Sightsound.com Issued Patent On Method For Transmitting A Desired Digital Video Or Audio Signal
In light of Microsoftís introduction of free software that makes video playback possible at 30 frames a second, equivalent to a video played on a TV set, Sightsound.com, a start-up with an issued patent on the Method For Transmitting A Desired Digital Video Or Audio Signal, purchased the back cover of ""Variety"" magazine, warning studio chiefs that they had better begin selling their product over the Net before people began stealing it - adding the claim that only Sightsound, because of its patent, could lawfully handle the transactions. Engineer Arthur Hair and entrepreneur Scott Sander founded Sightsound.com in 1995. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company found its roots in the mid-1980s, when Hair saw his first compact disc and recognized that there was a better way for digital music delivery. Hair went on to develop a method and system to electronically transfer to a consumer - into the home, business or anywhere else - digitally recorded audio and video as desired. In 1993 he obtained his first of two U.S. patents, joining with Sander two years later to establish Sightsound.com. Sightsound.com holds patents on the digital download sale of audio and video recordings via the Internet. In 1995, they were the first to offer music for download sale over the Internet. Their commitment to an open, secure standard for the digital download of entertainment as well as the protection of two U.S. patents helps to make them beneficial to both consumers and artists alike. Sightsound.com makes use of all the features of Windows Media Technologies 4.0 including the new pay-per-view templates for download of movies. The high quality video compression in Microsoftís cutting-edge technology allows users to view movies at 30 frames per second (analog television is broadcast at 30 frames per second). Internet video could not be previously viewed reliably at more than 15 frames per second without a serious degradation in quality. Sightsound.com reached an agreement last April with Artisan Entertainment to offer Darren Aronofsky's award-winning film ""Pi"" for pay-per view over the Internet. The download service provider was the first entity ever to offer a major motion picture for paid download. ""Working with Artisan Entertainment, we are excited to offer a film like ëPi,í (one that has had such high acclaim) as our first downloadable pay-per-view film,"" says Scott Sander, CEO and President of Sightsound.com. ""We feel this event marks a turning point for the Internet and consumers. Downloading from Sightsouind.com ensures both ease of access and reliability. Both Artisan and the consumer can be assured that each download of Mr. Aronofksyís film is registered, and of the highest quality viewing experience available on the Internet."" With the music industry now in a quandary created by the explosion of freely traded music on the Internet, Sightsound.comís video equivalent has Hollywood extremely interested. In addition to Artisan Entertainment, which also has acquired a stake in Sightsound.com, other independent studios reportedly have either already signed up or are planning to do so with Sightsound.com. In the meantime, computers in Pittsburgh and six other cities are ready to sell 375,000 feature films a day to Web users. An elaborate accounting system is reportedly in place that will send the bulk of all revenue back to Hollywood. Says Mr. Sander, ""Weíre a company that believes in intellectual property, because we own some.""