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Where does this leave STEH shareholders?
QuietTiger Inc. (OTCBB:QTIG), an international marketer of digital content security products for the music and entertainment industry, announced today that it has been granted permission to trade its shares on the Third Market Segment of the Berlin Stock Exchange. The Berlin Stock Exchange symbol will be QB2.BER and the German securities code: (WKN) will be A0B896.
QuietTiger’s CEO, William H. Whitmore, Jr., commented, "We are elated to have been approved for trading on the Berlin Stock Exchange. The Berlin Exchange should make obtaining shares less problematic for our German and European shareholders and should provide substantially improved liquidity in our common stock overall.”
Mr. Whitmore continued, "MediaMax™ is a multi-national product and we intend to create shareholder opportunities throughout the world. We believe this cross-border listing will assure that our compelling story reaches a much larger European audience."
Market Report (MVSN)
March 02, 2004 11:27:00 AM ET
Macrovision (MVSN) 18.80 -1.65: Macrovision posted Q4 results after the close yesterday. The provider of copy protection, digital rights management and electronic license management technologies for the music, software and video industries published pro-forma EPS of $0.24 on revenue of $39.866MM (+32.2% Y/Y) vs. Reuters Research consensus at $0.23 on $34.76MM.
Gross margin increased 77 bps Y/Y to 90.7%.
Operating margin, excluding extraordinary items, increased 228 bps Y/Y to 44.2%.
Guided for Q1 pro-forma EPS of $0.13-0.14 on revenue of $31M-$32M (+10.5-14.1% Y/Y) vs. consensus at $0.18 on $31.40MM.
Management projected C04 pro-forma EPS of $0.78-0.80 on $145M-$150MM (+13.0-16.9% Y/Y) vs. consensus at $0.84 on $136.81MM. EPS guidance reflects accelerated investments in digital rights solutions and spend in support of upcoming product releases. Excluding these investments, EPS would have come in at or above $0.85. Gross margin is expected to come in at 91-93%. Guided for operating margin of 38-40%.
Shares are, based on our inverted EVA / DCF model, priced for sustained upper 20% revenue growth assuming flat operating margin and firm balance sheet management.
Large potential market opportunities:
Music: the IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industries) estimates that the recording industry loses over $4B in revenue annually due to piracy, counterfeiting and bootlegging, that approximately 40% of recordings sold worldwide are unauthorized copies, and there are approximately 200K Web and FTP sites hosting or linking to approximately 100MM unauthorized recorded music files.
Video protection: the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) estimates that the U.S. motion picture industry loses over $3B in revenue each year due to packaged media piracy.
The International Intellectual Property Alliance estimates that companies lose $20-22B in annual revenue due to piracy around the world.
But high penetration and selective adoption clouds revenue outlook and limits upside. MVSN's video copy protection technology is already in 100% of DVD players and 90% of set-top boxes worldwide, and over 40% of MPAA members use MVSN technology. While only approximately 50MM of the 1B music CDs produced annually are protected, market opportunity is limited as companies are selectively protecting products.
We would wait for a 25-30% pull-back before initiating a minor position.--Ping Yu, Briefing.com
I do not think so because their technology was still in a very early stages of testing/implementation vs being commercially available and it was addressing different problem related to CD copying via audio play.... Peter specifically mentioned
copy of the copy and this is what they were working on a new and upcoming Media Max release. After all his empty promises, I will believe it when I see it. I do not put too much stock in the "ask the prez" anymore.
Q: Peter, I just recently purchased an IPOD mini, a phenominal piece of technology, and have been awakened to the effortless and inexpensive world of music down loading from the Itune site. With this technology and methodology available and its mass appeal, where does SunnComm technology fit in? Thanks, Magic. (2/27/2004 2:18:06 PM)
A: Hi Magic,
I apologize to all for the delay in catching up with Ask SunnComm. It´s been a very busy quarter around here.
Regarding I-tunes and similar services, we have noted that while there is a reasonable amount of protection for a music file while it resides on the PC or player, there is virtually none once a customer makes a legal copy. In other words, making copies of copies is do-able. We believe that SunnComm´s Version 2 MediaMax will address this "leak" and we are working to implement it.
Best regards,
Peter
It looks like they already exceeded the number of shares they could issue under STEH (320 Mln) without some major continuing dilution. Marketing agreement with QTIG allows them to issue more shares in a future (to raise more funds) under QTIG without further diluting STEH.
Problem with Peter is that instead of promising but NOT delivering, he should keep his mouth shut.
It looks like he is trying to keep PPS up by empty promises and
convaluted (You have not seen nothing yet) statements.
When his promises (such as filing, major label deals, etc) do not come true, shareholders feel betrayed and dissapointed.
They use this forum to vent it out. On the other hand if he should stoop so low as to keep PPS up by "smoke and mirrors"
statements and lies, instead of keeping his word, he seems to be desperate and it does not help things either.
Studios Win DVD Copying Software Case
Sat Feb 21, 3:34 PM ET Add Business - AP to My Yahoo!
By GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer
LOS ANGELES - A federal judge ruled that a software program that copies DVDs illegally violates the copyrights of Hollywood studios.
Judge Susan Illston ruled Friday in San Francisco that software made by Chesterfield, Mo.-based 321 Studios violates the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (news - web sites), which prohibits the circumvention of anti-piracy measures such as the Content Scramble System protecting movies on DVDs.
The judge ordered the company to cease making or distributing such software within seven days of her order.
The company said it would appeal the ruling and ask for a stay during the process.
"Despite today's ruling, 321 stands firm in our vow to fight the Hollywood studios in their effort to take away our customers' digital rights," said Robert Moore, president of 321 Studios.
The software company had argued that its products merely give consumers fair use of the movies they've purchased — backing up expensive copies of children's movies in case the originals get scratched or copying snippets of films for educational and journalistic use.
But the studios said the software unfairly uses unauthorized keys to unlock the copy protection software built into the DVDs — the same keys that duly authorized DVD players use to play the movies.
In her ruling, Illston agreed with the studios that the software violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and that the law does not violate the right to free speech or interfere with the fair use rights of consumers.
"While 321's software does use the authorized key to access the DVD, it does not have authority to use this key, as licensed DVD players do, and it therefore avoids and bypasses (the Content Scramble System)," the judge wrote Friday.
The Motion Picture Association of America, which represents the studios named in 321's lawsuit, praised the ruling.
"Today's ruling sends a clear message that it is essential for corporations to protect copyrighted works while facilitating the enjoyment of entertainment offerings through new digital technologies," MPAA President Jack Valenti said.
Groups that had joined the lawsuit in support of 321 said the ruling hurts the legitimate rights of consumers to make backup copies of DVDs they buy legally and urged reforms to the existing law.
"In passing the (Digital Millennium Copyright Act), Congress certainly did not intend to eliminate all consumer copying," said Cindy Cohn, legal director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "This court's reading of the statute in the 321 Studios case allows a ban on any tool that enables consumers to copy their DVDs."
You are absoluteely right. "I have NOT seen nothing yet".
Except empty promises, hype, share delution, and couple of
PR announcement.
Q: Peter, Lots of bad rumors about Bill Grazier going over to Viastar, can you please let us in on whats going on? I´m not feeling motivated anymore, please give your loyal stockholders some reasurance.
Thanks
Steve DeSanto
(2/17/2004 8:25:36 PM)
A: Hi Steve,
Nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. Grazier hasn´t been an employee of SunnComm for years. He did not "leave." He was transitioned to consulting status because a family illness kept him from moving to Phoenix where I insist all company officers live. He was replaced as COO by Mr. Whitmore (that´s how long ago we´re talking about here).
Second, he was not instrumental in the development or implemention of MediaMax technology. A re-stated press release came out today correcting that error. The ViaStar press release from yesterday was problably the result of some over-zealous PR person. The press release has been corrected and re-released today.
Last Steve, you need to take a break from reading Raging Bull.
The "Day of the Longs" is upon us,
Take care,
Peter
Canada Recording Cos Begin Fight Vs File Swappers
TORONTO (AP)--Court proceedings to sue those who share their music collections with millions around the world got underway in a Toronto courtroom Monday.
The Canadian Recording Industry Association asked a federal court for permission to smoke out music pirates from the protection of Internet Service Providers.
Mirroring action taken last year by the recording industry in the U.S., CRIA argued the country's five biggest Internet service providers should name people who upload a large number of music files.
"Our message is for all Canadians. You've got to go off the illegal sites and stop uploading music. Everyone recognizes this sort of distribution is illegal under Canadian law," Richard Pfohl, the lawyer representing the music industry, including the Canadian branches of Bertelsmann's (BRT.YY) BMG, EMI (EMI.LN), Time Warner (TWX), Virgin (VIRGY) and Vivendi Universal's (V) Universal unit, said outside court. "People have to realize there are consequences when you break the law in Canada."
After legal arguments by all the parties, Justice Konrad Finckenstein adjourned the proceedings until March 12. He asked each ISP to file more submissions about the technical requirements of connecting individuals by their numeric Internet protocol (commonly known as IP) address and how disclosing home addresses would affect privacy legislation.
Last week the music industry filed motions against 29 John and Jane Does who it alleges are high-volume music traders, storing thousands of MP3 files on their hard drives.
On Monday, CRIA started to work through the courts to learn the identities of those people, currently identifiable only through IP numbers and user handles.
It wants BCE Inc.'s (BCE) Bell Canada unit, Rogers Communications Inc.'s (RG) Rogers Cable unit, Quebecor Inc.'s (QBR.B.T) Videotron, Telus Corp. (TU) and Shaw Communications Inc. (SJR) to hand over names, home addresses and e-mails, currently protected by privacy laws.
Vancouver-based Telus said Monday identifying Internet surfers by their handles isn't simple. For example, said lawyer Joel Watson, one of the three names Telus has been asked to fork over didn't even have an account with the company during the alleged uploading infringement.
"It shows the frailty of the system," Watson said outside court.
Like recording industries around the world, Canada's has been battling a four-year slump in CD sales that it blames on the explosion of music file-sharing that first started when Napster surfaced in the late 1990s.
The Canadian industry claims it has lost more than C$425 million in retail sales of music since 1999 resulting in staff layoffs of about 20%.
Record companies were successful in suing Napster out of business in 2001, but have not had similar victories against more elusive and prolific successors, including Kazaa (KZA.YY) and Morpheus.
Q: Hi Peter -
I haven´t checked the "Questions" for a while, but there seems to have been major surgery done on the list. Have you tossed the old messages into the bit bucket? (2/11/2004 9:49:10 AM)
A: Hello.
Every now and again, one needs to simplify. The new policy will be to keep ASK SUNNCOMM to a duration of about 3 months. Anyone wishing to do so may still print a copy of the questions, along with the answers using their "print" command.
We anticipate using press releases and SunnGramms much more in 2004. Evidence of our success will also be found in music stores throughout the US and the world.
Onward and upward,
Peter
Q: I believe that the Darknoise technology is a hoax - can you post short WAV files of original, encoded and "unlistenable" examples to show it working? (2/11/2004 9:26:36 AM)
A: You´re free to think what you want. I suggest that you go to darknoisetechnologies.com and review their white paper on the technology.
When SunnComm marries both MediaMax and DarkNoise technologies, the result will be made available for all to inspect.
pj
Plasma Records Chooses SunnComm's MediaMax M4 Music Management Technology for Their Latest International CD Release
February 12, 2004 1:07:00 PM ET
QuietTiger Inc. QTIG, an international marketer of digital content security products for the music and entertainment industry, announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Plasma Records for use of SunnComm's MediaMax(TM) technology (OTC: STEH) on an upcoming Manmohan Waris release.
"Nachiye Majajne," Manmohan Waris' greatly anticipated new CD is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on Feb. 18 with the U.K. and Indian release following a week later on Feb. 25. Waris is one of the top Punjabi singers in the world and is renowned for not only his voice, but for his lyrics.
The CD will allow Waris fans to enjoy the music on all audio systems, copy music files to their hard drive, link them to the artist's Web site and a customer support site while eliminating the ability to burn illegal PC-based copies.
"With rampant piracy affecting artists in India, copyright protection was of paramount importance to us. With MediaMax we are able to provide our artists with maximum copy protection while offering our artists' fans with unhampered playability and bonus content, making it a 'win-win' proposition," said Deepak Bali of Plasma Records.
SunnComm's MediaMax, the one reliable solution for music management, offers consumers of all ages a legal, easy-to-use interactive licensed framework that is controlled by the copyright owner. The bonus content and enhancements are accessible via a multimedia user interface which is added as a special session mastered on the disc and integrated as part of the MediaMax product.
"With MediaMax, clients have a myriad of options from which to choose including the copyright level of security and bonus features to include on the CD," said Bill Whitmore, president of QuietTiger. "Our goal is to create CD copyright management to artists and labels while creating an expanded positive experience for CD buyers around the world. Both QuietTiger and SunnComm are extremely pleased to see the growing number of labels and artists choosing to add MediaMax M4 technology to their music CD offerings."
MediaMax M4 is a collection of technologies that provides copy management for CDs and DVDs while simultaneously enhancing and expanding the consumer's experience. MediaMax M4 is tightly integrated with Microsoft's MSFT Windows Media Platform and the digital rights management capabilities associated with the latest Windows Media platforms. The company licenses and uses Windows Media Audio DRM capabilities from Microsoft Corp. as the security feature for music files which end up residing on the consumer's computer.
ABOUT PLASMA RECORDS
Based in Santa Monica, Calif., Plasma Records (http://www.plasmarecords.net) is the record label for Grind Music & Sound Inc., a full-service digital audio and post-production facility. In 2002, the label decided to diversify and open another operation center in India under the name of Plasma Records Entertainment Private Ltd.
Since then, the company has released more than 10 albums in North America through Grind Music & Sound Inc. under Plasma Records DBA. The majority of music and associated materials released by Plasma Records is recorded fully or partially in the Grind Music & Sound studios.
Artists include Manmohan Waris, Kamal Heer, Sangtar, Paul Sunner, Bhotu Shah, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Rajesh Raju, and Ashupreet.
ABOUT QUIETTIGER
QuietTiger Inc. is an international sales, marketing and entertainment technology group representing the implementation and delivery of digital content security products for the music and entertainment industry. The company's team of sales and marketing professionals has established relationships around the world that will enable the penetration of the QuietTiger product lines, while the principal consulting team has more than 50 years experience in the music and movie industry.
For additional information or investor relations, please visit the company's Web site at www.quiettiger.com or contact the company directly at 602-267-3800.
ABOUT SUNNCOMM
SunnComm Technologies Inc. became the first company to commercially release a content-protected audio CD utilizing an early version of the Windows Media Data Session Toolkit. It is a leader in digital content enhancement and security technology for optical media with its MediaMax M4 suite of products. SunnComm's music-management technology was commercially released by Music City records in 2001. The album, "Charley Pride -- A Tribute to Jim Reeves," became America's first copy-protected audio CD.
SunnComm's MediaMax M4 suite of Digital Content Enhancement technologies are built using Microsoft Windows Media 9 Series but operates on both Apple AAPL and Microsoft Windows-based systems. For more detailed information about the company, its vision or philosophy, personnel, partners, and customers, please visit the company's Web site at www.sunncomm.com, or call the company directly at 602-267-7500.
MediaMax Digital Content Cloaking Technology, M4, DC2, MusicMail/TuneShare and SunnComm are registered and/or trademarks of SunnComm Technologies Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
NOTES ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, may be considered "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment.
We caution the reader that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Unknown risk, uncertainties as well as other uncontrollable or unknown factors could cause actual results to materially differ from the results, performance or expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Contact Information: QuietTiger Inc., Phoenix Bill Whitmore, 602-267-3800
bill@quiettiger.com
or SunnComm Technologies Inc., Phoenix Kimberly Faulkner, 602-267-7500 kimf@sunncomm.com
or Aimee Boutcher, 973-239-2878 (Investor)
aboutcher@aol.com
or
George Medici, 646-295-8218 (Media)
gmedici@att.net
Ask Prez is now Ask Sunncomm and has some new QUE/ANS
According to PPS looks like this announcement benefits QTIG more than it does STEH
MVSN 22.60 -1.17 22.58 22.60 23.71 22.44 158,994 10:01:30
MVSN 24.01 -1.72 24 24.04 26.35 24 416,376 13:39:12
I wish Peter would come out and explain what this announcement means in terms of division of royalties/revenues between two companies, what does this mean for STEH shareholders, and
why there was a need to do this instead of merging both companies into one.
IMO STEH received these shares for $304,581 of debt incurred for cash advances to QTIG and other administrative and overhead expenses by STEH. Other shares are to pay for an exclusive marketing agreement with Sunncomm for its commercial copy protection technology.
GTIG also assumes Whitman's salary at 110,000
I am not sure how future royalties/revenues will be divided -- 30/70?? IT looks like QTIG will now be a front for STEH for
30% of revenue? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Did she say why there are no new press releases, no ask prez answers, what is exchange filing status, no new product announcments, any new label contracts, any specifics?
I called Kimberly today and left a message. There was no call back. I hope you are right since stock is just drifting side ways.
Macrovision Releases CDS-300 Featuring Windows Media DRM
Thursday January 22, 2:04 am ET
CDS-300 Offers a Seamless User Experience with Flexible Usage Rights
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2004--Macrovision Corporation (Nasdaq:MVSN - News) announced today that it has released its latest music protection product -- the CDS-300(TM) multi-level protection and rights management solution for music CDs. CDS-300 provides the highest level of copy protection while offering a robust and seamless user experience with flexible usage rights.
CDS-300's dual session functionality provides consumers greater value with copy-protected CDs by offering a robust user experience that seamlessly creates playlists, exports to portable devices or makes authorized burns to a CD, and with one-click access to bonus content on the disc or premium content via web links. The product provides full playability of music CDs on audio CD/DVD players and PCs.
"CDS-300 allows record labels and artists to give consumers a richer CD experience than they have been accustomed to getting from pre-recorded CDs," said Adam Sexton, Macrovision's vice president of music marketing. "And with the flexible usage rights permitted with the Windows Media® DRM, the average consumer should not even notice that their CD is copy protected."
CDS-300 brings the CD to life on the PC while protecting that music against unauthorized ripping, burning or file trading. CDS-300 features a totally integrated Windows Media® DRM. Content owners can set the usage rights, for example, allowing consumers the ability to export to compliant portable devices (with specified number of exports), as well as burn CDs (with specified number of burns). Copied files will not play if emailed or distributed via the Internet.
Macrovision is the worldwide leader in the copy protection of music content, having already protected over 200 million music CDs or over 2 billion protected tracks.
CDS-300 Features
CDS-300's highly effective copy protection reduces piracy:
Prevents most combinations of personal computer software jukebox/ripper and CD drives from duplicating protected discs.
Thwarts unauthorized duplication on most dual-deck recorders.
Impedes ripping of first session content into unprotected compressed audio files, thereby inhibiting electronic or physical redistribution.
Disallows playback of copied second session encrypted content on un-secured or unlicensed devices.
Macrovision at MIDEM
Macrovision will showcase CDS-300 at the MIDEM Stand 27199 & 27198 at the Palais Des Festival, January 25-29, 2004. Macrovision is also a participant at the MIDEM session on "Technology Face-Off: DRM vs. Unrestricted Content" sponsored by IFPI, January 24, 2004 from 3:15pm - 4:15pm (Auditorium Esterel, Level 5).
Example of quiet period... for Research In Motion.
WSJ article 1/21/2004
"The stock is very volatile because the company has grown so fast," said Barry Richards, an analyst at Paradigm Capital Inc. in Toronto. "That volatility creates opportunities for people long and short."
RIM declined to comment, citing a quiet period related to its stock offering, which is expected to close Wednesday.
Would it be possible that STEH is in a quiet period that is required before major change in a stock status or listing?
In this case absense of comments by the company management would be understandable. I am not stating that this is the case, but this would possibly explain this quiet period when company is not allowed to comment. I hope this would be something positive and soon.
Music Industry Targets Piracy By Europeans
By KEVIN J. DELANEY and CHARLES GOLDSMITH
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Emboldened by a belief that its U.S. crackdown against music pirates has slowed illegal downloading, the recording industry now plans to sue individual song swappers abroad.
Allen Dixon, general counsel of the London-based trade group International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, said "lawsuits will probably take place in 2004."
Many industry officials feel a crackdown in Europe is long overdue. Illegal file-sharing in Europe has, with less publicity than in the U.S., taken a big bite out of the world's second-largest music market, which accounted for $11 billion, or 34%, of global sales in 2002. In Germany during the first half of 2003, for example, pirated song downloads and copied compact discs equaled or exceeded the number of those purchased, according to data supplied by the IFPI. German music sales declined 18.1% during that period.
European-based industry officials have been impressed with the apparent results of litigation against individuals in the U.S. -- where annual sales last year declined by just 0.8% -- although they noted that big-selling hit albums also helped stem the declines of previous years.
The music-industry trade group is expected this week to issue new figures that show a decline in music sharing in the U.S. -- but an increase outside the country. "The experience with the U.S. has shown there are just some people who don't get the message until there are actually legal cases," says the IFPI's Mr. Dixon.
However, the industry's plans to sue individual swappers quickly and in large numbers was greatly limited last month. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the industry had to appear before a judge to obtain subpoenas demanding that Internet service providers turn over names of customers believed to be swappers. Before, industry lawyers had been able to obtain subpoenas from court clerks simply by filling out a form. It is unclear how the ruling will affect the industry's crackdown abroad.
The slow arrival in Europe of legal downloading sites has created fertile conditions for continued piracy in the region. Apple Computer Inc.'s popular online iTunes Music Store, for example, isn't available yet for consumers in the region unless they have U.S.-issued credit cards. The IFPI says there are about 30 legal music download sites available in Europe, with a significant expansion expected in 2004.
Campaigns outside the legal sphere to convince consumers not to pirate music also are likely to expand outside the U.S. this year. The current U.S. campaign includes advertisements picturing rock stars like Sheryl Crow proclaiming, "I DOWNLOAD (Legally.)"
"Attitudes are changing" in Europe, says a spokeswoman for the British Phonographic Industry, or BPI. "People have seen the effect [of lawsuits] in the United States." Besides backing a tougher international crackdown against file-sharing, the BPI has gone to court against online sites. The target in those cases was Internet sales of cut-price CDs imported from outside the European Union, circumventing the usual distribution networks. A court case is slated to begin in London on Feb. 2.
Apart from some scattered offensives against file-sharing individuals, such as one in Denmark in 2002, the industry has notched few European wins in its campaign to enforce music copyrights. In Germany, the most significant action has been an April police raid on a man who allegedly operated a file-swapping service, but prosecutors haven't launched a criminal proceeding.
In fact, European courts have dealt the entertainment industry some high-profile setbacks in recent weeks. The Dutch Supreme Court ruled last month that the creators of online file-sharing service Kazaa couldn't be held liable for piracy. And a Norwegian court in December cleared a 20-year-old known as "DVD Jon," who had distributed software that could enable movie DVD copying. The U.S. film industry had brought the case. The defendant's lawyer hailed the decision as a boon for CD and DVD copying across Europe. U.S. courts last year had barred an American from distributing the Norwegian's program.
In October more Europeans used the Kazaa file-sharing software or visited the Kazaa Web site than Americans, according to research firm Nielsen/NetRatings, which estimates U.S. traffic to the site is down about 50% from its peak.
Not everyone thinks the battle has been won in the U.S., and some research suggests online music piracy is rising there again. According to a survey by NPD Group, the number of U.S. households downloading from such services climbed 6% in October and 7% in November, reversing a six-month decline.
Whatever the case, the IFPI's Mr. Dixon says that a spillover deterrent effect from the U.S. lawsuits has contributed to a decrease in the uploading of music files to Kazaa and other services using the same FastTrack file-sharing technology from abroad. At the same time, he estimates that non-U.S. residents are responsible for more than 10% of the music files available online for pirating, a greater proportion than before the industry began its U.S. legal push against users. That's due largely to growing use of rival, less-mainstream services rather than Kazaa and the others based on similar technology, Mr. Dixon says.
Some critics predict that the recording industry risks a backlash if it starts threatening individuals with lawsuits in Europe, particularly if its targets include minors, as they did in the U.S. "They would get even worse publicity in Europe because a lot of Europeans -- rightly or wrongly -- tend to resent what they see as U.S. cultural dominance," says Ian Brown, director of the Foundation for Information Policy Research, a nonprofit Internet policy think-tank in London. On the other hand, the music industry learned some lessons from its initial clumsy efforts in the U.S., and recent moves there have more effectively targeted specific large-scale file-sharers.
Illegal music downloading climbs
By ALEX VEIGA
The Associated Press
Updated: 12:11 p.m. ET Jan. 16, 2004
LOS ANGELES - The number of people downloading music illegally surged a month after recording companies began suing hundreds of music fans, a marketing research firm said Thursday.
The number of U.S. households downloading music from peer-to-peer networks rose 6 percent in October and 7 percent in November after a six-month decline, according to a study of computer use in 10,000 U.S. households conducted by The NPD Group.
In a separate, bimonthly survey, 12 million individuals reported getting music on the free networks in November, up from 11 million in September, NPD said.
Previous surveys dating back to May — when 20 million people said they were downloading music from file-sharing networks — showed a steady decline in the number of file-sharers.
Russ Crupnick, vice president of The NPD Group, speculated the apparent increase in music file-sharing could merely be seasonal, as new album releases before the holidays heightened demand. He also said less media coverage of the recording industry's lawsuit campaign could have figured into the increase.
The Recording Industry Association of America has filed more than 380 copyright infringement lawsuits against individuals across the country since September and reached settlements for thousands of dollars with hundreds of individuals since.
Consumers might also have been tapping into the free networks to compare how they sized up to the new crop of legal digital music services, Crupnick said.
"It's important to keep in mind that file sharing is occurring less frequently than before the RIAA began its legal efforts to stem the tide of P2P file sharing," Crupnick said. "We're just seeing the first increase in these numbers."
Jonathan Lamy, a spokesman for the Washington-based RIAA, which coordinates the industry's anti-piracy campaign, said that effort is on the right track, regardless of what the NPD studies show.
"For us, the ultimate measurement of success has been, and continues to be, creating an environment where legal online music services can flourish," Lamy said in a statement. "All indicators point in the right direction — sales of CDs, legal downloads and awareness that file sharing copyrighted music is illegal — have all increased."
More RIAA lawsuits against file-sharers are coming, he added.
NPD's household data sample is representative of all U.S. households and has a margin of error of plus or minus 0.5 percent, NPD spokesman Lee Graham said. The firm's bimonthly survey is based on 5,000 respondents, age 13 or older, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percent, Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD said.
Recent studies of online music piracy, which the recording industry largely blames for a four-year slide in overall music sales, haven't always shown the same upward trend in file-sharing.
A survey released earlier this month by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and comScore Media Metrix found that since May, the percentage of U.S. Internet users who download music was down by half, to 14 percent. The same report also found declines in usage of popular file-sharing programs such as Kazaa and Grokster.
But NPD's findings mirror data from other file-sharing tracking firms, such as BigChampagne LLC, which says traffic on file-swapping networks like FastTrack and Gnutella has continued to rise.
The better question for these people would be: How many shares of MVSN do you own? The true reason they post here is that they are threatened by STEH entering copy protection market and
competing with MVSN and thus putting their investment in danger. They are trying to put seed of doubt in your mind and hope you would sell, create financial pressure on STEH, and undermine what this company is trying to accomplish. Their motivation is.... you guessed it... money
This vindicates the path that company took by choosing copy management approach vs copy prevention.
Watchdog sues labels over copy-protected CDs
Group fielded hundreds of complaints for limitations
Updated: 11:15 a.m. ET Jan. 05, 2004
LONDON - A European consumer watchdog body is suing the world's largest music companies for selling copy protected compact discs that won't play in car stereos and on computers, the Belgium-based organisation said on Monday.
The group, known in Dutch as Test-Aankoop, said it has received more than 200 complaints from consumers who objected to a technology that prevents consumers from making a back-up version on a blank disc and limits playback on certain devices.
Industry observers believe Test-Aankoop's suit is the biggest European legal challenge yet to the music industry's controversial campaign to release copy-protected discs, to minimise the impact that digital piracy is having on sales.
Test-Aankoop cited more than a dozen top-selling releases including Shakira's "Laundry Service" and Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief" that could not be played on multiple devices.
EMI, Universal Music, Sony Music and BMG have been named in the suit, which is expected to be heard this week in a Belgium court.
Warner Music is the only one of the five major music labels not named.
The group said it wants the labels to end the practice of issuing protected discs and to reimburse customers.
"We are trying to establish legal precedent in this matter. Then, we expect other consumer organisations will follow," said Mechels Ivo, a spokesman for the group.
Since introducing two years ago copy-protection technology -- which typically amounts to a layer of data embedded on the rings of a compact disc that prevent playback on all but a home stereo or portable hi-fi device -- the music industry has been hit with torrents of criticism from individual consumers.
The question of whether consumers are entitled to make back-up copies of music they buy has also become a heated legal debate.
In defence of the technological measures, the music industry blames the practice of copying, or "burning" discs for creating a massive black market of online song-swapping that has eaten into sales for three consecutive years.
Test-Aankoop, whose name in French is Test-Achats, said it had contacted industry trade group the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in the autumn about the consumer concerns.
The IFPI could not be reached immediately for comment.
Test-Aankoop made international headlines last year when it triggered a crackdown on counterfeit batteries being sold on the streets for use in Nokia mobile phones. It said the batteries were prone to exploding or catching fire.
If Peter chooses to respond to your inquiry, I hope company would include a preview on upcoming product releases and products that are planned to be released during the year or in the future in addition to the audit, exchange listing, and other pertinent information.
This would provide good indication on what we can expect in the future from STEH technology.
This could be a year end tax related selling for anyone who bought at above 7-10 cents to take losses in a view of the recent market gains on some other stock to even things up.
Just a guess.
It is probably a lot since STEH is at 0.058 with 2.3 mln
shares traded at 2 pm eastern...
SORRY... MVSNINVESTOR
This alias actually should be MSVNINVESTOR
At least now everybody on this board know Kenco's true motivation (help MVSN with competition) and methods (negative STEH posts). This is sad that someone is willing to stoop that low, but I guess when money are involve there is no such thing as too low. He must be feeling really miserable for his investment in MVSN since STEH came to challenge MVSN domination in CD copyright.
I wish you luck with your MVSN investment. Personally I think you are posting negative STEH messages on a wrong board -you should be camping out on MVSN board where you would get a lot more support for your posts.
Macrovision Corp nearing a 2 month low (MVSN) 20.94 -1.55: -- Technical -- The stock sold-off below its 50 day simple ma (21.89) earlier in the session and is penetrating its Nov and Dec lows, 21.05 and 21.01 respectively. Noteworthy is its October 28 bullish gap which has acted as strong support for this stock each time it dipped below its lower range of 21.25.
Kenco, FYI
Macrovision Corporation
Last: 20.97 Change: -1.52 Volume: 474,490
Top alerts
12/11/03 Price crossed below 50-day moving average.
Kenco, How many shares of Macrovision do you currently own? Based on history of your posts where you put down STEH and praising Macrovision I am guessing a lot...
Good luck on your investment.
Germany's Leading Pay-TV Operator Premiere Adopts Macrovision to Protect Pay-Per-View Movies
Monday December 8, 4:00 am ET
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 2003--Macrovision Corporation (Nasdaq: MVSN - News), leading provider of copy protection and digital rights management technologies today announced that it will provide Premiere Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG ("Premiere"), Germany's primary pay-TV operator with video copy protection on all its pay-per-view movie channels. Premiere's pay-per-view offerings, shown on PREMIERE DIREKT, include exclusive films that subscribers can order around the clock on a once-off basis, with Hollywood blockbusters shown up to 18 months prior to their free-TV screening. Subscribers can choose among some 30 films a month on three different channels. In choosing Macrovision, Premiere has followed recommendations of the licensing movie companies to protect their intellectual property. The scale of this multi-year contract represents a major step forward for Macrovision® in the European TV market.
Speaking on behalf of Macrovision, Martin Brooker, Director of EMEA Sales stated, "We are delighted that we have been able to win one of Europe's major TV Broadcasters. The multi-year agreement reflects a major commitment from both parties to work together as this dynamic market sector grows."
While Macrovision already has considerable presence in the pay-TV marketplace, this contract is particularly significant because of the scale of the German pay-TV market within Europe.
Macrovision's technology enables consumers to view programs but prevents unauthorized recording of copy-protected content via videocassette recorders, hard drive recorders (DVRs), DVD recorders and compliant home media center PCs. It is a market proven, highly effective system for protecting digital content. Macrovision's copy protection is widely deployed worldwide in digital set-top boxes, as well as in almost all consumer electronic devices for video playback. In addition to its technical effectiveness and widespread hardware compliance programs, Macrovision's technology is supported by law under the auspices of the recently introduced European Copyright Directive, as copy protection circumvention devices or technology are illegal under the law.