Bots vs. music pirates: An Internet search company and a maker of electronic watermarking technologies have joined forces to create a method of identifying and tracking copyrighted music on the Net.
ARIS' MusiCode watermarking embeds source information - such as title, artist, and record company - into audio files, allowing Intersect's spiders to track songs posted across the Web, FTP sites, and push channels.
Intersect can then offer reports to artists, publishers, or performance-rights organizations identifying ISPs that offer their songs for download. The technology can also serve as an intelligent agent scouring the Net for pirated or unauthorized audio files.
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Cinema seat-saving: MovieFone will offer film-goers the chance to reserve their favorite seat in a cinema. The service already reserves tickets, but only about 5 million a year. MovieFone hopes to boost that figure by offering users the option to reserve specific seats at no extra charge.
The service will start at a handful of theaters in New York and Los Angeles this year and spread to more cities next year. Some exhibitors may balk at the cost of labor or labeling seats to participate in the program, Variety reports. (4.Nov.97)
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Competition videogaming: TEN's Professional Gamers League today hired out 3Com Park in San Francisco for its launch extravaganza, announcing a slew of big-name sponsors, a commissioner (Nolan "Atari" Bushnell), and a new price structure that doesn't require being a TEN member. But it turns out that it's not the only gaming league on the block.
The Cyberathlete Professional League, organized by gamer webzine Adrenaline Vault, was also opened to the general public this weekend. Endorsed by Ion Storm execs and Ritual Entertainment CEO Harry Miller, Cyberathlete was formed in July to represent an elite group of professional "name players" such as KillCreek and Kornelia. Its first tournament will be on 6 March, offering US$50,000 in prizes.
Unlike the PGL, the CPL is offline only. Organizer Angel Munoz says the league, "wanted to standardize" gaming and keep a level playing field with regards to computer speed and connections. "So far," Munoz says, "we haven't found ways to do this on the Internet."
As for competition between the leagues, John Romero, founder of Ion Storm, says he doesn't see it being a problem. "They can compete PGL versus CPL. Like the NFL and AFL." Whether or not fans will take to nerds with joysticks as they have with men in tight suits and padding remains to be seen. (3.Nov.97)
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Computer gaming parlors: Meanwhile, those gaming leagues are soon to have a variety of locations to stage live tournaments. SlamSite, which runs a two small pay-per-play PC gaming venues in LA, is launching a network for computer gamers.
The SlamSite venues will offer networked gaming on more than 100 PCs in themed rooms such as the Sci-Fi Cafe and Nautilus Library, as well as serving as a location for gaming tournaments.
The first of 25 upcoming SlamSites opens on 14 November near LA, San Jose and New York locations will open next year. (3.Nov.97)
