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ArchivesSweden Bans Downloading of Copyrighted Films and MusicAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 6:10am.
Stockholm -- The Swedish parliament announced that it has passed a new law that prohibits the downloading of copyrighted material such as films and music from the Internet. "The decision means that a clear ban has been introduced against downloading music, pictures and other material on the Internet for private use without the copyright holder's permission," parliament said. Until now, Sweden has permitted the downloading of copyrighted material, while at the same time banning the uploading of material. Pressure from Hollywood to crack down on rampant peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, however, has led the country to change the law. Parliament said the new law would go into effect on July 1.
Australian Record Labels Conducted Surveillance on Kazaa CEOAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 6:07am.
Sydney -- The Australian music industry conducted extensive surveillance on Nikki Hemming, CEO of file-sharing software firm Sharman Networks, in the course of its copyright infringement investigation of the company, ZDNet Australia reported on Tuesday. Michael Speck, of Australia's Music Industry Piracy Investigations, told the court currently hearing a copyright infringement case against Sharman that Hemming was tailed on a "continuous basis," and that her residence was monitored for several months in an effort to determine who actually controlled Kazaa. "She personally wasn't a subject, rather the premises associated with her were. Conducting an investigation into a shadowy organization hiding behind a veil of secrecy and surveillance is a normal practice," Speck told ZDNet Australia.
RIAA Sues More Internet2 Campus Song-Swappers for InfringementAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 5:29am.
Washington -- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has expanded its copyright infringement litigation against collegiate file-swappers using the ultra-fast Internet2 network, last week filing a second wave of lawsuits against 91 people at 33 universities. The new lawsuits follow the RIAA's initial round of lawsuits against Internet2 users filed last month. "As long as students continue to corrupt this specialized academic network for the flagrant theft of music, we will continue to make it clear that there are consequences for these unlawful actions," said RIAA president Cary Sherman. In addition, the RIAA said it sued another 649 "John Doe" individuals for copyright infringement on public Internet file-sharing networks like Kazaa, LimeWire and Grokster.
Sony BMG CD Copy-Protection Would Limit CD BurningAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 5:27am.
New York -- Major record label Sony BMG is experimenting with CD copy-protection technology that would prevent consumers from making multiple copies of CDs they purchase, Billboard reported. "Two-thirds of all piracy comes from ripping and burning CDs, which is why making the CD a secure format is of the utmost importance," Thomas Hesse, president of global digital business for Sony BMG, told Billboard. U.K.-based First4Internet developed the "sterile burning" technology, which has now been embedded on more than 1 million commercially sold discs since March. The technology limits the number of burned copies a consumer may make of a purchased CD, and includes technology that prevents one from making copies of those copies. "Most consumers accept that making a copy for personal use is really what they want it for," First4Internet CEO Mathew Gilliat-Smith told Billboard. "The industry is keen to make sure that is not abused by making copies for other people that would otherwise go buy a CD."
EU to Wait Until July to Decide on Additional Microsoft FinesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 5:25am.
Brussels -- The EU announced on Tuesday that it plans to wait until the end of next month to decide whether to impose extra fines on U.S.-based software giant Microsoft, despite the fact a compliance deadline ends tonight at midnight. EU spokesman Jonathan Todd, who said the EU was confident Microsoft would respond to anti-compliance charges on time, told Business Week that it would likely take several weeks to analyze the company's proposal properly. "We're in regular contact with Microsoft, and we have no reason to believe they will not make their final offer before midnight tonight," Todd told Business Week. "I can't say whether they're going to fall into line or not." If the EU is dissatisfied with Microsoft's proposal, it will be able to fine the company as much as 5% of its daily global sales for each day that it continues to breach the terms of a recent antitrust ruling against it.
Report: Value of U.K. Software Piracy Exceeds $1.8 BillionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 5:24am.
London -- According to a new report by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the value of pirated software in the U.K. has come to more than $1.8 billion for the first time ever. Worldwide, software piracy is worth more than $33 billion, $3.9 billion increase compared to last year's figures, the BSA said. What's more, about 35% of European software is now pirated, according to BSA estimates. "The level of software piracy remains unacceptably high," said Siobhan Carroll, Regional Manager of BSA Northern Europe. "While ongoing campaigns by ourselves and other creative industries will help raise awareness of the piracy problem and respect for intellectual property, the support of the government will be crucial in bringing the rate down." The BSA, which claimed that the U.K. Treasury was losing millions of pounds in taxes, urged the local government to crack down on the problem.
Pace Micro Signs Set-Top Box Deal With ComcastAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 5:22am.
Boca Raton, Fla. -- Pace Micro Technology, a U.K.-based designer of set-top boxes used to deliver digital TV services, announced that it has signed a three-year agreement to provide its set-tops to Comcast, the largest cable TV provider in the U.S. Under the terms, Comcast may purchase between $375 million and $550 million in Pace equipment for deployment to its subscribers, including Pace's new Tahoe HD digital video recorder set-top box. The deal also calls for Comcast and Pace to jointly fund development of next-generation cable set-top boxes and related technologies.
U.K. Authorities Say iPods Fueling Street CrimeAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2005 - 5:07am.
Cupertino, Calif. -- The increasing popularity of Apple's iPod is fuelling street crime in the U.K., British authorities said on Friday. Sir Ian Blair, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that robberies increased by about 26% last month compared with the year before, a surge he blamed partly on muggers and street thugs targeting iPod digital-music players. He said that crimes in which an iPod was stolen more than doubled this month to around 400. "In street robbery, our concern has been around the smaller portable pieces of kit… the new generation of mobile phones and iPods," he said. "It is very obvious when someone is wearing an iPod… that is what is fueling this."
U.S. Increasing Pressure on Piracy Havens of Russia, ChinaAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 26, 2005 - 6:19am.
Washington -- Several U.S. senators have increased pressure on the leaders of Russia and China to crack down on the rampant movie and software piracy in their countries, CNET News.com reported. Both countries were recently placed on the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) "priority watch list" of countries it considers havens for piracy. "Before Russia enters the (World Trade Organization), many of us will have to be convinced that the Russian government is serious about cracking down on the theft of intellectual property," Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said during a hearing on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the USTR's general counsel, James Mendenhall, told News.com the agency is meeting with a Chinese delegation this week to discuss issues including piracy. "We're going to be issuing a request through WTO rules seeking additional information from China on the status of enforcement in China," said Mendenhall.
Report: 40% of Youth Market Receptive to Ad-Supported Mobile VideoAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 26, 2005 - 6:16am.
Overland Park, Kan. -- Among males aged 13-34, music is the most appealing wireless multimedia service, followed by mobile TV and video, and multiplayer 3D gaming, according to a 1,000-participant survey conducted by The Management Network Group. The study also found that 40% of respondents said they would be receptive to mobile video clips that were free to watch but required them to also view multimedia advertisements, while under 20% were interested in mobile video monthly subscription services. Thirty-five per cent of respondents reported strong interest in downloading music to their cell phones, while 21% were very interested in mobile multiplayer games. "The new generation of consumers is demanding greater choices, a more personalized telecommunications experience and will influence the direction that carriers will need to take as 3G and future mobile technology is delivered to the marketplace," said TMNG chairman and CEO Rich Nespola.
Song to Sell In-Flight CDs, Downloads in Joint Venture With Artemis RecordsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 26, 2005 - 6:14am.
Atlanta -- Song, the discount carrier launched by Delta Air Lines, announced on Thursday that it has partnered with independent label Artemis Records to create Song Records, which will offer albums from its artists for sale on Song flights, as well as digital downloads through its in-flight entertainment system. Albums will also be available in retail stores and downloadable from the Song Records website. The first two Song Records artists to be featured will be Artemis signees Better Than Ezra and Jaguar Wright, with new artists to be added each quarter. "This venture was exciting to us because the music industry needs to really take risks and try some different things to create new avenues of visibility and that is what this will do," said Daniel Glass of Artemis Records.
New York Times Co. Cutting 190 JobsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 26, 2005 - 6:12am.
New York -- The New York Times Co. said on Wednesday that it plans to cut about 190 employees at The New York Times and the New England Media Group, which includes The Boston Globe. The staff reduction represents about 2% of the company's total workforce. About two-thirds of the total reduction will occur at The New York Times newspaper, with about two dozen coming from The Times' newsroom, where a voluntary reduction program will be in effect, the company said.
FBI, Customs Agents Shut Down BitTorrent Server Offering "Star Wars"Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 25, 2005 - 6:32am.
Washington -- U.S. authorities announced on Wednesday that they have shut down a BitTorrent file-sharing server that was offering copies of "Revenge of the Sith" and other copyrighted movies and software for download. The FBI and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed ten warrants in eight states and seized the main server for Elite Torrents, a network with 133,000 members that offered 17,800 movie, music and software titles, which were collectively downloaded 2.1 million times. A message on the site today reads: "This site has been permanently shut down by the Federal Bureau of investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement." The latest "Star Wars" film was available on Elite Torrents six hours before it debuted in theaters, and had been downloaded more than 10,000 times, authorities said. "Through today's landmark enforcement actions, ICE and the FBI have shut down a group of online criminals who were using legitimate technology to create one-stop shopping for the illegal sharing of movies, games, software and music," said Michael J. Garcia, Homeland Security assistant secretary for ICE.
Actors' Unions to Vote on Strike Over Video Game PaymentsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 25, 2005 - 6:30am.
Los Angeles -- The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), two unions that represent actors in labor negotiations, announced that they have asked their members to vote on whether to strike against the video game industry. Actors believe they should be compensated in accordance with game sales, in addition to lump sum advance payments, for the use of their voices and likenesses in video games. Negotiations between video game publishers and actors recently broke down, following the expiration of existing contracts in December. Members of the actors' unions picketed outside the video game industry's E3 Expo last week in Los Angeles. Under union rules, 75% of SAG members and two-thirds of AFTRA members must vote in favor to authorize a strike; results of the votes are expected on June 7.
Reuters: Sony BMG, AOL Close to Music Video DealAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 25, 2005 - 6:28am.
New York -- A source familiar with the deal tells Reuters that Sony BMG is close to signing a deal that would give America Online access to its music video library. The New York Post also reported that AOL could pay over $25 million for exclusive rights to the catalog, while Reuters said Sony BMG CEO Andrew Lack is considering "a certain amount of exclusivity" for AOL. Traditionally, the labels have openly licensed their video collections to multiple providers for free, but many have recently begun charging AOL, Yahoo, MSN and others fees, or taking a share of ad revenue, for the rights to offer their music videos online.
Former NBC Exec Sassa Resigns As CEO of FriendsterAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 25, 2005 - 6:26am.
Los Angeles -- Scott Sassa, the former president of NBC Entertainment who accepted the job of chief executive of social networking site Friendster a little over a year ago, has resigned. "For his own reasons, it's just not a fit for him right now, and he's moving on," Russell Siegelman, a managing partner at Friendster investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, told CNET News.com. "It's unfortunate, but the company will move on." Sassa replaced Friendster founder Jonathan Abrams in the CEO post in June 2004, and will be replaced by Taek Kwon, executive vice president for products and technology at Citysearch.
Report: Digital Video Recorder Shipments, Subscriptions Rise SharplyAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 25, 2005 - 6:24am.
Scottsdale, Ariz. -- U.S. shipments of digital video recorders rose sharply during the past year, from 4.6 million in 2003 to 11.4 million in 2004, brought about by increased consumer awareness of the ability to time-shift TV programs, according to a report from Arizona-based market research firm In-Stat. Household subscriptions to digital video recorder services, such as those offered by TiVo and satellite and cable TV providers, also rose about 155% -- from 3.6 million in 2004 to 9.2 million in 2005. "The deployment of PVR products has been a success story for both pay-TV service providers and consumer electronics manufacturers," said In-Stat analyst Mike Paxton. "While the current growth of PVRs is being spurred by satellite TV set top box products and DVD recorders with built-in hard disk drives, other product segments like cable TV set top box-based PVRs are also flying off the shelves." Worldwide digital video recorder product revenues have also spiked, from $2.1 billion in 2003 to $4.3 billion in 2004; In-Stat noted that North America remains the largest digital video recorder market, followed by Japan.
Activision Acquires Canadian Game Developer BeenoxAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 25, 2005 - 6:23am.
Santa Monica, Calif. -- Video game publisher Activision announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Quebec-based Beenox, the developer of Activision titles such as "Shrek 2," "Tony Hawk's Underground 2" and the upcoming "Fantastic Four." Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Beenox's management team and key employees from its 32-member team have signed long-term employment contracts, and will remain based in Quebec City, Canada. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision said the transaction will give it a foothold in Quebec, which it called "one of the fastest growing development talent pools in North America." Activision has also recently acquired New York-based developer Vicarious Visions and Novato, Calif.-based Toys for Bob.
Magnum Semiconductor Acquires Cirrus Logic Digital Video AssetsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 25, 2005 - 6:21am.
Austin, Texas -- Cirrus Logic, a manufacturer of chips for consumer and commercial audio, automotive entertainment and industrial applications, announced on Wednesday that it has sold its digital video product line to Magnum Semiconductor, a company formed by an investment group led by Investcorp and August Capital. Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Cirrus said it will maintain a minority equity stake in Magnum, and record a charge of $7 million associated with exiting existing facility leases, and professional fees related to the deal. Austin-based Cirrus will now focus on its product lines for audio and industrial markets, while Magnum Semiconductor will focus on digital video chips for consumer applications such as DVD recorders, hard disk-drive-based camcorders and network media adapters; Cirrus customers included LG, Samsung and Sony.
Report: Americans Increasingly Storing Large Video Files on PCsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 24, 2005 - 6:50am.
Port Washington, N.Y. -- The number of Americans with large video files stored on their PCs rose from 8% last year to 13% in March 2005, according to a survey conducted by New York-based market research firm NPD Group. Of the 13% who had a 150MB video file on their computers -- about the size of a half-hour TV show -- each additionally had an average of 15 such files on their PCs. "What will trouble many, especially in the film and video industry, is that some consumer collections include material that is clearly pirated," said NPD analyst Russ Crupnick. "In March, we noted several dozen full-length theatrical films on computers well before their expected DVD release date, including 'Ocean's Twelve,' 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events,' 'Million Dollar Baby,' 'The Aviator,' 'The Ring Two,' and 'Team America World Police.'" NPD plans to launch an ongoing PC survey of 40,000 panelist volunteers called MovieWatch Digital in the fourth quarter of 2005, which will monitor consumer interaction with digital video files.
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