Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA by Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Google’s on and off negotiations with Digg have been back on in a big way for the last six weeks, we’ve heard from multiple sources inside and outside of Google. The two companies have reportedly signed a letter of intent and are close to a deal that will bring Digg under the Google News property. The acquisition price is in the $200 million range, says one source. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/22/google-in-final-negotiations-to-acquire-digg-for-around-200-million 7/22)

Google’s Wikipedia competitor, Knol, is opening to the public, at knol.google.com. So-called knols are articles about specific topics written by experts on that subject. Google is partnering with The New Yorker to allow any author to add a cartoon from the magazine to their knol. (Iwantmedia 7/23, http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9997426-93.html 7/23)

News Corp.’s MySpace Internet social network will join the OpenID alliance to begin letting its users take their online identity to other sites and social networks without having to register again. Users will be able to log onto other sites by using their MySpace accounts. (Iwantmedia 7/23, http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2226219920080722 7/22)

Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman says that the Internet and mobile media are expanding his company’s reach worldwide. Also: Google didn’t do anything to stop piracy on YouTube because it helped build a massive audience, Dauman claims. Google must learn the value of “making friends.” (Iwantmedia 7/23, http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9996614-93.html 7/22)

Google’s YouTube is said to be shedding its reputation as a clearinghouse for pirated content and could soon be home to legally obtained clips from movies and television shows. Google is adopting “a more accommodating approach” to its video-sharing site. (Iwantmedia 7/23, http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9996905-93.html 7/23)

Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp, preparing to spin off four of its operating units, says it plans to take about $170 million in charges because the housing crisis has diminished the value of its mortgage and real estate businesses, which include LendingTree.com. (Iwantmedia 7/23, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_hi_te/iac_spinoffs_charges 7/23)

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