IBM teams up to provide Real alternative

IBM and RealNetworks have formed a partnership to build and sell a digital media management system.

ZDNet says the system will be available in the second quarter of this year and will allow content producers to digitise, manage, secure and sell content without having to create the technology infrastructure from scratch.

Research firm, IDC, says the deal is aimed at helping the companies find new customers and revenue from digital media by offering customers an alternative digital media solution to Windows server systems which dominate the market.

Pennsylvania state officials have enforced a child pornography law even though it could render thousands of legitimate Web sites inaccessible.

Internet providers must comply with orders to block child pornography Web sites under a 2002 state law and state officials have asked Internet providers like America Online (AOL) to block about 500 Web sites. However, Reuters reports that AOL and other Internet providers say they cannot block the porn sites without blocking other, unrelated Web sites.

The Washington-based Centre for Democracy and Technology says in court filings that up to 600 000 legal Web sites have been inadvertently blocked, including one for a community recreation centre.

Philips Semiconductor and Visa International say 2004 will see an increasing number of content providers and product makers adding Near Field Communications (NFC) technology to their products.

Last year the companies formed an alliance to develop the short-range wireless technology to enable consumers to pay for products and services anywhere by swiping an NFC card.

ZDNet says Philips and Visa share a common vision that consumers someday will be able to pay for physical and digital services anywhere, at any time and on any device, according to Gaylon Howe, an executive VP at Visa.

Rock stars, soul singers and movie stars have joined Hewlett-Packard in an appeal against digital piracy.

Reuters reports that rocker Sheryl Crow, U2 guitarist The Edge and actor Ben Affleck spoke out against piracy after a keynote address by HP CEO Carly Fiorina at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Fiorina said HP would commit to either buying or developing the best software possible for content security, in a speech in which she dedicated the company to battling piracy.

HP announced plans yesterday for a digital music player based on Apple`s iPod player, saying it would install Apple`s iTunes music software on its computers. A Washington Post report says the announcement marks the first time Apple has licensed its iPod, which entitles HP to sell the iPod under another name with the HP logo, but HP says it will not change the device.

CNet reports that PeopleSoft has asked to interview six Oracle executives in connection with its lawsuit against Oracle for alleged unfair business practices.

PeopleSoft, which is facing a hostile takeover attempt by Oracle, expects to be ready for trial in October. The company is seeking court permission to interview executives as PeopleSoft works to support its allegations that Oracle misled the public and PeopleSoft customers on the level of support and ease of migrating to Oracle products.