Archives

Microsoft-EU Negotiations in Brussels Called "Ongoing"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:18am.
Brussels -- With the EU Commission just seven days away from releasing its final findings against Microsoft, an EU spokeswoman said discussions between the two sides were "ongoing." Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti held a surprise meeting on Tuesday night to try to reach a compromise. The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that Ballmer and Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith remained in Brussels and in contact with the EU antitrust office. The Commission's final decision will be made on Wednesday, 24 March. The finding is expected to impose a large fine on Microsoft and require the company to take specific measures to allow competitors to more effectively compete against the company in areas including media software and servers.
tags: Microsoft-EU | Brussels | Ongoing |

Canadian Rights Groups Argue Against ISP IDs for Music File-Swappers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:17am.
Toronto -- Several Canadian digital civil liberties groups argued in the Federal Court of Canada yesterday that privacies would be violated should Canadian Internet service providers be compelled to turn over the identities of alleged music file-swappers to the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), the Globe and Mail reported. "These folks are civilians, not commercial pirates," Howard Knopf, a lawyer representing an Ottawa Internet rights advocacy group, told the Federal Court of Canada. File-swapping is "clearly not illegal," Knopf added, urging the Court to "apply the [copyright] law as it is today." CRIA attorney Ronald Dimock countered by arguing that subscribers sign a service contract with ISPs agreeing to disclose personal information. "There's really no privacy rights ... to be balanced here," said Dimrock. Following similar actions in the U.S., the Canadian record industry has targeted Canadian ISPs including Telus, Rogers, Shaw, BCE and Videotron with orders seeking the identities of file-swappers, with the intent to then file copyright infringement lawsuits against them.
tags: ISP | Musics | Canadian | File-Swappers | Argue | IDs |

Calif. State Bill Would Require File-Swapper Name/Address on Shared Files

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:16am.
Los Angeles -- The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday reported on a new bill from Calif. State Sen. Kevin Murray (Culver City) that would require Californians who use file-sharing networks like Kazaa and BitTorrent to attach their real names and addresses to the files they place in their "shared" folder for upload by other users. Penalties for not labeling files would include fines of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail. "Because the bills require Internet users to post personally identifying information, they fly directly in the face of policy goals and laws that prevent identity theft and spam and protect children and domestic violence victims," said Cindy Cohn, of digital civil liberties group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "There's one way to maintain your privacy in my bill," Murray told The Times. "That is not to engage in illegal activity."
tags: File-Swapper | Calif. State Bill | Shared Files |

Survey: 40% of Parents Unaware File-Sharing of Copyrighted Material Illegal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:15am.
Los Angeles -- A new survey conducted by Nielsen NRG for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has found that, despite the MPAA and RIAA media and legal campaigns intended to thwart illegal file-sharing, nearly 40% of parents are unaware that file swapping of copyrighted materials is illegal. Over 40% of the 396 parents who participated in the recent telephone survey know that their kids download music and movies over the Internet, and 55% of them know their kids did not pay for the content, while another 15% are unsure. In addition, one-third of those parents who have downloaded movies and music learned how to do so from their kids. "The same caring and conscientious parents who dedicate themselves to making sure that their kids are safe and conduct themselves lawfully and ethically in the real world abandon that role in cyberspace," said Robin Raskin, former editor-in-chief of FamilyPC. Rich Taylor, vice president of public affairs for the MPAA, added that, "Once parents take the time to get the facts and have the increasingly important 'download discussion,' they are taking yet one more step in keeping their family safe and raising good 'digital citizens.'"
tags: Copyright | File-Sharing | Survey | Illegal | Parents |

Sony Europe To Launch Music Download Service in U.K.

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:14am.
London -- Joining a growing field of players, Sony Europe announced on Wednesday that it will launch an electronic music download service in Europe, starting in June in the U.K., France and Germany. The announcement was made at CeBIT, Europe's largest technology trade show. The service, named "Connect," will offer more than 300,000 songs, including albums and singles from both major and independent record labels. Tracks will be available at a price starting at 0.99 euro ($1.21) per track.
tags: Downloads | Sony | Europe | U.K | Musics |

Google Launches Localized Search Engine Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:14am.
Mountain View, Calif. -- Search engine giant Google on Wednesday launched a new service called Google Local, offering search results including local information with neighborhood business listings, maps, directions and other useful Web pages. The service can help U.S. users find local restaurants, Wi-Fi hot-spots and other destinations, view maps and print driving directions. Google also plans to include local information for international markets in the coming months. "Google's goal is to connect searchers with the information they need whether it's half-way around the world or in their neighborhood," said Google president and co-founder Sergey Brin. "Google Local combines a wide array of sources including Google's more than 4 billion web page index, to produce the deepest local search."
tags: Google | Website | Search Engine | Localized |

Report: Global Digital Video Recorder Revenues to Hit $5.6 Billion by 2008

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:12am.
London -- Over 2.7 million digital video recorders were sold worldwide in 2003, an annual sales figure expected to grow to 27.6 million by 2008, when the market will support annual revenues of $5.6 billion, according to projections from market research firm Strategy Analytics. A market share breakdown by manufacturer shows that Scientific-Atlanta increased its share of the digital video recorder market to 25% last year, equal to satellite TV provider EchoStar (25%) and ahead of Pace Micro Technology (10%), Hughes Network Systems (10%) and Motorola (7%). The firm indicated that other firms like Sony, Samsung, Pioneer and Philips must "improve their focus with service providers if they are to make any impression on this rapidly growing market." A total of 71.5 million digital video recorders are projected to be in use worldwide by 2008.
tags: Reports | Global | Hit | Digital Video | Recorder |

Electronic Arts Confirms Deal to Develop "The Godfather" Video Game

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:12am.
London -- GamesIndustry.biz reports that game developer Electronic Arts has confirmed that it is currently developing a game based on "The Godfather" film from Francis Ford Coppola and novel from Mario Puzo. EA CFO Warren Jenson confirmed the development plans at a recent Bear Stearns conference. The title would be an unlikely foray for EA into "Mature"-rated games, which include rival developer Rockstar Games' popular and graphically violent "Grand Theft Auto" franchise. EA is best known for its sports and "Teen"-rated war-themed titles, such as "Madden NFL" and "Battlefield 1942."
tags: Deals | Electronic Arts | Video Games | The Godfather |

Cable Network CSTV Buys OCSN College Sports Website Business

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:11am.
Boston -- Student Advantage, an integrated media and commerce company, announced that it has sold its Official College Sports Network (OCSN) college sports website development business to CSTV: College Sports Television, a nationwide cable TV network. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. OCSN said that nearly 5.8 million college sports fans visited its collective sites during August 2003, which include official sites for the University of North Carolina, Notre Dame and Ohio State University. CSTV will re-brand the OCSN network under its CollegeSports.com domain.
tags: Website | CSTV | Cable Network | OCSN | College Sports |

Yahoo, Cartoon Producer DIC Launch Streaming TV Service for Kids

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:09am.
Burbank, Cailf. -- DIC Entertainment, an independent children's entertainment producer and distributor, announced on Wednesday an agreement with Yahoo to launch Yahooligans TV, a streaming video service that will feature programs from the company's 1,500-hour library. Burbank, Calif.-based DIC produces cartoons and other children's series including "Liberty's Kids," "Super Duper Sumos," "Inspector Gadget" and "Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego." The companies will develop broadband advertising and cross-promotional campaigns that will include on-air promotion to drive kids from on-air programs to the Yahooligans site and vice versa.
tags: Yahoo | Cartoon | TV Service | DIC | Kids |

Digital Cinema Firm DG2L Acquires Video Delivery Technology Firm iVast

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:08am.
New York -- DG2L, developer of an MPEG-4 based digital cinema system, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired iVast, a provider of video encoding, decoding, streaming, video-on-demand, mobile and satellite delivery services. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Newark, Calif.-based iVast offers its services for video standards including MPEG-1, MPEG2, H.264, HD and Windows Media 9. "DG2L is a leader in developing digital media distribution, delivery and playback solutions, said DG2L CEO Ankur Sheth. "The acquisition of iVast allows us to penetrate the market rapidly on a worldwide scale, taking advantage of iVast International's extensive channel and customer base."
tags: Video | Digital Cinema | DG2L | Delivery Technology | iVast |