USC Survey Finds 0% of Internet Users Would Pay for Twitter

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Los Angeles – A new study from the Center for Digital Future
at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism found that 49% of
respondents have used free micro-blog sites like Twitter — but 0% of those
polled said they would pay to use Twitter. "Such an extreme finding that
produced a zero response underscores the difficulty of getting Internet users
to pay for anything that they already receive for free," said Jeffrey
Cole, the center’s director.

"Twitter has no plans to charge its users,
but this result illustrates, beyond any doubt, the tremendous problem of
transforming free users into paying users," added Cole.

"Online
providers face major challenges to get customers to pay for services they now
receive for free."

The survey of 1,981 Internet users also found that half
"never" click on Web advertising, with 70% saying they find it
"annoying."

However, 55% said they would rather see Web advertising
than pay for content.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/232jgnh

(PDF of study)

http://www.digitalcenter.org

Study May Use iPhone to Measure U.S. Media Consumption

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Los Angeles – The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement
(CIMM), a collaboration between big media and ad agencies, is considering using
Apple’s iPhone as a meter to record media consumption as part of a new study,
The Wall Street Journal reported.

The group is in talks with the Media Behavior
Institute on conducting a study that would see 1,000 participants outfitted
with an iPhone equipped with a diary application, which could record their
location and the media they are consuming every half-hour.

The CIMM reportedly
has a budget of about $1 for the study. CIMM members include AT&T, CBS,
NBC, News Corp., Omnicom, Unilever and Disney.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2cv8p4w

(WSJ)

http://www.cimm-us.org

Study: 0.3% of Files Shared on BitTorrent Are Legal

1

Los Angeles – Just 0.3% of files shared using the BitTorrent
file-sharing protocol were confirmed to be legal, according to a recent study
from researchers at the Internet Commerce Security Laboratory at Australia’s
University of Ballarat. The researchers looked at data from 23 BitTorrent
trackers, and found 89% of the files being shared were infringing copyright,
while 11% were ambiguous but believed likely to be infringing, and 0.3% were confirmed to be legal.

The results and
methodology of the study were called into question in a story on TorrentFreak,
which claimed errors were made in using older data, in the categorization
of files, and in selection bias on trackers chosen to monitor.

Paul Watters, a researcher involved with the study,
told Ars Technica that the group made their methodology public, and invited
others to replicate and/or dispute their findings.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/38ljkjo

(PDF of study)

http://tinyurl.com/2etajpf
(Ars Technica)

http://tinyurl.com/27katrj
(TorrentFreak)

Report: Google, Harry Fox Agency in Talks on Music Service

1

Mountain View, Calif. – Google (NASD: GOOG) is reportedly in
"accelerated" negotiations with music publishers’ licensing group the
Harry Fox Agency, for rights to offer its repertoire on a forthcoming music
store, the New York Post reported, citing music industry sources.

The report
says Google vice president Andy Rubin is in talks with the Harry Fox Agency.

The sources told the Post the talks mean
a prospective Google Music store could launch as soon as November or December.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/295ne5o

(N.Y. Post)

http://www.harryfox.com

Federal Government Rules in Favor of iPhone "Jailbreaking"

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Washington – A new ruling by the Library of Congress’
Copyright Office will let iPhone owners legally download and run apps from
sources other than Apple’s App Store. The Electronic Frontier Foundation said
that the practice, known as "jailbreaking," already has been carried
out by more than 1 million iPhone owners in violation of the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act (DMCA), either to change wireless providers or use unauthorized
apps.

In its ruling, the Copyright Office rejected Apple’s claim that the
practice was prohibited by current copyright laws.

"When one jailbreaks a
smartphone in order to make the operating system on that phone interoperable
with an independently created application that has not been approved by the
maker of the smartphone or the maker of its operating system, the modifications
that are made purely for the purpose of such interoperability are fair
uses," the ruling states.

The Copyright Office also ruled that video remix
artists do not violate the DMCA when they use short excepts from DVDs to create
noncommercial works for purposes of criticism or comment, and expanded, granted
or narrowed DMCA exemptions for documentary filmmakers, college-level educators
and some security researchers.

 

Take Our Poll:
Do you agree with the government ruling to allow "jailbreaking" for iPhones?

Related Links:
http://www.copyright.gov/1201

http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/07/26

Digital Ad Firm Eyeblaster Files for $92 Million IPO

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New York – Eyeblaster, a provider of digital advertising and
marketing services, said on Monday that it now plans to raise up to $92 million
in an initial public offering (IPO) of shares, PaidContent reported, citing a regulatory filing.

The sum is down from the $115 million the
company said it hoped to raise when it last announced plans to go public in
March.

The company also withdrew a planned offering back in 2008, citing market
conditions at the time.

Founded in 1999, New York-based Eyeblaster posted
revenue of $65.1 million and earnings of $9.8 million for 2009.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2btc5e9

(PaidContent)

http://www.mediamind.com

China's Perfect World Backs Local Movie, TV Production Firms

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Beijing – Perfect World, a publisher and operator of online
games in China, announced on Monday that it acquired majority stakes in two
local film and TV production and distribution firms.

Perfect World said it will
invest about $16.2 million in Beijing Xinbaoyuan Movie & TV Investment Co.,
Ltd., and about $12.1 million in Shanghai Baohong Entertainment and Media Co.,
Ltd.

"Making strategic acquisitions and investments in complementary
fields continues to be one of our core growth strategies," said Perfect
World chairman and CEO Michael Chi.

"We believe the expertise, creativity
and innovation, and strong reputation of both companies in the film and
television industry will bring new, future growth opportunities to our company,
while creating synergies with our core gaming business primarily through
content generation and co-promotion."

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/22pfufp

http://www.pwrd.com

Set-top Maker Pace Offers $475 Million for 2Wire

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London – Pace, a manufacturer of TV set-top boxes, on Monday
announced a $475 million cash offer to acquire 2Wire, a maker of set-top box
software and home media routers.

Founded in 1998, San Jose, Calif.-based 2Wire has
relationships with carriers including AT&T and Bell Canada, and is expected
to see revenues of $55 million this year.

The company is currently owned by a
consortium that includes Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, Telmex and Oak Investment
Partners.

Pace said the deal will give it a presence in the tier one telco
market in North America.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2uf8f39

http://www.2wire.com

CrowdGather Acquires Assets of Web Forum Host Lefora

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Woodland Hills, Calif. – CrowdGather, the provider of a
hosting service for special interest Web forums and enthusiast message board
communities, announced on Monday that it has acquired the assets of Lefora,
which offers a similar hosting service that lets users create their own forums.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2008, San
Francisco-based Lefora now hosts over 100,000 forum communities.

CrowdGather
CEO Sanjay Sabnani said the deal "gives us advanced technical
functionality that is both proven and acclaimed as among the best in the
business."

CrowdGather has this year also acquired digital ad agency ADISN
and FreeForums.org.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/27rocnj

http://www.crowdgather.com

http://www.lefora.com