Mountain View, Calif. - In a statement that notes the company "[does] not generally take a position on issues outside of our field, especially not social issues," Google (NASD: GOOG) has taken an official stance opposing California's Proposition 8, which would eliminate the California Supreme Court-sanctioned right of same-sex couples to get married in the state. "It is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8," Google co-founder and president Sergey Brin wrote in a post on the company's official blog. "While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 -- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love."

Brussels - The European Union plans to institute a "piracy observatory" that would monitor counterfeiting and piracy across member countries and better unite law enforcement activities and public awareness campaigns, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The observatory was included in a package that "includes provisions for an international anti-piracy pact that would strengthen global intellectual property rules," THR reported.

Tokyo - Nintendo plans to release a new version of its popular DS handheld game device that incorporates a digital camera, digital music player and improved Wi-Fi reception, GameDaily reported, citing articles in Japanese newspapers. Nikkei Net reported that the new DS with added functionality will sell for around $189.

Los Angeles - Video game developer and publisher Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) announced on Monday that it has signed a three-game development deal with filmmaker Zack Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead," "300"). Under the deal with Snyder's Cruel & Unusual Films, Snyder will lead creation direction of the games, while EA will own the intellectual properties and any franchises developed. The two will also look to extend the games into motion pictures. "I think video games are cool because they offer an opportunity to tell a story in an entirely unique way," said Snyder. "Being a long time fan of the games EA creates, I look forward to collaborating with them."

Washington - The Nasdaq on Monday closed down 6.6%, after the House of Representatives rejected the $700 billion bailout of the nation's financial system. Following a 228-205 defeat of the bill, House leaders -- amid heavily partisan squabbling -- vowed to redouble their efforts to get a similar bill passed on the coming days. Along with the downturn on the Nasdaq, the Dow Jones industrial average also saw its worst drop on record, falling 778 points on Monday.

Baltimore - Following months of preparation, wireless carrier Sprint (NYSE: S) on Monday officially launched its high-speed WiMax network, known as Xohm, in Baltimore. It marks the first network in the country to launch using the WiMax mobile broadband technology.

San Francisco - After similar moves were made by Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) and Yahoo (NASD: YHOO), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) has announced plans to shut down servers that provide continued access for consumers to songs they purchased from its digital music store that were wrapped in digital rights management (DRM) security -- which the company has since abandoned in favor of MP3s.

Oslo - Norway's consumer ombudsman on Monday announced plans to petition that country's Market Council to compel Apple (NASD: AAPL) to open its iTunes Store to competing digital music players aside from its own iPod, the Associated Press reported.

Karlsbad, Germany - German software developer Nero and TiVo (NASD: TIVO) on Monday introduced a new application that claims to duplicate the experience of using TiVo for the television on a PC.

Los Angeles - Uber.com, a social network and blogging platform that had raised at least $7.6 million from investors including Universal Music Group and Discovery Communications, announced on Monday that it is shutting down, effective immediately.

New York - Digital music service eMusic announced on Monday that president and CEO David Pakman is stepping down to become a partner at an unnamed "premier venture capital firm."

Washington - The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Webcaster Settlement Act on Saturday, which would allow webcasters and copyright holders to continue to negotiate royalty payments for streaming music online after Congress suspends its routine business after this week for the elections. A Senate vote on the measure is expected today or yet this week.

San Francisco - PicApp, an online provider of stock photography for online publishers and bloggers, announced on Monday that it has raised $3.2 million in new funding, led by Carmel Ventures.

Beijing - Baidu (NASD: BIDU), China's leading search engine, announced on Monday that it will contribute assets related to the operation of its own Internet TV channel to Chinese IPTV provider UiTV, in exchange for $15 million and an 8.3% stake in the company.