Voices
Erich Schwartzel, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on December 21 at 12:00 pm PT
Megaupload is only the most recent high-profile target in the continuing campaign by the Motion Picture Association of America against online sites that let users share movies and other entertainment without compensating the copyright holders.
Peter Kafka in Media on December 20 at 6:10 pm PT
A startup that had buzz four years ago says that it’s going dark, more or less, next month.
News Byte
Liz Gannes in News on December 20 at 10:03 am PT
Education technology startup
Knewton, which makes tools that adapt to each student’s learning style, has
raised $51 million led by Atomico, along with GSV Capital and existing investors Accel Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, First Round Capital, FirstMark Capital and Founders Fund. This doubles the New York-based company’s funding and is meant to help it expand around the globe with schools and academic publishers.
Ina Fried in Mobile on December 20 at 8:56 am PT
“This one you aren’t going to believe,” T-Mobile says in an invitation to journalists.
News Byte
Jason Del Rey in News on December 20 at 8:02 am PT
In a rare move for any executive, Square CEO Jack Dorsey has returned about 10 percent of his stake — or about three percent of all company shares — back to the company. The move, which
Fortune reported this morning, will expand the pool of shares that Square can dole out to current and new employees, whether they come through normal hiring or acquisitions.
Peter Kafka in News on December 20 at 8:00 am PT
You have to work (relatively) hard to get video on demand out of your pay-TV provider. But lots of you are doing it.
News Byte
Jason Del Rey in News on December 20 at 7:07 am PT
Warby Parker, the eyewear startup that has built a cult following in a short time, has raised a new $60 million investment led by its biggest investor, Tiger Global Management, as was first
reported by Fortune. Existing investors General Catalyst Partners, Spark Capital and First Round Capital also contributed to the Series C round, which brings Warby’s total funding to about $115 million.
News Byte
Peter Kafka in Media on December 20 at 5:25 am PT
News Corp has acquired Storyful, a video news startup, for $25 million. Storyful specializes in verifying and clearing amateur and user-generated video so news organizations and brands can use the clips. News Corp, which owns this website,
says Storyful will keep operating as a standalone business.
Ina Fried in Mobile on December 20 at 5:00 am PT
The man behind Bazuc acknowledges that there are risks to his app, which offers to pay users to send text messages through their account.
