Category: media

– opening a new center to combat theft of intellectual property. Seizures of stolen movies, software and music have nearly doubled since 1994.  CBC

Hollywood literary agents rallied to shut down a new internet site that promised overnight review of scripts submitted to the industry for bidding.  Variety.com

– to safeguard earnings of young actors.  Backstage

Kids are putting away the video games and devouring the sorcery of Harry Potter. Some parents worried about the wildly popular stories have persuaded South Carolina’s Board of Education to review whether the books should be allowed in the classroom.   (AP) Philadelphia Daily News

– to get culture off the agenda in next month’s international talks on world trade. France wants TV and film kept off the negotiating table, fearing Hollywood will swamp the Euro industry.  Variety.com

Threats about investigating violence and pop culture may make good politics, but (thanks to polls and lobbyists) American politicians are unlikely to pass new laws regulating the entertainment industry.  New York Times

Planet Hollywood’s stars stayed away from court as the restaurant chain filed in bankruptcy court to close nine of its restaurants.  (Reuters) Contra Costa Times

Gaffers? Best Boys? Here’s a road map to who gets to have their name on a movie credit roll. – Salon 10/09/98

A Tower Video clerk in Dallas who sold a porno tape to a police officer gets charged with obscenity. I can’t believe community standards are different from California’s, a Tower exec told the cops.  Dallas Observer

A decade ago, urban decay. Philadelphia’s recasting of a downtown street as a mecca of culture has been more successful than anyone thought possible. Now a plan to extend it.  Philadelphia Inquirer