[DNS] domain name news - 27 October

[DNS] domain name news - 27 October

From: David Goldstein <goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:59:18 -0700 (PDT)
Don't forget to check out www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news.


And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings.


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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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How to Apply for a New Generic Top Level Domain: Draft Applicant Guidebook Now Available for Comment
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-23oct08-en.htm

Public Comment: IDN ccTLD Fast Track Draft Implementation Plan
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-23oct08-en.htm

ALAC Review WG Posts Mid-Point Consultation Report
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-23oct08-en.htm

ICANN Draft Strategic Plan Priorities
http://icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-200811.html#stratplan-2009

Public Comment: CRAI Report on gTLD Registries and Registrars
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-24oct08-en.htm

Here?s how we enter the .future by Kieren McCarthy
http://blog.icann.org/?p=380

Barcelona shoots for .bcn by 2010
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6323

Co-Operation to Make the Domain Business More Secure by Monika Ermert
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081024_risg_domain_business_security/

Appeal in Kentucky
http://www.internetcommerce.org/appeal_in_Kentucky

Google 10-Q filing acknowledges wave of trademark lawsuits
http://thestandard.com/news/2008/10/24/google-goes-court-over-typosquatting-and-puts-out-disclaimer

Back on Track - $300,000 Country Code Sale Leads a Solid Week in the Domain Aftermarket
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2008/domainsales10-21-08.htm


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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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How to Apply for a New Generic Top Level Domain: Draft Applicant Guidebook Now Available for Comment
After years of discussion and thought, new gTLDs are being expanded. They will allow for more innovation, choice and change to a global Internet presently served by just 21 generic top-level domain names.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-23oct08-en.htm

Public Comment: IDN ccTLD Fast Track Draft Implementation Plan
ICANN is pleased to make the Draft Implementation Plan for the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process available for public discussions.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-23oct08-en.htm

ALAC Review WG Posts Mid-Point Consultation Report
The ALAC Review Working Group (WG) has released its Mid-point Consultation Report for discussion with the ICANN community. This preliminary report presents the WG's "initial thinking" on the questions under review following the publication of the Independent Review of the At Large Advisory Committee by Westlake Consulting. It is based on consultation that the WG has undertaken with the ICANN community at the Paris meeting, through an online comment forum and at meetings with a variety of groups with the ICANN community. A summary of the consultation is contained in an appendix to the report.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-23oct08-en.htm

ICANN Draft Strategic Plan Priorities
Explanation: As part of its annual planning cycle, ICANN is seeking comments on a draft of the priorities for the strategic plan [PDF, 88K]. These priorities will become the framework for the July 2009 June 2012 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan sets out ICANN?s priorities for the next three years and is the reference point for the preparation of the annual Operating Plan and Budget. All those interested in the in the future activities of ICANN are encouraged to review and comment on this material.
http://icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-200811.html#stratplan-2009

Public Comment: CRAI Report on gTLD Registries and Registrars
ICANN has received a report today, issued by CRA International, titled ?Revisiting Vertical Separation of Registries and Registrars?. ICANN requested CRAI to perform economic research pursuant to two resolutions of the ICANN Board of Directors: 1) the 18 October 2006 resolution of ICANN's Board of Directors seeking more information relating to the registry and registrar marketplace; and, 2) the 26 June 2008 resolution of ICANN's Board, directing the development and completion of a detailed implementation plan for the new gTLD Policy.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-24oct08-en.htm

Here?s how we enter the .future by Kieren McCarthy
So, after years of policy and development work, yesterday ICANN released a draft version of the Applicant Guidebook for those interested in applying for a new ?generic top-level domain?.
http://blog.icann.org/?p=380

ICANN Monthly Magazine October Edition Out Now
ICANN's October edition of their monthly magazine is out and features articles on the upcoming Cairo meeting, an overview of recent Board decisions, an interview with COO Doug Brent, the latest policy developments and news from around the world, and more...
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6332

ICANN Opens Comments On gTLD Creation
ICANN, the organization that manages the technical aspect of the DNS, among other things, has opened up a 45-day public comment period on the process for requesting a new generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) such as .com, .net, and .gov. The comment period is the next step along the path of adding more gTLD's to DNS. If you are involved with DNS, or work for a global or national brand, you want to pay attention to these developments.
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/10/icann_opens_com.html

ICANN Released Its Draft for New Top-Level Domains, 45 Day Comment Period Now Open
In follow up to its earlier announcement this year regarding the relaxation of rules for the introduction of new Top-Level Domains, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) yesterday released a draft version of the Applicant Guidebook for those interested in applying for a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD).
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081024_icann_draft_new_top_level_domains/

ICANN To Unveil Plan For Domain Name Expansion
The Internet's key administrative agency on Friday will unveil a blueprint for making sweeping changes to the way top-level domains, such as .biz, .info, and .us, are assigned.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2008/10/icann_to_unveil_blueprint_for.php

ICANN to reveal Web domain name overhaul
The Internet's key administrative agency will unveil a blueprint Friday for making sweeping changes to the way top-level domains, such as .biz, .info, and .us, are assigned, followed by a 45-day period for comments.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081023_2071.php

Bulgarian Group Challenges ICANN's restriction of IDNs to Governments by Milton Mueller
A Bulgarian group has proven that our earlier concerns about the connection between fast-track IDN ccTLDs and government control of the Web were not hypothetical. A group known as UNINET would like to become the manager of an IDN top level domain composed of two Cyrillic letters that stand for ?Bulgaria.?
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/10/23/3943741.html

You Have New GTLD questions?ICANN Has Answers
ICANN has announced via news alert that the Explanatory Memoranda Papers for the new GTLD guide book have been posted to the ICANN website. According to ICANN: ?In the lead up to ICANN?s Cairo public meeting, the new generic top-level domain (gTLD) Applicant Guidebook, also called the ?draft Request for Proposal (RFP)?, will be released for public comment. This document will provide information to applicants wanting to apply for a new gTLD.?
http://www.namesmash.com/?p=154

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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DotAsia and Creative Commons Join Forces to Foster Creativity and Sharing in Asia
The creativity of Asia's people will be supported and shared thanks to a new long-term strategic partnership between the DotAsia Organisation (DotAsia, www.registry.asia) and Creative Commons (CC).
http://dotasia.org/pressreleases/DotAsia-PR-CC-Partnership-2008-10-20_EN.html

Barcelona shoots for .bcn by 2010
Barcelona's city council has announced they will be bidding for the .bcn gTLD following the announcement that ICANN there will be new gTLDs. This week ICANN released a draft guide on how to apply for new gTLDs.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6323
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/10/25/barcelona-shoots-for-bcn-gtld-by-2010/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/barcelona-shoots-for-.bcn-gltd-by-2010.html

IEDR Releases More Hyped Statistics by Michele Neylon
The IEDR has obviously released some form of press release in the last few days to put a spin on its latest figures. Of course the press release isn't on the registry's website nor has it been sent to stakeholders yet again, though I was able to get my hands on a copy of it via a 3rd party.
http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2008/10/22/iedr-releases-more-hyped-statistics/

.IR reaches 100,000
The ccTLD of Iran reached the six digit plateau with the registration of 100,000th .ir domain on 20 October 2008.
http://www.nic.ir/
https://www.centr.org/main/4650-CTR

IPv6 Application for MYNIC Customers and Planned Maintenance Notice
MYNIC is pleased to announce that .my domain names servers now support IPv6 addresses from 3rd November 2008 9 AM onwards.
http://mynic.net.my/readnews.php?id=78

se: Great international interest for DNSSEC
It is important that the domain name system is secured fast, maintained Steve Crocker, chairman of ICANN?s Security and Stability Advisory Committee, at the international workshop on DNSSEC organised by .SE (the Internet Infrastructure Foundation). Around 150 participants from around the world took part in the discussions on DNSSEC, which is a way of securing that information on the Internet originates from the correct source. At present, it is the best way to stop abuse of the so-called Kaminsky bug.
http://iis.se/about/press?id=169

How Telnic Will Revolutionize Dialing
The startup's technology will let users store complete contact info on a new .tel domain -- and make it available to whomever they choose
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27338706/

How Telnic Will Revolutionize Dialing
Telnic's approach is revolutionary because it's exploiting a significant new capability in the Internet that has been authorized by governing body ICANN, which has sanctioned a new top-level domain called .tel -- similar to .com or .net -- that is set aside purely to integrate contact information directly into the heart of the Net. 
http://www.toptechnews.com/news/How-Telnic-Will-Revolutionize-Dialing/story.xhtml?story_id=12000B11G9FC
http://www.newsfactor.com/news/How-Telnic-Will-Revolutionize-Dialing/story.xhtml?story_id=12000BYS0JI0
http://www.cio-today.com/news/How-Telnic-Will-Revolutionize-Dialing/story.xhtml?story_id=12000B11G9FC

What the .tel?: New Internet top-level domain seeks buyers
Another top-level domain has joined .com, .net, and .org on the Internet, and its backers say it will revolutionize the way we communicate on-line.
http://www.straight.com/article-167804/dottel

uk: Nominet releases domain protection advice
UK domain registry Nominet has launched a new web site designed to give businesses and consumers vital advice about how to protect their domain names and mitigate the risks posed by cyber-squatters and domain tasters.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2228976/nominet-releases-domain
http://www.whatpc.co.uk/vnunet/news/2228976/nominet-releases-domain

Nominet Releases Domain Protection Advice
Nominet, the .UK domain registry, announced this week that it has launched a new web site designed to give businesses and consumers advice about how to protect their domain names and mitigate the risks posed by cyber-squatters and domain tasters.
http://www.webhosting.info/news/1/nominet-releases-domain-protection-advice_1024087554.htm

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Co-Operation to Make the Domain Business More Secure by Monika Ermert
In order to provide more security for the Domain Name System (DNS), a group of large domain-name registries and registrars has got together with IT security providers and government agencies to launch a new workgroup: the "Registry Internet Safety Group" (RISG). The announcement was made by the Public Internet Registry, which operates the .org domain, and its backend provider Afilias.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081024_risg_domain_business_security/

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Appeal in Kentucky
There has been an appeal filed in the Kentucky domain seizure case. In spite of the fact that Judge Wingate ruled that iMEGA has not standing to represent the seized domain names, the association has asked the Kentucky Court of Appeals to block Judge Wingate?s decision allowing Kentucky to seize 141 domain names.
http://www.internetcommerce.org/appeal_in_Kentucky

Online Gambling Boycott Expands to Bourbon, Jack Daniels Smiles
Kentucky industries have been facing a growing movement to boycott products from the state. The ongoing attempt by Governor Beshear to crush constitutional rights and trample Internet freedom by seizing online casinos' domain names has created a backlash.
http://www.onlinecasinoadvisory.com/casino-news/online/bourbon-under-online-casino-boycott-42260.htm

Petition Against Kentucky Online Gambling Order Circulates
A petition is posted on the Internet asking for signatures to protest the Kentucky online casino domain name court case. BoycottKentucky.com wants people to add their names to a list of parties requesting Governor Beshear halt his action against Internet gambling sites.
http://www.onlinecasinosphere.com/news/reports/gambling-law/petition-against-kentucky-internet-case-circulates-5302.php

BoycottKentucky.com Starts Petition Against Kentucky Gambling
The anger is growing among people who are afraid of what the Kentucky online gambling domain case could lead to. People are concerned that this precedent setting case could spread to all industries, not just online gambling.
http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/boycottkentucky_com_starts_petition_against_kentucky_gambling_49406.html

Gambling Web sites want suit tossed
Attorneys representing 141 Internet gambling Web sites have asked the state Court of Appeals to dismiss a lawsuit that Gov. Steve Beshear filed against them last month.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081023/NEWS01/81023045

Kentucky Court Of Appeals Asked To Dismiss Internet Gambling Case
The state of Kentucky and Governor Steve Beshear had another thing coming if they thought that online gambling sites were just going to stand by and watch the state take their domain names. This week, lawyers representing the 141 sites asked the state Court of Appeals to dismiss the case.
http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/kentucky_court_of_appeals_asked_to_dismiss_internet_gambling_case_49397.html

Web Designers Holding Domain Names Hostage
Here?s a common mistake small businesses make. They know they need a web site, so they contact a couple web design firms in town. The web designers pitch them on a project that includes site design, web hosting, and registering the domain name. The small business signs on the dotted line and everyone is happy.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/10/22/web-designers-holding-domain-names-hostage/

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 - IPv4/IPv6
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Urgency for IPv6 not felt yet
The business case for IPv6 has not been felt urgently by the industry, but the issue will come to a head in two years. Hence, companies should begin preparing now, according to networking experts.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,62047615,00.htm

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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Raymond A. Plzak Announces Resignation as President and CEO of ARIN
Raymond A. Plzak, the President and CEO of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) today announced his resignation from the organization that manages the distribution of Internet Protocol (IP) address space for Canada, many Caribbean and North Atlantic islands, and the United States. He was named President and CEO 24 September 2000; his resignation will be effective 31 December 2008.
http://arin.net/announcements/20081017_ray.html

UAE set to change domain name norm
The UAE is set to become the first country worldwide to offer complete internet domain names in a language other than English by late next year.
http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Technology/10254469.html
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidGN_26102008_10254469/UAE%20set%20to%20change%20domain%20name%20norm

Dubai meeting to decide future of the internet
A crucial decision on the future of the internet will be made at a meeting of industry professionals in Dubai this week. A body that oversees the regional distribution of internet protocol (IP) addresses ? the unique numbers that identify every device connected to the internet ? will make a decision on migrating to a new addressing system that can cope with the explosive growth of the global network.
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081026/BUSINESS/128775564/-1/SPORT

RIPE NCC event to discuss future of regional internet
The RIPE NCC (Network Coordination Centre) ? an independent organisation that supports Internet infrastructure for Europe, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia, is holding its first ever IP networking event in Dubai this week.
http://www.itp.net/news/535910-ripe-ncc-event-to-discuss-future-of-regional-internet

How to Deal With the Rage of 9/11 - domain names
The comedian Sarah Silverman is interviewed by the wonderful Jonathan Ross. As part of the introduction, Ross plays a stand-up clip from Silverman in which she asks how to deal with the rage of 9/11. Well, Silverman's answer was to put it into domain names.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6325
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/10/25/how-to-deal-with-the-rage-of-911-domain-names/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/how-to-deal-with-the-rage-of-9-11-domain-names.html

Afilias joins IWF to keep child sexual abuse content out of .INFO
The day before IWF Awareness Day, global top-level domain registry, Afilias, has announced that it has become a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). This will increase Afilias? ability to be proactive in eliminating child sexual abuse content from the .INFO domain.
http://iwf.org.uk/media/news.246.htm

Will VeriSign Be Able to Engage in Tiered Pricing for .com Soon? by George Kirikos
According to the draft of new Generic Top-level Domains (gTLD) contracts for Section 7.3: Price controls have been removed for 2008 in favor of the transparent pricing model outlined above.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081024_verisign_tiered_domain_pricing_soon/

Russian Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Talks About Cyrillic Domain Names by Veni Markovski
Igor Schegolev, the Russian Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications spoke at the opening of the InfoCom 2008 exhibition in Moscow. Among other things, which made news (for example, that the Russian government will be implementing a free and open source based operating system on all computers in the Russian schools), he also made the following remarks (translated by me in English):
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081024_russian_minister_cyrillic_domain_names/

New law allows website hosts to just say no to drugs
Website hosting companies are moving swiftly to rid their servers of sites that advertise the illegal sale of controlled substances ? including performance-enhancing drugs ? even though legislation signed by last week President Bush won't take effect for months.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2008-10-23-online-pharmacies-get-boot_N.htm

Rudy Giuliani in 2012? Not So Fast
Could it be? Rudy Giuliani already campaigning for the 2012 presidential race while his buddy John McCain tries to come from behind in 2008? Visitors to www.joinrudy2012.com might come away thinking just that. But no, turns out that site is not authorized and Giuliani?s people are doing what they can to force it off the Web.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/23/rudy-giuliani-in-2012-not-so-fast/

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Google 10-Q filing acknowledges wave of trademark lawsuits
Fresh on the heels of an assertion by Harvard Professor Benjamin Edelman that Google makes $32-50 million annually from domain "typosquatters" -- websites with domain names like bankkofamerica.com, which make money when errant typists visit them and then click on ads from Google AdSense -- I noticed a multiparagraph trademark-related disclaimer in Google's quarterly 10-Q filing.
http://thestandard.com/news/2008/10/24/google-goes-court-over-typosquatting-and-puts-out-disclaimer

HBS Professor Sues Google
For a company with the motto of ?don?t be evil,? Google has come under increasing fire from critics in recent years for actions that some consider less than well-intentioned.
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=524698

Back on Track - $300,000 Country Code Sale Leads a Solid Week in the Domain Aftermarket
With the domain aftermarket coming off its slowest week of the year there was a lot of interest in whether or not it would snap back this week. It did - with one of the year's five biggest ccTLD sales leading the way. Nokta sold FreeCreditReport.co.uk through the AfternicDLS for a whopping $300,000 to take the top spot on our new chart and Nokta also nailed down the #5 spot with a $70,000 sale of the plural version, FreeCreditReports.co.uk, also through the AfternicDLS.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2008/domainsales10-21-08.htm

T.R.A.F.F.I.C. New York 2008: Domainers Who Met in Brooklyn Counted Their Blessings While Wall Street Mulled a Meltdown in Manhattan
Turmoil in the financial markets could not stop the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. domain conference from completing its 12th successful run with the 2008 T.R.A.F.F.I.C. New York show Sept. 23-26 at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott.
http://dnjournal.com/cover/2008/october.htm

Domain Values Increase by Michael Gilmour
Over the past few weeks I've been going through my thoughts on a really important chart that I developed for a conference over 12 months ago. It was during this time that I was observing domain prices that were largely underpinned by the industry itself and in particular a select group of individuals. What the industry really needed was an injection of fresh capital. Here is a list of the previous articles in the series:
http://www.whizzbangsblog.com/index.php/20081021476/MyBlog/Part-8-domain-values-increase.html
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/part-8-domain-values-increase.html

Domainers Reporting Bigger Squeeze on Google Feeds
Domainers have been talking about the declines in PPC revenues for quite awhile now, but more recently we have been receiving consistent reports of recent declines in Google-fed PPC programs. At the same time we are hearing this report, we?ve heard rumblings of Google exercising clawbacks on revenue.
http://www.domainnamenews.com/ppc-industry/google-clawbacks-on-parking-programs/2983

American Airlines sues Yahoo! over keyword sales
American Airlines is suing search engine company Yahoo! over the use of its trade marks to trigger adverts for competing airlines. The company has previously settled a similar case with Google.
http://out-law.com/page-9532

Compromised Portfolios of Legitimate Domain Names for Sale by Dancho Danchev
Is the demand for access to compromised legitimate portfolios of domain names -- where the price is based on the pagerank and is shaped by the number of domains in question -- the main growth factor for the increasing supply of such stolen accounting data? Or is it the result of cybercriminals data mining their botnets for accounting data that would provide them with access to such portfolios of high trafficked domains with clean reputation?
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081024_compromised_domain_names_for_sale/

It?s Time To End Pattern Domaining
There is one thing that current tough economic times for domainers has made abundantly clear - it?s time to end pattern domaining.  Although values for all domains have decreased recently, the values of pattern domains have been hit particularly.
http://www.domainbits.com/end-pattern-domaining/

Get Ready for TRAFFIC Down Under 2008
The much-anticipated TRAFFIC Down Under domain name conference will be held on Australia?s Gold Coast November 18-20, as I?ve been told by Dan Warner of Fabulous.com.
http://www.dmueller.com/2008/10/20/domain-names-domains/get-ready-for-traffic-down-under-2008/

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INTERNET USE
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Internet 'speeds up decision making and brain function'
Internet use could improve brain function and speed up decision-making, but it comes at the expense of empathy and the ability to think in abstract terms, scientists have found.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3262597/Internet-speeds-up-decision-making-and-brain-function.html

Older adults 'no old fools' on cybersex
Cybersex is not just for the young with older adults using internet technology to liberate their libidos, according to an Australian researcher. Sociologist Sue Malta at Swinburne University's Faculty of Life and Social Sciences says her study shows older adults have a voracious appetite for the internet and sex.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/24/2400122.htm

OECD updates broadband portal with June 2008 data
Broadband subscriptions reached 251 million by June 2008, an increase of 14% from June 2007.  This growth increased broadband penetration rates to 21.3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, up from 20% in December 2007.
http://www.oecd.org/document/10/0,3343,en_2649_37441_40652298_1_1_1_37441,00.html
http://www.oecd.org/document/10/0,3343,en_2649_34225_40652298_1_1_1_1,00.html

Japan and Korea said leading in fibre-optic broadband
Fibre-optic cable has become the biggest single broadband technology in Korea and Japan, which lead the world in the proportion of households connected to the Internet with super-fast links, OECD data showed on Thursday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49M4RD20081023
http://in.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49M4RD20081023

OECD report shows Kiwi broadband improving
The latest OECD report on broadband services shows broadband penetration is growing, but New Zealand's ranking remains unchanged.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/3CC35EFE80CD3F3DCC2574EB007E047C

Rapid growth in NZ broadband use
New Zealand was switching to broadband faster than most other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in the first half of the year, with the sixth highest growth rate in connections.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4738833a28.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4738833a27483.html

Kiwis go online as economic conditions contract
As the economy continues to contract New Zealanders are turning to internet sales for additional cash, according to the latest sales figures from online auction site Trade Me.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4739515a28.html

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SOCIAL NETWORKING
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Sydney sickie faker busted by Facebook
A Sydney telco employee has learned the hard way the perils of sharing too much information on Facebook after he was caught by his boss faking a sickie after a big night out.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/23/1224351397415.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/10/23/1224351397415.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4737394a28.html

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ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL
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Suicide of South Korean actress fuels Internet debate
The government wants to toughen the punishment for cyber-insulters, who are cited as a factor in the death of Choi Jin-sil. But some say free speech is at stake.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-net26-2008oct26,0,1094736.story

uk: Man sued for libel over comments on eBay
A man is being threatened with a libel action after posting critical comments on the internet about an eBay user who sold him a mobile phone.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3247683/Man-sued-for-libel-over-comments-on-eBay.html

eBay buyer faces libel action after leaving negative feedback
A man is facing legal action for libel after leaving negative feedback for an item he bought on auction website eBay. When Chris Read received the ?155 mobile phone he had purchased from Joel Jones on eBay, he found it was the wrong model and was not in good condition, as advertised.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5009293.ece

How to avoid on-line manipulation: ?Nigeria-letters?. EU Agency ENISA launches ?Social Engineering? -report with 5 defence advice to counter fraud threat [news release]
The EU Agency ENISA (The European Network and Information Security Agency) launches a white paper on ?Social Engineering?, (i.e. on-line manipulation, through social networks, email, also known as ?Nigeria-letters? or ?advance-fee frauds?, instant messaging, or Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP). The Agency provides 3 case studies portraying how easy users are manipulated, identifies 5 defence measures and issues a check list, ?LIST?, for users to counter social engineering. Finally, the Whitepaper includes an exclusive interview with the world famous security author, speaker, and consultant Kevin Mitnick.
http://enisa.europa.eu/pages/02_01_press_2008_10_03_social_engineering.html

jp: Woman arrested for killing virtual husband in Maple Story
A Japanese piano teacher has been arrested for the murder of her virtual husband after an abrupt but messy online divorce.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5002721.ece

Courts put real value on virtual crimes
Courts in Japan and Europe have decided that damage to property in online worlds warrants real-world legal punishments.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2229075/courts-put-real-value-virtual

Microsoft Combats Cybercrime in Nigeria [IDG]
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) and Microsoft have partnered to educate the country's youth on cybercrime and to provide opportunities for them to use their computer skills positively.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/152784/microsoft_combats_cybercrime_in_nigeria.html

us: JOINING FORCES To Protect Cyberspace [news release]
Last week, our new top cyber exec Shawn Henry shared his analysis of the cyber threat with reporters?how it?s growing in sophistication, from two dozen nations taking an ?aggressive interest? in stealing our secrets to new virtual gangs pooling their talents to launch coordinated attacks and crimes.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/oct08/cyberprotections_102408.html

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PRIVACY
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uk: Surveillance - Data with destiny
"Which side is he on?" Gordon Brown taunted David Cameron in another effective performance on the financial crisis at prime minister's questions yesterday. The same question, though, must now be asked directly of Mr Brown as the battle between liberty and the power of the state prepares to take another major turning. This new battle is summed up in two recent speeches. The first was delivered last week by the home secretary Jacqui Smith, who outlined plans for a potentially vast new state database that will contain details of every phone call, text message and internet visit made by every person in this country for all time. The new database, said Ms Smith, would be an essential part of the government's revised anti-terrorist strategy. Communications data of this kind is the lifeblood of 95% of serious crime prosecutions and of almost all security service operations in recent years, she said, but it must now be carried further to allow government to
 store the details of internet communications, including social networking sites.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/23/privacy-labour

us: Does Child Porn Fight Thraten Privacy?
... Now his successor, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, has found a new evil to fight in order to make a name for himself: child pornography. If we are to believe the headlines, child pornography is the most prevalent crime committed online, and it seems Cuomo believes selling, trading, or downloading child pornography online is one of the biggest problems online. He has focused his attention on curtailing Internet users' access to newsgroups and pushing ISPs to take more responsibility for users' illegal activities.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/152767/does_child_porn_fight_thraten_privacy.html

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ONLINE TV & MUSIC
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Courts put real value on virtual crimes
A pair of recent criminal cases are placing new value on virtual world actions. Courts in Japan and Europe have decided that damage to property in online worlds warrants real-world legal punishments.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2229075/courts-put-real-value-virtual

UK music trade unites to fight against piracy
A new umbrella organisation formed to represent Britain's entire music industry will today promise to deliver a five-year plan to plot a safer course for a sector that has been battered in the past decade.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/27/feargal-sharkey-music-piracy

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CENSORSHIP
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au: NSW to censor student laptops
The NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) this week revealed plans to limit internet access on the laptops given to the state's senior students under the "digital education revolution" to a pre-approved list of websites.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/NSW-to-censor-student-laptops/0,130061733,339292846,00.htm

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CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION
************************************************
ca: International Data Protection Authorities Call for Action to Protect Children?s Online Privacy [news release]
International data protection authorities (DPAs) concluded their annual meeting in Strasbourg, France by endorsing a resolution brought forward by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada that called for an international effort to protect the privacy of children online.
http://privcom.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2008/nr-c_081020_e.asp

uk: Fighting Child Pornography Online
Research by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) showed 77% of adults who had seen pictures of child abuse on the web did not know what to do about it.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Internet-Child-Abuse-Online-Users-Not-Aware-Of-How-To-Report-Pornographic-Images/Article/200810415127465
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20081023/tuk-fighting-child-pornography-online-45dbed5.html

Internet Industry, Charities and Government Back IWF Awareness Day [news release]
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) underlined the importance of its Awareness Day today with the release of new research* which indicates that over three quarters (77%) of UK adult internet users who have stumbled across images of children being sexually abused are unsure how to report them. In addition, 71% of those surveyed ranked the availability of online child sexual abuse images as their top concern about the internet.
http://iwf.org.uk/media/news.248.htm

Are you aware of the Internet child abuse hotline?
More than three-quarters of Internet users who have stumbled across pictures of online child sex abuse did not know who to report it to, a survey said on Friday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49N2WF20081024
http://in.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49N2WF20081024

Net filters may block porn and fetish sites
Family First Senator Steve Fielding wants hardcore pornography and fetish material blocked under the Government's plans to filter the internet, sparking renewed fears the censorship could be expanded well beyond "illegal material".
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/10/27/1224955916155.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/27/1224955916155.html

Australia trials national net filters
Is the Rudd government about to erect a Great Firewall of Australia - introducing a form of internet censorship that will infringe upon the freedom of computer users to browse the worldwide web?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7689964.stm

Filtering out the fury: how the Australian government tried to gag web censor critics
The Federal Government is attempting to silence critics of its controversial plan to censor the internet, which experts say will break the internet while doing little to stop people from accessing illegal material such as child pornography.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/10/23/1224351430987.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/23/1224351430987.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4738363a28.html
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2008/10/23/1224351491889.html

'Appalled' opposition hits back at Conroy?s Internet censorship
The newly appointed shadow broadband minister, Senator Nick Minchin, has voiced his appall that a member of Senator Conroy?s office had tried to curb severely critical comments made by Internode network engineer Mark Newton regarding the government?s Internet content filtering scheme.
http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;879301684
http://pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;879301684

The high price of internet filtering by Michael Meloni
Labor's high-speed National Broadband Network is a step in the right direction, but their plan to block inappropriate websites by forcing ISPs to install content filtering systems will slow down internet access and raise the cost of service.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/24/2399876.htm

Mandatory Content Filtering in Australia
Like it or not, Australia?s Nanny-government is about to filter your Internet connection.  I suggest you get angry, in fact I suggest you get VERY ANGRY.
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/21331/53/

Cheap tricks not the right response on internet filtering
Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Child P-rnography is looking increasingly desper? What? Sorry? Conroy is not responsible for child p-rnography? No? ?Cheap rhetorical trick,? you say?
http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20081024-Cheap-tricks-not-the-right-response-on-internet-filtering.html

Aussie govt: Don't criticize our (terrible) 'Net filters
Stephen Conroy, Australia's Minister For Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, gets called to task by an Australian newspaper for ignoring bad results from Internet filtering field tests and for attempting to stifle his critics.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081024-aussie-govt-dont-criticize-our-terrible-net-filters.html

Junk food advertising banned from children's television
JUNK food advertising will be banned on children's TV under an agreement by some of the country's biggest food and drink manufacturers. The Australian Food and Grocery Council will today announce a code to ensure that its members advertise only healthy food when the target audience is mainly children aged under 12. The code will also apply to advertising during movies and radio programs, in publications, and on websites and computer games.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24543619-662,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21498,24544951-948,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24544442-5007133,00.html

Code sets new limits on ads for junk food
JUNK food will no longer be advertised to children under 12, under a new industry code of conduct to be adopted by major food producers from next year.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/code-sets-new-limits-on-ads-for-junk-food-20081023-57im.html

Food industry to self censor on junk food [AAP]
Food and beverage manufacturers will today voluntarily introduce a code of conduct, vowing not to advertise products to children unless they promote a healthy diet and lifestyle.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/24/2399834.htm
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24544661-5005962,00.html
http://livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/10/24/Junk_food_advertising_banned_by_food_industry

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
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New laws on porn 'will criminalise thousands' of Britons
Perhaps it was the bondage trousers his mother was so famous for creating in the 1970s but photographer Ben Westwood has made a career of depicting what some might see as the more explicit end of soft pornography.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/oct/26/photography-pornography-law

us: Presidential candidates vow more attention to tech issues
No matter who wins the White House, Silicon Valley is looking forward to a president who understands the value of technology and innovation ? far better, some would say, than at any time in recent years.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_10797730

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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Brussels cracks down on fixed phone call prices
After capping prices of mobile telecom services at EU level, the European Commission is now looking into tariffs of fixed telephone calls. In a letter sent to Belgian authorities, the EU executive requests price cuts at Belgacom, the country's dominant operator.
http://euractiv.com/en/infosociety/brussels-cracks-fixed-phone-call-prices/article-176663

au: Another telco quits Terria while iiNet looks to the past
TPG-Soul has dealt another blow to Terria, the competitor to Telstra, withdrawing its support, while iiNet says ADSL2+ is more than capable of meeting the needs of internet users, apparently ignoring the OECD and what is happening in Korea and Japan, among others.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6321
http://infranews.com.au/article_infranews.asp?a=AV&ai=8110
http://www.telconews.com/2008/10/24/another-telco-quits-terria-while-iinet-looks-to-the-past/

TransACT withdraws from Terria
TERRIA has lost a third consortium member in its bid to win the national broadband network tender worth up to $4.7 billion.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24557341-15306,00.html

TransACT quits Terria too
TransACT has decided to pull out of Terria, the consortium bidding against Telstra for the government's $4.7 billion national broadband network, shortly after the departure of two other members AAPT and Soul.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/TransACT-quits-Terria-too/0,130061791,339292858,00.htm

Has Terria lost it's Soul?
Soul has today become the third member to withdraw from the Terria consortium of telcos in as many months. 
http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1212339356
http://pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1212339356

Study: Aussie broadband 50% better
An Epitiro ISP quality survey released by the Commerce Commission this morning found New Zealand internet service providers are now offering better broadband service than their UK equivalents.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/study-aussie-broadband-50-better-36737

Commissioner to offer concessions to EU telecommunications regulators
Facing opposition in Brussels, the European Union's telecommunications commissioner, Viviane Reding, is scaling back her proposal to create a new Europewide telecommunications agency with the power to intervene in national markets to mandate consumer-friendly changes in regulation and pricing.
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/23/technology/reding.php

NZ Telecom's protests bring hint of easier regulation
Communications Minister David Cunliffe has hinted a Labour government would ease regulations, allowing merit reviews of Commerce Commission telecommunications decisions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10539384

nz: Connecting...to our Digital Future Report: What will it take to lift New Zealand's Information Communications Technology capacity to world class standard? [report]
This report analyses the current state of New Zealand's ICT infrastructure and makes recommendations for both industry and government to ensure New Zealand has the physical infrastructure required to meet of digital future goals of being in the top quartile of the OECD by 2015.
http://www.nzcid.org.nz/downloads/Executive%20Summaries.pdf [Executive Summaries]
http://www.nzcid.org.nz/downloads/Full%20Report.pdf [Full Report]
http://www.nzcid.org.nz/downloads/Appendices.pdf [Appendices]

AT&T's Troubling Trends
The company logged big gains thanks to Apple iPhone sales, but customers are disconnecting local lines quickly and broadband growth slowed
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2008/tc20081022_973373.htm

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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North Korea clamps down on mobile phones to stop news of food crisis
North Korea is clamping down on mobile phones and long distance telephone calls to prevent the spread of news about a worsening food crisis, according to the United Nations investigator on human rights for the isolated communist country.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5005161.ece

Report: North Korea restricting cell phone use
The government is clamping down on cell phone use to prevent citizens from reporting the current food crisis, according to a news account.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10075083-94.html
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0,39044192,62047635,00.htm

British mobile firms call on Liberty
Mobile phone companies are seeking an endorsement from Liberty, the civil rights group, to assuage consumer concerns over possible misuse of the private data they hold on file.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/26/mobile-privacy-liberty-data-orange

Experts predict botnets will spread to mobile devices in 2009
Security experts from the renowned Georgia Institute of Technology expect to see botnets spread to mobile devices in 2009. The "Emerging Cyber Threats Report for 2009" from the annual summit, attended by various research and business specialists and organised by Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC), concludes that bot-driven DDoS attacks on mobile phone networks are likely to occur from next year.
http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/117780

3G's evolutionary roadmap could sideline WiMAX
If anybody tells you that WiMAX or HSPA is a 4G wireless technology, they're wrong: they are both 3G, but the roadmap from HSPA to 4G is much clearer than that from WiMAX, which could consign WiMAX to being a niche technology, according to IMS Research.
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/21351/1095/

US Lawmaker questions Google-backed spectrum plan
A senior U.S. lawmaker on Friday joined a growing chorus asking the head of the Federal Communications Commission to explain his plan to open unused airwaves for wireless devices, an approach backed by Google Inc.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKTRE49P0S220081026
http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKTRE49P0S220081026
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/26/AR2008102600337.html


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(c) David Goldstein 2008


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David Goldstein
address: 4/3 Abbott Street
COOGEE NSW 2034
AUSTRALIA
email: Goldstein_David &#167;yahoo.com.au
phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (home)


"Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery



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Received on Sun Oct 26 2008 - 19:59:18 UTC

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