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Report: File-Sharing Downloads Down, Paid Song Downloads Up

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 24, 2005 - 9:06am.
Washington -- While the percentage of Internet music downloaders who said they used peer-to-peer file-sharing systems has declined to 21%, from 31% in February 2004, the percentage who said they had paid for songs on services like iTunes increased to 34%, up from 17% last year, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. In total, the survey found that about 36 million Americans, or 27% of Internet users, download music or video files. Increasingly, Internet users say they are downloading songs from sources other that peer-to-peer. Overall, 48% of current music downloaders said they have used other sources: 19% -- or about 7 million Americans -- say they have downloaded songs directly from someone else's iPod or other digital music player, while 28% say they get songs and movies via e-mail and instant messaging applications.
tags: Music | Reports | File-Sharing Downloads | Song Downloads Up |

Yahoo Announces $3 Billion Stock Buyback, Creative Commons Search Feature

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 24, 2005 - 9:04am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Yahoo announced on Thursday that its board of directors has approved a $3 billion stock repurchase program, to occur over the next five years. The buyback program will be funded using Yahoo's working capital, which as of Dec. 31 totaled $4.6 billion. Yahoo has 1.4 billion common shares outstanding. The company also announced the completion of its previous stock repurchase program, which saw the purchase of 38 million shares for $325 million. Separately, Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo said it added the ability to search for content with flexible copyrights hosted by Creative Commons. The company debuted a dedicated interface for searching the millions of sites that offer content with Creative Commons licenses, which typically allow users to freely make copies and even derivative works without seeking permission from content creators.
tags: Deals | Yahoo | Stock Buyback | Creative Commons Search |

Digitally Animated Film Studio Pixar Approves 2-for-1 Stock Split

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 24, 2005 - 9:01am.
Emeryville, Calif. -- Pixar Animation Studios, the producers of successful digitally animated feature films like "The Incredibles," "Finding Nemo" and "Toy Story," announced on Thursday that its board of directors has approved a two-for-one stock split, and an increase in the number of common shares from 100 million to 200 million. At the close of trading on April 4, Pixar shareholders will receive one additional share of Pixar stock for each share held. The company has won 18 Academy Awards, and its six films have to date grossed over $3.2 billion in box office sales.
tags: Pixar | Stock Split | Digitally Animated Film Studio |

7-Eleven to Trial In-Store CD Burning, Music Download Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 24, 2005 - 8:56am.
New York -- Convenience store chain 7-Eleven plans this year to test a service that would let customers create custom burned CDs and download songs to their portable music players from kiosks within the store, Reuters reported. 7-Eleven CEO James Keyes told a Merrill Lynch conference in New York that the company is also interested in movie downloads, but not until technology exists to download a full-length features in under two minutes. 7-Eleven counts 5,800 stores in North America and 22,000 in 17 other countries.
tags: Downloads | Music | 7%% | CD Burning | Music Download Service |

Interactive c Delivery Agent Raises $5.5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 24, 2005 - 8:54am.
San Francisco -- Delivery Agent, a provider of interactive commerce technology, said on Thursday that it has raised $5.5 million in its first round of venture capital financing, led by Worldview Technology Partners and Cardinal Venture Capital. The company's "Just Seen On" technology allows TV viewers to purchase products seen on TV shows -- such as the clothing worn by actresses -- over the Internet, using a PC, cell phone or interactive TV remote. Since launching in 2002, Delivery Agent's service has been utilized by content producers including Miramax Films, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Dimension Films, Lions Gate Entertainment NBC, ABC, and Bravo, on TV shows such as "Will & Grace" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." San Francisco-based Delivery Agent will use the funds to accelerate growth and expand its business to additional brands and entertainment properties.
tags: Deals | VC | Delivery Agent |

SafeNet to Acquire Rights Management Firm DMDsecure for $9.7 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 24, 2005 - 8:49am.
Baltimore -- SafeNet, a Baltimore-based information security firm, said on Thursday that it will acquire Netherlands-based DMDsecure.com, a maker of digital rights management software used by broadcasters and service providers, for about $9.7 million in cash. The value of the deal could rise, based on future revenue generated by DMDsecure.com. With the deal, SafeNet will gain a client list that includes Arcor, British Telecom and Deutsche Telecom. Anthony Caputo, the chairman and CEO of SafeNet, said that his company began investing heavily in the rights management business when it merged with Rainbow Technologies, and that investment paid off last year with double-digit revenue growth. "The acquisition of DMDsecure will enable us to extend our growth into the electronic download content protection market segment," said Caputo.
tags: Deals | SafeNet | DMDsecure |