Digital music stores that use DRM would have to provide software codes to allow their tracks to be converted into other formats, under a bill approved Tues. in France’s National Assembly, Reuters reported. “These clauses, which we hope will be taken up by other countries, notably at the European level, should prevent the emergence of a monopoly in the supply of online culture,” said National Assembly deputies Richard Cazenave and Bernard Carayon from the ruling UMP party. The legislation also lets consumers use software to circumvent DRM, but only to convert between formats. The change to copyright law would most directly affect Apple, whose iTunes Music Store was largely developed to spur iPod sales. The Senate will take up the legislation in May.
Plunging prices and heightened competition have done little to dampen manufacturers’ enthusiasm for seeking to add new flat panel brands at retail. Haier and Hyundai are making a renewed push, and Sanyo -- flush from the infusion of $2.58 billion from the sale of preferred shares to Goldman Sachs and others (CED Feb 27 p9) -- forged a joint venture with Quanta Computer.
The FCC Fri. approved launch of a new bureau, the Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, which will take in parts of 7 bureaus and offices (CD Feb 28 p1). Congress must be formally notified of the reorganization at the FCC and the Commission must secure support of a union that represents employees, but no other Commission vote is required. The FCC also sought comment on a proposal that would allow public safety agencies to provide video and other broadband applications, in addition to voice communications, using 700 MHz spectrum.
Three senators introduced a bill targeting local content on satellite radio. The NAB-backed legislation, coupled with a companion bill in the House, is intended to hold XM and Sirius “accountable” to the national nature of their FCC licenses, the NAB said. The move is the latest salvo in old arguments between satellite radio and the NAB. The SDARS licenses were originally auctioned with national rights only, and the sides have long been at odds over how much satellite can localize its service.
Three senators introduced a bill targeting local content on satellite radio. The NAB-backed legislation, coupled with a companion bill in the House, is intended to hold XM and Sirius “accountable” to the national nature of their FCC licenses, the NAB said. The move is the latest salvo in old arguments between satellite radio and the NAB. The SDARS licenses were originally auctioned with national rights only, and the sides have long been at odds over how much satellite can localize its service.
Govt. security experts characterized as “disappointing” agencies’ rankings on the annual Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) report, released Thurs. Govt. at large got a D+ on network security, with an F to the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) for the 3rd year running and State, Defense, Agriculture, Energy, Health & Human Services, Transportation and Veterans Affairs also getting failing grades on the House Govt. Reform Committee scorecard.
Danny Kaye promoted to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment vp-global research and technology strategy, a new position… Promotions to exec. vp at RadioShack: CFO David Barnes, Jim Hamilton mktg. & mdsg., Jim Fredericks administration, Joe Formichelli retail operations; Tori Moore-Binau, ex-McDonald’s, named senior mktg. vp; Cara Kinzey, ex-Wal-Mart, appointed senior information technology vp; interim CEO Claire Babrowski appointed to Delhaize Group board… Board Advisory Services CEO John Levy joins Take-Two Interactive board as audit committee chmn… Loren Hillberg, ex-Macromedia, named Macrovision gen. mgr.-emerging business… Michael Arzt, ex-Live Nation, named to new position of senior vp and gen. mgr. of International Cyber Mktg. in the U.S… SanDisk CEO Eli Harari to keynote at Strategic Business Conference in Napa, Cal., April 24-26.
The need for federal action to remove roadblocks such as slowed post-Katrina communications repairs will be a “major finding” of a pending Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee report, Chmn. Collins (R-Me.) said Wed. The report, due within weeks, will address the need to improve first responders’ interoperable communications, she said.
Despite excitement over WiMAX, its role in the wireless market is “debatable,” the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) said Tues. The technology - - not widely used anywhere -- raises questions regarding spectrum, regulation and security, said Taylor Reynolds of the OECD’s Science, Technology & Industry directorate. It’s also sparking new arguments about net neutrality, said Reynolds, who wrote the report on WiMAX’s implications for competition and regulation.
Despite excitement over WiMAX, its role in the wireless market is “debatable,” the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) said Tues. The technology - - not widely used anywhere -- raises questions regarding spectrum, regulation and security, said Taylor Reynolds of the OECD’s Science, Technology & Industry directorate. It’s also sparking new arguments about net neutrality, said Reynolds, who wrote the report on WiMAX’s implications for competition and regulation.