EMI and Sony strike deal for digital music formats

EMI and Sony BMG have signed a deal to distribute EMI's extensive catalogue of music on a wide range of new digital formats in the US and Canada. Among the new offerings incorporated under the arrangement, are DualDisc, ring tones and ring backs, video downloads including video-on-demand (VOD) services. The deal also covers 'locked' audio content for hard drives that can be unlocked for a fee. ...more

Compaq signs up for caffeine-based technology

Omnipresent technology, transparently available to users, is a well-known futuristic concept. Starbucks is still keen to try and give a coffee-house twist to the idea. Compaq have been signed up, in the form of "five-year strategic relationship", to join Microsoft in the provision of computing services to reclining Starbucks customers. ...more

Sony wins PSP grey import battle

A Hong Kong based company has lost its battle to sell Sony PSP consoles destined for the Japanese market to Europe. A UK High Court judge has agreed with Sony that selling grey imports of PSPs and other Playstation gear constituted 'copyright infringement'. Pacific Technology had argued that it was a Hong Kong company having no trading presence in the UK or the EEA and that title to the goods they sold passed in Hong Kong and therefore had no control over who bought the PSP consoles. ...more

A low-down on... Digital Signatures

As we become increasingly involved with electronic transactions - whether it be buying, selling or communicating personal information - the role of the digital signature will be central. However, this will not be a lengthy exposition on the principles of cryptography or encryption. Rather, the emphasis will be more practical - on why digital signatures are important and how they can be used. ...more

Britain to get movie detective

Britain's cinemas are to get their own real life gumshoe. He will be on the trail of potential pirates with camcorders who attempt to record new blockbuster movies which can be copied onto DVDs. The role has been created by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) in its attempts to stem the tide of illegal copying in movieplexes. ...more