News written by Jari Ketola (May, 2001)

Gracenote has acquired two new patents for delivering synchronized multimedia such as lyrics and album covers to the client software as it's playing a song.

With these latest patents Gracenote has control to both the information (the CDDB Compact Disc infromation database) as well as the services related to that information.

Earlier this month Gracenote sued CD-burning software developer Roxio for deciding to use FreeDB instead of the now commercial CDDB.

I'm rather disappointed with Gracenote/CDDB myself. Imagine the Red Cross turning from a non-profit organization to a company selling your free donations for a profit. Sounds fair, doesn't it? That's exactly what Gracenote is doing - taking thousands of hours worth of voluntary work, and turning it into a business.

Peer-to-peer technology developer Aimster plans to appeal the arbitration panel's decision ordering it to turn over Aimster.com, A1Mster.com, AimsterTV.com, and AimsterTV.net to AOL. The panel found that the domain names violate AOL's AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) trademark.

Aimster CEO Johnny Deep says that the company must appeal the decision by June 1. Losing the Aimster brand might force the company out of business altogether. According to Deep the name Aimster was derived from her daughter's, Aimee Deep's nickname.

Gracenote has licensed its CDDB CD information database service to car stereo manufacturer Pioneer. Pioneer intends to embed the CDDB in three of their upcoming car stereo systems. When the owner inserts a CD into the player the stereo's embedded software and hardware recognizes the CD and displays the title of the disc, the name of the artist, as well as the names of the songs. If a CD is not found from the local database, the user can use a mobile phone link to retrieve the information from the CDDB server on the Internet.

Sounds great. I'm looking forward to seeing how they embed a gigantic database into a small car stereo in a reliable manner.

An alliance of seven major technology companies are working on a digital watermarking technology. DVDs with embedded watermarks might hit the market as early as September this year.

The Video Watermarking Group (VMW) is a combined venture of Hitachi, NEC, Pioneer, Sony, Digimarc, Macrovision, and Philips. After months of negotiations the companies have come together to produce a digital watermark for DVDs.

The watermark is intended for use with future DVD recorders and players. The recorder or player will read the watermark and determine whether or not the copy is legitimate, can further copies of the disc be made etc. The watermarking will enhance the existing copyright schemes implemented on DVD (CSS and Macrovision). Watermarking also enables companies to track a DVD that has been copied.

"Watermarking is a discreet method of preventing copyright infringement," says Simon Poulter, a Philips spokesperson. "It’s very clever technology because it can be used for tracking to see where copies have come from when they turn up. This makes it a preventive solution insofar as it will deter people [from copying DVDs]."

The Motion Picture Association of America estimates its member studios annually lose $3.5 billion globally and $250 million domestically in videocassette film revenues to piracy.

LOS ANGELES--May 2, 2001--Hollywood Syndicate announced a forum to open the discussion of how to transform an underground phenomenon known as DivX into a new paradigm for media on demand.

Due to the explosive adoption of DivX video technology and the proliferation of quality media available on the Internet, the DivX Summit will discuss the many ways time-shifted, streamed, demanded, and collectable digital video will transform the viewer experience and the market for television, cinema, and home media. The event is set for July 30 and 31 at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.divxsummit.com.

"DivX and VCD are proof that the world of entertainment delivery is changing from push to pull, from distribution to hyper-efficient delivery determined by end-users, not providers. It is further evidence that Marshal McLuhan was right: The medium IS the message," said noted visionary Jim Griffin, chief executive officer of Cherry Lane Digital and a founder of Evolab.

DivX is a new video format that enables video to be squeezed down into a size that can be easily distributed through streaming, downloading, or sharing and can be blown up to full screen for more traditional viewing.

FileFreedom.com has announced the release of the FileFreedom SideKick, a new tool for users of file-sharing networks. The FileFreedom SideKick is a small program that is compatible with all file-sharing programs including Napster, Bearshare, IMesh, AudioGalaxy and others. The program brings features to the file-sharing experience previously reserved for online shopping sites, as well as community functions designed to unite traders regardless of their preferred method of downloading.

The FileFreedom SideKick does not allow users to download files, but works alongside a user's current file-sharing program. SideKick allows users to rate, review and comment on files they have downloaded, as well as read reviews by others that had previously downloaded that file. Users are presented with a suggested file list ("Others that downloaded this file also downloaded.") as well as a list of known filename variations to aid in subsequent searches. Messages can be sent to users in response to their reviews and each user is encouraged to keep a list of "friends" with similar tastes. The FileFreedom SideKick gives users complete access to their information. Users decide who can see their download history, create personal profiles to describe themselves,and send messages to other users using FileFreedom's internal emailing system.