www.digitalmusicforum.com
Digital Music Forum is the premier
event for music industry decision-makers focused on business
models and legal issues impacting music. The annual event
brings together decision-makers from records labels, music
publishers, producers and distributors, technology companies,
wireless companies, rights organizations, industry bodies, radio,
advertising, attorneys, artists investors and venture capitalists
to examine the role of digital technologies in the future of
music.
For more
information click
here.
To register
click here.
REGISTRATION
Early Bird Registration: $195 (until December 31st)
Pre-registration rate: $295 (Jan 1 until February 4th)
Registration rate: $395 (after Feb. 4th)
Register online at
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1092
Phone registration: 323-822-0936
To submit speakers for or
request information about exhibiting or sponsoring at the 2005
conferences, please contact Tinzar Than, VP, Marketing &
Events, Digital Media Wire, Inc. at:
tinzar@digitalmediawire.com.
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o Briefly Noted: (Cupertino,
Calif.) Apple announced on Thursday that its iTunes Music Stores
have now sold a combined 200 million songs since launching in April
2003. In addition to the U.S., Apple now operates online digital
music stores in Canada, the U.K., France, Germany and nine other
European countries.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041216/sfth043_1.html
(Sunnyvale, Calif.) Yahoo has launched a beta test of a new
feature that allows users to search for video content on the
Internet. Formats supported include Apple's QuickTime, RealNetworks'
RealPlayer and Microsoft's Windows Media. The index will utilize a
new technology standard that allows content producers to add text
metatags to their video files, and syndicate them to Yahoo for
inclusion in the video search index via Really Simple Syndication (RSS)
feeds. "Media RSS enables content publishers and bloggers to broadly
distribute descriptions of and links to multimedia content," Yahoo
said, in a statement. The company also announced that it has signed
an agreement with JibJab -- producers of the popular "This Land is
Your Land" election campaign Web parody -- to distribute the
company's next two animated videos.
http://tinyurl.com/3lkhy
http://video.search.yahoo.com
http://www.jibjab.com
(Chicago) Video game publisher Midway Games announced on Thursday
that it is developing "Blitz: Playmakers," a new pro football game
that will "expose the harsh realism and troubling, behind-the-scenes
stories of a fictional professional football league." The news comes
in the wake of Electronic Arts' exclusive five-year deal with the
NLF to create "official" video games that feature actual players,
teams and stadiums. In development for the past year with a writer
from ESPN's "Playmakers" TV series, the Midway title will feature
"off-field controversies, dirty hits and excessive celebrations."
Chicago-based Midway said the game will be released for multiple
platforms in the fourth quarter of 2005.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041216/165186_1.html
http://www.midway.com
http://espn.go.com/eoe/playmakers
(Burbank, Calif.) TVN Entertainment, a provider of
video-on-demand delivery services, said on Thursday that it has
extended an agreement with Discovery Communications, to provide
encoding, asset management, site-specific metadata and multicast
transport for 70 hours of programming per month to video-on-demand
services. Discovery's networks include The Discovery Channel, TLC,
Animal Planet and BBC America.
http://www.discovery.com
http://www.tvn.com
(Redmond, Wash.) Microsoft has included access to a number of new
online digital music services within in Windows Media Player 10,
among them Live365.com and PassAlong.com. While Live365 operates a
network of user-programmed Internet radio stations, PassAlong.com
operates a download store that rewards consumers for referred sales,
and also sells downloads on eBay's trial digital music auction site.
Microsoft said that its Windows Media Player was downloaded 17
million times in the first month of availability.
http://www.live365.com
http://www.passalong.com
(Charlotte, N.C.) Racing enthusiast network Speed Channel
announced on Thursday that it partnered with D.C.-based Proteus to
develop interactive TV features for the network's coverage of the
34th Annual Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction. The interactive
features will allow viewers to place "fantasy bids" on cars in the
auction, with the closest estimates to be displayed on the broadcast
following the sale of each car.
http://www.proteus.com
http://www.barrett-jackson.com
http://www.speedtv.com
(San Francisco) CNET News.com on Thursday reported on new CD
copy-protection technology currently in development by major record
label Sony BMG and U.K.-based technology firm First 4 Internet. The
company's XCP technology has already been utilized by several major
labels on pre-release copies of albums by artists including Eminem
and U2. First 4 said that it has yet to find a report of its CD
copy-protection scheme being broken. When it debuts, the company's
copy-protection will compete against rival technologies from firms
such as Macrovision and SunnComm.
http://tinyurl.com/6ppeo
http://www.f4i.co.uk
http://www.xcp-aurora.com
(San Francisco) Wired News and CNET News.com both recently
provided coverage of a two-day workshop hosted by the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) this week on peer-to-peer file-sharing technology.
At issue are growing complaints to the FTC that P2P services are
being used to distribute spyware, viruses and child pornography, in
addition to copyright infringement. "These [P2P companies] have
consciously not done anything to stop rampant infringement on their
networks," Stanley Pierre-Louis, senior vice president of litigation
for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), told FTC
staffers. During the panel, P2P United, a trade group made up of
file-sharing firms BearShare, Blubster, eDonkey, Grokster and
Morpheus, charged that the entertainment industry is misleading
regulators. "You have had a great deal of deliberate, deceptive and
misleading information," said P2P United executive director Adam
Eisgrau. "The parents and grandparents who run the companies in P2P
United are not Darth Vader."
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,66051,00.html
http://tinyurl.com/5qwyu
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/12/p2pma.htm
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>
Classifieds --
Advertise
> Global Mobile Expo To Focus on Premium SMS in North America
M-commerce and premium content/services are commonplace in
Asia and Europe, but they're just emerging in N. America.
Global Mobile Expo (GloMo) will bring together carriers,
service providers, mobile entrepreneurs and brand specialists
for the first time to discuss the future of this nascent
industry. A conference and expo, GloMo will provide the
stimulus needed to bring this market to the forefront and
realize the vision of a wireless world". Visit
www.glomoexpo.com or
email
info@smallscreenpartners.com to register.
_________________
> Market Research Professional
SmithGeiger is a fast-growing market research and strategy
firm serving all facets of the media industry, w/clients in
TV, film, web, gaming, tech. Seeking media research pro with
min 3 yrs market research exp. to design and implement
research and consulting services. Develop custom phone and
online surveys and focus group research, design data analysis
plans, convert results into findings and recommendations,
write reports, deliver presentations to clients. Excellent
writing and analytical skills. Working knowledge of
statistics, SPSS. MA, MS, MBA, PhD. Contact
brian@smithgeiger.com
_________________
> VP eBusiness Consulting
Want to manage multiple eCommerce, Portal, and web content
management projects for the Fortune 500? Or play a key role in
the growth and strategy of an energetic small company? Or is
your preference getting involved in solution architecture,
eBusiness strategy, and exploring leading edge technologies?
Or large-scale IT implementations for the government? Do it
all as VP of eBusiness Consulting at McFadyen Consulting in
Vienna , VA. Learn more at
http://www.McFadyen.com Send resumes to
tmcfadyen@mcfadyen.com
_________________
> Contract Training Coordinator
The Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) seeks
an energetic professional to serve as the Contract Training
Program Coordinator at our Herndon Training Center site. OCPE
offers a positive team-based environment in a fast paced
customer oriented department. Salary $27- $32K, excellent
state benefits. Apply for position no. 01504z at
http://jobs.gmu.edu by
January 7, 2005. AA/EOE
_________________
> Director of Business Development - NY/NJ
Drive strategic sales through existing relationship with IBM
Global Services. The ability to drive a business plan thru
execution, and a successful track record at a startup, are
pre-requisites. Successful candidates will have experience in
Enterprise Software and infrastructure management, in both
sales and channel management. Must have worked with IBM as a
partner. Send resumes to
rminaglia@evidentsoftware.com
_________________
> Sales Executive, Health And Life Sciences
IMC is looking for Sales executives with at least 5 years
demonstrated experience selling biomedical informatics
consulting services and solutions, such as clinical trials
management tools, electronic medical records and patient
safety records management. Sales experience can be in federal
or commercial sectors. Ideal candidates will already have a
developed pipeline. Check us out at http://www.imc.com and
send your resume to
mwright@imc.com
_________________
> HireStrategy - Revenue Accounting Manager
This exciting position provides the opportunity to manage the
monthly revenue recognition process ensuring that revenue is
properly recorded and that the process is completed in a
timely manner. In addition, the qualified candidate will
provide career development counseling to all staff members to
help them with their professional growth. The preferred
candidate will have experience using Peoplesoft Financials. An
Accounting or Finance degree and a minimum of 6 years related
accounting experience is required, as is a CPA or equivalent
experience. Please submit your resume to
mmolinas@hirestrategy.com or view this position on the web
at,
http://www.hirestrategy.com/quicklinks/hire234.asp
_________________
> Sales And IT Recruiters Focused on Federal Sales, BD And
Pre-Sales
Looking to join a quality Sales and Information Technology
Recruiting Firm? immixSearch, a division of the immixGroup,
seeks 3 additional Recruiters entering 2005. Since 2000 we've
established the immixSearch name and placed candidates with 75
leading Federally - focused Software/Hardware Vendors, Big4's,
and SI's. Plan includes a base/draw plus lucrative commission
plan. Join other top billers and make 2005 your best year yet.
Send resumes to
kurt_wilkinson@immixgroup.com
_________________
> Sr. Acct Mgr, AAA Networks, Falls Church, VA (Data, Voice,
Video Sales)
Seeking highly motivated sales people with at least three
years sales exp. and a track record of meeting sales
objectives. Excellent communication, relationship-building,
and presentation skills a must - with minimal supervision.
Responsibilities include consultative and solution selling to
medium and large companies. Our solutions include Cisco,
Microsoft, EMC, NEC, Tandberg and Verizon. Candidate must be
able to develop and leverage relationships with technology
partners for lead generation and joint sales opportunities.
Send resumes to
careers@aaanetworks.net
_________________
> Account Managers (Biometrics, Smart Cards, PKI) - Federal
And Commercial
Precise Biometrics is a global leader in biometric and smart
card authentication solutions for both logical and physical
access control to the Federal government and Global 1000
organizations. We are currently expanding our sales team in
North America. Requirements: 3 - 5 years exp. selling
enterprise solutions in the commercial or federal market.
Experience with identity management security solutions
(Biometrics, Smart Cards, and PKI experience is a definite
advantage). Candidates must reside in the greater DC metro
area. Please email your resume and cover letter to
careers@precisebiometrics.com No recruiters please.
_________________
> Marketing Communications Manager
Local software company seeks marketing communications manager
responsible for all aspects of press and analyst relations,
lead generation programs (tradeshows/events), reference
programs, company website, and updating collateral to support
sales and pre-sales. Candidates must be detail- oriented and
possess exceptional planning, coordination, verbal and written
communication skills and a flexible; can-do; attitude required
within a small company organization. Requires 5 plus years of
technology-related marcom experience. See our website
http://www.managedobjects.com for full job description.
Send resumes to
marketing@managedobjects.com
_________________
> VoIP and Enhanced Phone Services Can Save Businesses 40
Percent
Hosted communications is the wave of the future with
incredible features and radical cost savings. Aptela
transforms any existing phone equipment - even cell phones -
into a state of the art communications center, or lets you
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businesses are adopting aptela in droves - go to
http://www.aptela.com?ptw
to find out more, or call 866-4APTELA (866-427- 8352)
_________________
> New Release: PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook:
2004-2008
PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Entertainment and Media
Outlook: 2004-2008 is the leading global entertainment and
media industry forecast, including in-depth global analyses
and five-year growth projections for 14 industry segments
covering every major global region. The complete 550-page
book, is available in print or electronic format. The 50 page
"Global Overview" (available in print or electronic format)or
any of the 14 individual industry segment chapters (electronic
format only) can be purchased separately for $95. For sample
content and to order,
click here.
_________________
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About Us
Digital Media Wire, Inc. is a news organization,
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