Don't forget to check out http://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. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** ICANN To IP Experts: Come Back With A Solution For Internet Trademark Protection By Monika Ermert http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/03/12/icann-to-ip-experts-come-back-with-a-solution-for-internet-trademark-protection/ Political Cyberattacks to Militarize the Web [IDG] http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/161142/.html Record Number of Cybersquatting Cases in 2008, WIPO Proposes Paperless UDRP [news release] http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2009/article_0005.html http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30196 Cybersquatting Cases Hit Record High in 2008: WIPO http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=7542 Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008 http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE52E22G20090315 Watchdog warns on domain names http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e471e73e-11c9-11de-87b1-0000779fd2ac.html New generic TLDs will open cyber squatting floodgates http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2238564/wipo-voices-cybersquatting ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** Lord of Your Domain, But Master of None: The Need to Harmonize and Recalibrate the Domain Name Regime of Ownership and Control by Warren Chik [International Journal of Law and Information Technology] Abstract: The world has seen three waves of property. The first hark back centuries and relate to real and personal property such as land and chattel, also known as immovable and movable property. The second gained recognition around the nineteenth century and relates to propertization of the labours of the mind or intellectual property . The third wave came within a much shorter period and starting to gain recognition and it is what is known as virtual property . The law and policy-makers have had to surmount not only a steep learning curve but also in some cases a foundation that is wrought with mistakes when it comes to the treatment that should be given to virtual property. The Domain Name System (DNS) is the best example of a form of virtual property that has given rise to challenges in law making and administration. The land grab of domain names in the World Wide Web (WWW) have given rise to a virtual tsunami of registrations and this has led to the subsequent erection of levees in the form of a challenge regime. This paper will identify and consider the problems that the DNS is facing and suggest the changes that have to be made to it in order for it to withstand the forces of what will be an increasingly rising sea of domain names on the WWW. This paper will begin with a look at the fissures in the seabed of the DNS by comparing how the management and policies relating to domain name registration and challenge have shifted and diverged in different jurisdictions as well as by examining the inadequacies of the original registration regime (ICANN) and challenge policy (UDRP). After identifying the problem, suggestions will be made to resolve them in the best possible way, which require a revisit of the stakeholder and policy interests in the Internet and the ownership and control of domain names that essentially function as an important gateway to the WWW in order to rebalance these interests in an attempt to achieve greatest equilibrium. Amendments will be proposed to both the registration and challenge regimes as well as to the structure and hierarchy of domain name administration which should be a globally coordinated effort just as the DNS is a common entryway to the global property that is the WWW. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1358790 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Feedback loops for Mexico City by Kieren McCarthy I'm a big exponent of feedback - particularly simple, mass feedback - for the work that ICANN does. With such a diverse community, in both geographic and cultural terms, it can be next to impossible for ICANN staff to get a feel for what the community thinks about a topic or a session. http://blog.icann.org/2009/03/feedback-loops-for-mexico-city/ Public Comment: Improving Institutional Confidence Plan A public comment period opens today on the draft Implementation Plan for Improving Institutional Confidence produced by the President's Strategy Committee and submitted to the Board of Directors. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-12mar09-en.htm Public Comment: Ombudsman Framework A new public comment period opens today on the revised Ombudsman Framework. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-13mar09-en.htm Public Comment: Improving Institutional Confidence Plan A public comment period opens today on the draft Implementation Plan for Improving Institutional Confidence produced by the President's Strategy Committee and submitted to the Board of Directors. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-12mar09-en.htm What's in a Domain Name? Marketers Weigh the Cost - Companies Wrestle With Decision to Buy Into Blitz of New Dot Designations Today there are 21 gTLDs, or those little words that come after the dot at the end of a web addresses, including .com, .net and .gov. But that's all about to change. http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=135106 ICANN To IP Experts: Come Back With A Solution For Internet Trademark Protection By Monika Ermert Trademark issues are emerging with the upcoming introduction of new gTLDs on the internet, and the board members of the body introducing the names has passed the ball back to intellectual property experts to find answers. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/03/12/icann-to-ip-experts-come-back-with-a-solution-for-internet-trademark-protection/ http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090313_icann_solution_internet_trademark_protection/ New Africa Internet group pushes regional issues at ICANN To make African Internet users' voices heard internationally, the Africa-At-Large Organization (AFRALO) held its inaugural meeting last week on the sidelines of the Mexico City meeting of ICANN. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/03/12/new-africa-internet-group-pushes-regional-issues-icann Big Business Fighting Top-Level Domain Change The next big Internet land-grab is about to begin, and the fight between big business fearing trademark infringement and new companies poised to exploit virgin territory is heating up. http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10001086/big-business-fighting-top-level-domain-change/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** ae: UAE Gives Permission to the Use of Arabic Domain Names Have you ever come across a domain name that doesn't use the English language? Well, I haven't. But, we might encounter one soon because the United Arab Emirates will now permit domain names that use Arabic characters. On Monday the Ministerial Council for Services officially approved the proposal that was put across by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). TRA made the proposal as a part of a national strategy to name Arabic language on the web. http://www.waleg.com/techgadgets/archives/015659.html Dot Eco: Can a Top-Level Domain Save the Planet? Nothing can cripple a promising Web site faster than an embarrassingly bad TLD choice. No matter how many businesses sign up for a dot-biz domain (.biz), for example, it still connotes Uncle Gary's online shoe site. Likewise, TLDs such as dot mobi (.mobi) and dot info (.info) have fallen short in terms of bringing in users. But can an environmentally slanted TLD leverage the current attention on all things green to create a winning URL closer? http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2009/tc20090312_747920.htm February Record Month for .FI Domain Registrations The global financial crisis appears to be bypassing domain registrations in Finland with the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) announcing a record number of 4,130 new .fi domain names. The number is eleven per cent more than in February 2008 and over 30% more than in February 2007. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/03/14/february-record-month-for-fi-domain-registrations/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/record-month-for-.fi-domain-registrations-in-february.html Record number of new fi-domain name registrations in February FICORA issued in February a record number of 4,130 new fi-domain names. The number is 11% more than in February 2008 and over 30% more than in February 2007. http://www.ficora.fi/en/index/viestintavirasto/uutiset/2009/P_10.html AFNIC makes the daily life of .fr and .re domain names users easier on March 30th 2009 In order to simplify and standardize its working procedures with the different Registrars, AFNIC launches, on March 30th 2009, its new registration interface, based on the EPP protocol. Simpler to use, compatible with the previous versions and meant to ease the daily life of the Registrars, but also of the domain names registrants, this innovative tool is based on new procedures, but also on new Registration Terms, with the application of the Naming Charter. Details and explanations. http://www.afnic.fr/actu/nouvelles/212/afnic-makes-the-daily-life-of-fr-and-re-domain-names-users-easier-on-march-30th-2009.html Hindus against "dot god" Internet domain Hindus want religion to be kept out of Internet domain names system. Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that allowing domains based on religion or denomination would unnecessarily create more conflicts in a world already full of disputes. http://newsblaze.com/story/20090316132625zzzz.nb/topstory.html se: Seminar about IETF for rookies and veterans The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is an international group of techniques that is responsible for most of the Internet standardization. It is due to this standardization that Internet can be universal, leading to a system that is uniform to everyone. http://www.iis.se/about/press?id=188 sg: Provisional Allocation Results for Single Character Domain Names SGNIC is pleased to announce the provisional allocation results of the launch of Single Character Domain Names (SCDN). http://nic.net.sg/newsroom/20090305173335.html World's First Global Directory Service Goes"Live" Telnic today announced that it had achieved a milestone in the delivery of a new internet service, with tens of thousands of .tel domains going"live' today, creating the world's first global directory. http://www.webhostdir.com/news/showNews.aspx?ID=31421 http://uk.webhostdir.com/news/showNews.aspx?ID=31421 UK businesses to benefit from new technology as ENUM goes live Nominet is pleased to announce that ENUM, a new registry service that combines telephone numbers and the Domain Name System to simplify the way that VoIP calls work, is live. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=6241 UK businesses to benefit from new telecommunications technology with the launch of UK ENUM One number that works across multiple communication channels and devices - 'Follow me' feature will determine how and when an ENUM call receiver chooses to be contacted - Cheap or free calls for businesses. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/releases/?contentId=6252 uk: Problem with renewal reminder emails Nominet has identified a problem with the renewal emails issued to registrants since the changes to the renewals system were implemented on 4 February 2009. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=6249 Nominet announces ENUM going live in UK to benefit business Nominet have announced that they have launched ENUM in the UK, a new registry service that combines telephone numbers and the Domain Name System to simplify the way that VoIP calls (telephone calls made over the Internet) work. It will allow companies and their customers and suppliers to make free or cheaper calls. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/03/14/nominet-announces-enum-going-live-in-uk-to-benefit-business/ uk: Nominet promises VoIP savings with Enum system Nominet has launched a new telephone number mapping system designed to allow businesses, customers and suppliers to save money on VoIP calls. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2238490/nominet-launches-enum Enum VoIP registry goes live in UK The idea behind Enum is to allow businesses to use standard telephone numbers with their VoIP systems and have calls carried solely over the internet, rather than first being routed over the traditional PSTN network. It works by converting phone numbers dialled by callers into domain names. With that, businesses can present their customers with contact numbers in a familiar, standard format. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39626895,00.htm UK VoIP users to get better connected VoIP is about to get more attractive for UK businesses as a new registry service is set to go live. The UK ENUM registry will mean that businesses' VoIP information will be in the public domain meaning that better use could be made of lower-cost calls. http://www.techworld.com/news/index.cfm?NewsID=112652 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Political Cyberattacks to Militarize the Web [IDG] Governments looking to silence critics and stymie opposition have added DDOS (distributed denial of service) attacks to their censoring methods, according to a security expert speaking at the Source Boston Security Showcase. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/161142/.html http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/280025/ Foreign Web attacks change security paradigm [IDG] Traditional security systems may be ineffective and become obsolete in warding off Web attacks launched by countries, according to Val Smith, founder of Attack Research. New attack trends include blog spam and SQL injections from Russia and China, Smith said during his talk at the Source Boston Security Showcase on Friday. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/031309-foreign-web-attacks-change-security.html Latest Conficker worm gets nastier The authors of the latest variant of the Conficker worm are upping the ante against security vendors who are working to stop the spread and threat of the persistent program. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10196122-83.html Conficker/Downadup Evolves To Defend Itself The enigmatic Conficker worm has evolved, adopting new capabilities that make it more difficult than ever to find and eradicate, security researchers say. http://www.darkreading.com/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215900041 Major Cybercrime Busts Take Place In Romania The Romanian police had a busy Wednesday, breaking up a major bank fraud ring and arresting another individual who is accused of breaking into major U.S. government and university servers. http://www.darkreading.com/security/cybercrime/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215900249 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Record Number of Cybersquatting Cases in 2008, WIPO Proposes Paperless UDRP [news release] Allegations of cybersquatting by trademark holders continued to rise in 2008, with a record 2,329 complaints filed under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), a quick and cost-effective dispute resolution procedure administered by the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. This represented an 8% increase over 2007 in the number of gTLDs and ccTLDs disputes handled (Table 1) and brings the total number of WIPO cases filed under the UDRP since it was launched ten years ago to over 14,000. To improve efficiency and respond to growing demand, WIPO proposed in December 2008 an ?eUDRP Initiative? to render the UDRP paperless. http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2009/article_0005.html http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30196 Cybersquatting Cases Hit Record High in 2008: WIPO There were a record number of cybersquatting cases in 2008 according to the WIPO Center, with allegations continuing to rise throughout the year and 2,329 complaints filed under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=7542 http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/03/16/record-number-of-cybersquatting-in-2008-wipo/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/cybersquatting-disputes-hit-record-high-in-2008-wipo.html Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008 Companies and celebrities ranging from Arsenal football club to actress Scarlett Johansson filed a record number of "cybersquatting" cases in 2008 to stop others from profiting from their famous names, brands and events, a United Nations agency said on Sunday. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE52E22G20090315 http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/cybersquatting-cases-hit-record-in-2008-2549018 http://www.internetnews.com/breakingnews/article.php/3810461 http://www.canada.com/Technology/Cybersquatting+cases+record+2008/1394792/story.html http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090316.wgtcyber0316/BNStory/Technology/ Cybersquatting hits record high [AFP] The UN's World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo) on Sunday said it received last year a record number of complaints on cybersquatting - or abusive registration of trademarks on the internet. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/record-cases-of-cybersquatting-in-2008-un-20090316-8zaw.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/record-cases-of-cybersquatting-in-2008-un-20090316-8zaw.html http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_2485954,00.html Watchdog warns on domain names The planned introduction of new internet domains - adding to the likes of .com and .net - will spark trademark rows, confuse consumers and undermine public trust without tough new rules to curb abusive practices by "cybersquatters" and domain registrars, the United Nations warns. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e471e73e-11c9-11de-87b1-0000779fd2ac.html http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=772108 New generic TLDs will open cyber squatting floodgates The Wipo has expressed concerns over the impact of new TLDs proposed by the Icann, as it released annual figures showing a continued increase in cyber squatting cases. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2238564/wipo-voices-cybersquatting http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2238564/wipo-voices-cybersquatting UN agency calls for tougher rules to prevent cybersquatting The United Nations has warned that planned new TLD names could cause trademark wars and other problems without stringent controls to prevent abuse. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/03/16/235271/un-agency-calls-for-tougher-rules-to-prevent-cybersquatting.htm ICANN: cybersquatting complaints soar to highest level ever ICANN is on track to open up the TLD system later this year to any number of ad-hoc extensions like .great or even .exe. A new report from the WIPO brings to light yet again the pitfalls of ICANN's plan, as cybersquatting complaints rose to their highest level ever in 2008?before anyone could buy google.stinks. http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/03/record-cybersquatting-cases-cast-shadow-on-icanns-tld-plans.ars Latest Cybersquatting Stats from WIPO According to latest reports from the WIPO, allegations of cybersquatting by trademark holders continued to rise in 2008, with a record 2,329 complaints filed under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/ WIPO: Cybersquatting Hits Record The number of cybersquatting complaints reached a record in 2008, the WIPO reported Monday. http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/03/wipo-cybersquat.html New generic TLDs will open cyber squatting floodgates Wipo has expressed concerns over the impact of new gTLDs proposed by Icann as it released annual figures showing a continued increase in cyber squatting cases. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/98897,new-generic-tlds-will-open-cyber-squatting-floodgates.aspx Record Number of Cybersquatting Disputes Filed in 2008 The internet as we know and love it today is an indispensible part of our everyday lives. The internet is a source for information that can be used for all sorts of legitimate purposes by people all around the world. However, the internet is also a hotbed of deceit and users who are out to take advantage of the unsuspecting hoards. http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14581 Cybersquatting Up 8 Percent From 2007 The UN?s WIPO reported 2,329 cases of cybersquatting complaints in 2008, representing an eight percent increase compared to 2007 figures. http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1654890/cybersquatting_up_8_percent_from_2007/ WIPO: Cybersquatters Set Record Pace In 2008 Cybersquatters stayed busy last year, according to a new report from the WIPO. Indeed, they set a record, and it looks like they're on track to do so again in 2009. http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2009/03/16/wipo-cybersquatters-set-record-pace-in-2008 Record Number of Cybersquatting Disputes Filed in 2008 Experts say the creation of new domain extensions by ICANN will open door for even more cybersquatting http://www.dailytech.com/Record+Number+of+Cybersquatting+Disputes+Filed+in+2008+/article14581c.htm New TLDs at risk of name squatters Former United States vice-president Al Gore just won't go away. Everywhere you turn these days, he is there. Before the US presidential election last year, many key strokes were wasted on the internet with people debating whether Mr Gore should just be appointed as president because, well, because he is Al Gore, protector of the world's environment. http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/47798/new-tlds-risk-name-squatters Brand owners win big in UDRP cases Complainants won 85% of contested domain name disputes before WIPO?s Arbitration and Mediation Center last year, according to data released today http://managingip.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2133914 Over 2,000 cybersquatting cases in 2008 The highest number of cybersquatting cases ever were filed during 2008, says the WIPO. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=112760 WIPO: Cyber-squatting problem is getting worse More figures out this week show that cyber-squatting remains a major problem on the Internet. The number of cases handled by the WIPO was up 8% last year. In fact, during the course of 2008, WIPO received a record 2,329 cases. http://www.bizreport.com/2009/03/wipo_cyber-squatting_problem_is_getting_worse.html UN claims cybersquatting hits record numbers in 2008 Cybersquatting is the act of registering a domain name like gogole.com or micrsofot.com, hoping to capitalize on the common misspellings of popular websites. According to the United Nations' WIPO, in 2008 a record number of complaints were filed about this "abusive registration of trademarks on the Internet". http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41729/113/ The Rush to Stake a Claim Online ?Cybersquatting,? the practice of maliciously snapping up a Web site with someone else?s trademark in its domain name, is illegal in the United States. It is also an easy way to make money; a cybersquatter can impersonate the trademark?s owner, sell ad space to the victim?s competitors, or extort a payment in return for turning over the Web site. http://nytimes.com/2009/03/16/technology/internet/16drill.html http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20090316/znyt05/903163003 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** CADNA's Policy Forum Discusses the $1.5 Billion Business ?Tax? Brands Are Not Expecting [news release] The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) held a policy forum for government experts and brand owners yesterday, February 3, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the forum was to explore the state of the Internet and discuss the shortcomings of existing Internet governance and policy development. Attendees shared their ideas about what actions brand owners and the US government can take to change the current course of the domain name space and prevent the Internet from becoming increasingly dangerous and unruly. http://www.cadna.org/en/newsroom/press-releases/cadna-washington-policy-forum-discussion A Green Blog Understands Top Level Domain Names I've read a lot of bad analysis about new TLDs. You know, the type where the reported takes spoon fed information from a new TLD promoter and just publishes it without any thought. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/03/13/a-green-blog-understands-top-level-domain-names/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** F1.GP Domain Up For Sale The Network Information Center .GP, the Guadeloupe registry, has announced the domain name f1.gp is up for sale. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/03/14/f1gp-domain-up-for-sale/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/f1.gp-domain-up-for-sale.html domain name f1.gp available! You can bid for this domain from now to March 15,2009. http://www.nic.gp/news/newsReader.php?id=57 FlatRate.de Flattens the Competition - $200,000 Sale Vaults to the Top Spot of This Week's Sales Chart In the biggest country code sale of the year to date, Sedo has completed the ?160,000 ($200,000) sale of FlatRate.de. That transaction takes the top spot on our new weekly all extension Top 20 Chart, outdistancing the $80,000 sale of runner-up Claim.com at the AfternicDLS. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/03-10-09.htm Did Auction.com Sell for $2.5 Million? Unconfirmed reports are bubbling on Twitter and other sites that the "category killer" domain name, Auction.com, may have been sold for $2.5 million. Based on the current whois record and the whois record from 2-days ago, the domain is definitely under new ownership. A new site is also live with the domain redirecting to REDC, a company that specializes in foreclosure auctions and has been using the less-than-stellar domain name USHomeAuction.com. http://www.domainnamenews.com/domain-aftermarket/rumor-auctioncom-sold-25-million/4370 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Tim Berners-Lee for world Internet czar? When it comes to things Web-related, sometimes you just want to read something sensible, for a change. So it was with some relief that the recent words of Tim Berners-Lee swam through my left ear without entirely exiting from my right. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10195407-71.html Berners-Lee: Semantic Web will build in privacy Web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee says he is making sure the Semantic Web will respect the privacy of online communications and allow people to control who can use their data. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10195902-93.html Hurrah Berners-Lee! Web celebrates 20th anniversary Twenty years ago, computers were either the size of a basketball court or they were novelties that we played with. Twenty years ago, we got our news at 6 p.m. on television or in the morning newspaper. Twenty years ago, if you wanted to buy a sweater, you drove from store to store until you spent as much on gas as you did on the sweater. http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9129645 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/031309-hurrah-berners-lee-web-celebrates-20th.html World Wide Web creator Sir Tim Berners-Lee fell victim to online fraud Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the worldwide web, has revealed how he fell victim to online fraudsters while trying to buy a gift over the internet. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/technologynews/4990442/World-Wide-Web-creator-Sir-Tim-Berners-Lee-fell-victim-to-online-fraud.html Web founder looks to big changes The founder of the World Wide Web says the pace of innovation on the web is increasing all the time. Marking the 20th anniversary of his proposal to create the web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee said "new changes are going to rock the world even more". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7943319.stm Cern celebrates 20 years of the web The European Centre for Nuclear Research, or Cern, on Friday celebrated 20 years since the conception of the World Wide Web. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39627523,00.htm Browsing The Future: Mozilla's Firefox gave Microsoft a run for its money. What's next? At least 18 percent of you already know what Firefox is, because you're using it to read this interview. (Or so says the statistics engine behind Newsweek.com, which tracks things like that.) For the unfamiliar, Firefox is a free Web browser that is built by coders around the world whose open-source work is organized by the Mozilla Corp. and its nonprofit parent, the Mozilla Foundation. Introduced in 2004 as an alternative to Microsoft's ubiquitous, but buggy, Internet Explorer, Firefox has been a force for innovation in the browser category, with improvements such as tabbed browsing and plug-ins that work on any operating system. Commissions from search engines appear to keep Mozilla awash in revenue for now ($75 million in 2007; the foundation has not released 2008 data), although the vast majority of that comes from a company, Google, that now has its own competing browser, Chrome. Mozilla's plans for 2009 include a new version of Firefox, which will focus on user-interface polish; an overhaul of Thunderbird, its e-mail client; and taking Firefox mobile. Mitchell Baker, the Mozilla Foundation's chairwoman, spoke to NEWSWEEK's Nick Summers and Barrett Sheridan about the challenges of making a browser for mobile phones, adapting to a socially networked universe and what she really thinks of Chrome and Internet Explorer. http://www.newsweek.com/id/187745 Pope Admits Online News Can Provide Infallible Aid The letter released Thursday in which Pope Benedict XVI admitted that the Vatican had made \ldblquote mistakes\rdblquote in handling the case of a Holocaust-denying bishop was unprecedented in its directness, its humanity and its acknowledgment of papal fallibility. http://nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/europe/13pope.html Seattle paper shifts entirely to the Web On Tuesday, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper will produce its last printed edition and become an Internet-only news source, the Hearst Corporation said on Monday, making it by far the largest American newspaper to take that leap. http://nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/media/17paper.html http://iht.com/articles/2009/03/16/business/17paper.php eBay zeroes in on PayPal in overhaul EBay Inc, fending off worries that its best days are over, hopes to transform itself by galvanizing growth at its PayPal payments system and jump-starting its lagging core business, top executives said on Wednesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE52A67920090312 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Social networks 'are new email' Status updates on sites such as Facebook, Yammer, Twitter and Friendfeed are a new form of communication, the South by SouthWest Festival has heard. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7942304.stm ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Commission pushes ICT use for a greener Europe [news release] As part of its effort to combat climate change and drive economic recovery, the European Commission today called on Member States and industry to use information and communications technologies (ICT) to improve energy efficiency. These technologies are expected to reduce total carbon emissions in Europe by up to 15% by 2020. ICT can not only improve monitoring and management of energy use in factories, offices and in public spaces but above all help make people more aware of how they use energy. With smart metering in their homes, for example, consumers have been found to reduce their energy consumption by as much as 10%. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/393 Microsoft plans to reduce carbon footprint by 30% [IDG] Microsoft Corp. has set a goal for reducing its carbon emissions and has plans to support the development of software that can help address climate change issues, the company's chief environmental strategist said. http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9129570 Microsoft aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent In a post last week on the Microsoft's Environment Sustainability Blog, Rob Bernard, Chief Environmental Strategist, explained Microsoft's goals for the environment: "Today, I want to focus on our carbon footprint goal. We understand that environmental action must begin at home. Today, Steve announced to all employees that Microsoft has set a goal to reduce its carbon emissions per unit of revenue by at least 30% compared with 2007 levels by 2012. We'll achieve this goal by improving energy use in our buildings and operations, reducing air travel, and increasing our use of renewable energy." I recommend checking out the full letter as it's a good read. http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/03/microsoft-aims-to-reduce-carbon-emissions-by-30-percent.ars ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Survey finds 25pc of NZ students sexually solicited online About 25 per cent of secondary school students say they have been aggressively sexually solicited online, according to a survey by the internet safety organisation Netsafe. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10561966 http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/47709/quarter-teens-online-sex-targets-survey http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/771722/25-kiwi-teens-sexually-solicited-online http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/25-kiwi-teens-sexually-solicited-online-20090316-8zfh.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/25-kiwi-teens-sexually-solicited-online-20090316-8zfh.html Quarter of teens approached for sex online New research shows that a quarter of all secondary school students have been subjected to sexual advances on the internet. http://www.3news.co.nz/ScienceTech/Story/tabid/412/articleID/95628/cat/73/Default.aspx One in four students sexually solicited online [ONE News] A survey has found one in four high school students has been sexually solicited online. The finding is part of an on-going Netsafe study, which is looking at students' internet use, the challenges they face and how they deal with them. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/one-in-four-students-sexually-solicited-online-2550444 au: Greedy ISPs kept from filtering trial Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that the reason some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) hadn't been chosen in the first round of ISP filtering was that they had greedily tried to get the department to pay for upgrades to their own equipment. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Greedy-ISPs-kept-from-filtering-trial/0,130061791,339295460,00.htm au: Web watchdog changes tack after blacklist leak The communications regulator has been forced to change its internal processes after the address of a prohibited anti-abortion web page in its top-secret blacklist was widely distributed on the internet. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25196505-15306,00.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Google calls the tune after the day the music died on YouTube by Andrew Keen It was last Tuesday that the music died for British viewers of YouTube. It was then that Google, YouTube's strict parent, began blocking UK viewers from watching what they call "premium music videos" on the internet's most popular video platform. The reason, of course, was money. Google had been unable to cut a new licensing or royalties deal for YouTube content with the Performing Rights Society (PRS), the body that collects royalties for music artists. Both sides naturally went in PR spin overdrive after the decision ? PRS finding Google's decision "particularly disappointing", while a Google spokesman claimed that PRS's financial demands were so "prohibitive" that they would force YouTube to "lose significant amounts of money with every playback". http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/andrew-keen-google-calls-the-tune-after-the-day-the-music-died-on-youtube-1645642.html Torrent search engine Mininova earning ?1 million a year One of the key issues in the recent Pirate Bay trial was the prosecutor's contention that the lads behind the site were raking in something like 10 million kronor (one million dollars) a year. This led defendant Gottfried Svartholm Warg to complain during a court recess: "It's totally absurd, those numbers are totally disconnected from reality." And, for good measure, he took a shot at the prosecutor. "The old bastard's crazy," he said. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/03/torrent-search-engine-mininova-earning-1-million-a-year.ars ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Take-up of 3G among Australian SMEs up 41% - study [sub req'd] Ninety-eight percent of Australia's SMEs with an internet connection use their online service to communicate with customers and suppliers. Furthermore, over 95 percent are connected to some form of broadband service, according to an Australian... http://www.telecompaper.com/news/ 3G Phones Exposing Networks? Last-Gen Technology [reg req'd] Oh, the things modern mobile phones can do. They are music-playing, video-taking, direction-providing multimedia powerhouses. But many people have trouble getting them to perform their most basic functions, like making phone calls. The underlying problem, industry analysts say, is the complex quilt of the nation?s wireless networks. The major mobile carriers have spent tens of billions of dollars on new voice and data networks that they advertise as superfast wireless express lanes. But analysts say these upgrades present major engineering challenges, and the networks often underperform. http://nytimes.com/2009/03/14/technology/14phone.html ********************** SPAM ********************** nz: New 'Spam King' Linked to SMS Campaign Spammer Brendan Battles is being linked to an unsolicited bulk SMS marketing campaign in New Zealand that could breach New Zealand anti-spam laws. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/161275/.html Report Says Spam Arms Race Escalating Just four months ago, the world enjoyed a brief reduction in spam with the closure of McColo, a U.S.-based Web host that was accused of being a major hub for spammer activity, including a massive botnet called Srbizi. http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3810446 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** NZ court papers can be served via Facebook, judge rules A High Court judge today approved the serving of court papers via Facebook, the popular social network website, in what is thought to be a New Zealand first. The High Court in Wellington was told that Axe Market Garden is trying to sue Craig Axe who is alleged to have taken $241,000 from the firm account. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10561970 Kiwi judge follows Australian Facebook precedent [AFP] A New Zealand judge has approved the serving of court documents through the social networking website Facebook on a man being sued over his business dealings.High Court associate justice David Glendall approved the serving of legal papers on Craig Axe, who is alleged to have taken $NZ241,000 from his family's market garden company account. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/03/16/1237054723620.html http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/03/16/1237054723620.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2266647/You-ve-been-served-on-Facebook Facebook court decision praised [ONE News] A lawyer specialising in internet issues is welcoming a court decision to serve papers via a social networking site. The High Court has approved papers to be served via Facebook for the first time in New Zealand. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/facebook-court-decision-praised-2552616 nz: Online scammers on the prowl, targeting Kiwis A Christchurch woman is urging Gumtree website users to be on the alert for online scammers after she was conned out of hundreds of dollars. http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NationalNews/Online-scammers-on-the-prowl-targeting-Kiwis/tabid/423/articleID/95280/cat/64/Default.aspx au: Web users urged to log onto safety A report released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority has warned internet users they need to be more pro-active protecting themselves online. http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn1605.html Google lawyers seek to halt Italy trial Lawyers for Google are expected to challenge Italy's right to try Google executives at a hearing on Tuesday, in a trial seen as a test case over attempts to "police" web content. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5919840.ece BBC responds to botnet illegality claims The BBC has said that it had no intention of breaking the law by building and using a botnet. BBC Click acquired the means to build a botnet, used it to spam Gmail and Hotmail accounts it had set up, and launch a distrbuted denial of service attack against security company Prev-X. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10012359o-2000331828b,00.htm BBC programme broke law with botnets, says lawyer A BBC programme has broken the Computer Misuse Act by acquiring and using software to control 22,000 computers, creating a botnet capable of bringing down websites. A technology law specialist has said that the activity is illegal. http://out-law.com/page-9863 ************************** PRIVACY ************************** A Guide to Google's New Privacy Controls Google has moved forward the debate about privacy and Internet advertising, in its typical way, with deceptively simple engineering and a willingness to impose its way on others. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/a-guide-to-googles-new-privacy-controls/ Many Americans See Privacy on Web as Big Issue, Survey Says As arguments swirl over online privacy, a new survey indicates the issue is a dominant concern for Americans. More than 90 percent of respondents called online privacy a ?really? or ?somewhat? important issue, according to the survey of more than 1,000 Americans conducted by TRUSTe, an organization that monitors the privacy practices of Web sites of companies like I.B.M., Yahoo and WebMD for a fee. http://nytimes.com/2009/03/16/technology/internet/16privacy.html Canadian privacy rights buried in the fine print by Michael Geist Scott McNealy, the former CEO of Sun Microsystems Inc., has achieved considerable notoriety for having warned Internet users 10 years ago that "you have no privacy, get over it." Recent headlines suggest Ontario courts have adopted those sentiments, as two recent decisions involving the disclosure of subscriber information by Internet service providers confirmed that revealing personal information to law enforcement without a warrant is permitted under Canadian privacy law. http://www.thestar.com/article/602772 U.S. privacy bill on Internet companies coming A top U.S. lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday said he is working to develop a bill to impose mandatory guidelines on Internet companies to protect user privacy, because the current voluntary approach is falling short. http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE52A6JN20090312 A Call to Legislate Internet Privacy The debate on Internet privacy has begun in Congress. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/a-call-to-legislate-internet-privacy/ ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Google, Yahoo Criticized Over Foreign Censorship In a report on Internet censorship, Reporters Without Borders scolds the tech giants?including Microsoft?for cooperating with repressive governments http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2009/tc20090312_381922.htm ?Internet monitored and controlled, even in democracies? Reporters Without Borders today issued a report entitled ?Enemies of the Internet? in which it examines Internet censorship and other threats to online free expression in 22 countries. http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=30543 Report handed in to ?Internet Enemy? embassies on eve of Online Free Expression Day Reporters Without Borders yesterday handed in copies of its 2009 ?Internet Enemies? report at the Paris embassies of the 22 countries identified as an ?enemy? or source of concern in the report, issued to mark Online Free Expression Day today. The Tunisian and Burmese embassies refused to take its copy. http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=30574 Afghan student facing 20 years in hell for downloading article on women's rights Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, the student journalist sentenced to death for blasphemy in Afghanistan, has been told he will spend the next 20 years in jail after the country's highest court ruled against him \endash without even hearing his defence. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/student-facing-twenty-years-in-hell-1643069.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** UK government outlines digital rights agency proposal The government today fleshed out the digital rights agency proposed in Lord Carter's Digital Britain report and called for comment from the industry and consumers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/mar/13/uk-government-outlines-digital-rights-agency File sharing agency up for debate The government has outlined the details of its proposed digital rights agency. The agency -a key element of Lord Carter's Digital Britain report - would encourage people to use legal sources of copyrighted material. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7945754.stm Britain Targets Illegal Downloads British Communications Minister Lord Stephen Carter has revealed more details of his plan to create a digital rights agency that's designed to help combat illegal file-sharing. http://www.pcworld.com/article/161179/.html au: ACMA takes aim at Whirlpool, supplier IN an unprecedented move, Australia's communications regulator has threatened to fine a company up to $11,000 a day for indirectly leaking part of its top-secret list of banned internet web pages. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25181408-15306,00.html nz: Law Society voices its criticisms of S92A If you think the debate over section 92A of New Zealand?s new copyright law is getting a bit emotional, you are probably right. Now a more sober group, the Auckland District Law Society, has pointed to issues in the legislation that it says could undermine ?fundamental precepts of our common law system?. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/C23D39B703278365CC25757A0069BDBC nz: Child porn threat used to push S92A Waikato University's weekly Student Union magazine Nexus reports that United Video and other video rental stores in Hamilton are using the threat of child pornography to get customers to sign a petition in favour of Section 92A of New Zealand's new copyright law. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/9BD4DBDC1895CEEBCC25757B0003E194 NZ Copyright section could be changed A controversial clause in the Copyright Act due to come into force in February could be changed if ICT groups and copyright owners can reach a compromise. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/it-telcos/670724/Copyright-section-could-be-changed nz: Hide calls for repeal of internet copyright law ACT leader Rodney Hide wants the controversial internet copyright law repealed and says he will recommend that to the Government. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10561679 TelstraClear decision must mean end of 92A [news release] InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) says TelstraClear's decision not to support the Telecommunications Carriers' Forum Copyright Code of Practice means the Government should promptly repeal Section 92A of the Copyright Act. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/telstraclear-decision-must-mean-end-of-92a NSW not alone in police hacking laws Proposed state legislation that would allow NSW Police to quietly hack into suspects' computers remotely reflected similar moves in other jurisdictions, a notable Australian cybercrime analyst said today. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/NSW-not-alone-in-police-hacking-laws/0,130061744,339295429,00.htm NSW passes police hacking bill Legislation to boost NSW Police covert searching and computer hacking powers looks set to go ahead after facing almost no opposition in the lower house of the NSW Parliament earlier this week. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/NSW-passes-police-hacking-bill/0,130061744,339295451,00.htm ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** nz: ISPs agree on code? Some chance There's slim chance of ISPs widely adopting a cumbersome scheme to give teeth to section 92a of the Copyright Act. The scheme is being hammered out by the Telecommunications Carriers Forum. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/analysis/2265353/ISPs-agree-on-a-code-Some-chance Commission calls for doubling funding for ICT research and innovation Making Europe the world leader in ICT is the goal of the new strategy proposed today by the European Commission. Today Europe represents 34% of the global information and communication technologies (ICT) market, and its value is growing by 4% per year. However, the value added produced by the EU's ICT sector amounts to only 23% of the total, because both Europe's market and research efforts are fragmented. As a result, Europe is lagging behind its global competitors in ICT research and in the production of innovative ICT-based products and services. The strategy proposed calls on Member States and industry to pool resources and work together more in ICT research and innovation. The strategy also proposes showcase ICT innovation projects to deliver modern services infrastructures in areas like healthcare and energy efficiency. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/397 ACCC threatens dodgy telcos Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Graeme Samuel today warned the telecommunications industry that it would face additional regulation and court action unless it stopped misleading and cheating consumers. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/ACCC-threatens-dodgy-telcos/0,130061791,339295452,00.htm ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN ********************************** Austria smashes child porn ring Austrian police say they have broken an internet child porn ring that spanned 170 countries and involved nearly 1,000 people, including teachers and doctors. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7941935.stm Child pornography ring broken up in Austria [Reuters] The Austrian police said Friday they had broken an Internet child pornography ring that stretched across 170 countries, charging nearly 200 men and confiscating 14,000 computers, hard drives and diskettes. The site was visited 12 million times before it was shut down. "Unfortunately there were people involved who work closely with children, like teachers," a federal police investigator, Harald Gremel, said at a news conference. http://iht.com/articles/2009/03/13/europe/13austria.php au: Man charged with child porn offences [AAP] A 62-YEAR-OLD man from regional NSW has been charged with child porn offences after a tip-off from America's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25181723-5006784,00.html Child porn swoop nets SA teens A MAJOR police operation targeting internet pedophiles has resulted in 11 people facing charges in SA and scores of investigations being launched interstate and overseas. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25187103-5006301,00.html us: Man charged with alleged child porn via PS3 A Kentucky man has been charged after allegedly persuading an 11-year-old girl to send nude pictures of herself while they played video games online via their PlayStation 3 consoles, according to reports. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10196553-235.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein address: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA email: Goldstein_David §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 Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look http://au.docs.yahoo.com/mail/smarterinboxReceived on Mon Mar 16 2009 - 14:40:04 UTC
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