Archives

U.K. High Court Tells ISPs to Name Alleged Music File-Swappers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 20, 2005 - 8:18am.
London -- The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), a U.K. record label trade group, announced on Wednesday that the U.K. High Court has sided with its arguments and ordered five Internet service providers to turn over the names of 33 alleged music file-swappers. The individuals are alleged to have collectively uploaded more than 72,000 music files to peer-to-peer networks. The BPI, which released data today claiming that downloaders have cost the industry $855 million in lost sales over the past two years, said it has now sued a total of 90 U.K. residents for copyright infringement. "This court order should remind every user of a peer-to-peer filesharing service in Britain that they are not anonymous," said BPI general counsel Geoff Taylor. "We are continuing to collect evidence every day against people who are still uploading music illegally, despite all the warnings we have given."
tags: ISP | U.K. High Court | Music File-Swappers |

Sony to Launch First Official Auction Site for Its Online Games

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 20, 2005 - 8:15am.
San Diego -- Online game developer Sony Online Entertainment on Wednesday announced plans to launch a secure, official online auction site for players of its online games looking to buy and sell characters, items and virtual currencies. Station Exchange, slated to launch for Sony's "EverQuest II" title in late June, is a response to the many unsanctioned online auction sites proliferating on the Internet. Sony estimates such sites generate between from $100 - $800 million a year -- with 20% coming from Sony titles. Station Exchange will facilitate secure transactions between players; Sony itself will not sell any items or characters on the site.
tags: Sony | Online Games | Launch | Official Auction Site |

Verizon, SBC Lobby Congress for Lax Regulations on New Video Services

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 20, 2005 - 8:13am.
Washington -- Telecommunications firms Verizon and SBC Communications, which are preparing to launch Internet-based video services, argued for looser regulations for such expanded services at a hearing Wednesday before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications. "The FCC and Congress have so far employed a light-touch approach to regulating the Internet and IP-based services," testified SBC senior executive vice president Lee Ann Champion. "We are not building a cable network, nor do we have any interest in being a cable company offering traditional cable service. Instead, we intend to offer customers a new total communications experience." Later this year, Verizon plans to launch an Internet-based TV service called FiOS TV, which it hopes to offer to 3 million homes by the end of the year. It has already signed up NBC Universal and Starz to provide content for the service. SBC has invested $4 billion in its Project Lightspeed, which aims to deploy services including IPTV to 18 million households in 13 states within three years. The hearing on new technologies was scheduled as Congress examines new legislation that would update the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to account for new technologies.
tags: Verizon | Congress | SBC | Lax Regulations | New Video Services |

Two Americans Sentenced in China for Selling Counterfeit DVDs Online

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 20, 2005 - 8:11am.
Encino, Calif. -- Two U.S. citizens arrested last July in China for selling $840,000 in counterfeit DVDs over the Internet have been sentenced to prison terms in China, according to a report from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. Randolph Hobson Guthrie III was sentenced to two years in prison and will pay a $60,000 fine for selling 180,000 pirated DVDs through eBay, and a Russian website called ThreeDollarDVD.com. Abram Thrush was sentenced as an accessory to one year in prison and a $1,200 fine; both men also face deportation following completion of their sentences in China. "You can click, but you cannot hide," said Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) president and CEO Dan Glickman. "The MPAA commends ICE and MPS for their success in this landmark case and congratulate them on bringing these two movie thieves to justice." The Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People's Court also convicted two Chinese accomplices as part of its investigation, which nabbed more than 210,000 counterfeit DVDs and about $94,000 in cash.
tags: Law | China | Sentenced | Two Americans | Counterfeit DVDs Online |

Playboy to Distribute Adult Content for Sony PSP Handheld Game

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 20, 2005 - 8:09am.
New York -- Playboy's online unit said on Wednesday that it has created specially-formatted content for viewing on Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld video game system. The adult entertainment provider said age verification with credit card information will be required to view a sci-fi themed pictorial of its 2005 Cyber Girl of the Year, Amy Sue Cooper. In all, two free non-nude galleries and a free video feature will be offered to PSP owners, who may also access more explicit content from Playboy's subscription site. Playboy has also released a special pictorial called "iBod" for Apple's iPod Photo player.
tags: Playboy | Adult Content | Sony PSP Handheld Game |

CNET Acquires Chinese Technology Site PCHome for $11 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 20, 2005 - 8:06am.
San Francisco -- Technology publisher CNET Networks announced on Wednesday that it has acquired the assets of Chinese technology and commerce site PCHome, for $11 million in cash. San Francisco-based CNET, publisher of News.com, said the purchase is line with its 2004 acquisitions of Chinese technology sites ZOL and Fengniao, and plans to extend its online audience in China ahead of the expected growth in online advertising there.
tags: CNET | Acquisition | Acquires | Chinese Technology Site | PCHome |