Los Angeles - Days before its release, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the anticipated final novel in J.K. Rowling's series, has appeared on file-sharing networks and some websites in the form of digital photographs taken of the book's more than 700 pages. [more..]

San Francisco - Subcommittees in both the House and Senate are planning hearings into antitrust and privacy issues raised by Google's proposed $3.1 billion purchase of online advertising company DoubleClick, The New York Times reported on Thursday. [more..]

Luxembourg - An advocate general of the European Union's highest court has ruled that, unlike in the U.S., Internet service providers in Europe should not be required to turn over the identities of suspected file-swappers sued for copyright infringement in civil court, Ars Technica reported. [more..]

Geneva - The U.S. Trade Representative said that China discriminates against the release of American music and movies in the country, and may include the allegations in its complaint against China filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Associated Press reported. [more..]

Reston, Va. - In a major partnership that brings together two rivals, Sprint Nextel said on Thursday that it plans to partner with Clearwire to jointly construct a national WiMAX network. [more..]

San Francisco - Gay media firm PlanetOut, the publisher of The Advocate and owner of Gay.com that has been struggling financially of late, said on Thursday that it has laid off about 15% of its staff. [more..]

New York - Viacom's MTV Networks has announced that its Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group will invest $100 million over the next two years in the development and distribution of casual game titles, websites and platforms. [more..]

Raleigh, N.C. - Oasys Mobile, a provider of content over mobile devices, announced on Thursday that it has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. [more..]

Lyon, France - Struggling video game publisher Infogrames, the parent company of Atari, announced on Thursday that it has sold the digital gaming rights for Hasbro's "Monopoly," "Scrabble," "Clue," "Battleship" and other titles back to the toymaker for $19.5 million. [more..]

Knoxville, Tenn. - Scripps Networks, whose TV holdings include Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network, announced on Thursday that it has acquired Recipezaar, a community site that features more than 230,000 user-generated recipes. [more..]

Sausalito, Calif. - Video game developer and publisher Red Mile Entertainment has raised $7.1 million through private placements of its shares, which the company will use for development and marketing of its products, and ongoing working capital requirements. [more..]

Luxembourg - Jamendo, a free music download site featuring 40,000 tracks offered without digital rights management under a Creative Commons license, has raised an undisclosed sum in its first round of financing, led by Mangrove Capital Partners. [more..]

Redwood City, Calif. - NebuAd, a developer of behavioral advertising technology, has raised around $5.05 in new funding, from investors including Menlo Ventures, PEHub.com reported, citing a regulatory filing. [more..]

Montreal - Weblo.com, a virtual world that features duplicates of real-world properties, cities, states and celebrities, announced on Thursday that it has raised $3.2 million in venture capital from VantagePoint Venture Partners. [more..]

Boise, Idaho - Balihoo, a vertical search engine for online advertising media, has raised $1.5 million in first round funding, PEHub.com reported, citing a regulatory filing. [more..]

Jay Baage blogs about Hollywood Record’s new CDVU+ (CD View Plus) format and why he thinks that when it comes to selling music as packaged goods, the train has already left the station. [more..]

I thought I knew about most of the cool stuff on the web, but thirty pages into this book it was clear to me that I was deluding myself... [more..]

Jay Baage takes a look at a funny iPhone spoof on GETV. [more..]

Washington - In comments filed this week with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the topic of "Net neutrality," the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) cautioned the FCC against taking steps that would inhibit copyright-protection technologies or encourage Internet file-sharing, CNET News.com reported. [more..]

New York - The National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Thursday that it has partnered with Internet TV delivery provider NeuLion, to offer non-local games streamed live over the Internet. [more..]

New York - Rainbow Media Holdings' AMC TV network said on Thursday that it will post episodes of its first original drama series, "Mad Men," for purchase and download on Apple's iTunes Store the day after they air. [more..]

Los Angeles - KushTV, a high-definition video network for online, mobile and digital cable platforms, on Thursday announced plans to launch an original broadband reality series featuring EMI/Virgin Records recording artists Korn. [more..]

New York - The Harry Fox Agency (HFA), which represents about 35,000 U.S. music publishers, said recently that it has signed new licensing deals with ringtone distributor Bullroarer, digital music store MySongStore, and the band Gov't Mule's live concert download service. [more..]

Seattle - RealNetworks said on Thursday that it has signed a multi-year deal with skill games site King.com, that will see game content integrated across the companies' gaming portals. [more..]

New York - Take-Two Interactive's 2K Sports label said on Thursday that it has signed Chris Paul, point guard for the New Orleans Hornets, as the cover athlete and spokesperson for its "NBA 2K8." [more..]

Agoura Hills, Calif. - Video game publisher THQ on Thursday announced an agreement with Chinese online game operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment, to co-develop and publish an online-only version of Relic Entertainment's "Company of Heroes" game. [more..]