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Microsoft Officials to Meet with EU Judge on July 27

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 7:00am.
Brussels -- Officials from the European Court of First Instance said late Tuesday that Judge Bo Vesterdorf would hold an informal meeting on July 27 with Microsoft and other interested parties to discuss the software giant's request to suspend EU sanctions against it. Court officials also said the informal meeting could possibly be followed by a formal hearing. Four months ago, the European Commission ruled that Microsoft must release a version of Windows without Microsoft's Media Player and pay a 497-million-euro ($614 million) fine. Microsoft has paid the fine, but appealed the antitrust ruling. It is now asking that sanctions against it be suspended until the appeal process, which could take several years, is complete. Separately, Reuters earlier this week quoted Microsoft lawyer Brad Smith as saying that a recent antitrust victory for the company in the U.S. addressed "many of the precisely same questions that are front and center in Europe."
tags: Microsoft | EU | Judge | Officials |

BSA: 36% of World's Installed Software Is Pirated

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:58am.
Washington, D.C. -- About 36% of all software installed on computers worldwide was pirated in 2003, representing a loss of nearly $29 billion, according to new information from the Business Software Alliance (BSA), an international association representing some of the world's largest software manufacturers. The study found that while $80 billion in software was installed on computers worldwide last year, only $51 billion was legally purchased. In North America, the piracy rate was 23%, with losses totaling more than $7.2 billion. The problem, however, was most prevalent in Eastern Europe, where the piracy rate was 71%, and the Asia/Pacific region, where dollar losses totaled more than $7.5 billion. http://makeashorterlink.com/?L57F23EB8
tags: World | Software | BSA | Pirated Washington | D.C. -- About 36%% of all software installed on computers w |

Yahoo Sees Profits More Than Double

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:57am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Buoyed by a rebound in the online advertising market, Yahoo on Wednesday said that it more than doubled its quarterly earnings of a year ago. The company reported earnings of $112.5 million, up from $50.8 million a year ago, on revenue of $832.3 million, up from $321.4 million. The results matched analysts' expectations, according to a survey by Thomson First Call. Susan Decker, the CFO of Yahoo, said that the company is benefiting from its "diverse and balanced sources of revenue, which have well positioned the company to deliver strong, consistent and profitable growth." Revenue from fee-based services, such as premium e-mail, grew 49%.
tags: Yahoo | Profits | Double |

RIAA Launches "Gold," "Platinum" Certifications for Download Sales

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:57am.
Los Angeles -- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that it will add sales of digitally downloaded singles to its program that certifies albums and singles as "gold" or "platinum." For the digital realm, singles that sell 100,000 downloads will be certified "gold" while those that sell 200,000 will be certified "platinum," with multi-platinum designations awarded thereafter for sales in increments of 200,000. The RIAA will hold an awards ceremony in August to launch the new program.
tags: RIAA | Download | Gold | Platinum | Certifications |

Apple: iPod Mini Will Debut Internationally July 24

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:56am.
Cupertino, Calif. -- Apple announced on Wednesday that the international release of its iPod mini digital music player, delayed due to high demand and a shortage of the microdrives used in the devices, will now commence on July 24. Apple's smaller version of its popular iPod player can hold 4GB of music (1,000 songs) and will sell for $249.
tags: iPod | Apple | Debut | Internationally |

Google Hit With Trademark Action by Online Toy Retailer

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:55am.
Mountain View, Calif. -- Claiming that it has superior rights to the similar-sounding name, Googles, a children's web site based in Maryland, said on Wednesday that it has launched trademark proceedings against search engine giant Google. In two separate actions, Googles, which is operated by Stelor Productions, has filed a notice opposing the California Internet company's application for a "Google" trademark to cover a list of goods and services that includes children's books, stickers and children's clothing, and also is seeking to cancel an existing registration for the mark "Google" for e-mail and search engine services. Steven Esrig, the CEO of Stelor Productions, said that Google has caused increasing harm to his children's business, which has developed story lines around its "Googles from Goo" alien characters. The company recently released several Googles-themed children's songs on iTunes, and has future plans to expand into television. "The web is a big enough space for both of us, but not if Google trespasses on our domain for children," said Esrig. "Even though Google Inc. is bigger, better capitalized, and more widely known, the company can't continue to pretend we don't exist." Esrig said that the publicity surrounding the Google IPO and that company's move into children's goods and services has deterred investors, licensees and entertainment partners from completing their deals with his company.
tags: Internet | Google | Trademark | Toy Retailer |

Mobile Game Publisher Jamdat Files for $83.6 Million IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:54am.
Los Angeles -- Mobile entertainment publisher Jamdat Mobile announced that it has filed a registration statement with the SEC for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) of up to $86.3 million in common stock. The Los Angeles-based company publishes mobile games, ringtones and other entertainment through 72 wireless carriers in 38 countries. It has relationships with game publishers including Activision, Atari and Microsoft, as well as with the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.
tags: Mobile Games | IPO | Jamdat |

Game Publisher Acclaim Sued by Developer, May Face Bankruptcy

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:53am.
Reno, Nev. -- Video game developer BattleBorne Entertainment announced on Wednesday that it has won a preliminary injunction against the release of its "Combat Elite: WWII Paratroopers" title by publishing partner Acclaim Entertainment, which it sued for breach of contract. Nevada-based BattleBorne claims Acclaim failed to make payments and threatened to release the title before all payments were made. The news is just the latest woe for New York-based Acclaim, whose shares have dropped nearly 20% this week after the company revealed on Friday that it may need to seek bankruptcy protection if it cannot obtain new bank financing.
tags: Games | Developer | Acclaim | Bankruptcy |

Digital Ad Distributor Lightningcast Secures $5 Million in Funding

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:49am.
Alexandria, Va. -- Lightningcast, a Virginia-based developer of a software platform for broadband advertising, said on Wednesday that it has raised $5 million in a new round of funding. New investors Global Internet Ventures and New Markets Growth Fund joined previous investors Nokia Venture Partners and Redleaf Group in the round. The company said that it will use the capital to accelerate product development and expand its sales organization. Lightningcast's core technology, used by major media companies, allows owners and distributors of broadband audio and video to insert streaming ads. Its clients include AOL, Disney/ABC, NPR and MTV.
tags: Lightningcast | Digital Ad | Funding |

Siemens to Acquire BBC Technology Unit in $3.7 Billion Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 7, 2004 - 6:45am.
London -- The BBC announced on Wednesday that Siemens Business Services has emerged as the preferred bidder for its BBC Technology unit and an associated technology framework contract with the BBC. The contract is subject to approval, but would be for a term of 10 years and worth up to $3.7 billion. The BBC found through an internal strategic review of its technology requirements that it could realize potential annual savings of at least $37-$56 million, if its technology services were outsourced. The BBC Technology unit was founded in 2001 to provide broadcast and Internet media services for the BBC and other broadcasters, content owners and government bodies. The deal with Siemens is expected to close in the fall of 2004.
tags: Deals | Siemens | BBC Technology |