Los Angeles - Anthony Zuiker, the creator of CBS's successful "CSI" franchise, has signed a "seven-figure" deal with Penguin Group's Dutton imprint to write a trilogy of "digital novels" that will encompass Web-based videos and social networking, Variety reports.

Seattle - Online retail giant Amazon.com (NASD: AMZN) will acquire Shelfari, an online social network for avid readers, Shelfari said in a post on its blog.

New York - Ludlum Entertainment announced on Wednesday that it has re-acquired the rights to develop and publish video games based on the late author Robert Ludlum's works, including the Bourne and Covert One series. The rights had previously been sold to Vivendi Games (now Activision Blizzard), whose Sierra unit published "The Bourne Conspiracy" for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 last month. "The international success of Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy coupled with continued, dramatic changes in the gaming industry enable Ludlum Entertainment to develop new partnerships capable of fully exploiting the multi-platform potential of the Ludlum content and storylines," the company said.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Media retail chain Borders on Tuesday announced the launch of Borders Audiobook Downloads on Borders.com with an initial slate of 15,000 titles. Powered by audiobook distributor OverDrive, the site at launch offers around one-third of its catalog in the unprotected MP3 format

Gutersloh, Germany - German media conglomerate Bertelsmann announced on Friday that it has agreed to sell its direct-to-consumer business, Direct Group North America, to Phoenix, Ariz.-based Najafi Companies for an undisclosed sum.

Washington - The U.S. Copyright Office has announced that it will introduce its new online copyright registration system on Tuesday. In addition to added convenience, the service will offer features including a lower filing fee of $35 for a basic claim; faster processing time; earlier effective date of registration; and online status tracking.

Los Angeles - Anthony Puzo, son of "The Godfather" author Mario Puzo, has filed suit against Paramount Pictures (NYSE: VIA) over alleged unpaid revenues from Electronic Arts' (NASD: ERTS) video game based on the films, Reuters reported.

New York - 4th Story Media and HarperCollins Publishers announced on Wednesday their partnership in The Amanda Project, a multi-platform series to be written in part by its audience, girls ages 12-14. 4th Story Media, which owns all rights for the property, will produce the content for The Amanda Project with a creative team including Web design agency Happy Cog, young adult authors, artists and graphic designers. HarperCollins Publishers, which is a strategic partner in the venture and an investor, has acquired the rights to publish an eight-book The Amanda Project series worldwide.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Media retail store chain Borders (NYSE: BGP) on Tuesday announced a deal with Michael Eisner's Vuguru digital content studio, to distribute "Robin Cook's Foreign Body: The Prequel" on Borders.com. The original webisode series was created to promote the release of the author's new novel. Visitors to the official Vuguru site for the "Foreign Body" series will also see links to purchase the novel exclusively at Borders.com.

In this interview Dave Balter explains word-of-mouth marketing. Balter founded BzzAgent in 2002. His company has provided word-of-mouth media services for dozens of Fortune 500 companies and has been featured in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and on National Public Radio. He is also co-founder and current board member of The Word of Mouth Marketing Association. Balter earned a B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College. He recently published a book called The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II. You can download a full (and free!) copy of the book here.

Los Angeles - News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) MySpace on Tuesday announced a collaboration with bestselling Brazilian author Paulo Coelho ("The Alchemist") to produce a user-generated mashup film based on his latest book, "The Witch of Portobello."

New York - After announcing that it had hired Goldman Sachs to help explore a sale of the company in January, restaurant and nightlife guide publisher Zagat announced on Friday that it has discontinued its search for suitors and will instead pursue an "organic growth strategy."

Los Angeles - Disney is in the process of acquiring fan fiction online community Fanlib, as well as online video start-up DigiSynd, PaidContent reported.

Los Angeles - Former Disney head Michael Eisner's Vuguru digital content studio has debuted its newest Web series, "Foreign Body," which will comprise 50 episodes with a new installment offered daily. Silicon Alley Insider reports that "Foreign Body," which is a promotional prequel to an upcoming Robin Cook novel, cost $5,000 a minute, or $10,000 per episode to produce -- up dramatically from the $3,000 per 90 minutes the company spent on "Prom Queen."

Los Angeles - Amazon's (NASD: AMZN) recently introduced Kindle electronic e-book reader device now accounts for 6% of titles sold through the site -- or an estimated 125,000 units, chief executive Jeff Bezos said on Wednesday at the All Things D conference, PaidContent reported. The $359 Kindle also features wireless Web access, a Web browser, and delivery of newspapers, magazines and blogs in addition to books.

Emeryville, Calif. - Alibris, the operator of an online marketplace for new and second-hand books, said on Wednesday that it has developed an online marketplace for Borders.com. The section features more than 75 million used and out-of-print titles offered for sale by Alibris sellers. The marketplace is accessible on Borders.com under the Used Books tab.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Borders Group (NYSE: BGP), which operates a chain of 1,100 stores that sell books, music and movies, announced on Tuesday that it has re-launched its own new e-commerce site, after severing a seven-year relationship with rival Amazon.com (NASD: AMZN).

Washington - A bipartisan group of powerful lawmakers this week introduced legislation that would mitigate the legal risk and potential damages associated with the use of "orphan works," or songs, books or other copyrighted media where the creator or owner cannot be identified. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are sponsoring the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008 in the Senate, while House Judiciary IP Subcommittee Chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) introduced The Orphan Works Act of 2008 in the House.