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Tech Firms, Recording Industry Reach Accord On Anti-Piracy Efforts

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2003 - 6:49am.
Washington -- A group of technology firms and the recording industry announced on Tuesday what they called a "landmark agreement" that will result in a joint stance on legislative issues relating to digital piracy. Under the agreement, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which represents the major record labels, will withdraw support for a bill introduced by Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) that would put government-mandated copy-protection technology in digital devices. In return, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) -- which counts Microsoft, Apple and Adobe among its members -- and the Computer Systems Policy Project, whose members include Dell, HP, IBM and Intel, will not support legislation from Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) that would amend the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to expand consumers' rights to make personal copies of copyrighted works. Absent from the agreement was the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which represents movie studios that have vocally supported the Hollings bill. "This is a landmark agreement because it shows that a broad cross-section of companies have come to the conclusion that government-mandated technology protection measures simply won't work," said BSA CEO Robert Holleyman. The parties to the accord also "expressed support for actions by rights holders that could limit the illegal distribution of copyrighted works in ways that are not destructive to networks or products, or that violate consumers' privacy." http://www.riaa.org/PR_story.cfm?id=595
tags: Anti-Piracy | Tech Firms | Recording Industry |

Report: CNET To Lay Off 80 Employees

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2003 - 6:48am.
San Francisco -- After weeks of speculation, CBS Marketwatch reported that San Francisco-based CNET Networks, a technology-focused media company, will lay off about 80 employees. The move comes two weeks before the company releases its fourth-quarter financial results. Employees were reportedly notified on Monday that layoffs would be forthcoming. The company cut about 190 employees last June. http://shorterlink.com/?QB15W4
tags: Reports | CNET | Lay Off | Employees |

Report: Online Ad Spending to Increase 7.4% in 2003

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2003 - 6:47am.
New York -- Outpacing the growth of the overall advertising spending market, ad buys on the Internet are projected to increase 7.4 percent in 2003, according to a report released on Tuesday by New York-based media analysis firm CMR/TNS Media Intelligence. Overall ad spending in 2003 is expected to grow only 3.3 percent, to $117.5 billion. "The spending growth seen in the last half of 2002 was clear evidence of a market rebound, and we believe the current economic upturn, while not robust, will continue to be reflected in the modest growth of advertising," said CMR/TNS president and CEO Steven J. Fredericks.
tags: Internet | Reports | Spending |

Canadian Convicted in 3D Display Hoax Now a Fugitive In Czech Republic

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2003 - 6:46am.
Calgary, Alberta -- Wired News on Tuesday reported on the guilty verdict rendered against Sheldon Zelitt, chairman of a Canadian firm called VisuaLabs that bilked investors with a glasses-less 3D display technology. Zelitt was convicted by an Alberta judge of 11 securities violations, including misrepresentations in press releases, prospectuses and annual information forms. Although Zelitt faces a maximum fine of $11 million and nearly five years in jail, he currently resides as a fugitive in the Czech Republic and heads Enhanced Display Corporation, a company making similar claims as the now more or less defunct VisuaLabs.
tags: 3D | Czech Republic | Canadian | Hoax |

Limited-Play DVD Developer Flexplay Technologies Acquires SpectraDisc

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2003 - 6:45am.
New York, NY -- Flexplay Technologies, which has developed limited-time viewing DVD technology, on Tuesday announced the acquisition of Rhode Island-based SpectraDisc Corp. Financial terms were not disclosed. New York-based Flexplay said the acquisition would expand its intellectual property portfolio in this niche segment. Called a flexible DVD, the viewing time begins when the consumer removes the disc from its packaging. After the allotted time, the disc becomes unreadable by the DVD player. http://www.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CpIjh0bWbtLLnmtu3&
tags: DVD | Flexplay | Limited-Play | SpectraDisc |

Lufthansa to Begin In-Flight Internet Service on Wednesday

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2003 - 6:44am.
Frankfurt -- On Wednesday, Lufthansa will become the first airline to offer travelers the ability to surf the net and send and receive e-mails in real time as they fly. The free in-flight Internet service will use satellite links to connect passengers to the Internet. The first service giving passengers in-flight net access will operate between Frankfurt and Washington DC's Dulles International Airport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2657829.stm
tags: Internet | In-Flight | Lufthansa |

Bam Entertainment Sells London Game Studio to VIS, Lowers Guidance

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2003 - 6:41am.
San Jose, Calif. -- Video game developer Bam Entertainment on Tuesday announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the assets and operation of its London-based product development studio to U.K. developer VIS Entertainment. Financial terms were not disclosed. San Jose, Calif.-based Bam also lowered its anticipated revenue estimates for its fiscal second quarter 2003, which for the company included the 2002 holiday shopping season and ended on Dec. 31. Bam now expects net revenue in the range of $22 million to $23 million, less than previous estimates for the quarter of between $25 million and $30 million.
tags: Games | London | Bam Entertainment | VIS | Lowers Guidance |