Jupitermedia buys digital rights site; launches country focus service.

Jupitermedia Corp. (New York) has acquired the web site and e-mail newsletters associated with DRMwatch. com, a resource for digital rights management, from GiantSteps Media Technology Strategies (New York). No terms of the deal were given. Jupitermedia will also start a trade show in the DRM area and the company's Jupiter Research unit will launch a reserch service covering DRM issues.

Jupitermedia chairman/ceo Alan Meckler said that DRM "is clearly the number one issue effecting media companies of all stripes," as well as companies in financial services, healthcare and a variety of other industries. The purchase "makes us a leader in editorial coverage of DRM and our companion research and trade show products will further ensure a leading position for Jupitermedia ... for years to come."

Also, Jupitermedia has launched European Country Focus, a research service designed to provide market intelligence for the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden. The service provides market forecasts, consumer survey data and country-by-country analysis covering all aspects of the digital economy, including broadband access, online consumer behavior, paid content, wireless and digital television.

The service will also initiate basic coverage of Central and Eastern European markets with analysis, baseline population and Internet access forecasts for Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lativa, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Jupitermedia reported revenues of $31.8 million for the nine months ending Sept. 1, an increase of 9.5% over the $29 million reported in 2002. The company had a net loss of $810,000 for the period this year compared to a loss of $492,000 in 2002.