IP: Digimarc introduces interactive coffee cups

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: edyson () edventure com (Esther Dyson)
> Subject: Digimarc introduces interactive coffee cups
> Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 16:59:44 -0400
>
> I thought this was one of those wonderful jokes, carried out without the
> crack of a smile, but I think it may be real.
>
> Esther
>
> > Return-Path: <srennie () ca webergroup com>
> > From: srennie () ca webergroup com
> > X-Lotus-FromDomain: WEBER
> > To: srennie () ca webergroup com
> > Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 16:40:11 -0700
> > Subject: Digimarc introduces interactive coffee cups
> > Content-Disposition: inline
> >
> >
> >
> > Digimarc will announce on Wed., Oct. 25 that they are embedding java jackets
> > with invisible digital watermarks to link coffee cups to popular consumer
> > Internet destinations such as Yahoo!, WineShopper and WebMiles.  Coffee
> > drinkers simply hold the cup up to an image capture device such as a Web
> > camera attached to their PC and are whisked to exclusive online content,
> > opportunities to buy, coupons, etc. Coffee sleeve manufacturer BriteVision
> > will distribute 4 million digitally watermarked sleeves per month to a
> > nationwide network of 1200 cafes in 40 metropolitan areas.
> >
> > Since the coffee sleeve often sits on a consumer's desk adjacent to the PC,
> > the opportunity for an effective call to action is unprecedented.  What's
> > more, specialty retail coffee drinkers are ideal targets for an
> > Internet-enabled advertising vehicle. Not only do they tend to be early
> > technology adopters, but they shop online twice as frequently as the average
> > consumer.
> >
> > Digimarc MediaBridge software allows Web cameras to read the digital code in
> > a digitally watermarked coffee sleeve.  The software then launches a
> > browser, instantly connecting the user to opportunities to learn more and
> > buy directly on the Internet.  A 'D' symbol on the sleeve indicates that it
> > is Internet-enabled.  Consumers can also find Digimarc MediaBridge
> > watermarks in magazines and direct mail pieces.
> >
> > If you're interested, I can connect you with executives from Digimarc,
> > BriteVision and their customers.  Please contact me at 503-552-3748 or
> > > > srennie () webergroup com.  Thanks.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Stephen Rennie
> > The Weber Group for Digimarc
> > 503-552-3748
> > srennie () webergroup com
> >
> >
> > ___________________________________
> >
> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> >
> > BriteVision Media to Link Coffee Sleeves to Relevant Web sites with Digimarc
> > MediaBridge Technology
> >
> > Patrons of 1200 retail cafes nationwide will have access to exclusive Web
> > destinations by presenting their daily lattes to a Web camera
> >
> > Tualatin, Ore. -- October 25, 2000 -- Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ: 
> DMRC), the
> > world leader in digital watermark technology and applications, today
> > announced that BriteVision Media will embed coffee sleeves with
> > imperceptible digital watermarks, allowing the sleeves to become direct
> > portals to specific Web pages.
> >
> > Digimarc MediaBridge software allows consumers to access the Web by showing
> > digitally watermarked items, like coffee sleeves, to an image capture
> > device, such as a Web camera or scanner attached to their computers.  When
> > the Web camera reads the digital code in a digitally watermarked coffee
> > sleeve, the software will launch a browser, instantly connecting the user to
> > opportunities to learn more and buy directly on the Internet.  A 'D' symbol
> > located on the sleeve will indicate that it is Internet-enabled.
> >
> > "Digimarc MediaBridge provides our clients with a revolutionary out-of-home
> > advertising opportunity that eliminates the need for a consumer to remember
> > a URL," said Brian Morrison, CEO of BriteVision.  "Since the coffee sleeve
> > oftentimes sits on a consumer's desk adjacent to the computer monitor, the
> > opportunity for an effective call to action is unprecedented.  What's more,
> > specialty retail coffee drinkers are ideal targets for an Internet-enabled
> > advertising vehicle. Not only do they tend to be early technology adopters,
> > but they spend money online almost twice as frequently as the average
> > consumer."
> >
> > BriteVision distributes over four million coffee sleeves per month to a
> > nationwide network of 1200 cafes in 40 metropolitan areas.  The sleeves
> > feature advertising from clients such as Yahoo!, Citysearch, Half.com, and
> > Wineshopper.
> >
> > "The relationship with BriteVision brings Digimarc MediaBridge to a
> > technologically savvy, professional audience," said Indra Paul, Digimarc
> > MediaBridge general manager.  "This agreement provides a value-add for
> > BriteVision's advertising clients and also diversifies the reach of
> > Digimarc's technology in the marketplace.  A more widely distributed
> > application imparts intrinsic benefits to other industries as well; namely,
> > PC camera manufacturers."
> >
> > Consumers can access and experience Digimarc MediaBridge by downloading the
> > free reader software at http://www.digimarc.com/secure/index.shtml.  The
> > software is approved for use with PC cameras from Intel, IBM, Creative, 3Com
> > and Philips.
> >
> > "The exponential growth of the PC camera market has outstripped expectations
> > thanks, in part, to new applications like Digimarc MediaBridge," said Ron
> > Glaz, IDC industry analyst.  "Worldwide, more than 11 million cameras will
> > ship in 2000 -- an increase of 300 percent from 1999.  By 2004, that number
> > will be more than 44 million.  PC bundling and new camera applications are
> > the phenomena that are driving market growth."
> >
> > Digimarc MediaBridge launched earlier this year and can now be found in
> > publications such as Popular Mechanics, Smart Money and Good Housekeeping.
> > Digimarc is creating an inherent, persistent digital identity for all media
> > content through imperceptible digital code that can be embedded in any
> > analog or digital material.
> >
> > About BriteVision Media
> >
> > BriteVision Media places advertising on coffee sleeves, then distributes
> > throughout the BriteVision Cafe Network of over 1,200 specialty
> > retail cafes nationwide.  Clients such as Yahoo!, Citysearch and WebMiles
> > can target the specialty coffee drinker by geography, household income, or
> > consumer type in order to maximize advertising efficiency.  BriteVision also
> > offers packages which focus on reaching college students, airports and "on
> > the go" business workers.
> >
> > About The BriteVision Cafe Network
> >
> > BriteVision Media aggregates customer information from each of its cafes,
> > delivering advertisers the unique ability to target media to specific
> > consumers in the offline world.  The company maintains a direct relationship
> > with each of its member cafes in order to offer clients the ability to
> > effectively reach the most sensible consumer target audience.  Targeting can
> > be done by Geography, Students, Business/Professionals, Leisure Travelers,
> > Household Income. For more information about BriteVision Media, please visit
> > the Web site at www.britevision.com or contact Brian Morrison at
> > 415-531-4444.
> >
> > About Digimarc
> >
> > Digimarc Corp., based in Tualatin, Ore., (NASDAQ: DMRC) is the world leader
> > in digital watermark technology and applications.  Digimarc is creating an
> > inherent, persistent digital identity for all media content through
> > imperceptible digital code that can be embedded in any analog or digital
> > material.  The company has established three business units to focus on
> > diverse media applications. Digimarc Media Commerce watermarking solutions
> > enable protection and tracking, and also facilitate e-commerce of digital
> > images, audio, and video. Digimarc Secure Documents provides
> > anti-counterfeiting solutions to deter unauthorized PC-based reproduction of
> > valuable documents such as financial, identification and product packaging.
> > Digimarc MediaBridge - a fundamentally new way for consumers to access the
> > Internet - allows printed materials to become direct portals to relevant
> > destinations on the Internet. Digimarc's vision is to become a standard
> > feature of all media content.  For more information about Digimarc, please
> > visit our Web site at www.digimarc.com
> >
> > This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks
> > and uncertainties. Although Digimarc Corporation believes that the
> > expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable,
> > actual results could differ materially from those expectations. Important
> > cautionary statements and risk factors that would affect actual results are
> > discussed in materials filed by Digimarc Corporation with the Securities and
> > Exchange Commission.
> >
> > Digimarc is a registered trademark and MediaBridge is a trademark of
> > Digimarc Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their
> > respective owners.
> >
> > ###
>
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>
> Esther Dyson                    Always make new mistakes!
> chairman, EDventure Holdings
> chairman, Internet Corp. for Assigned Names & Numbers
> edyson () edventure com
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