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December 16, 2004 -- About Us | Advertise | Events | Publications | Subscribe

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

 > DMW Announcements:
--Digital Music Forum - March 2, 2005  
 

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
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> 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
 


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 
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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 
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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 
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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 
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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 
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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 
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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.
 

Past Events | Sponsorship Materials | Partners & Clients


 

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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 
 
Top


> 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
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> 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
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> 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
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> 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
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> 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
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> 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
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> 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
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> 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
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> 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 completely throw away your phone system (and carrier!) for terrific savings. There's no capital expense, and service can be up and running in hours. Virtually any type and size business - even SOHO's - will benefit from better productivity, improved customer service, and often increased sales - while they save serious money. There's a reason businesses are adopting aptela in droves - go to http://www.aptela.com?ptw to find out more, or call 866-4APTELA (866-427- 8352)
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> 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, publisher and events company serving the digital media industry since May 2000. Our daily newsletter delivers original briefings on business, legal and financial developments shaping digital media and read by over 30,000 executives and professionals.

Digital Media Wire, Inc. is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an international network of publications that includes Digital Media Law Report, Potomac Tech Wire, New England Tech Wire, Southeast Tech Wire, Bay Area Tech Wire, Tri-state Tech Wire and European Tech Wire. The network reaches more than 70,000 individuals from over 70 countries each business day.

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Chief Executive Officer: Ned Sherman
VP, Marketing & Events: Tinzar Than
Editor: Mark Hefflinger


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