YouTube promotes channels, pledges $200 mil in ads; FTC chief weighs in on online privacy report
Industry Spotlight
Amazon Studios to Develop Original Comedies and Kids Series
May 2, 2012 – Hollywood Reporter
Microsoft and Barnes & Noble Create E-Book Partnership
April 30, 2012 – PC World (blog)
‘Hunger Games,’ ‘Bridesmaids’ top MTV Movie Awards
May 2, 2012 – Chicago Sun-Times
YouTube promotes channels, pledges $200 mil in ads
May 3, 2012 – Boston.com
Sony adds Netflix to Entertainment Network
April 25, 2012 – PC Advisor
The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes Store
May 1, 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle
Best Buy Taking Pre-Orders for “Call of Duty: Black Ops II”
May 3, 2012 – Black Friday Magazine
Politics & Policy
I. IP Enforcement
Advertisers pledge not to support 'rogue' pirate sites
Authored by Brendan Sasso on May 3, 2012 – The Hill
Two major advertising trade associations released a set of best practices on Thursday to ensure that companies do not place ads on websites dedicated to offering illegal copies of movies and music.
The Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies emphasized that their commitment is not aimed at "legitimate social media or user-generated content sites, even if infringing content occasionally appears on such sites."
The statement said copyright owners will likely notify companies if their advertisements are appearing on "rogue" pirate sites. But the companies themselves will ultimately decide if a website qualifies as rogue.
The advertising associations recommended that companies include conditions in their media contracts that require advertising placement companies to use "commercially reasonable measures" to ensure they do not place ads on rogue sites.
The advertising associations clarified that they are not imposing any duty to monitor rogue sites.
II. Data Caps & Competition
Sony 'waiting for clarity' from FCC
Authored by Andrew Feinberg on May 2, 2012 – The Hill
Inaction by the Federal Communications Commission on Comcast's alleged breaches of its merger conditions with NBC-Universal is giving Sony second thoughts about starting a competing video service, a company executive said.
Sony Vice President Michael Aragon said the company is "waiting on clarity" from regulators regarding Comcast's decision to exempt its Xfinity video service from data caps before it would start its own video service.
Aragon, who made his remarks at the Variety Entertainment and Technology Summit, joins Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, as well as a spate of consumer advocates, in expressing concerns about the legality of Comcast's decision.
III. Online Privacy
FTC chief weighs in on online privacy report
Authored by James Temple on April 27, 2012 – San Francisco Chronicle
Under the leadership of Chairman Jon Leibowitz, the Federal Trade Commission has taken what few dispute is a firm stance on the issue of digital privacy. Last year, the commission forced Google and Facebook to submit to 20 years of regular privacy audits after accusing the tech giants of violating their own stated policies.
In late March, the FTC issued its long-awaited final privacy report, laying out standards that could begin to define the personal boundaries of the digital age. Leibowitz, named chairman by President Obama in 2009 and reappointed last month, visited the Bay Area this week to meet with a number of tech companies including Square and Mozilla. On Thursday morning, he sat down with a handful of reporters for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of online privacy.
IV. Spectrum Licensing
FCC delays Verizon bid for spectrum from cable firms
Authored by Cecilia Kang on May 1, 2012 – Washington Post
The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday delayed its review of Verizon’s $3.6 billion bid for airwaves from cable companies, saying the investigation is being held back because the companies were late in submitting requested paperwork.
The delay, which appeared procedural, will stop what is known as an informal 180-days “shot clock” by three weeks, the FCC said in an order.
On Monday, the companies told the FCC it would make documents searchable to the public, which would appease critics of the deal who have asked for access to corporate documents.
“Assuming the adequacy of the current productions in response to the requests, we do not anticipate further extension of the 180-day period,” the FCC sad in its order.
The delay puts back Verizon’s ambition to close its deal by the middle of July. The company is bidding for AWS spectrum from Comcast, Bright House, Cox and Time Warner Cable it wants to use to beef up its LTE 4G network.