SCOUR LAYS OFF 52 AMID LITIGATION CONCERNS

Scour will see its next round of capitalization delayed and has let 52 employees go. Both developments, the company says, were motivated by uncertainty attached to the MPAA/RIAA copyright-infringement suit against it.

The Beverly Hills-based netco, which offers users a multimedia search engine and file-sharing application which is also used for official promotions, has one highly visible minority owner in Michael Ovitz. But Scour announced late Friday (9/1) that investors involved in a proposed new round of funding "decided not to move forward at this time, due to concerns about the cost and management distraction that would result from the Company's pending litigation."

In the release, Scour President/CEO Dan Rodrigues characterized his firm's plight as a confrontation with industry Goliaths. "We remain hopeful," he underscored, "that our dispute will come out the same way that the original David and Goliath battle did. Wait a minute, which one was the dog?"

Scour insists it will continue normal operations despite its difficulties.

Meanwhile, in his secret underground fortress, MPAA head Jack Valenti cackled maniacally.