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U.S. Justice Dept. Raids Internet Piracy Sites in 11 Countries

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:10am.
Washington -- The U.S. Justice Dept. announced on Thursday that it has launched "Operation Site Down," conducting some 90 searches in 11 countries and arresting several people suspected of running Internet piracy sites where users could download movies, music and software for free. The government said its actions targeted "warez" piracy groups including RiSCISO, Myth, TDA, LND, Goodfellaz, Hoodlum, Vengeance, Centropy, Wasted Time, Paranoid, Corrupt, Gamerz, AdmitONE, Hellbound, KGS, BBX, KHG, NOX, NFR, CDZ, TUN and BHP -- resulting in seizure of hundreds of computers and the shut down of at least eight major file-sharing servers. The Justice Dept. estimated the sites offered movies, software and other content valued at over $50 million, including the recently released Star Wars film. "Our objective in this operation was to find and dismantle large-scale criminal enterprises that illegally obtain, copy, distribute, and trade in copyrighted software, music, movies, and video games," said U.S. Atty. General Alberto Gonzales.
tags: Internet | Website | U.S | Justice Dept |

RIAA Sues Another 784 Suspected Internet Song-Swappers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:09am.
Washington -- Just days after a Supreme Court victory over the makers of file-sharing software, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that it has filed a new round of lawsuits against 784 individual suspected Internet song-swappers. The "John Doe" lawsuits were filed against users of file-sharing networks including Grokster, LimeWire and Kazaa. "On Monday, the Supreme Court provided a real shot in the arm to legitimate online music services and unanimously injected moral clarity into this debate," said RIAA chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol. "If there was any doubt left, there should now be none -- individuals who download music without permission are breaking the law. Our efforts to defend the rights of record labels, musicians, songwriters and others in the music community from theft will certainly continue and likely be strengthened in the weeks and months ahead." The RIAA has now filed in the neighborhood of 8,000 lawsuits against suspected file-swappers, the vast majority of whom end up settling the litigation and paying the RIAA an average of $3,000 each.
tags: Internet | RIAA | Song-Swappers |

Report: Microsoft Pondering Acquisition of Adware Firm Claria

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:07am.
New York -- Microsoft has been in talks over the last two weeks to purchase Claria, a provider of adware that has been sued by publishers in the past over its pop-up ads, The New York Times reported. Microsoft was reportedly willing to offer as much as $500 million for Claria (formerly Gator), although a person close to Microsoft told The Times that the deal may still fall through. Microsoft may see Claria, which offers software that monitors Web surfing habits in order to serve more relevant ads to users, as a means of enhancing its search advertising capabilities in the face of rival Google. Claria's BehaviorLink software is currently installed on some 40 million PCs. Critics of the deal within Microsoft say the purchase could provoke a negative reaction from privacy advocates, who see Claria's software as intrusive.
tags: Reports | Microsoft | Adware | Claria |

EU Considering Pan-European Music Licensing Scheme

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:06am.
Brussels -- The European Union will next month launch an initiative to make it easier to license music for online delivery across its 25 member countries, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing a source close to the situation. A study commissioned by the EU and seen by the source favors a pan-European license for music -- instead of the maze of individual licenses from each country that are currently required -- in addition to a single license for commercial uses of music. A multitude of licenses are currently needed in order to launch digital music services like iTunes in each EU member nation. "The single European license for online music use requires the Commission to rethink existing models for copyright licensing," the source told Reuters. A formal proposal on the EU music licensing scheme is expected to come in the fall.
tags: Music | EU | Pan-European |

Gates: Microsoft May License Xbox Software to Third Parties

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:05am.
Tokyo -- Microsoft chairman Bill Gates "hinted" that the company may license the software powering its Xbox video game console to third parties in a bid to expand its video game market share, the Associated Press reported. Gates did not specify if the software would be licensed to companies making game consoles, or for other consumer electronics that would enable gaming. Microsoft Japan spokesman Kazushi Okabe confirmed Gates' comments for AP. Microsoft plans to release its next-generation video game console, the Xbox 360, later this year.
tags: Xbox | Microsoft | Software | Gates | Third Parties |

Verizon Plans Full-Track Mobile Music Download Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:03am.
Los Angeles -- Verizon Wireless president and CEO Denny Strigl told a conference this week that his company is planning to launch a mobile music download service within the next six to eight months, NewsFactor reported. Verizon spokesman Jeffrey Nelson confirmed Strigl's comments: "We intend and are working toward the launch of a service that would allow for full music on a mobile phone," Nelson told NewsFactor. Verizon plans to begin offering a phone capable of receiving full-track music downloads in the next couple of months, although the planned download service will not be ready for launch until some time later.
tags: Verizon | Music | Download | Full-Track | Mobiles |

Developer PopCap Games Acquires Sprout Games

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:02am.
Seattle -- Video game developer PopCap Games announced on Thursday that it has acquired fellow developer Sprout Games. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Both Seattle-based companies develop mainly casual online and downloadable games; PopCap's titles, including "Bejeweled" and "Zuma," have been downloaded over 50 million times; Sprout Games' "Feeding Frenzy" claims more than 10 million downloads. Following the acquisition, Sprout's development team will move into PopCap's Seattle offices.
tags: Games | PopCap | Sprout |