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Apple Declines Talks with RealNetworks on Digital Music Alliance

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 16, 2004 - 4:49am.
Seattle -- Apple Computer chairman Steve Jobs has declined RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser's offer to hold negotiations regarding an alliance on digital music against rival Microsoft, the Associated Press reported. The New York Times first reported that Glaser had emailed Jobs about a proposed partnership last week, which would have given Real access to proprietary Apple technology so that the two companies' music products and services would support one another. "He's in the neighborhood, but whatever meeting Rob wanted with Steve isn't happening," RealNetworks spokesman Greg Chiemingo told AP. "Steve just doesn't want to open the iPod, and we don't understand that… We want support for all media formats, and it makes sense for us to make the most consistent experience for consumers so they can move their content to whatever device they want."
tags: Apple | RealNetworks | Digital Music | Alliances |

Aussie Court to Hear Sharman Appeal of Search Warrants in Copyright Case

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 16, 2004 - 4:47am.
Sydney, Australia -- Sharman Networks, operator of the Kazaa file-sharing network, announced on Friday that the Federal Court of Australia has ruled that a panel of three judges will be appointed to hear an application for leave to appeal in relation to the recent granting of an Anton Piller order to the Australian recording industry. That country's Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI), a unit of the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), petitioned a judge and was granted the authority to conduct unannounced searches and seizures at the offices of Sharman and partner Brilliant Digital Entertainment, as part of a copyright infringement investigation. Sharman is now asking that the evidence gathered through the Anton Piller order be set aside, as it claims that MIPI was not completely forthcoming in its request for the order and that the judge who initially granted the order was not justified in doing so. No date has yet been set to hear the application for leave to appeal.
tags: Law | Sharman | Aussies | Warrants |

Sony, Toppan Develop Paper-Based CD for Blu-ray Technology

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 16, 2004 - 4:45am.
Tokyo -- Consumer electronics firm Sony announced that it has worked with partner Toppan Printing to develop an optical disc for its Blu-ray blue-laser disc technology that is composed primarily of paper. The 25GB discs -- made of 51% paper -- can hold up to two hours of high-definition video. "Using printing technology on paper allows a high level of artistic label printing on the optical disc," said Hideaki Kawai, managing director of Toppan's research and development division, adding that, "since a paper disc can be cut by scissors easily, it is simple to preserve data security when disposing of the disc." The companies expect the combination of paper material and printing technology to lead to a reduction in cost per disc and will expand usage of the format even more widely.
tags: Sony | Toppan | Blu-ray Technology |

RealNetworks Reports 450,000 Subscribers for Digital Music Services

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 16, 2004 - 4:43am.
Seattle -- RealNetworks, a provider of media delivery technology, announced this week that it now counts over 450,000 subscribers for its slate of digital music services, having added 100,000 new subscribers during the first quarter of 2004. The company said this was the second consecutive quarter where 100,000 subscribers were added to its services, Radio Pass and Rhapsody, which have seen their subscriber bases grow 80% since the third quarter of 2003. The company added that subscribers streamed over 56 million on-demand songs through its Rhapsody service during March, an increase of more than 16% over usage during February.
tags: Subscribers | RealNetworks | Digital Music Services |

Omneon Video Networks Raises $10.5 Million in Funding

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 16, 2004 - 4:39am.

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Omneon Video Networks, a maker of networked video servers for broadcasters, said on Thursday that it raised $10.5 million in a new round of funding, led by Invesco Private Capital. Previous investors Accel Partners, Advanced Technology Ventures, Intel Capital, Lucent Venture Partners, Meritech Capital Partners and Norwest Venture Partners, as well as new investor Centre Palisades also participated. Joe Kennedy, the CEO of Omneon, said that the company will use the capital to "expand development to address a wider market segment as well as accelerate penetration in new geographies." The company's media servers are currently being used by PBS, Raycom Media, and CBN in the United States; the BBC, BSkyB, and TV Cabo in Europe and Network Ten in Asia/Pacific.
http://www.omneon.com/news/pressreleases/040415_Funding.htm
tags: VC | Deal | Funding | Omneon Video Networks |