Archives

Date

RIAA Reaches Settlements With 52 of 261 Sued for Copyright Infringement

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:46am.
Washington -- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has settled 52 of the 261 lawsuits it filed against users of file-sharing networks for copyright infringement. Defense lawyers familiar with some cases told the Associated Press that settlement payments varied from around $2,500, to up to $10,000 in one instance. "It's a small enough number that it doesn't make economic sense to hire an attorney to litigate these," attorney Daniel N. Ballard, whose firm is representing several of the defendants, told AP. "I'm not surprised that ... people have been intimidated into signing this." The RIAA has said it intends to file "hundreds" more lawsuits against alleged file-swappers, but told a Senate Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing held by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) on Tuesday that it will now send notification letters to the file-swappers whose identities it subpoenas, encouraging settlements before it files a lawsuit.
tags: RIAA | Raise | Infringement | Sued |

ACLU Files to Block RIAA Subpoena for Identity of Boston College Student

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:43am.
Boston -- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed motions in federal court that aim to counter the recording industry's current subpoena and lawsuit campaign against alleged music file-swappers. On Monday, the ACLU and a Boston law firm asked a federal court to quash a recording industry subpoena filed to obtain the identity of a Boston College student from the school, in connection with alleged copyright infringement. The ACLU said in court papers that the provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that allows the streamlined subpoena process currently being used by the RIAA in its anti-piracy legal campaign is "totally lacking in procedural protections," making it "an invitation to mistake and misuse." "We're not saying the recording industry shouldn't go after file sharers, only that they must do so in a way that's fair," said ACLU staff attorney Christopher Hansen.
tags: College | RIAA | Student | Boston | ACLU |

Studios' Indie Film Units Oppose End to Academy "Screener" Copies

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:41am.
Los Angeles -- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), a trade group representing the major Hollywood movie studios, is currently debating a plan to help thwart piracy by ending the long-running practice of distributing "screener" copies of films up for Academy Awards on VHS and DVD to Academy members who vote on the Oscars. Although the studios were reportedly close to ratifying the notion on Monday, the independent film units at these studios and others are against the idea, proposed by MPAA CEO Jack Valenti, IndieWire.com reported. Specialty film companies within the major film studios include Miramax, Sony Pictures Classics, United Artists, Paramount Classics, Fox Searchlight, Focus Features, Warner Independent Pictures, New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features. "Obviously, it's a savage blow to any non-wide release film with Academy aspirations," Magnolia Pictures chief Eamonn Bowles told IndieWire. "If a film is not readily available to Academy voters, it will suffer greatly. Since the complex, higher-quality films are rarely the ones given saturated releases, obviously they'll be the ones hurt the most, regardless of their worthiness."
tags: Indie Film | Studios | Copies | Screener |

Microsoft Updates Media Center PC Software; Dell, Sony to Offer PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:39am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft on Tuesday released its Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 software, aimed at turning PCs into home entertainment centers, and announced that PC makers Dell and Sony will join existing partners Gateway, HP and Toshiba in creating media center PCs that utilize the software. The company also announced that content providers including Movielink, CinemaNow and the re-launched Napster service will offer customized versions of their services using the software to distribute movies and music online.
tags: Sony | Microsoft | Dell | PC Software | Media Center |

Google Buys Personalized Web Search Technology Developer Kaltix

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:37am.
Mountain View, Calif. -- Search engine firm Google announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Kaltix, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based start-up developing personalized and context-sensitive search technologies that make it faster and easier for people to find information on the Web. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Google and Kaltix share a common commitment to developing innovative search technologies that make finding information faster, easier and more relevant," said Google co-founder and president of products Larry Page. "Kaltix is working on a number of compelling search technologies, and Google is the ideal vehicle for the continued development of these advancements."
tags: Google | Technology | Web Search | Kaltix |

Game Developer Bam's Future Murky; Plans $1.78 Million Stock Sale

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:34am.
San Jose, Calif. -- Bam Entertainment, a developer and publisher of video games based on children's TV properties including "Wallace & Gromit," "The Powerpuff Girls" and "Dexter's Laboratory," on Tuesday saw its stock price drop after its auditors gave doubts as to the company's ability to continue operating to due heavy losses and a shortage of cash. Separately, San Jose, Calif.-based Bam said it plans to raise $1.78 million in a private offering of its shares to institutional and accredited investors. The company said it would sell 1,850,000 shares of its common stock at $0.96 per share, and warrants to purchase another 1,665,000 shares with a five-year term exercisable at $1.87 per share.
tags: Games | Raise | Stock Sale | Murky |

Online Game Ad Software Developer Massive Inc. Raises $2.1 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:32am.
New York -- Massive Incorporated, a developer of online video gaming software, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $2.1 million, in a round of venture capital financing led by Tobat Capital and Newlight Associates. The company's software allows video game publishers and developers to create new revenue streams and reduce game development costs by offering in-game advertising for online games developed for the PC, and other online-capable platforms like the Xbox and PlayStation 2. New York-based Massive will use the capital to expand research and development of its ad server that enables real-time rendering of advertisements in online games, and to market its latest game development tool, the Massive Test Box. 
tags: Games | Software | Massive | Raise |

Report: Mobile Phone Users to Surpass 1.75 Billion in 2007

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:27am.
London -- According to a new study conducted by research firm the Yankee Group, there will be more than 1.75 billion mobile-phone users worldwide in 2007. However, (average revenue per user) ARPU will decline sharply over the same time period, the group predicted in its report, entitled "Data ARPUs Save the Day for Wireless Operators." Global subscribers will grow by nearly 9% from 2002 to 2007, while revenue will grow by roughly the same percentage over the same time frame, the report predicted.
tags: Raise | Mobile Phones | Users | Surpass |

America Online Launches New Kids Services

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2003 - 9:23am.

Dulles, Va. -- In another bid to keep and attract subscribers, America Online has launched new services designed exclusively for kids. The company's KOL service is aimed at children aged 6-12, while KOL Jr. is targeted at pre-schoolers and parents. The services, available through AOL's 9.0 Optimized software, allow kids to customize their welcome screen, toolbar and buddy list features with special desktop themes and navigation effects. It features exclusive content from brands such as Cartoon Network, Looney Tunes, Kids' WB, DC Comics, Mary-Kate and Ashley, TIME For Kids and Sports Illustrated For Kids. AOL said that according to its new survey, nearly half (46%) of kids go online at least four times a week and nearly 20% go online every day.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030929/295582_1.html 

tags: Launches | America Online | Kids Services |