Asiajin

I have just read the breaking news that Softbank invests $75 million to Ustream Inc., live video streaming service. When Softbank will exercise all option, it will be the lead investor with over 30%.

Yesterday, Softbank announced that they would broadcast their third quoter results report over several different channels like follows,

• Softbank Website
• Yahoo! Japan’s BB Broadcast (only mentioned in Japanese, could be restricted inside Japan)
• Twitter (hashtag #sbIR3Q)
• Ustream, and dedicated free iPhone viewer
• Cellphone broadcast (only mentioned in Japanese, sounds like only in Japan)
• Cellphone (Toll free from Japan)

When I saw this announcement, I wonder why Softbank added two new channels, Twitter and Ustream, which they did not use at former broadcast. Especially Ustream, because Softbank has Yahoo! BB Broadcast and some other broadcast services they can use. Now I know why Ustream is there.

The broadcast will be done both in Japanese and English, starting around 16:30 February 2nd, 2010 Japan Standard Time, which is just 1 hour from now.

See also:

Softbank’s release on Ustream, Inc. investment

Tags: Japan by Akky Akimoto
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GAME by Perfume

According to ITMedia [J], Internet Watch [J], Asahi [J] and more coming, 11 songs of Perfume’s album “Game” are found to be sold on iTunes store, which turned out to be unauthorized copy by unknown fake company.

Perfume is a popular Japanese girls techno unit broke through as a star from the internet, by blogs and huge number of unauthorized mash-up movie on NicoNico Douga.

As the label Tokuma Japan Communications did not sell other Perfume songs on iTunes for years though despite many fans’ request, some fans have been talking why only those 11 songs (11 out of 12 songs on the “Game”) are sold there.

The label of the seller on the iTunes Store was misspelled as “Tukuma Japan” instead of “Tokuma Japan”.

Tokuma Japan announced that they never uploaded any Perfume songs on iTunes, and the next day (yesterday) they have been removed form iTunes store. Apple Japan PR said that they are investigating.

In this case, Perfume is well known on web and the misspell might made detection easier. But could it have been found if this was done with minor songs by unpopular artists more carefully?

By knowing forging a dummy company to sell pirated music on iTunes, concerns of music labels and copyright holders may grow in Japan. Apple Japan’s explanation is being waited.

See Also:

A Perfume fan’s site in English

Tags: Japan, News by Akky Akimoto
1 Comment »