The National Association of Broadcasters thinks the Recording Industry Association of America is wrong to charge special royalties to over-the-air radio stations whose signals are also transmitted over the Internet. So they're suing, asking a federal judge in New York to rule that the Netcasts aren't violating digital performance copyrights under a 1998 law. The NAB suit says the group is "apprehensive" about facing legal claims soon, according to the Associated Press. "This apprehension is based on... the course and ultimate breakdown of the parties' negotiations" about the issue, say papers in the suit. "Congress never intended for over-the-air radio stations that also stream their signals on the Internet to be subjected to new, expensive copyright royalty fees," NAB senior vice president Dennis Wharton told the AP.
CYBERSPACE - Lycos is taking its second stab at start-up capitalizing, forming LycosLabs - an incubator which will invest in and build up to twelve start-ups a year, according to CNET. They'll concentrate on helping to fund start-ups that focus on Net technology, content, commerce, and community. Incubators turn business plans into businesses, taking sizable stakes in start-ups and supplying marketing, facilities, sales, and other services. Last July, Lycos joined Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to form Lycos Ventures, a venture capital project.
SAN DIEGO- A company whose software helps companies track their workers' Net use has seen shares of its stock more than double in its first full day's trading on the high-tech NASDAQ composite. Websense offered shares at $18 per on its initial public offering, raising $72 million. On the first full day's trading, shares closed at $47.75; the trading involved nearly 10 million shares. Websense software helps managers learn whether their workers are surfing porn, hunting other jobs, or trading online, as well as other potential misuses of company Internet policies. Their high-profile clients include American Express, Compaq, IBM, and AT&T Wireless.
--- Compiled by Humphrey Pennyworth
