Many advertisers on TikTok say they will shift ad dollars if and when a US ban actually takes effect, as the yearslong saga has dulled any real sense of urgency
Wall Street Journal :
How EA used AI to scan ~11K players' photos to create 3D avatars for its college football game; the NCAA first let players to sell their likeness rights in 2021
Electronic Arts used new tech to scan photos for its videogame after securing players' likeness rights for the first time X: @saraheneedleman X: Sarah E. Needleman / @saraheneedlem...
A look at Microsoft's Trust Code compliance training video series, headed into season seven, that has hooked employees with popular characters and cliffhangers
Instead of a finger-wagging snoozer about corporate misbehavior, ‘Trust Code’ has flawed characters, dramatic cliffhangers and fans worldwide Tweets: @saraheneedleman , @ajbrewer ,...
Sources: Sega is nearing a deal to acquire Rovio for ~$1B; Rovio was in talks to sell to rival Playtika for $800M+, but the negotiations ended in March 2023
Japan-based entertainment conglomerate expected to pay about $1 billion for Rovio Entertainment — Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. SGAMY …
Parlement Technologies sells Parler to digital media company Starboard, which plans to temporarily shut down the right-wing social network ahead of a relaunch
Social network popular with conservatives will be overhauled for a relaunch — Parler, a social network that was popularized …
A look at Modulate's ToxMod and other AI-based tools that help gaming companies moderate voice chats in online games, amid concerns of accuracy and user privacy
Sarah E. Needleman / Wall Street Journal : LinkedIn: Rob Schoeppe . Tweets: @saraheneedleman , @jeffjarvis , @pavtalk , @wsj , @speechlyapi , @gunraidersvr , and @saraheneedleman ...
A look at Modulate's ToxMod and other AI-based tools that help gaming companies moderate voice chats in online games, amid concerns of accuracy and user privacy
Sarah E. Needleman / Wall Street Journal : LinkedIn: Rob Schoeppe . Tweets: @saraheneedleman , @jeffjarvis , @pavtalk , @wsj , @speechlyapi , @gunraidersvr , and @saraheneedleman ...
Sources: activist investor Elliott Management acquired a multibillion-dollar Salesforce stake; a partner says the firm has “a deep respect for Marc Benioff”
Elliott Management makes a multibillion-dollar investment in the business-software provider
Epic Games agrees to pay the FTC $520M to resolve two complaints over allegedly breaking kids' online privacy rules and tricking users into unintended purchases
The agency alleged that the company invaded children's privacy and tricked players of all ages into making unintended purchases
Pinterest adds Elliott Management's Marc Steinberg to its board as part of an agreement with the activist investor; Elliott has a 9%+ stake in Pinterest
Sarah E. Needleman / Wall Street Journal :
A look at Roblox's Robux, which some kids prefer to get for chores or as an allowance since they can control purchasing decisions, and other virtual currencies
A look at virtual currencies like Roblox's Robux, which have become many kids' preferred way to be paid for chores or receive an allowance
almost all of it from sales of Robux. Parents should make sure that their kids are 13 when they debut and explain the manipulative business model https://www.wsj.com/... @claudia_g...
Dealogic: the IPO market in 2022 is the lowest since 2009; companies have raised $5.1B in IPOs this year so far, compared to $100B+ at the same time last year
Corrie Driebusch / Wall Street Journal : Tweets: @ychernova , @jsadinolfi , @saraheneedleman , and @lisaabramowicz1 Tweets: Yuliya Chernova / @ychernova : “I don't think a lot of ...
Filing: Twitter says Elon Musk's counterclaims “are factually inaccurate, legally insufficient, and commercially irrelevant” and don't justify ending the deal
Dan Primack / Axios :
After Elon Musk attempted to pause the Twitter deal, internal chat logs detail bewilderment among employees; VP Jay Sullivan says a “chaos tax” will continue
Deal has left employees bewildered about what their jobs are and will be — In one 24-hour period this month … Tweets: @rupasubramanya , @saraheneedleman , and @saraheneedleman Tw...
After Elon Musk attempted to pause the Twitter deal, internal chat logs detail bewilderment among employees; VP Jay Sullivan says a “chaos tax” will continue
Deal has left employees bewildered about what their jobs are and will be — In one 24-hour period this month … Tweets: @rupasubramanya , @saraheneedleman , and @saraheneedleman Tw...
Some ex-TikTok US staff talk of long hours, tight deadlines, lack of work-life boundaries, sleep deprivation, weekend work, and secrecy uncommon in the industry
Former U.S. staffers tell of sleep deprivation, work on weekends and mandatory meetings with colleagues on the other side of the globe
A look at Russia's efforts to promote homegrown social media like Rutube and VKontakte, even as local content creators choose to stick with Western services
Kremlin cracks down on Western social media, but Russia's homemade alternatives are a tough sell Tweets: @etbrooking , @evangershkovich , @saraheneedleman , and @mike_eckel Tweets:...
Sources: in recent weeks, CEO Bobby Kotick suggested Activision Blizzard make an acquisition, including of trade publications like Kotaku and PC Gamer
After a lawsuit and a Journal report, the company's stock was falling, board members were getting anxious—and the tech giant was ready to take a gamble
Epic ruling is a win for Apple as it costs the company just a few billion annually and doesn't force Apple to change its fees or let 3rd-party app stores on iOS
one of the linchpins of the internet economy — may be ending.” https://www.nytimes.com/... Steven Sinofsky / @stevesi : Great summary/quotes. Look beyond the (one) headline. #epicv...