Just Joost
p2pnet.net News:- Billionaires Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom who brought us Skype (currently being sued by StreamCast Networks) and Kazaa, (currently being sued by victims of the Big 4 Organized Music cartel) have Christened their latest venture, online video, formerly the Venice Project.
They’re calling it Joost, but it’s not, “the world’s first prototypic Java implementation of the Streaming Transformations for XML (STX) language,” as the first Joost, a sourceforge project, was named and released under the Mozilla Public License 1.1.
Will Joost #2 be similary released? Unlikely.
“We’re providing a platform for the best television content on the planet – a platform that will bring you the biggest and best shows from the TV studios, as well as the specialist programs created by professionals and enthusiasts,” says the site. “It’s all overlaid with a raft of nifty features that help you find the shows you love, watch and chat with friends, and even create your own TV channels.”
Joost, “is powered by a secure, efficient, piracy-proof Internet platform that enables premium interactive video experiences while guaranteeing copyright protection for content owners and creators,” says broadcastbuyer.tv., going on:
“Joost is the first global TV distribution platform, bringing together advertisers, content owners and viewers in an interactive, community-driven environment. Joost can be accessed with a broadband Internet connection and offers broadcast-quality content to viewers for free.”
‘Free’ = advertising-driven.
Meanwhile, Joost already has some 6,000 early beta testers, and now it’s looking for more. “If you’d like to be considered for inclusion in the program, please fill in the form below with as much detail as you can,” it says.
What happens to the information?
Under Privacy Policy, Friis and Zennstrom say:
Viewing History: We collect information on what you have viewed, including both web pages and videos. You may already be aware that when you browse web pages, your computer sends information that usually gets logged by the host site. This typically includes, your computer’s IP address, operating system, browser name/version, referring web page, page requested, date/time, and sometimes [almost always] a “cookie” to help the site remember you between visits (which can be disabled using your browser preferences). This information can be either associated only with your computer’s IP address or with your personal account (if you log in). Our site collects this information, provides a log-in option, and uses cookies to remember you. Similarly, when you watch videos on Joostâ¢, most of the same information is sent to us; but, instead of page views, your computer sends us information on the video viewed and the associated channel and time. And just like web browsing, this information is only connected with your personal account if you log in; otherwise, it is just associated with the installed program used to view the video. In addition to the reasons mentioned above for collecting Personal Attributes/Interests, we also use this information to troubleshoot problems.
And they promise they’ll only share your personal information, “as we believe is necessary” to: “fulfill your requests; enforce our Terms of Service; protect personal safety; comply with laws or respond to legal processes; allow for change of ownership of Joost, in which case your information still remains protected under this Privacy Policy …
“Or …
“… allow for advertising audits to validate the size and composition of the viewing audience. This requires disclosing records showing which advertisements were viewed by which IP addresses.”
But not to worry because, “we will never share the Viewing History identified with your account”.
Stay tuned.
Also See:
broadcastbuyer.t – The Venice Project Reveals Joost Brand, January 16, 2007
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