Archives

FCC Approves Feature Letting TiVo Users Share Shows Over the 'Net

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2004 - 3:44am.
Alviso, Calif. -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday granted approval to new technology from digital video recorder maker TiVo, which will allow users to share recordings of digital TV shows over the Internet with a limited number of friends. The FCC approved the security measures TiVo will implement on its TiVoToGo feature, which opponents from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and National Football League had argued were not strong enough and would result in mass illegal copying. "TiVo has always tried to maintain an appropriate balance between consumer interests and the rights of content providers," said TiVo CEO Mike Ramsay. The MPAA said it was disappointed the FCC did not outline to whom TiVo users may send programs, as "technologies that enable redistribution of copyrighted TV programming beyond the local TV market disrupt local advertiser-supported broadcasting and harm TV syndication markets."
tags: TiVo | FCC | Share | Net |

Apple Settles With E-Data Over Online Music Sales Patent

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2004 - 3:43am.
San Francisco -- E-Data, a company claiming to hold European patents on the process of selling music online, announced that Apple has settled a patent infringement claim it brought against the company, CNET News.com reported. E-Data, which has also won a patent suit settlement with Microsoft, said it has launched new patent infringement suits against 14 companies including Amazon.com, Ticketmaster and The New York Times. "This settlement with Apple marks another important milestone, as we aggressively pursue companies that are infringing upon our intellectual property," said E-Data chairman Bert Brodsky. "We have identified additional companies that are infringing upon our intellectual property, both in the U.S. and abroad, and will seek the necessary legal actions to ensure that our rights are enforced worldwide."
tags: Internet | Apple | Musics | E-Data |

IPod Chipmaker PortalPlayer Plans $75 Million IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2004 - 3:42am.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- PortalPlayer, a developer of chips and software used in hard disk-based portable media players, on Wednesday announced plans to raise up to $75 million through an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares. The SEC filing did not disclose the number of shares to be offered or a price range for them. Founded in 1999, Santa Clara, Calif.-based PortalPlayer, which to date has raised $85 million from investors, reported a loss of $8 million on revenue of $20.9 million in 2003. The company plans to use the proceeds from its IPO to first repay $4.4 million in debt, and then for general corporate purposes including potential acquisitions.
tags: IPO | iPod | PortalPlayer | Chipmaker |

Report: Global Online Games Revenue to Hit $9.8 Billion in 2009

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2004 - 3:41am.
San Diego -- The world market for online games will reach $9.8 billion in 2009, a 410% increase over 2003 revenue of $1.9 billion, according to a report from San Diego-based market research firm DFC Intelligence. The Asia-Pacific region will account for $4.2 billion of this total, with China and Japan expected to be the fastest growing countries for online games overall. "At the end of 2003 an estimated 81 million households worldwide had broadband. By 2009 we forecast that number reaching 228 million. It has been proven that the availability of broadband significantly increases online game usage," said DFC analyst David Cole. While noting that online games are still an immature business, DFC said that many potential viable business models are emerging, including advertising, tiered subscription, downloads and pay-per-play.
tags: Games | Internet | Reports | Hit |

French Game Publisher In-Fusio Raises $27 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2004 - 3:39am.
Paris -- In-Fusio, a France-based mobile game publisher and game services provider, said it has raised $27 million in its latest round of financing. Insight Venture Partners, a U.S.-based venture capital firm, led the funding, with existing investors Banexi Ventures, Partech International, VPSA (formerly Viventures) and Innoven Partenaires also participating, In-Fusio said. The company said the funds would be used to further secure market share in Europe and solidify its growing presence in the U.S. "This new funding is key to accelerating our U.S. expansion through a series of strategic North American acquisitions that we have already started to discuss," said In-Fusio co CEO and President Gilles Raymond. In-Fusio currently publishes 65 game titles for over 70 wireless carriers.
tags: Games | VC | French | In-Fusio |

Finnish Game Addicts Given Pass on Compulsory Military Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2004 - 3:37am.
Helsinki -- Reuters reported on Wednesday that several conscripts from Finland have been excused from military service because the Finnish Defense Forces diagnosed them as "Internet addicts." "For people who play (Internet) games all night and don't have any friends, don't have any hobbies, to come into the army is a very big shock," Commander-Captain Jyrki Kivela told Reuters. Finnish military doctors have determined that the young men in question "miss their computers too much" to be able to carry out their six-month military obligation.
tags: Games | Addicts | Compulsory | Military Service |