NuTech Digital, Inc. was a company that licensed and distributed karaoke products, general entertainment films (action-adventure, horror, and comedy), and children's animated films. In 2005, Nutech became focused on producing and distributing live concert footage. Not to be confused with the Canadian Nutech Digital Inc. in Winnipeg,
History
In 1993, NuTech Entertainment, Inc. was founded for the purpose of licensing and distributing karaoke software. In 1997, NuTech Digital, Inc. was founded for the purpose of licensing and distributing films. In 1999, the two entities merged into NuTech Digital, Inc. and NuTech Entertainment, Inc. was dissolved in 2001.
In 2003, Nutech developed a
Digital Rights Management
Digital rights management (DRM) is the management of legal access to digital content. Various tools or technological protection measures (TPM) such as access control technologies can restrict the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted work ...
application that would work with DVD download, rentals and
peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer (P2P) computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads between peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the network. They are said to form a peer-to-peer ...
networks like
KaZaA,
Limewire
LimeWire was a free peer-to-peer file sharing client for Windows, MacOS, Linux and Solaris. Created by Mark Gorton in 2000, it was most prominently a tool used for the download and distribution of pirated materials, particularly pirated musi ...
, and
Morpheus.
["NuTech Digital Develops Microsoft's Windows Media Technology Application." DVD News. Normans Media Ltd. 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from HighBeam Research: https://web.archive.org/web/20160415233242/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-75336962.html] The application was aimed at preventing piracy and included the capabilities to self-delete works from the computer after a set number of plays or days from download.
In November, NuTech signed a deal for exclusive rights to
Happinet Pictures works in North America, Canada, and Mexico.
["NuTech Digital Signs Exclusive License Agreement with Happinet Pictures Corporation." DVD News. Normans Media Ltd. 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from HighBeam Research: https://web.archive.org/web/20140610193523/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-78882463.html] The agreement was made after the initial success of ''
Words Worth
is a Japanese adult role-playing video game originally released for NEC PC-98 computer systems, and remade for Microsoft Windows. The game's story is linear, with only one story decision near the end, leading to one of five different end ...
'' and resulted in obtaining rights to the final two episodes and works like ''
Immoral Sisters
Immorality is the violation of moral laws, norms or standards. It refers to an agent doing or thinking something they know or believe to be wrong. Immorality is normally applied to people or actions, or in a broader sense, it can be applied t ...
'' and ''
Genmukan''.
In March 2004, NuTech entered into a distribution deal with Liberty International Entertainment Inc. for 65 classical music titles. In May, it secured a million dollar contract with
Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree, Inc. is an American multi-price-point chain of discount variety stores. Headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, it is a ''Fortune'' 500 company and operates 15,115 stores throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states and Canada. Its sto ...
stores for its DVD content. In June, NuTech became aware that its stock was listed on the Berlin-Bremen Stock Exchange without their consent or permission.
["NuTech Digital Stock Delisted From Berlin Stock Exchange." DVD News. Normans Media Ltd. 2004. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from HighBeam Research: https://web.archive.org/web/20160307212418/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-95361063.html] NuTech enlisted U.S. attorneys Richardson & Patel to remove the listing, which was done so five days later.
NuTech's official stance was that this was a shorting scheme to drive the cost of the stock down.
[
In 2005, NuTech had begun moving away from distribution of animation to focus on producing and distributing music concerts, but during this time hentai titles accounted for 59% of its sales.] In May, NuTech signed a multi-year agreement to deliver its content through CinemaNow's broadband video-on-demand service. In November 2005, Ken Groove Media sued NuTech over $300,000 in bounced checks and violation of contract for NuTech's digital streaming and possibly violating its pricing guidelines of the contract. As a result of the lawsuit, the rights of 34 titles were transferred to Adult Source Media.
In January 2006, NuTech filed a lawsuit against rapper Mike Jones, claiming at least $116,846 in damages after Mike Jones allegedly failed to show up for an October 10 concert. Also in 2006, NuTech entered into a licensing agreement over its content to MusicGiants. The company closed its operations in 2007.
Divisions
Anime Division
In 2001, NuTech announced that it has acquired the rights to D+Vine (Luv), él, Angels in the Court, Inmu 2, Karakuri Ninja Girl, Words Worth
is a Japanese adult role-playing video game originally released for NEC PC-98 computer systems, and remade for Microsoft Windows. The game's story is linear, with only one story decision near the end, leading to one of five different end ...
, Bizarre Cage, Black Mail 2, Immoral Sisters
Immorality is the violation of moral laws, norms or standards. It refers to an agent doing or thinking something they know or believe to be wrong. Immorality is normally applied to people or actions, or in a broader sense, it can be applied t ...
, Isaku, Isaku Respect, Luv Wave, Pure Mail, School of Darkness and Yu-No. As a result of the 2005 lawsuit 34 titles were transferred to Adult Source Media, these titles included: Chu², Class Reunion Again, Dark Shell, Dream Hazard, Harvest Night, Magical Kanan, Magic Kanan Special (Summer Camp), Maids in Dream, MaMa, Momiji, Pianist, Princess Memory, and Romance in the Flash of a Sword.
Listed under the Digital Versatile and Nutech brands, NuTech was ranked the 5th Leading Supplier for 2002 anime
is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...
releases, with 54 releases. NuTech's rivals included Pioneer with 133 titles, ADV Films
A.D. Vision Holdings, Inc. (known simply as ADV and also referred to as ADV Films) was an American multimedia entertainment distributor headquartered in Houston, Texas, and founded in 1992 by video game fan John Ledford and anime fans Matt Gr ...
with 89 titles, Media Blasters
Media Blasters, sometimes abbreviated as MB, is an American entertainment corporation that was founded by John Sirabella in 1997 and is based in New York City. It is in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North American ...
with 62 titles and Funimation
Crunchyroll, LLC, previously known as Funimation from 1994 to 2022, is an American entertainment company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony as a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex that specializ ...
with 55 titles released for 2002.[De La Cruz, Edwin. "Publishers, devotees mix it up during Anime Expo. (Anime)." Video Store. Questex Media Group, Inc. 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from HighBeam Research: https://web.archive.org/web/20181115043557/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-106336678.html]
The titles it acquired have since been redistributed to other companies, such as Critical Mass
In nuclear engineering, a critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The critical mass of a fissionable material depends upon its nuclear properties (specifically, its nuclear fis ...
and Kitty Media
Media Blasters, sometimes abbreviated as MB, is an American entertainment corporation that was founded by John Sirabella in 1997 and is based in New York City. It is in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North America ...
.
NuTech Platinum Concert Series
NuTech Platinum Concert Series was a division created in 2001 to capitalize the market for DVDs of live concert performances, capturing them with the companies equipment.["NuTech Digital Launches DVD Live Concert Division; NuTech's ''Platinum Concert Series'' to Capitalize on Explosive Market for Live Music Performances on DVD." DVD News. Normans Media Ltd. 2001. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from HighBeam Research: https://web.archive.org/web/20160409191327/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-98861126.html] Contracts included NuTech to retain internet and television broadcast rights to the performances. NuTech teamed up with Morris Marketing, a well-known Hollywood public relations agency, to promote the new division.["NuTech Digital Inc. Recruits Major Hollywood Public Relations Agency." DVD News. Normans Media Ltd. 2001. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from HighBeam Research]
/ref>
Telco operations
In 2007, NuTech purchased Jump Communications assets which were valued at $3.7 million with the intention of expanding their market and to better compete in the telecommunications market.["NuTech Digital Closes Pact to Purchase Assets of Jump Communications." Wireless News. Close-Up Media, Inc. 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from HighBeam Research: https://web.archive.org/web/20140921210111/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-143074479.html]
Business reports
In 2002, 2QY sales were $1,142,741;["NuTech Digital Announces 2nd Quarter Results." DVD News. Normans Media Ltd. 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from HighBeam Research: https://web.archive.org/web/20160312093211/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-77013283.html] 3QY sales $902,070.["NuTech Digital Reports Q3 2003 Earnings; Pioneering Entertainment Media Firm Demonstrates Profitability." DVD News. Normans Media Ltd. 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2013, from HighBeam Research]
/ref>
In 2003, 2QY sales were $966,815; 3QY sales $956,981.
Staff
*Lee Kasper, chairman, president and CEO of NuTech Digital.
*Joe Giarmo, Vice President and Head of Production for NuTech
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nutech Digital
Karaoke
Anime companies
Hentai companies