DOT DOT DOT COM

DIGITAL DILEMMA: In his technology column on fortune.com, Stuart Alsop takes Sony to task for prioritizing copyright protection over ease of use with its new Music Clip portable digital player. The piece, titled "Why This Fan May Say Sayonara to Sony," praises the device for its streamlined, pen-shaped design—which inspired Alsop to choose the $300 device over the rival Rio 500 and RCA Lyra. But he pans the Music Clip's OpenMG software, which converts MP3 files to a security-intensive format, as unwieldy and time-consuming. According to Alsop, the manual states, "The OpenMG technology allows you to enjoy digital music while maintaining the copyrights of its holders." That's precisely the root of the problem, he claims: "Maybe some copyright lawyers buy the thing because of its great copyright protection; I bought it to enjoy music. Silly me. Sony seems so concerned about copyright that it has made getting music onto the Clip a pain." This damning critique in a major e-zine from a tech expert is extremely bad PR for Sony—and further evidence that the electronics giant faces a major challenge in making the analog-to-digital transition. On the other hand, Sony's VAIO laptops are shit-hot, so it would seem that somebody at Sony gets the picture… JONESING FOR A DOT-COM DEAL: Digital entertainment company MCY.com has inked androgynous pop diva Grace Jones to an exclusive long-term deal. Signed through the company's Munich-based subsidiary, MCY Europe GmbH, Jones will release her first full-length studio album in more than seven years. The as-yet-untitled disc—the first of at least two discs MCY will release—is slated for late-2000 debut…ah yes, the coveted fourth-quarter slot. "We put our artists on a global stage, giving them immediate and direct access to their fans," said MCY Chairman and CEO Bernhard Fritsch. MCY.com has offered pay-per-view and on-demand Webcasts of such recording artists as Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Luciano Pavarotti and others. The company also controls an extensive catalog of music available for secured digital download. "I have always sought direct contact with my fans," said Jones, "and the Internet enables me to reach out and touch them in ever more personal and frightening ways." Jones' album will be available over the Internet, through traditional offline channels and through MCY's "friends and family" program… FIELD & STREAM: Music content provider Musicmusicmusic inc announced a deal making the netco a featured content provider for the new Media Guide of the Microsoft Windows Media Player 7, currently available in beta form. The Media Guide is a feature of the player with links directly from the player. Musicmusicmusic inc. will provide streaming music for Windows Media users via its RadioMoi.com streaming music site. Last year RadioMoi.com became the first streaming music site to be licensed by the RIAA. RadioMoi.com offers a unique spin on Internet radio, individually programming its streams for each listener. Windows Media Player 7 is scheduled for full release this summer, and won't be delayed because Microsoft has the power to control the time-space continuum. (Note: That feature is not a part of Media Player 7.)… NINTENDO LOOKS TO SINGE SONGBOY.COM: Nintendo of America Inc. has filed a complaint against the African-American-owned, Silicon Valley-based Songboy.com for allegedly infringing a pair of hardware patents that has drawn the attention of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/Push Coalition. The company manufactures a plug-in that enables GameBoys to play MP3 song files. Chief Marketing Officer Mark Bell insists: "Our legal team has taken great measure to ensure that we have in no way violated Nintendo's patent and trademark. We view their proposed lawsuit as an attempt to stifle our entry into the marketplace." Jackson agrees, pointing to the presence of GameBoys in 65% of African American households: "I am concerned about the lack of consideration that Nintendo has given to expanding opportunities for African American entrepreneurs and businesses. This type of shit doesn't happen with MP3.com or Napster--Oh, it does?"