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New Media News Every Morning

Hollywood brings Cinemaweb.net and SSUpload.com to court for copyright infringement

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cinematube.gifssupload.gif The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA), on behalf of the major Hollywood movie studios, has filed lawsuits in federal court in Los Angeles against Cinematube.net and Ssupload.com – Web sites that facilitate copyright infringement on the Internet.

Cinematube and Ssupload both highlight on their sites the availability of the latest in pirated movies that are all too often still in theatrical release. Both sites enjoy significant profits via third party advertisers and user donations.

“No matter how you slice it, the sole purpose of these sites is to disseminate and profit from creative content that has been illegally reproduced and distributed. We will continue to scour the Internet for these illegal sites, and through lawsuits such as these we are putting illegal Web operators on notice that they are not above the law and will face serious consequences for their activities,” said John Malcolm, Executive Vice President and Director of Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations for the MPAA.

I’m just wondering why this group sued only 2 Websites when a simple Google search for “free movies” will yield hundreds of sites, blogs, and forums promoting piracy. Even Google is indifferent towards piracy, as claimed by a legal watchdog group.

Originally posted on September 28, 2007 @ 9:26 am

Feeling abandoned by Facebook, college-only social network emerges

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college.gifFirmly believing that Facebook is no longer for college students, a new college-only social network, College.com, is launched. It is a one-stop shop for information and communication between students. College.com stays true to the school by requiring an .edu address.

“Facebook has largely abandoned its core student audience in favor of an open platform for widget aficionados, businesses and soccer moms. College.com is emerging in this vacuum as the collegiate-only social network. We connect students to their social life as well as their course work,” said founder Jon Davidman.

Students can create user profiles and connect online with people in their classes. It also integrates course schedules, professor profiles and rankings, event listings, study aids and other features that combine the academic elements of college with a student’s social life. Students can also access online note cards to organize their workload and study for exams.

Originally posted on September 27, 2007 @ 10:13 am

Want to get married at the Empire State Building?

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brides.gifIf you have been a big fan of romantic movies like Sleepless in Seattle, Love Affair, and An Affair to Remember, here’s your chance to be one of the 14 couples to get married or renew your vows at the infamous Empire State Building this coming Valentine’s Day 2008.

The Empire State Building and Conde Nast Bridal Media’s Brides.com has announced the call for entries to couples around the world to exchange their vows and say, “I do” atop the famed Empire State Building with the exclusive planning, fashion and beauty help of Brides.com. The call for entry begins today and goes until October 31. Couples will be chosen and notified by November 19.

This year marks the first year couples from around the world can officially enter online to be chosen as one of the lucky 14 couples who will be given the wedding of their dreams at the most romantic place on the most romantic day in 2008.

To be selected, couples should visit www.brides.com/esb or www.esbnyc.com to submit their personal love stories, photos and reasons for wanting their special day to be held at the Empire State Building. Winners will be selected based upon the originality and distinctiveness of their submissions and their connections to America’s favorite building.

Originally posted on September 27, 2007 @ 9:39 am

Will Google-DoubleClick Merger cause online advertising bottleneck?

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precursor.gifScott Cleland, President of industry research and consulting firm Precursor, has testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights and recommended the panel oppose the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger.

He explained that the Google-DoubleClick merger would create extreme market concentration and “tip” the online advertising market, the economically critical market which is the only proven monetization engine of Internet content, to a bottleneck. Details of his insights can be found at Googleopoly.net.

“The combined Google-DoubleClick would have no effective checks and balances and little accountability to consumers, competition, regulators, or third-party oversight,” Cleland said.

Originally posted on September 28, 2007 @ 8:16 am

DKNY and Sephora set up virtual shop at Stardoll.com

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stardoll.gifStardoll, the world’s largest online entertainment destination devoted to girls interested in fame, fashion and friends, has announced that leading fashion and beauty retailers DKNY and Sephora will be the first internationally recognized brands to set up a virtual shop in Stardoll’s virtual galleria – the “starplaza.”

Similar to a real life shopping experience, each shop will have a unique look and feel that is consistent with each brand. The tables, shelves and wallpaper in the DKNY shop, for example, are inspired by photos taken directly from stores. In addition to multilevel storefronts for DKNY and Sephora, the starplaza features nine dynamic shops for each of Stardoll’s own virtual brands with garments merchandised on shelves, virtual mannequins, tables and hangers.

“The millions of members of the Stardoll community are a group of great relevance to the future of our brands and it is exciting to be able to interact with them in their space. In bringing the exceptional style and offerings of DKNY and Sephora to Stardoll, we hope to further enhance the experience for their members and to gain valuable insight into the virtual world that will benefit our brands and our current and future customers,” said Antonio Belloni, Group Managing Director of LVMH, the parent of Sephora and Donna Karan.

Originally posted on September 27, 2007 @ 9:06 am