Apple to offer movie rentals through iTunes
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Apple Inc. is preparing to announce next month the long-rumored launch of a movie-rental service through its online iTunes Store, as well as a groundbreaking licensing deal for its anti-piracy technology — moves that could drastically boost the appeal of digital movie distribution.
News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox is one of the first studios to agree to make its films available for rent digitally through iTunes, according to a Financial Times report Thursday that cited unnamed sources.
Apple also has agreed to license for the first time its copy-protection platform called FairPlay so the technology would be built into Fox DVD releases, allowing users to easily transfer the movies from the disc to a computer or an iPod for playback.
Agrium to refile antitrust forms
Agrium Inc., North America’s third-largest fertilizer maker, said it will refile with the Federal Trade Commission antitrust forms regarding its purchase of Greeley- based UAP Holding Corp.
The reports required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act will be refiled today, allowing 15 days to discuss the transaction with the Department of Justice and the FTC, Calgary- based Agrium said Thursday in a statement.
Qwest settles patent suit
Qwest said Thursday it settled a patent lawsuit with Ronald Katz Technology Licensing LP related to interactive voice applications.
Qwest said as part of the settlement, it agreed to pay for a nonexclusive license to use the patents Katz owns. The company did not disclose the purchase price for the license.
Builder fined over Buckley AFB work
The Environmental Protection Agency has fined Hunt Building Co. of El Paso, Texas, $39,000 for stormwater violations at the Buckley Housing Project on Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora.
EPA inspections of the Hunt construction project during 2006 and 2007 revealed sediment loading into detention ponds that discharge into area waterways. Sediment was also observed on Buckley Road/ Airport Boulevard.
Gunmakers merge
HARTFORD, Conn. — Remington Arms Co. Inc. will acquire Marlin Firearms Co. in a deal that brings together two firearm companies founded in the 19th century.
Remington, acquired by Cerberus Capital Management in April, will add Marlin’s long guns, including shoulder arm designs and lever-action rifles. Marlin’s lever-action .22 repeater, now the Model 39, became the favorite of many exhibition shooters such as Annie Oakley. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Auto-parts maker out of bankruptcy
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Federal-Mogul Corp., the maker of Champion spark plugs and other auto parts, emerged from six years of bankruptcy protection under the control of billionaire investor Carl Icahn.
Federal-Mogul sought court protection in October 2001 to deal with more than 500,000 asbestos claims.
Treasury sells $13 billion in five-year notes
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department sold $13 billion worth of five-year notes Thursday at a yield of 3.651 percent, the highest in two months.
