Archives

Report: U.S. Video Game Sales Rose 32% During March

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2005 - 9:30am.
Los Angeles -- U.S. video game sales were up 32% in March, bolstered by Sony's "Gran Turismo 4" and titles for its PSP handheld console, which was released on March 24 but still counted 1.1 million games sold during the month, Reuters reported, quoting analysts who cited data from market research firm NPD Group. Sony sold 620,000 PSP consoles during the last week of March, while by comparison Nintendo's rival DS handheld has sold 428,000 units so far this year. Sony also sold 495,000 PlayStation 2 consoles during the month, compared with sales of 277,000 Microsoft Xbox consoles and 94,000 Nintendo GameCubes.
tags: Report | Rose | U.S. Video Game Sales |

Ruling Favors InterTrust Over Macrovision in Anti-Piracy Patent Dispute

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2005 - 9:27am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- InterTrust, the developer of digital rights management technologies acquired in 2002 by Sony and Philips for $453 million, has won key aspects of a patent infringement proceeding against rival Macrovision. The United States Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences ruled this week that certain of InterTrust's patents have priority over Macrovision's claims, which could eventually lead to a large settlement and license agreement. Macrovision said that other portions of the interference action are still under review. "We look forward to eventually prevailing on the merits," said Macrovision CEO Bill Krepick, adding, "We will be considering our appeal options." Macrovision also plans to launch a licensing program later this year, based on its overseas patents and the portions of its U.S. patents not affected by the recent ruling. InterTrust sued Microsoft for infringement of the same patents in 2002, also claiming the company's Media Player, Windows operating system and other technologies borrowed InterTrust technology. That lawsuit was settled in April 2004 when Microsoft agreed to license InterTrust's patents and pay the company $440 million.
tags: Macrovision | Intertrust | Ruling Favors | Anti-Piracy Patent Dispute |

Customer Sues Comcast for Disclosing ID to RIAA Without Court Order

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2005 - 9:24am.
Seattle -- A Seattle-area woman has sued the nation's largest cable TV operator, Comcast, for allegedly disclosing her identity to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) -- without having been compelled to by a court order, or first notifying her of the disclosure -- Reuters reported. Dawnell Leadbetter reportedly learned of the record industry's intentions only after she was contacted by a collection agency and told to pay a $4,500 settlement, or face a copyright infringement lawsuit. "Comcast should respect the rights of privacy who pay them monthly bills," Leadbetter's attorney, Lory Lybeck, told Reuters.
tags: Law | Comcast | RIAA | Sues | Customer | Disclosing ID | Court Order |

BBC-Led Group Launches "Creative Archive License"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2005 - 9:19am.
London -- A group led by the BBC, Channel 4, the British Film Institute (BFI) and the Open University (OU) announced this week that it has launched the Creative Archive License. The BBC said the announcement took the group a step closer toward the creation of a platform that will eventually allow the public to download films, TV programs, radio archives and digital content on the Internet -- legally and free of charge. The group said it wanted to fuel creativity activity across the U.K. as people use the downloaded material in personal projects, classroom presentations and their own artistic creations. The group also called on other media and arts organizations to join them in their endeavor to build a "public domain of audio-visual material".
tags: Launches | BBC-Led Group | Creative Archive License |

FBI Arrests Four Chinese Nationals Over Counterfeit Nintendo Games

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2005 - 9:17am.
New York -- Nintendo of America this week applauded the FBI for its arrest of four Chinese nationals who were allegedly distributing pirated Nintendo video games. An FBI investigation revealed the defendants had imported at least 280,000 "Power Player" counterfeit game systems, capable of playing pirated versions of Nintendo titles like "Mario Bros." and "Duck Hunt." The investigation led to the four arrests, and searches of facilities in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. "Nintendo applauds the actions taken by the FBI. U.S. law enforcement authorities have played an instrumental role in attacking piracy in the U.S. and abroad," said Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's director of anti-piracy. Nintendo said that during the first quarter of 2005, more than 80 worldwide seizures have been conducted that resulted in confiscation of nearly 180,000 counterfeit Nintendo products.
tags: Law | FBI | Chinese Nationals | Counterfeit Nintendo Games |

CNET: Frustrated Labels Turning to Cell Phones for Digital Music Profits

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2005 - 9:15am.
San Francisco -- The major record labels, frustrated by Apple's reluctance to negotiate on price points for songs on its iTunes Store or license its technology for rival MP3 players, are now looking to the cell phone market as a potentially more lucrative market for digital music, CNET News.com reported. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has reportedly rejected record label appeals to charge less than 99 cents for catalog titles while increasing the price for new releases, and has rebuffed calls to open its FairPlay security technology so that songs purchased on iTunes can play on devices other than the iPod. "We hate the current situation," one top record industry executive told News.com. "No record company by itself can basically tell Steve Jobs, 'You're not going to get our catalog unless you open up FairPlay to Microsoft.' We can't do it together." The labels recognize that many more cell phones than iPods are in circulation, and that wireless carriers are more open to a staggered pricing scheme. Likewise, carriers have been reluctant to subsidize a recent Motorola phone that would have let users upload songs purchased on iTunes from their PCs -- sidestepping potential revenues from the cost of downloading those same songs over their networks. "Carriers subsidize phones and features when they drive network usage," Iain Gillott, a wireless industry consultant, told News.com. "Yet here was a phone that I was supposed to sync to my PC so I could buy music from Apple. Why would the carriers subsidize that?"
tags: CNET | Cell Phones | Frustrated Labels | Digital Music Profits |