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December 4, 2003 -- About Us | Advertise | Events | Publications | Subscribe

Main Stories
o Canadian Songwriters Want ISP Tariff to Cover Music Downloading
o Video Gaming Sites IGN, GameSpy to Merge
o Two Arrested in Japan in First Crackdown on Internet File-Swappers
o MPAA, Indie Filmmakers Argue "Screener" Ban In Court; Verdict Due Friday
o Virgin to Launch Music Download Store Early Next Year
o Microsoft Xbox Live to Connect U.S. Troops Overseas, Families at Home
o Movielink Adds Sundance Channel Films to Download Service


 > DMW Announcements: DMW Publications
 --Digital Media Law Report
 --Game Industry Quarterly

 > Featured Advertisement:
 --MIDEMNET
 --Complete Information for Department of Homeland Security
 

o Briefly Noted: Gateway - 901 Family Room Media Center, America Online - KidsEdge, CNET - MSN Tech & Gadgets, Media Lab Europe - "tunA"

 
> Job/Event/Marketplace Classifieds:
 --
Media Buyers
 --TECORE Wireless, Software Development Engineer - MD
 --Tallan, Account Executive - New York City
 --Public Relations Manager - Woburn, MA
 --The Secure Trusted Operating System Consortium (STOS) 2003
 --DC Tech Council's Early Stage Capital Forum - Call for Presenters Nov 28
 --Get a Jump on Fourth Quarter Sales Generation
 


o Canadian Songwriters Want ISP Tariff to Cover Music Downloading

Toronto -- Canadian music publishers argued in that country's Supreme Court on Wednesday that Internet service providers (ISPs) should pay a blanket royalty fee to cover the downloading of music over the Internet, the Associated Press reported. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) also wants to extend the country's copyright laws to include foreign websites that offer music for download to Canadians. "I believe that those who benefit from selling access to music should compensate the creators," David Basskin, president of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency, told AP. For several years, Canada has placed tariffs on the sale of recordable CDs and blank cassettes to compensate artists; to date the tariffs have netted a total of $20.5 million. Opposing the ISP tariff are the Canadian Association of Internet Providers and several digital rights groups. "I'm not sure people using the Internet for perfectly legal reasons should have to pay for problems in the music industry," Richard Owens, executive director of the Center for Innovation Law and Policy at the University of Toronto, told AP. The Canadian Supreme Court is expected to rule on the matter within six to twelve months.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C6A7428B6 
http://www.socan.ca
_____________________________________________

o Video Gaming Sites IGN, GameSpy to Merge

San Francisco -- IGN Entertainment, a provider of online video game news, reviews and other gaming content, announced on Thursday that it will merge with GameSpy, a fellow provider of video gaming information as well as online gaming support services. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Combined, the two networks attract more than 22 million unique visitors per month, according to comScore data; they also count a combined 194,000 active paying subscribers and have registered over 26 million users. "For the gamer, this merger will provide the broadest array of information, services and content choices. For game publishers and advertisers, it creates a platform with the widest reach and the deepest set of marketing tools to target gamers and young men in general," said GameSpy founder and chairman Mark Surfas. IGN CEO Mark Jung will serve as chief executive of the new company, while Surfas will become chief strategy officer. The two sites will retain their individual identities, and the merger is expected to close in the first half of 2004.
http://corp.ign.com/articles/444/444318p1.html
http://makeashorterlink.com/?N208128B6 
http://www.gamespy.com
_____________________________________________

o Two Arrested in Japan in First Crackdown on Internet File-Swappers

Kyoto -- Japanese police have arrested two men accused of using a file-sharing service to offer a copy of the movie "A Beautiful Mind" as well as several video games, in the first such criminal crackdown on illicit file-sharing in the country, Japan's Mainichi Daily News reported. Police also raided the home of the software developer credited with distributing the "Winny" file-sharing application, and shut down the website from which it was being offered. Police began their investigation after requests from both Nintendo, whose "Super Mario Advance" game was one of those offered for download by the two men, and the Japan and International Motion Picture Copyright Association. "This can be described as an exposure that warns against the morals of users," an association spokesperson told Mainichi Daily News.
http://www12.mainichi.co.jp/news/mdn/search-news/891986/winny-0-1.html
____________________________________________

o MPAA, Indie Filmmakers Argue "Screener" Ban In Court; Verdict Due Friday

New York -- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and a group of independent filmmakers including the Independent Feature Project (IFP) and Miramax head Harvey Weinstein argued in court Wednesday, as the indie filmmakers made their case for an injunction against the MPAA's ban on sending "screener" copies of movies to awards voting societies as a means of quelling piracy. IndieWire.com reported that Chief Federal Judge Michael Mukasey will issue his ruling on Friday morning at 10 a.m. In part of a declaration presented at the hearing, Miramax head Harvey Weinstein testified, "The awards season and the distribution of screeners have been critical during the past decade in the success and development of independent films, independent filmmakers, and the specialty divisions of the major studios."
http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_031204mpaa.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-et-piracy4dec04.story
http://www.mpaa.org
____________________________________________

o Virgin to Launch Music Download Store Early Next Year

San Francisco -- Virgin Entertainment Group, operator of the Virgin Megastores retail music chain and part of the company that also owns the mobile phone carrier and airline, has announced plans to launch its own music download store early next year, Reuters reported. Although details were scant, a company executive told reporters that the service's pricing would compete with Apple's iTunes Music Store and Roxio's Napster, which both charge $0.99 per song download.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z1D6328B6 
http://www.virginmega.com  ____________________________________________

o Microsoft Xbox Live to Connect U.S. Troops Overseas, Families at Home

New York -- Microsoft announced on Thursday that it has partnered with the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and the U.S. Organizations Center (USO) on a program that will allow troops overseas to talk and play video games with their families at home through the Xbox Live online game service. "Operation: Live Connections" will equip USO services centers throughout the country and overseas with Xbox consoles, Xbox Live accounts and a number of game titles. In all, USAFE built 17 Xbox game lounges on 14 bases in seven European countries. "With Operation: Live Connections, we are expanding our ability to connect airmen with their loved ones while bringing the familiarities of home to those stationed abroad," said Arthur Myers, director of U.S. Air Force Services.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031204/sfth024_1.html 
http://www.xbox.com
____________________________________________

o Movielink Adds Sundance Channel Films to Download Service

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Movielink, an Internet video-on-demand joint venture between a number of Hollywood movie studios, announced on Thursday that it has signed a deal with Sundance Channel to bring a selection of its independent films to the service. Films included will be part of the "Sundance Film Series," Sundance Channel's newly formed theatrical releasing entity, and its "Sundance Channel Home Entertainment" catalog. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Movielink will add movies such as "Scotland PA," "The Sleepy Time Gal" and "Amy's O" to its online library for download. Movielink is a joint venture of MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Bros.
http://www.sundancechannel.com 
http://www.movielink.com

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 > DMW Publications:

> Digital Media Law Report
Must-read publication on legal and policy matters related to digital media. Law Report includes case summaries, news and analysis, policy updates, court filings, and exclusive interviews with legal counsel and business leaders. Published monthly. Subscriptions - Order

Available Now - October Law Report - 42 pages - Order

> G
ame Industry Quarterly
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The Game Industry Quarterly features news about key business, legal and finance developments impacting the game industry. Each issue includes sections on current industry research, financings, law and policy matters, game releases, business deals and other industry events.

Available Now - Q3 Game Industry Quartertly - 105 pages - Order

Past Events | Sponsorship Materials | Partners & Clients
 

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> Featured Advertisement:


> Complete Information for Department of Homeland Security

The new Department of Homeland Security is still an evolving government body. But the 2003-2004 Directory of Homeland Security provides a department-wide organizational chart as well as descriptions and contact information for all key personnel, their newly established positions and core responsibilities. The 2003-2004 edition also includes complete information on other federal agencies, a comprehensive state section and 532 companies selling technologies and services for homeland security. To order, go to http://www.tech-directories.com/dmw.htm
 

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o Briefly Noted:

(Poway, Calif.) PC maker Gateway on Thursday released its Gateway 901 Family Room Media Center, a PC-based device designed to reside in the family room, connect devices and serve as an entertainment center. The product uses Microsoft's XP Media Center Edition 2004 software, and features a DVD player, CD player and burner, digital video recorder and advanced graphics hardware for PC gaming. An 80GB model will go on sale later this month for $999, while a 250GB model with a DVD burner will sell for $1,799.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031204/lath045_1.html
http://www.gateway.com/home/products/hm_dtp_mediapc.shtml

(Dulles, Va.) America Online announced on Thursday that it has added learning games and assessment tools from KidsEdge to its AOL Parenting Channel and KOL children's service. Over 200 games and other content, usually available only via subscription for $49.95 annually, will be made available for free to AOL members.
http://media.aoltimewarner.com/media/press_view.cfm?release_num=55253650
http://www.kidsedge.com

(San Francisco) CNET Networks, a provider of technology news and information, said on Thursday that Microsoft will use its content for its MSN Tech & Gadgets channel in the U.S. San Francisco-based CNET will provide MSN with product reviews, software downloads and technology news, as well as games from GameSpot for the MSN Games channel.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/031204/45075_1.html 
http://www.cnet.com 
http://tech.msn.com

(San Francisco) Wired News on Thursday reported on a project at Media Lab Europe -- the sister program to MIT's Media Lab in the U.S. -- that uses MP3 players with wireless networking so that users may view each others' playlists and stream one another's songs over a Wi-Fi connection. The "tunA" project also allows users to message one another, encouraging actual physical meetings, and bookmark individual songs as well as individual users. The project is partly funded by wireless developer Ericsson. "TunA alleviates the alienation of using a Walkman, and it makes it more of a social experience. You can listen to your music and still open yourself up to people around you," tunA creator Arianna Bassoli told Wired News. "It's not like sharing music with someone far away on the Internet; you might actually want to meet these people."
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,61427,00.html
http://www.medialabeurope.org/hc/projects/tuna
http://www.medialabeurope.org/~arianna/tuna

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> Classifieds:

> Media Buyers

This position reports to the European Marketing Manager. Responsibilities: localization of website and advertising creative, negotiate and purchase online media, manage and coordinate online marketing campaigns, administer and execute customer acquisition and retention programs, acquire, maintain and grow relationships with large portals, email marketing providers etc. Bachelor's degree in business reqd. 1-3 yrs marketing or sales exp. required. Must have in-depth knowledge and understanding of British or Spanish (Spain) online market. Excellent interpersonal skills, and superior Negotiation skills. Detail oriented, able to work independently. Send resumes to jobs@vistaprint.com
___________________

> TECORE Wireless, Software Development Engineer - MD

Real-Time Engineers to develop real-time telecom software for mobile switching platform. Must have OOA/OOD and C++/C#, ability to develop, integrate and debug in a multi-tasking, multi-threaded environment & knowledge of call processing, GSM, TDMA, CDMA, AMPS, GPRS, SS7 & IP protocols. Must have BS in Computer Science, EE or equivalent. Send resumes to HR@tecore.com Visit http://www.tecore.com
____________________

> Tallan, Account Executive - New York City

The AE position will be responsible for generating and sustaining profitable revenue streams from the sale of software development projects. The AE establishes relationships with strategic buying influences at client organizations in order to monitor and maintain customer satisfaction levels and to uncover new opportunities. Send resumes to lisa.albis@tallan.com  Visit http://www.tallan.com
____________________

> Public Relations Manager - Woburn, MA

Lois Paul & Partners, a nationally known public relations agency is currently seeking a proven PR Manager. Manages client accounts providing daily PR and editorial support. Directs media relations, writing or editing news releases, articles, speeches and presentations. Manages tours, product launches, editorial calendars and interviews. Manages team members directly or indirectly. Participates in new business prospecting including the development of pitches, presentations and proposals. Require project mgmt skills, media relations, analytical and PC skills. College degree reqd. Previous mgmt and PR exp. in high-tech reqd. Send resume with salary requirements to careers@lpp.com
____________________

> The Secure Trusted Operating System Consortium (STOS) 2003

Symposium STOS holds its 5th annual symposium Dec 1-5, at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. The symposium features tutorials, paper presentations and BOF sessions regarding creating and deploying secure and trusted systems and applications that run on them. Topics include Wireless Security, Secure OS, Open/Closed Source, Forensics, Advanced Firewall Techniques, and Authentication Solutions, but also a Darwin Kernel Hack-a-thon and Urban Wireless Challenge. Fees are $695. http://www.stosdarwin.org/dc03/
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> DC Tech Council's Early Stage Capital Forum - Call for Presenters Nov 28

Showcase your company to over 300 attendees for 2004 Early Stage Capital Forum. Technology companies interested must submit a two-page outline of their business to be considered for the program. Ten companies will be selected to present at the event and one will receive funding. The deadline for business plans submission is 5 PM on Friday, Nov 28, 2003. For more information, please visit http://www.dctechcouncil.org
____________________

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For more information and to purchase, visit http://www.tech-directory.com

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