Archives

Roxio Changes Name to Napster, Sells Software Business for $80 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:17am.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- Roxio, a developer of CD and DVD burning software that is also the parent company of Napster, has announced that it will sell its software division to Sonic Solutions for $80 million, and will change its corporate name to Napster to emphasize its focus on the digital music business. The company reported that the digital media software division saw revenues of $22 million during the first quarter and income of $6 million. "Today's announcement of the planned sale of our software division will allow us to focus all of our efforts on Napster and the fast-growing online music market," said Roxio chairman and CEO Chris Gorog. "Subject to stockholder approval and standard regulatory reviews, this transaction will significantly enhance our balance sheet resulting in a net cash position well in excess of $100 million, which will support our efforts to drive subscriber growth and accelerate Napster's competitive position." In recent months, Roxio has launched versions of Napster in the U.K. and Canada, and also expanded its campus music service program.
tags: Napster | Roxio | Software Business |

MPAA Settles Copyright Suit With Defunct DVD Copying Firm 321 Studios

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:16am.
Washington -- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced on Tuesday that it has settled a copyright infringement suit that member studios brought against 321 Studios, the developer of DVD-copying software that recently announced its intention to close its doors. The settlement, terms of which were not disclosed, follows two federal court injunctions against the sale of St. Louis-based 321's DVD X Copy software, as well as a ruling last week lodged against the company's similar product that can copy video game discs. That ruling was accompanied by the 321's announcement it would shut down. "321 Studios built its business on the flawed premise that it could profit from violating the motion picture studios' copyrights; the courts have been amply clear -- there is no leniency for violating Federal copyright laws," said MPAA CEO Jack Valenti.
tags: DVD | MPAA | Copyright | Studios | Defunct |

Google Sets Thursday Deadline for IPO Bidder Registration

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:15am.
Mountain View, Calif. -- Search engine Google announced on Tuesday that prospective bidders for shares to be offered in its upcoming IPO will have until 2 p.m. Thursday to register online for a bidder identification number. It is expected that the actual IPO, for which Google has not yet set a date, will occur shortly thereafter. The company plans to sell around 26 million shares for between $108 and $135 a share.
tags: IPO | Google | Deadline | Bidder Registration |

Dutch Retailer Free Record Shop Launches Digital Music Store

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:13am.
Amsterdam -- Free Record Shop, a Dutch music retailer, announced on Tuesday the launch of a digital music download store offering 250,000 tracks to consumers in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The store will compete with existing offerings operated by retailers aligned with U.K.-based download distributor OD2; Apple, which currently operates download stores in the U.K., France and Germany, plans to launch a wider European store some time in the fall. Free Record Shop, which will offer tracks for between $1.08 and $1.46 each, said it hopes to sign deals to increase its library to 500,000 tracks by the end of the year, and also plans to expand its service into Finland and Norway.
tags: Digital Music | Dutch | Free Record |

Sharp Releases Glasses-Free 3D Display Monitor

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:13am.
Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp has announced the release of its Sharp LL-151-3D display, a 15-inch monitor that can display 3D images without the need for special glasses. The monitor uses a parallax barrier to separate two distinct displays, which are skewed slightly so that the eye believes it is viewing a true 3D image. The $1,499 display may also be easily switched between 2D and 3D views. Sharp said that the display is targeted at markets including video games, life sciences and design.
tags: 3D | Releases | Monitor | Sharp | Glasses-Free |

Software Lobby Creates Anti-Piracy Mascot for School Education Campaign

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:11am.
Washington -- The Business Software Alliance (BSA), a trade group of software companies that includes Microsoft, Apple, Adobe and Macromedia, announced on Tuesday the creation of a "copyright-crusading ferret," a character that will serve as the mascot for the group's upcoming school anti-piracy education campaign. The BSA produced a four-page comic book about "cyber ethics" that will be published in the Weekly Reader, a newspaper distributed in elementary classrooms. The comic is intended to teach children to respect copyrighted works and not download them from file-sharing networks. "Computer usage is commonplace in youth education today, and good legal and ethical behaviors need to be taught with the technology," said Diane Smiroldo, vice president of public affairs for the BSA. "We hope that naming the ferret and creating a comic book curriculum that focuses on respecting digital copyrighted works will be a fun way to remind kids and educators about the importance of learning and practicing good cyber ethics."
tags: Software | Anti-Piracy | Mascot | Lobby | Education Campaign |

Deluxe Acquires Matsushita's DVD Compression & Authoring Business

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:10am.
Burbank, Calif. -- Deluxe, a provider of technology and media services for the film industry, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Digital Video Compression Center, the DVD compression and authoring services unit of Japan's Matsushita. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Burbank, Calif.-based Deluxe said the acquisition will create the industry's largest provider of DVD compression and authoring services, which will be offered alongside its other DVD production services. "Demand for the highest quality compression and authoring services keeps growing as picture quality and disc features continue to drive the DVD market, and DVCC has as much experience in these categories as anyone in the industry," said DVCC head Ron Martin, who will now become vice president of post production for Deluxe.
tags: Compression | Deluxe | Matsushita's DVD | Authoring Business |

Hip Interactive Acquires Game Developer Arush Entertainment

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 10, 2004 - 3:09am.
Toronto -- Hip Interactive, a Canadian publisher of video games and accessories, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Arizona-based game developer Arush Entertainment, offering 870,000 shares of Hip to Arush shareholders. Arush will release its "Playboy: The Mansion" simulation title this winter, and has also released games based on a license of NBC's "Fear Factor" reality series. Hip Interactive distributes its own, as well as many third-party game titles to most Canadian retailers. "Arush's ability to source and license titles, along with management's strong industry relationships, will enable us to broaden Hip's North American publishing presence," said Hip Interactive CEO Arindra Singh.
tags: Games | Hip Interactive | Arush Entertainment |