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Senate Bill With Bipartisan Support Would Ban P2P Networks in U.S.

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 23, 2004 - 8:01am.
Washington -- A Senate bill that has gained key bipartisan support would, if approved, effectively ban peer-to-peer file-sharing networks in the U.S., CNET News.com reported on Wednesday. Introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004 would effectively overturn the landmark ruling in MGM v. Grokster, currently under appeal, that found that peer-to-peer file-sharing software is legal and any copyright infringement liability rested with end-users. "This bill remedies a threat to the security of copyrights as well as to our citizens and children," said Hatch. "Because about half of the users of this software are children, this for-profit piracy scheme mostly endangers children who are ill-equipped to appreciate the illegality or risks of their acts." Hatch noted that supporters of the bill include Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).
tags: U.S. | Ban | Senate Bill | Bipartisan Support | P2P Networks |

Apple: U.K., French, German iTunes Stores Sell 800,000 Tracks in First Week

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 23, 2004 - 7:59am.
Cupertino, Calif. -- Apple announced on Wednesday that its new iTunes Music Stores in the U.K., France and Germany sold a combined 800,000 songs in their first week of operations. "After selling over 800,000 songs during its first week, iTunes is Europe's top online music store," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "In the U.K. alone, iTunes sold more than 450,000 songs in the last week -- 16 times as many as OD2, its closest competitor." OD2 (On Demand Distribution), the digital music firm co-founded by musician Peter Gabriel that distributes tracks for European digital retailers including HMV, Virgin, MSN and Tiscali, was acquired on Tuesday by Seattle-based Loudeye Technologies. Napster, which launched in the U.K. on May 20, has not yet released sales figures for its U.K. store.
tags: Apple | U.K. | French | Tracks | German iTunes |

DVD Creation Software Maker Sonic Solutions Raises $23.8 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 23, 2004 - 7:57am.
Novato, Calif. -- Sonic Solutions, a provider of DVD creation and editing software, announced on Wednesday that it will raise $23.8 million through a public offering of 1.3 million shares of its stock at $19.48 per share. Novato, Calif.-based Sonic Solutions' products have been licensed by firms including Adobe, AOL, Microsoft and Sony, and ship on PCs and disk drives from makers such as Toshiba, Sharp, Pioneer, TDK, Memorex and Philips. The company will use the proceeds of the stock sale for general corporate purposes and to fund general working capital requirements.
tags: VC | Sonic Solutions | DVD Creation Software Maker |

Popularity of Mobile Phones Gives Rise to "M-Agers"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 23, 2004 - 7:55am.
London -- Mobile phones have become so widespread in the U.K. that they have come to define an entire generation -- the so-called "M-Ager" -- according to an ongoing behavioral study of more than 1,400 mobile phone users. The "Me, My Mobile and I" survey, conducted over the last four years by the Teleconomy Group, found that more than 26% of British children between the ages of 10 and 14 are so emotionally attached to their mobile phones that they say they could not live without them. The study also found that M-Agers were by far the most sophisticated users in the U.K., demanding increasingly functional phones that allow a high degree of personalization. "These are a group of people who have never known life without a mobile phone and therefore can't imagine functioning without it," said Teleconomy Chairman Michael Hulme.
tags: Mobile Phones | M-Agers | Rise |

Hollywood Media Acquires Studio Systems for $4.75 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 23, 2004 - 7:53am.
Hollywood, Calif. -- Hollywood Media Corp., a provider of online information and ticketing services for movies and theatre, announced on Wednesday that it will acquire Los Angeles-based Studios Systems, a provider of database and information services to the entertainment industry, for $4.75 million in cash and stock. Studio Systems will be integrated with Hollywood Media's Baseline/FilmTracker subsidiary, a database of global film and television data such as script tracking and box office data. "Studio Systems' and Baseline's respective customers are poised to reap tremendous benefits from the synergies spawned by this transaction," said Studio Systems president and CEO Gary Hiller. "Bringing these assets together under one roof at Hollywood Media will enable those worldwide who are involved in the development, production, distribution and financing of film and television projects to harness the combined, preeminent strength of these impressive resources."
tags: Acquisition | Acquires | Hollywood Media | Studio Systems |

Digital Newspaper Distributor NewsStand Raises $7.2 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 23, 2004 - 7:52am.
Austin, Texas -- NewsStand, a provider of distribution for digital "exact replica" versions of newspapers, magazines and other print media, announced that it has raised $7.2 million in a recent round of financing. Adams Capital led the investment round; Noro-Moseley Partners, SSM Ventures and The New York Times Company also participated. Austin-based NewsStand currently delivers over 100 digital versions of print publications to customers in 120 countries. "NewsStand will use proceeds from the new round of funding to expand marketing and sales initiatives that will increase its market penetration worldwide and will continue to perfect its digital reading experience through Web and print integration," said NewsStand president and CEO Kit Webster.
tags: VC | Newsstand | Digital Newspaper Distributor |

Mobile Giants Unite to Improve Wireless Interoperability

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 23, 2004 - 7:50am.
London -- Some of the world's largest mobile operators on Wednesday agreed to work together to improve interoperability between wireless devices and allow users to better access new services such as picture messaging. Led by mmO2, NTT DoCoMo, Orange, SMART Communications, Telefonica Moviles, TIM, T-Mobile and Vodafone, the so-called OMTP Alliance said it would begin to define the requirements for an open mobile terminal platform (OMTP). Amena, Hutchinson/3, KPN, One Austria, SFR and Telenor are also interested in joining the group, OMTP said. The group aims to work with mobile handset makers to resolve a number of problems that have arisen when users send pictures between phones, and especially between networks.
tags: Mobile Giants | Improve Wireless Interoperability | Unite |