not huge news, but an R&D and equity deal between Sony and RealNetworks shows just how complicated life is getting for Big Content.

the deal gives Sony a 1% stake in RealNetworks, and cements an already deep relationship -- Sony's PlayStation 2 features a RealNetworks media client and Real, in turn, has integrated support for Sony's ATRAC3 and OpenMG media technologies in their software. it would appear that Sony's strengthening its hand against competitive pressure from übersynergist Microsoft.

of course, this puts Sony in direct competition with Sony. Sony is one half of the pressplay duet (along with Vivendi Universal), one of two Big Content-sanctioned digital music services. pressplay's service is built on Microsoft's Windows Media platform and is in direct competition for licensees with rival MusicNet, a joint-venture between EMI, Bertelsmann, AOL Time Warner, and RealNetworks. (via Reuters)