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Risan was born in [[Burbank, California]] in 1955. He began studying the piano at age 5 and the guitar at age 13. At age 14, Risan became an apprentice to fretted instrument maker Jonathan Carmi Simon at the Dulcimer Works in Los Angeles and at age 16 started buying and selling vintage guitars made by [[C. F. Martin & Company]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Agcongay|first=Joy|title=The next big thing|newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel|date=March 7, 2004}}</ref>
Risan was born in [[Burbank, California]] in 1955. He began studying the piano at age 5 and the guitar at age 13. At age 14, Risan became an apprentice to fretted instrument maker Jonathan Carmi Simon at the Dulcimer Works in Los Angeles and at age 16 started buying and selling vintage guitars made by [[C. F. Martin & Company]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Agcongay|first=Joy|title=The next big thing|newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel|date=March 7, 2004}}</ref>


Risan began studying advanced mathematics at age 10.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|last=Healey|first=Jon|title=Math Wiz Claims Piracy Solution|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jun/08/business/fi-pirate8|accessdate=4 March 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 8, 2003}}</ref> At age 16, he worked for Dr. Telford H. Work, head of the Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the [[UCLA School of Public Health]]. At age 17, Risan worked with noted neurobiologist Dr. Charles Leo Ortiz, head of the Dept. of Biology at [[University of California, Santa Cruz]] (UCSC), on the [[Human Genome Project]] as well as on the optic nerve physiology of vertebrates. Risan also did 3-D simulated computer modeling of the tertiary topology of the hemoglobin molecule with a grant from the [[National Institutes of Health]]. For [[Gerhard Ringel|Dr. Gerhard Ringel]], head of the Math department at UCSC, Risan worked on embeddings on [[orientability|orientable and non-orientable surfaces]]. He also worked on a non-computer-based solution for the [[four color theorem]].
Risan initially studied advanced mathematics at age 10.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|last=Healey|first=Jon|title=Math Wiz Claims Piracy Solution|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jun/08/business/fi-pirate8|accessdate=4 March 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 8, 2003}}</ref> At age 16, he worked for Dr. Telford H. Work, head of the Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the [[UCLA School of Public Health]]. At age 17, Risan worked with noted neurobiologist Dr. Charles Leo Ortiz, head of the Dept. of Biology at [[University of California, Santa Cruz]] (UCSC), on the [[Human Genome Project]] as well as on the optic nerve physiology of vertebrates. Risan also did 3-D simulated computer modeling of the tertiary topology of the hemoglobin molecule with a grant from the [[National Institutes of Health]]. For [[Gerhard Ringel|Dr. Gerhard Ringel]], head of the Math department at UCSC, Risan worked on embeddings on [[orientability|orientable and non-orientable surfaces]]. He also worked on a non-computer-based solution for the [[four color theorem]].


During the 1970s, Risan studied advanced mathematics for two years at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA) and earned [[bachelor's degree]]s in mathematics (with Honors) and biology from UCSC. His undergraduate thesis in neurobiology concerned the [[network topology]] of the human brain. Risan concurrently attended [[Ph.D.]] programs at UCSC and the [[University of California, Berkeley]] (where he was [[Phi Beta Kappa]]) in mathematics and neurobiology. At UCSC, Risan taught advanced mathematics and used [[supercomputers]] to solve theoretical mathematical, biomedical, and [[psychoacoustic]] research problems using simulated computer modelling. Risan completed his Ph.D. dissertation at [[University of Cambridge]], England and he attended graduate-level business courses at the [[London School of Economics]]. At age 21, Risan received a [[National Science Foundation]] Award in Mathematics for research in the field of [[low-dimensional topology]]. Between ages 16 and 25, Risan was invited to work in math and science departments at universities throughout the U.S. and Europe, including [[Stanford University]], [[Harvard University]], [[Princeton University]], and the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]] in Paris.
During the 1970s, Risan studied advanced mathematics for two years at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA) and earned [[bachelor's degree]]s in mathematics (with Honors) and biology from UCSC. His undergraduate thesis in neurobiology concerned the [[network topology]] of the human brain. Risan concurrently attended [[Ph.D.]] programs at UCSC and the [[University of California, Berkeley]] (where he was [[Phi Beta Kappa]]) in mathematics and neurobiology. At UCSC, Risan taught advanced mathematics and used [[supercomputers]] to solve theoretical mathematical, biomedical, and [[psychoacoustic]] research problems using simulated computer modelling. Risan completed his Ph.D. dissertation at [[University of Cambridge]], England and he attended graduate-level business courses at the [[London School of Economics]]. At age 21, Risan received a [[National Science Foundation]] Award in Mathematics for research in the field of [[low-dimensional topology]]. Between ages 16 and 25, Risan was invited to work in math and science departments at universities throughout the U.S. and Europe, including [[Stanford University]], [[Harvard University]], [[Princeton University]], and the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]] in Paris.

Revision as of 14:43, 8 March 2013

Hank Risan
Born (1955-02-13) February 13, 1955 (age 69)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Education
Alma mater
Organizations
Known for
AwardsNSF Award in Mathematics (c. 1976)
Websitewww.hankrisan.com

Hank Risan (born February 13, 1955) is an American business executive, scientist, and creator of digital media rights and security patents.

Early life and education

Risan was born in Burbank, California in 1955. He began studying the piano at age 5 and the guitar at age 13. At age 14, Risan became an apprentice to fretted instrument maker Jonathan Carmi Simon at the Dulcimer Works in Los Angeles and at age 16 started buying and selling vintage guitars made by C. F. Martin & Company.[1]

Risan initially studied advanced mathematics at age 10.[2] At age 16, he worked for Dr. Telford H. Work, head of the Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the UCLA School of Public Health. At age 17, Risan worked with noted neurobiologist Dr. Charles Leo Ortiz, head of the Dept. of Biology at University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), on the Human Genome Project as well as on the optic nerve physiology of vertebrates. Risan also did 3-D simulated computer modeling of the tertiary topology of the hemoglobin molecule with a grant from the National Institutes of Health. For Dr. Gerhard Ringel, head of the Math department at UCSC, Risan worked on embeddings on orientable and non-orientable surfaces. He also worked on a non-computer-based solution for the four color theorem.

During the 1970s, Risan studied advanced mathematics for two years at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and earned bachelor's degrees in mathematics (with Honors) and biology from UCSC. His undergraduate thesis in neurobiology concerned the network topology of the human brain. Risan concurrently attended Ph.D. programs at UCSC and the University of California, Berkeley (where he was Phi Beta Kappa) in mathematics and neurobiology. At UCSC, Risan taught advanced mathematics and used supercomputers to solve theoretical mathematical, biomedical, and psychoacoustic research problems using simulated computer modelling. Risan completed his Ph.D. dissertation at University of Cambridge, England and he attended graduate-level business courses at the London School of Economics. At age 21, Risan received a National Science Foundation Award in Mathematics for research in the field of low-dimensional topology. Between ages 16 and 25, Risan was invited to work in math and science departments at universities throughout the U.S. and Europe, including Stanford University, Harvard University, Princeton University, and the Sorbonne in Paris.

Career

Risan was a securities trader early in his career.[2] Currently, he is CEO of Media Rights Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiary, BlueBeat Music, and chairman of TheMoMI.org.

Media Rights Technologies, Inc.

In 2001 Risan and his business partner, Bianca Soros, founded Media Rights Technologies, Inc. (MRT) (originally called "Music Public Broadcasting") to develop intellectual property to develop technologies that would enable secure transmission, protection and monetization of digital content within a computer network.[2] [3]

In 1999 Risan funded a team of 16 software engineers to develop technology that would protect record companies, Hollywood studios, and other digital content owners against piracy and ensure accurate monetization of their content.[2] In 2001 Risan filed the first of more than 125 domestic and foreign digital media and security patent applications to protect his innovations.

While launching BlueBeat Music, an Internet music service, in 2003, Risan deployed MRT's security solutions.[4] In early 2003, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) tested MRT’s Controlled Data Pathway solution.[5] On May 2, 2003 the RIAA and IFPI published a report titled "Securing Digital Content Within the Computer by Controlling Audio Pathways: A Review of the MPB Solution," declaring the Controlled Data Pathway to be 100 percent successful at thwarting digital piracy within a computer network.

The Controlled Data Pathway

Risan’s patented and copyrighted SCMS utilizes the Controlled Data Pathway to resolve issues such as securing digital content during storage, transmission, and presentation in the context of a Content Delivery Network. The MRT Digital Media Patent Portfolio[6]includes inventions that complement and extend the Controlled Data Pathway concept.

BlueBeat Music

Risan started BlueBeat to restore degraded 20th century sound recordings and to develop and patent a Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) to protect the simulations from piracy and ensure that artists and composers receive due compensation for their works.[7]

BlueBeat claims to offer more than 2.2 million tracks on its website.[8]

Psycho-Acoustic simulations

Risan develped proprietary and patent-pending simulation technology to produce sound-alike recordings of previously recorded musical works, called "Psycho-Acoustic Simulations," based on psychoacoustics, a branch of science that studies the psychological and physiological responses associated with sound (including speech and music). To create a Psycho-Acoustic Simulations, BlueBeat sound engineers (a) analyze and deconstruct original sound recordings into their component parts, (b) create compositional scores based on the deconstruction, (c) synthesizes replacement sounds, and (d) fix the sounds in a virtual 3-D sound stage in MP3 format.[9]

Beatles controversy

In November 2009 Risan sparked an international copyright controversy when BlueBeat offered its full catalog of simulated songs for $0.25 per download, including, for the first time, Beatles songs.[10][11][12][13]

London-based EMI Group Ltd. filed suit, accusing BlueBeat of violating copyright law by offering the Beatles’ entire catalog without EMI’s permission.[14] A spokesperson for EMI said the company had "not authorized content to be sold or made available on Bluebeat.com."[15][16] In court filings, BlueBeat asserted that it legally licensed the Beatles simulations and was paying royalties due.[17] BlueBeat further claimed that it lawfully simulated the Beatles songs under the sound-alike provision of Section 114 (b) of the Copyright Act."[18]

After listening to the BlueBeat simulations, Federal Judge John F. Walter issued a temporary restraining order against BlueBeat.com to stop selling the Beatles song simulations online, opining that differences in the sound recordings were not discernible. BlueBeat agreed to stop selling the Beatles simulations until the U.S. Copyright Office issues a registration for the simulations, and settled the EMI lawsuit with no admission of liability for $950,000.[19]

Personal life

Collections

The Hank Risan Collection includes more than 750 examples of fine 19th and 20th century acoustic instruments.[20][21]

Risan owns an 1835 Martin 2½-17 guitar that accompanied Mark Twain (born Samuel Clemens) throughout his life.[22] During a 1999 appearance on National Public Radio's (NPR) "All Things Considered" program Risan played an arrangement of the Stephen Foster classic, "Old Susannah," on the Twain guitar.[23]

Risan also owns two Maltese Falcon props from the 1941 Warner Bros. film production directed by John Houston and starring Humphrey Bogart.[24]

References

  1. ^ Agcongay, Joy (March 7, 2004). "The next big thing". Santa Cruz Sentinel.
  2. ^ a b c d Healey, Jon (June 8, 2003). "Math Wiz Claims Piracy Solution". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Media Rights Technologies patents". U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Bluebeat.com - Digital Radio Done right". mediafuturist.com. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  5. ^ Risan, Hank; et al. "Controlling interaction of deliverable electronic media". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 6 March 2013. {{cite web}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help)
  6. ^ http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=risan%2C+hank&FIELD1=&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=PTXT
  7. ^ "17 USC § 1002 - INCORPORATION OF COPYING CONTROLS (a) (2)". U.S. Copyright Office. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  8. ^ "About Us". BlueBeat.com. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  9. ^ "BlueBeat.com". Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  10. ^ Gray, Tyler. "Hank Risan on BlueBeat's $20 Million Gamble...on 25-Cent Beatles Tracks?". Fast Company. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  11. ^ Van Buskirk, Eliot. "Beatles Finally for Sale Online … on BlueBeat?". Wired.com. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  12. ^ Anderson, Nate. "Beatles For Sale—for 25¢ a track. But is it legal?". Ars Technica. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  13. ^ Arthur, Charles (November 5, 2009). "Meet the Beatles... re-recording? Bluebeat claims its downloads are legal". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  14. ^ Sheffner, Ben. "Introducing the 'psycho-acoustic simulation' defense to copyright infringement". Copyrights & Campaigns. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  15. ^ Smith, Ethan (November 5, 2009). "EMI Sues Site Over Beatles Songs". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  16. ^ Cheng, Jacqui. "Psycho-Acoustic' Beatles Recordings Cost BlueBeat $950,000". Ars Technica and Wired.com. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  17. ^ "CAPITOL RECORDS, LLC ET AL. Plaintiffs vs. BLUEBEAT, INC. ET AL. Defendants, CASE NO. CV 09-8030-JST (JCx)". United States District Court, Central District of California. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  18. ^ Morris, Christopher (November 5, 2009). "EMI files lawsuit against BlueBeat.com". Variety. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Website to pay $950,000 for posting Beatles tunes". The Telegraph. March 28, 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  20. ^ Risan, Hank. "The Hank Risan Collection". HankRisan.com. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Article Archives". TheMoMI.org. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  22. ^ "The Private Life of Mark Twain". TheMoMI.org. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  23. ^ "Lost and Found Sound: Mark Twain's Guitar". National Public Radio. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  24. ^ Sobchack, Vivian. "Chasing the Maltese Falcon: On the Fabrications of the Film Prop". Journal of Visual Culture. Retrieved 1 February 2013.

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