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Freelance Writers Get $18 Million Settlement for Works Published Online

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 30, 2005 - 7:48am.
New York -- Several groups representing freelance writers have announced a settlement of up to $18 million with The New York Times Co. and other publishers, ending a copyright infringement case over the republishing of their works in online archives without approval. The case was originally filed by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the Authors Guild and the National Writers Union; defendants also included Time, Knight Ridder, Dow Jones and Lexis-Nexis. "This is a substantial settlement, and, if approved, it will vindicate freelance writers who deserve compensation and control for their work in the electronic marketplace," said Authors Guild president Nick Taylor. "It proves our contention all along that access and online advertising revenues shouldn't all go into the pockets of big media, but should be shared with the creators." Under terms of the settlement, writers published between August 1977 and December 2002 who copyrighted their stories can claim up to $1,500 per article, while those who didn't can claim up to $60 per article. "There will be some freelancers who registered their copyrights who will make six figures under this settlement," Jim Morrison, a past president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors who helped negotiate the settlement, told Wired News. A site called FreelanceRights.com has been set up to help authors understand the terms and make claims.
tags: Deals | Internet | Works | Freelance Writers | Published Online |

Welsh Community First in U.K. to Switch Off Analog TV Signal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 30, 2005 - 7:46am.
Cardiff, Wales -- Television viewers in Wales became the first in the U.K. to lose their analog TV signal after about 450 households in Ferryside and Llanstephan were switched to digital on Wednesday. About 98% of area residents voted to switch to digital-only after taking part in a three-month pilot scheme. Wales as a whole is scheduled to make the same switch by 2008, four years ahead of the 2012 deadline for the U.K. Separately, U.K. telecommunications watchdog Ofcom announced on Wednesday that, as of Dec. 31, 2004, more than 59% of U.K. households were receiving digital TV, a 3% increase compared to the period ended Sept. 30, 2004. Ofcom's quarterly Digital Television Update also found that about 5 million U.K. homes were using the Freeview set-top boxes in the fourth quarter of 2004. That said, households that already had access to digital TV bought a quarter of the boxes sold over the same period.
tags: U.K | Welsh Community | Analog TV Signal |

Intel, Bertelsmann to Collaborate on Media Download, Sharing Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 30, 2005 - 7:42am.
Berlin -- Chipmaker Intel and German media conglomerate Bertelsmann have announced they will collaborate on the design of devices that will be compatible with a planned Bertelsmann downloading and media-sharing service for music, movies and games, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Intel said it will design chips for computers and cell phones that will support the Bertelsmann service. "One of the major environmental changes in the electronics industry is this convergence -- a combination of computing, communications and content," Intel CEO Craig Barrett told Reuters.
tags: Music | Bertelsmann | Intel | Media Download | Sharing Service |

Independent Game Developers The Collective, Backbone Agree to Merger

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 30, 2005 - 7:40am.
Los Angeles -- Independent video game developers The Collective and Backbone Entertainment on Wednesday announced their plans to merge, creating Foundation 9 Entertainment, a company that will figure as the largest independent game developer in North America. Founded in 1997, Newport Beach, Calif.-based The Collective has developed titles based on media properties such as "Men in Black," "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." Emeryville, Calif.-based Backbone Entertainment was formed in 2003, from the merger of developers Digital Eclipse and ImaginEngine. The companies have collectively developed more than 250 titles, and together employ over 300 staff in North America. Foundation 9 Entertainment's first original title will be "Death Jr., to be published for the Sony PSP by Konami later this year.
tags: Games | Deals | The Collective | Backbone | Independent Game Developers |

Search Developer Convera Secures $5 Million Equipment Loan

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 30, 2005 - 7:37am.
Vienna, Va. -- Convera, a maker of search and categorization software, said that it has secured a $5 million equipment loan from Silicon Valley Bank. The Virginia-based company -- which in December announced a corporate restructuring aimed at saving it $10 million a year -- said that the four-year, term facility will provide financing for capital purchases, including those for its web indexing initiative. Under that project, the company is looking to add structure to the web by providing users with more relevant search results. In October, it created its initial search platform for open-source web content, and expects to launch a related service later this year. Convera's software can search across more than 200 forms of text, video, image and audio information in more than 45 languages. The company has more than 900 clients.
tags: Convera | Equipment Loan | Search Developer |

French Media Services Group Thomson Acquires Inventel

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 30, 2005 - 7:35am.
Paris -- Thomson, a France-based electronics and media services group, announced that it has acquired Inventel, a Paris-based, privately held specialist in broadband and wireless communications. Under the terms of the acquisition, Inventel will be incorporated into Thomson's access platforms and gateways business unit, which provides services for satellite, cable and terrestrial operators. "Increasing our already substantial business with telecom operators is one of our important areas of development, as highlighted in our Two-Year Plan," said Thomson CEO Frank Dangeard. "This acquisition, which is likely to be followed by others, will further Thomson's objective of strengthening its role as a strategic supplier and partner to this important customer base." While Thomson did not disclose financial details, it did say the cost was in line with its acquisition criteria.
tags: Deals | Thomson | Inventel |