A Russian website offering MP3 tracks to download at $0.01 per MB has been cleared of breaching copyright laws, say reports.

At 3 to 5 times thinner than a human hair, Microwires were invented in the old Soviet Union for military purposes but, the broader scientific community has been studying them for some time now for other applications including as a potential storage medium to rival optical disc technology.

Ritek is the first DVD manufacturer in Taiwan to receive a certification by Philips for its 8x DVD+RW media. Ritek will display the 8x DVD+RW discs, as well as various other recordable media products, at the upcoming CeBIT show in Germany.

The intense price competition for the global market of optical disc drives (ODDs) in 2004 will slacken this year because Japanese players have forced out most of Taiwan's second-tier makers and almost all of China's makers, according to Lite-On IT president Danny Liao at press conference on March 4. Liao also indicated that he expects the Japanese players to reduce their own production and rely on OEMs instead.

The new version v1.3 of Philips' DVD+RW Video format check tool has been released. The tool checks if a disc that is recorded on a DVD+RW Video recorder (or with a DVD+RW authoring application) complies to the DVD and DVD+RW video specifications v2.x and v1.x. It is an easy-to-use tool that provides a pass/fail judgment, a clear summary of the detected errors, a summary of the disc layout as well as detailed error information. For downloading and activating the go to DVD+RW Video Format Compliance Verifier.

Sony's Playstation Portable is the top UK gadget for 2005, according to a round-up of ultimate gizmos compiled by Stuff Magazine. It beats the iPod into second place in the Top Ten Essentials list which predicts what gadget-lovers are likely to covet this year.

Thanks to DVD guru Flash we have a review of the new Xtreme discs from RiDisc. Ridisc claim that these discs are 'AAA+ Grade Guaranteed'. Find out if they are right by reading Flash's review RiDisc Xtreme 8x DVD-R.

Things are looking bleak for Sony's PlayStation2 / DVD Recorder hybrid, the PSX, with news that the electronics giant is to end production.

Leading manufacturers in Taiwan, including BenQ, Mustek Systems, Eastern Asia Technology and Ya Hsin Industrial, are preparing for production of DVD recorders equipped with hard disk drives (HDD DVD recorders), in response to cutthroat price competition for ordinary (without HDD) DVD recorders, according to the makers.

As we reported on Tuesday, the 6C alliance, a DVD patent pool group composed of Hitachi, Matsushita (Panasonic), JVC, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba, Time Warner and IBM, on March 2 have announced a reduction in its DVD royalty charge rates by 10%-25%, effective on June 30 this year and retroactive to January 1, 2005. In response, major manufacturers of optical discs and optical disc drives have expressed the belief that they would not benefit substantially from the royalty cut.

Press Release: Primera, a leading developer and manufacturer of CD / DVD duplication and printing equipment, have announced its new Accent II Disc Laminator.

How would you react if the voice of a record-company boss boomed through your speakers and berated you for pirating music? You may find out, if the music industry decides to adopt an invention by Mark Bocko and Zeljko Ignjatovic of New York city.

A man awaiting sentencing for illegally copying and distributing movies being screened for Oscar picks was found dead in his jail cell, authorities said.

CyberLink have announced DVD authoring software CyberLink PowerProducer 3 now carries the RAM Compatibility logo for PC authoring.

Microsoft's plan to halt some Net activation for Windows kicked in Monday, with the software maker assuring customers that the antipiracy measure will not prove a problem for legitimate users.

The DVD6C Licensing Group (DVD6C), the industry body representing seven leading developers of DVD technology and formats -- Hitachi, IBM, Matsushita (Panasonic), Mitsubishi, Toshiba, JVC and Warner Home Video -- today announced that it will revise its worldwide patent licensing program to offer licensees more licensing options and reduced royalty rates on certain products. Under the revised licensing program, DVD6C licensees have the option of selecting portfolio licenses for particular categories of products, including DVD-Video Players, DVD Recorders, DVD Drives, DVD-Video Discs and DVD Recordable Discs.

China's Ministry of Information Industry (MII) announced on its Chinese-language website on February 23 the adoption of the domestically developed EVD (enhanced versatile disc) as a national DVD-player standard.

Seagate announced that it has begun shipping a 1-inch hard disk drive with a 6G-byte capacity, the same day that rival drive maker Hitachi announced a similar product.

Among respondents to US market research firm Parks Associates' survey "Profiles of PC Usage," when given a choice between a normal music CD and a "copy-once" CD priced $5 (£2.60) less, 33% of those who do not rip CDs and 27% who rip CDs preferred the copy-once CDs."

Taking its battle against rampant piracy of films and music to the front lines, Warner Home Video said Thursday it will sell cut-rate DVDs in China in a bid to compete on the counterfeiters' home turf.