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Apple in U.K. Trademark Suit with Beatles' Apple Corp Record Label

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 25, 2004 - 7:57am.
London -- Apple Computer went to court in England on Wednesday to argue for its right to continue to use the "Apple" trademark in the U.K., where the company has a past agreement with the Beatles' record label -- also named Apple -- not to use the trademark in connection with the music business, Reuters reported. U.K.-based Apple Corp. says that the computer maker breached the companies' 1991 agreement with the launch of its iTunes Music Store. In court Wednesday, Apple Computer argued first that the case should rightfully be heard in California, and not England, and also that its agreement with the record label includes use of the Apple name for "data transmission services," which the company says encompasses the music download store. The hearing on the trademark dispute is expected to last three days.
tags: Apple | Beatles | U.K | Record Label | Apple Corp |

Report: Electronic Arts to Shutter Austin-Based Development Studio Origin

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 25, 2004 - 7:57am.
Redwood City, Calif. -- Video game developer and publisher Electronic Arts is planning to close its Origin Systems development studio in Austin, Texas, according to published reports. Employees are reportedly being given the opportunity to relocate to EA's California offices; the company is headquartered in Redwood City and recently announced the opening of a new development studio in Los Angeles. The company has also consolidated its Westwood and Maxis studios into the new Los Angeles facility. Established in 1983, Austin-based Origin is responsible for creating titles including "Ultima" and "Wing Commander."
tags: Reports | Electronic Arts | Austin-Based | Studio Origin |

Kazaa Partner Brilliant Digital Delisted from AMEX

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 25, 2004 - 7:56am.
Woodland Hills, Calif. -- Brilliant Digital Entertainment, a developer of 3D Web advertising and operator of the Altnet paid peer-to-peer content distribution network, announced on Wednesday that its shares have been delisted from the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and will now trade on the Nasdaq's Over the Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB). The company's shares fell over 7% on Wednesday to close at $0.26. Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Brilliant Digital's offices and the home of CEO Kevin Burmeister were recently raided as part of an Australian music industry copyright investigation of Sharman Networks, a partner of Brilliant Digital that distributes the Kazaa file-sharing application.
tags: Kazaa | Brilliant | AMEX | Digital Delisted |

PBS to Launch High-Definition TV Channel on March 1

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 25, 2004 - 7:53am.
Alexandria, Va. -- PBS on Wednesday announced that its 24-hour high-definition television (HDTV) channel, the PBS HD Channel, will launch on March 1. The channel will be offered by the 236 local PBS stations that have transitioned to digital broadcasting -- reaching around 85% of U.S. households -- as well as through local digital cable systems that have agreed to retransmit the digital signal of their local public television station. The programming lineup for the month of March will include high-definition versions of "Nova" and "Great Performances," in addition to a documentary on the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly.
tags: PBS | High-Definition | TV Channel |

Report: Broadband Games-on-Demand Subscribers to Hit 2 Million in 2007

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 25, 2004 - 7:52am.
Dallas -- The number of U.S. broadband households subscribing to games-on-demand services will grow to more than two million by the end of 2007, according to a report from Dallas-based analyst firm Parks Associates. The firm approximated that at the end of 2003 there were 100,000 U.S. broadband households subscribing to games-on-demand services, which allow users to play games online without having to download or purchase software for individual games. "Although most games-on-demand services offer small-footprint Internet games and back-catalog retail PC games, the quantity and quality of these games are improving," said Parks Associates research analyst Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai. "In 2004, more facility-based broadband service providers will launch games-on-demand services, seeking to leverage their subscriber base, increase the stickiness of broadband services, and generate additional service revenues."
tags: Broadband | Reports | Subscribers | Games-on-Demand |