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://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Internet Governance: An Oxymoron? http://news.discovery.com/tech/internet-governance-an-oxymoron.html China Isn't Happy With the IGF by Rebecca MacKinnon http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091119_china_isnt_happy_with_the_igf/ The IGF and the Internet Society-ITU rivalry by Milton Mueller http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/11/20/4385849.html 4 days in the Fast Track Process by Tina Dam http://blog.icann.org/2009/11/4-days-in-the-fast-track-process/ ICANN Strategic Plan Survey http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-19nov09-en.htm Cannot Understand Non-Latin Domain Name Endings? http://www.australiantrademarkslawblog.com/2009/11/articles/domain-names/cannot-understand-nonlatin-domain-name-endings/ .?? Internationalised Domain Name will translate DNS in Russian http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=9679 uk: Push starts to make ?Digital Britain? law http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e66bcd0-d5c9-11de-b80f-00144feabdc0.html A world class Digital Economy for Britain [news release] http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=408781&SubjectId=2 Nominet response to the Digital Economy Bill http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=6811 Mandelson to get Nominet reform powers http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/20/nominet_law/ UK Digital Economy Bill proposes to take control of domain registries http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/11/20/239410/UK-Digital-Economy-Bill-proposes-to-take-control-of-domain.htm .ZA Licensing regulations released http://www.zadna.org.za/licensing.html Chinese cyber-spying grows against US, report says http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-44103220091119 Close Doesn't Count in Cybersquatting http://pblog.bna.com/techlaw/2009/11/close-doesnt-count-in-cybersquatting.html RIPE NCC Launches IPv6 Implementation Guide http://ripe.net/news/ipv6-implementation-guide.html What's Driving Spam and Domain Fraud? Illicit Drug Traffic http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091119_whats_driving_spam_and_domain_fraud_illicit_drug_traffic/ SnapNames Revises Rebate Offer Acceptance Agreement http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/11/23/snapnames-revises-rebate-offer-acceptance-agreement/ ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Internet Governance: An Oxymoron? The idea that one government, one organization, or a single group "controls the Internet" is laughable. In my reporting lately, I heard someone refer to the 'Net as "modulated anarchy." I like that. But that, of course, doesn't stop some from trying to reign in the chaos, at least a little bit. The Internet Governance Forum bills itself as "a forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue" on a number of Internet-related topics. Those topics include everything from cyber-security, to ICT for development, to helping people with disabilities better access the Internet. The IGF grew out of the mandate of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), a series of two major Internet meetings organized by the United Nations in 2003 and 2005. The idea was for the IGF to bring together not just governments, but businesses and non-profits (anyone with a stake in the Internet really), and try to carry forward both the initiatives and momentum engendered by the WSIS meetings. http://news.discovery.com/tech/internet-governance-an-oxymoron.html China Isn't Happy With the IGF by Rebecca MacKinnon On the final day of a four-day meeting, most government representatives expressed support for renewing the Internet Governance Forum's five-year mandate which ends next year. China did not. Chen Yin, the head of the Chinese delegation to the Internet Governance Forum, said yesterday that the IGF's mandate should not be continued without reforms. Below is the full text of his statement, taken from the official transcript here [PDF]. Video (with bad-quality audio in Chinese) can be found on YouTube here. I've added a few links so that the acronyms will make more sense to people who aren't professional Internet governance wonks: http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091119_china_isnt_happy_with_the_igf/ The IGF and the Internet Society-ITU rivalry by Milton Mueller This year?s IGF was characterized by intensified rivalry between the backers of the Internet Society/ICANN and the supporters of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which would like to contest the former?s hegemony over Internet names and number governance. Many workshops and main sessions of the Forum get sucked into this polarity one way or the other, especially if they discuss critical internet resources. Talk to the ISOC/ICANN supporters and one will get the impression they are engaged in a fight for their life. I am skeptical of this http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/11/20/4385849.html NRO Statement about IGF Continuation The NRO consists of five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) - AfriNIC, APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC and the RIPE NCC - all of which are represented at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2009. Together, the RIRs represent, and are supported by, thousands of organizations worldwide according to a multi-stakeholder model. http://nro.net/news/nro-statement-igf-continuation.html UN forum examines how to maximize Internet?s potential to help poor countries develop A United Nations-backed international gathering focusing on how to make the most of the Internet to boost social and economic well-being for the greatest number of people around the world is underway in Egypt. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32965 Taking the web to new heights The fourth Forum of Governance and Management of the Internet, hosted by Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh, ended its sessions Tuesday having attracted more than 1,500 international figures involved in Internet issues, representing more than 100 countries all over the world, including some 50 ministers of communication, information and senior officials, along with a selection of heads of international companies and NGOs. http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/973/ec3.htm IGF 2009: Dull speeches and bad wine So I?m sat in the opening ceremony of the Internet Governance Forum in Sharm El Sheikh ? a cosy cinema seat at the further front-right of a giant summit hall ? watching the various dignatories giving a wide variety of dull speeches. http://kierenmccarthy.com/2009/11/15/igf-2009-dull-speeches-and-bad-wine/ Internet Governance Forum ?09 Roundup: IP Blocking, Root Changes and IDNs The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) concluded this week and its implications sent shockwaves rippling through the domain industry. http://idnblog.com/2009/11/20/internet-governance-forum-09/comment-page-1/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** 4 days in the Fast Track Process by Tina Dam Just a brief message to keep you up to date. As of 00:00 UTC today ? 4 days after the launch of the Fast Track Process we have new requests coming in. The total number is 10 requests. They spread over 5 different languages. http://blog.icann.org/2009/11/4-days-in-the-fast-track-process/ Bulk Transfer of Mouzz Interactive Domains to Sibername.com ICANN has authorized a bulk transfer of Mouzz Interactive Inc.?s gTLD domain names to Sibername.com, Inc., due to a compliance action taken by ICANN that resulted in the de-accreditation of registrar Mouzz Interactive Inc. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20nov09-en.htm ICANN Strategic Plan Survey As part of its consultation process for the development of the July 2010-June 2013 Strategic Plan, ICANN is seeking the views of the community on ICANN?s priorities for the coming three years. Following the successful trial of a survey at the public consultation session at the Seoul meeting, ICANN invites all members of the community to respond to the revised version of the survey. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-19nov09-en.htm A Thought About Not-Quite-ASCII Top Level Domains by John Levine ICANN has opened their new fast track process for "countries and territories that use languages based on scripts other than Latin" to get domain names that identify the country or territory in its own language. It's not clear to me what the policy is supposed to be for countries whose languages use extended Latin with accents and other marks that aren't in the ASCII set. http://www.circleid.com/posts/a_thought_about_not_quite_ascii_top_level_domains/ IDN and Email: The Harsh Reality There has been a lot of talk about IDNs here and elsewhere but what does the reality look like for a plain user? As a test, I randomly choose 28 domains from Alexa's top 100 Sites and tried to create a user account with the email address user§??.com. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091120_idn_and_email_the_harsh_reality/ Internet signs of the decline and fall of the Roman empire THE use of scripts other than Roman characters to register top-level domain names was recently sanctioned by Icann, a non-profit body overseeing web addresses. http://business.scotsman.com/business/Internet-signs-of-the-decline.5842465.jp http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/business/Internet-signs-of-the-decline.5842465.jp ICANN, Inc.: Accountability and participation in the governance of critical Internet resources by Brenden Kuerbis IGP releases today a new paper assessing the relationship between public participation and accountability in ICANN. It explains how ICANN has responded to accountability concerns by creating new opportunities for public comment, review, and participation. Is public participation an adequate means of making this global Internet governance organization accountable to the public? ICANN is fundamentally a private corporation. Private corporations are held accountable in three ways: 1) directly through their membership or shareholders, 2) through competition, which gives the public the opportunity to avoid their products or services, and 3) through external regulation or supervision by judicial or public authorities. None of these forms of accountability apply to ICANN. Instead, the public is given a wide range of opportunities to participate in ICANN?s processes and to voice their opinions. This paper questions whether participation is an adequate substitute for accountability. It analyzes three distinct reforms in ICANN?s history to show how participation can displace accountability rather than improve it. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/11/16/4381766.html Applications Processing for IDN ccTLDs Fast Track Since 16th Nov 09 Applications Processing for IDN ccTLDs Fast Track has been started. The countries and territories who are using non-English Language (nationwide) for official documentation or for community, are eligible to apply for a new country code top level domain name (ccTLD) in their own Native Language through a designated manager. Designated Manager has to submit online application to M/s ICANN for the new name script. Name Script should be meaningful, minimum 2 letter and maximum 63 letters long. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091120_applications_processing_for_idn_cctlds_fast_track/ Bangla may be used in net domain name Icann has agreed in principle to include Bangla as one of the languages to be used in top-level domain name, said a parliamentary committee yesterday. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=115255 Comment Period On New gTLD Guidebook V3 Closes Today The deadline to comment to ICANN on Version 3 of the gTLD guidebook (adobe file) is today at midnight. http://www.thedomains.com/2009/11/22/comment-period-on-new-gtld-guidebook-v3-closes-today/ US control over Internet hotly disputed A wide-ranging three-hour session on critical Internet resources at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Sharm El Sheikh this week made clear the continuing points of global friction when it comes to how US involvement Internet control is perceived by its critics. http://www.itwire.com/content/view/29530/53/ Life In Beta--How Design thinking Can Help Us Navigate Through This Time of Cascading Change ... Let?s begin with the forces sweeping through global society. First, the rise and fall of nations and what it means for culture and commerce. Last month, the internet regulator, ICANN, announced that it would allow web addresses to be written in non-Latin languages. In effect, it reflects the end of English dominance of the web. Chinese, Korean, Hindi and Arabic speakers will be able to address their email in their own language. I predict this move will go down in history as being as important as the dollar going off the gold standard in 1973. In fact, they are two data points on an historic arc representing a trend?the economic rise of Asia vis a vis the West. http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2009/11/life_in_beta--h.html Cannot Understand Non-Latin Domain Name Endings? From 16 November 2009, ICANN will take the first step in a long process to introduce the option of ending domain names in non-Latin characters with an aim to improving access for 800 million-plus Internet users in non-Latin script using countries. However, no-one can register domain names with the new endings yet, so keep your hairy shirt on. If you cannot understand non-Latin domain name endings, this article may help, but finding websites featuring Thai ladyboys is about to get a whole lot more difficult. http://www.australiantrademarkslawblog.com/2009/11/articles/domain-names/cannot-understand-nonlatin-domain-name-endings/ Informal Working Group Publish Report On New TLDs In an interesting move several members of the ICANN community formed an "informal" Working Group to discuss the concept of "expressions of interest" in new TLDs. This all happened very quickly, which is more or less the opposite to how most ICANN related activities progress. http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2009/11/18/informal-working-group-publish-report-on-new/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** More Problems for .CM Domain as Registry Loses Files The ?relaunch? of Cameroon?s .cm domain name stuttered out of the gate after many technical difficulties. Apparently those problems continue, and it highlights one of the risks of buying certain country code domain names. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/11/19/more-problems-for-cm-domain-as-registry-loses-files/ Good news for .IS domains The total number of dot IS domains has now reached 27.000. New .IS-domain registrations have been very healthy lately and new registrations this September increased by 77% over September 2008, and October registrations increased 45% over the same month last year. http://www.isnic.is/news/index.php my: Online Presence: Your Gateway to Success Seminar .my DOMAIN REGISTRY is pleased to announce that the presentation slides from the Online Presence: Your Gateway to Success Seminar are now available for viewing. http://domainregistry.my/readnews.php?id=87 .?? Internationalised Domain Name will translate DNS in Russian 16 November 2009 ? the day Russian Federation officially applied for Cyrillic domain .?? (.RF) to ICANN. This event was preceded by two years of collaboration between ICANN, Russian government, local internet-society and key market players. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=9679 http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/11/23/rf-idn-translate-dns-in-russian/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/%D0%A0%D0%A4-internationalised-domain-name-will-translate-dns-in-russian.html uk: Push starts to make ?Digital Britain? law The culmination of more than a year?s work on boosting a ?Digital Britain? was published on Friday as the UK government put forward legislation to tackle illegal file sharing and abuse of internet domain names, protect local news provision and add age ratings to video games. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e66bcd0-d5c9-11de-b80f-00144feabdc0.html Digital Economy Bill gets tough on file-sharers People who unlawfully download copyrighted material could be disconnected from their internet accounts as part of the Digital Economy Bill, a major overhaul to the UK's technology legislation. ... The government will also gain powers to intervene if UK-based internet domain-name-use is being abused. This is currently in the remit of the .uk registry, Nominet, but the DCMS spokesman said internal conflict on the Nominet board could necessitate government intervention. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39893271,00.htm A world class Digital Economy for Britain [news release] The Digital Economy Bill, introduced today, sets out Government plans to ensure the UK is at the leading edge of the global digital economy. ... Internet domain names: Ensure the efficient allocating and registering of internet domain names in the UK by taking reserve powers. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=408781&SubjectId=2 Nominet response to the Digital Economy Bill In today's Digital Economy Bill the Government has set out the legislative measures it is taking to deliver its vision of a Digital Britain, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of the digital revolution, increasing digital participation and fostering innovation. The inclusion in the Digital Economy Bill of reserve powers to regulate the UK domain name industry and provide a guarantee that the public interest will underpin the operation of the UK domain name space was clearly laid out in the Digital Britain Review and Implementation plans. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=6811 UK Bill Would Regulate Domain Name Registries A bill introduced in the United Kingdom Parliament would have potentially adverse effects on domain name registries operating out of the United Kingdom. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/11/22/uk-bill-would-regulate-domain-name-registries/ Mandelson to get Nominet reform powers Ministers have revealed new legislation that will allow the government to take over and reform Nominet, following a boardroom battle over the .uk registry's future. The reserve powers are included in the Digital Economy Bill, published today by Lord Mandelson's Department for Business. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/20/nominet_law/ UK Digital Economy Bill proposes to take control of domain registries The UK government is planning new powers to regulate all domain registries in the UK, including radical powers to dismiss and replace the management board of any registry operating in the UK. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/11/20/239410/UK-Digital-Economy-Bill-proposes-to-take-control-of-domain.htm UK government talks up the digital economy A DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL has been laid out by Lord Mandelson, which hopes to bring Blighty to the forefront of the digital world. ... The bill's details on new powers to regulate and control the UK domain name registries have ruffled a few feathers. http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1562891/uk-government-talks-digital-economy .ZA Licensing regulations released ZA DNA has completed the work of drafting licensing regulations for .za registries and registrars, as required by the ECT Act. The regulations seek to formalize relationships and define accountability lines between ZA DNA and the .za registries and registrars. The public and the local Internet industry are invited to comment to the regulations. http://www.zadna.org.za/licensing.html za: Local Internet veteran passes away Victor Wilson, a veteran in the local Internet arena, passed away yesterday after a long battle with leukemia. Wilson was an engineer at Telkom, and while he worked in plain old telecoms he was well versed in Internet technologies and related matters. Wilson was a founding member of the Internet Society in South Africa and sat on the Board of Directors of the .za Domain Name Authority. http://mybroadband.co.za/news/General/10511.html ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Chinese cyber-spying grows against US, report says China's government appears increasingly to be piercing U.S. government and defense industry computer networks to gather useful data for its military, a congressional advisory panel said on Thursday. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-44103220091119 Internet Serves as Springboard for Attacks on US Military Cyberattacks on the U.S. Department of Defense -- many of them coming from China -- have jumped sharply in 2009, a U.S. congressional committee reported Thursday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141209/Cyberattacks_on_U.S._military_jump_sharply_in_2009 http://www.pcworld.com/article/182805/.html Private companies on frontline of cyber warfare [AAP] The private sector will be on the frontline if hostile nations turn to cyber warfare - and there is mounting evidence cyberstrikes are already occurring. "Banking and finance, electricity grids, oil and gas refineries and pipelines, water and sanitation utilities and telecommunications systems are all targets for cyber attacks in future wars," the report from IT security vendor McAfee says. http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,26372104-5008620,00.html Electronic health records could be a deadly target during a cyberwar Most health officials worry about hackers stealing sensitive information such as an AIDS diagnosis from someone's electronic medical record, but a technology manager for a health care system in the Pacific Northwest said it's just as likely the digital files could be a target of terrorists or a nation state during war. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091120_8634.php Report: Countries prepping for cyberwar by Elinor Mills [CNET] Major countries and nation-states are engaged in a "Cyber Cold War," amassing cyberweapons, conducting espionage, and testing networks in preparation for using the Internet to conduct war, according to a new report to be released on Tuesday by McAfee. http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/17/cnet.cyberwar.internet/ VeriSign Announces DNSSEC Deployment Support Plans to Enhance Internet Security VeriSign, Inc. announced its strategic approach for working with the Internet community to deploy DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in the .com and .net Top Level Domain Names (TLDs). Through a collaborative industry-wide effort, VeriSign, and the ICANN and business communities can play a part in helping to protect the Internet's Domain Name System (DNS) from "man in the middle" and cache poisoning attacks. https://press.verisign.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=AFC0FF0DB5C560D3&version=live&prid=558203&releasejsp=custom_97 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Project.me Domain Dispute Sets Dangerous Precedent Have UDRP panels gone too far by setting a new standard for determining the identical or confusingly similar element in domain disputes? http://domainnamewire.com/2009/11/20/project-me-domain-dispute-sets-dangerous-precedent/ Kentucky In No State To Seize Domain Name [reg req'd] Pocket Kings was an online gaming services operator which both and facilitated and licensed the use of its domain name fulltiltpoker.com. Safenames, an English company, was contractually responsible for pointing the fulltiltpoker.com domain name towards Pocket Kings' domain name servers. In 2008 the State of Kentucky, in the course of enforcing its criminal laws, sought penal forfeiture of the fulltiltpoker.com domain name on the basis that it had been used in the commission of multiple crimes within Kentucky. A seizure order was made and served on Safenames, requiring it to transfer the domain name immediately transferred to an account of Kentucky. http://mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=88940 Fast-Track Option For Domain Name Disputes [reg req'd] In response to the exponential growth of domain name registrations, and the resulting increase in actions brought under the ICANN's Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has proposed a low-cost "fast track" option for a streamlined UDRP process. The fast track option would be especially appropriate for the more obvious cybersquatting cases, including registrations that involve a misspelled famous mark or "pay per click" sites. http://mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=89568 Close Doesn't Count in Cybersquatting The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(d), is the federal law that gives trademark owners a civil claim against persons who act with a "bad faith intent to profit" from registering domain names that are identical or confusingly similar to protected marks. Remedies available to a prevailing trademark owner include an award of statutory damages of up to $100,000 per domain name, plus costs and attorneys' fees in some cases. Losing an ACPA case can ruin your day. http://pblog.bna.com/techlaw/2009/11/close-doesnt-count-in-cybersquatting.html Something is rotten in the state of Denmark : Danish Dispute Policies Allow Reverse Hijacks? You'll have to excuse me for the Shakespeare quote, but something is rotten in the state of Denmark. While talking to some of the people involved with the Danish domain industry it becomes evident that there is something something seriously wrong with how .dk handles disputes. http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2009/11/18/something-is-rotten-in-the-state-of-denmark-d/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** RIPE NCC Launches IPv6 Implementation Guide With just over 10% of IPv4 address space left, the RIPE NCC launches How to Act Now - a guide to making IPv6 deployment simple. The first ever resource of its kind, How to Act Now provides large and small business and government users with the information necessary to successfully deploy IPv6 in their networks. http://ripe.net/news/ipv6-implementation-guide.html Spurring IPv6 upgrades through "cash for (network) clunkers" ICANN's boss went to Egypt this week and pitched a novel idea: government-run "cash for clunkers" programs that would help network operators in developing countries afford the upgrade to IPv6. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/11/spurring-ipv6-upgrades-through-cash-for-network-clunkers.ars ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** au: BigPond redirects typos to 'unethical' branded search page Telstra has begun redirecting failed domain name lookups on its BigPond broadband network to a Telstra-branded search page which includes advertisements and pay-per-click links. http://www.crn.com.au/News/160923,bigpond-redirects-typos-to-unethical-branded-search-page.aspx What's Driving Spam and Domain Fraud? Illicit Drug Traffic Spam is not about who sent it, it's about who benefits from it. For a moment forget everything you know about filters, zombie PCs, firewalls, spoofing, viruses, beisyan algorithms, header forgery, botnets, or blacklists. These are all methods for sending spam or preventing spam delivery. None of these explain why spam is sent and for far too long all the attention has been paid to the effects and not the driving force. Under the endless onslaught of junk mail it is easy to feel that the goal of the game is send spam and annoy us all. But this isn't the goal. The goal of spam is a transaction. Motivation not method. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091119_whats_driving_spam_and_domain_fraud_illicit_drug_traffic/ Country Internet Registries: One African Perspective Paul Wilson, Secretary-General of APNIC, was correct when he reminded the panelists of the IGF2009 workshop "Adopting IPv6: What You Need To Know? that "countries don't typically get IP address allocations, network service providers do". http://www.circleid.com/posts/country_internet_registries_one_african_perspective/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** SnapNames Revises Terms of Rebate Offer According to an email from Snapnames regarding the ?halvarez? scandal that just reached us, the company has amended the terms for accepting their rebate offer, to now only limit future claims regarding auctions on SnapNames that ?halvarez? was a bidder in. The email goes on to say that company has no way to return or compensate participants in auctions where ?halvarez? was the winning bidder. The note also says ?Although it cannot discuss the details of any ongoing legal issues, SnapNames intends to pursue the legal remedies it may have with respect to this matter.? http://www.domainnamenews.com/news/snapnames-revises-terms-rebate-offer/6642 SnapNames Revises Rebate Offer Acceptance Agreement Following the incident where a SnapNames executive had set up an account on the SnapNames system under a false name and, under this name, bid in SnapNames auctions, the company has announced they have updated the proposed rebate offer. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/11/23/snapnames-revises-rebate-offer-acceptance-agreement/ No Blockbusters This Week But Sedo Sweeps the First 8 Positions on Our New Top 20 Chart With a Series of Solid Five-Figure Sales Sedo swept the first eight spots on our weekly all extension Top 20 Sales Chart this week with a group of sales ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Poken.com set the pace at $75,000, followed by DMG.com at $64,000 as Sedo went on to take 15 of 22 chart entries, the extra two positions resulting from a three-way tie for the final spot. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/20091118.htm DOMAINfest Global 2010 Launches Competitions for Innovative Domain Name Use The news release below outlines two new elements on the DOMAINFest Global conference to take place in Los Angeles in January. One is a PITCHfest contest that aims to uncover new, innovative products or services designed to enhance the value of parked or developed domain names by driving increased traffic and/or revenue. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/11/23/domainfest-global-2010-launches-competitions-for-innovative-domain-name-use/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Internet retail booming in Europe even as security concerns rise The financial crisis appears to have breathed new life into e-commerce, with sales showing an upward swing in Europe as well as in other parts of the world. But how safe is online shopping? http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4901946,00.html Internet hook-ups hurt sex industry In a profession notoriously resilient to hard times, online dating sites threaten to do what the global financial crisis could not - send the sex services industry broke. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/internet-hookups-hurt-sex-industry-20091120-iqv5.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/internet-hookups-hurt-sex-industry-20091120-iqv5.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3086468/ Microsoft and News Corp eye web pact [reg req'd] Microsoft has had discussions with News Corp over a plan that would involve the media company?s being paid to ?de-index? its news websites from Google, setting the scene for a search engine battle that could offer a ray of light to the newspaper industry. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a243c8b2-d79b-11de-b578-00144feabdc0.html News Corp, Microsoft hold talks on locking out Google [AFP] Microsoft has held talks with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp over a possible plan for the software giant to pay the media company to remove its news websites from Google, according to a report out today. http://www.theage.com.au/business/world-business/news-corp-microsoft-hold-talks-on-locking-out-google-20091123-iu0f.html http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/news-corp-microsoft-hold-talks-on-locking-out-google-20091123-iu0f.html Europeans warming up to paid online news The days of free online newspapers may be drawing to a close as major media owners announce their intention to impose stricter and higher pay barriers on their news services. And Europeans seem to be willing to pay for such services, according to a recent survey. http://euractiv.com/en/infosociety/europeans-warming-paid-online-news/article-187462 Opinion: Murdoch's pay walls will be paper tigers ? and he daren't put them round Sky Is it time to stop beating up on the BBC? The question ? with elements of personal recantation attached ? becomes more relevant the further newspapers march along the rocky road marked online "pay walls" (led last week by a Times editor promising to erect 24-hour ramparts around his own online offering by next spring). For let's look at the competition James Harding may feel obliged to worry about once daffodils die. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/22/murdoch-pay-walls-times-sky-fox 200 Web Sites Spread al-Qaida's Message in English [AP] Increasing numbers of English-language Web sites are spreading al-Qaida's message to Muslims in the West. They translate writings and sermons once largely out of reach of English readers and often feature charismatic clerics like Anwar al-Awlaki, who exchanged dozens of e-mails with the Army psychiatrist accused of the Fort Hood shootings. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/19/world/AP-ML-Al-Qaida-Online.html China, India and Japan Fuel Rapid Growth in Asia Pacific Internet Audience comScore released a report on the growth of Internet audiences in the Asia-Pacific region based on data from its comScore World Metrix service. The study found that the Asia-Pacific region has seen significant growth in the past year, increasing 22 percent to nearly half a billion visitors to Internet sites, with most individual countries in the region experiencing double-digit growth rates. These and other relevant findings will be presented in the comScore live complimentary webinar, State of the Internet with a Focus on Asia Pacific on Thursday, November 19. Details on the webinar and registration can be found below. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2009/11/China_India_Japan_Fuel_Rapid_Growth_in_Asia_Pacific_Internet_Audience ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Mobile phones edge PCs in Asian social network use [MIS Asia] Mobile devices are the preferred tools by social network site (SNS) users over PCs in at least four Asian countries, according to a recent IDC survey report. http://mis-asia.com/news/articles/mobile-phones-edges-pc-in-social-network-use-idc http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/newmedia/4537A0A31E4807BDCC257673007EE51E Greater vigilance needed as social networking usage rises: F-Secure Malaysia Security solutions firm F-Secure Malaysia says greater vigilance is needed as the use of social networking is gathering pace compared to e-mail. http://mis-asia.com/news/articles/greater-vigilance-needed-as-social-networking-usage-rises-f-secure-malaysia http://www.pcworld.com/article/182810/.html Woe is Bebo: site to shut down in Australia The Facebook juggernaut has claimed the scalp of AOL Time Warner's $US850 million ($921 million) acquisition of Bebo, with the social media site tipped to close its Australian operation before Christmas as part of a global retreat and rethink. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/woe-is-bebo-site-to-shut-down-in-australia-20091119-iox3.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/woe-is-bebo-site-to-shut-down-in-australia-20091119-iox3.html Mayday, mayday - Bebo NZ is going down Telecom?s social networking partner, Bebo, is tanking in the ratings. The social networking service is reportedly about to close its Australian operation, beaten down by strong competitors. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/mayday-mayday-bebo-nz-going-down-115235 Facebook acts on follower trade Facebook has threatened legal action against a service that sells friends on the social networking site. It said it would take the action against marketing firm USocial unless it stopped violating Facebook's rights. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8370302.stm uk: Glassing Victim Finds Attacker On Facebook A woman who was glassed in the face has told Sky News Online how she used Facebook to track down her attacker. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Woman-Glassed-In-Face-In-Watford-Bar-Tracks-Down-Attacker-On-Facebook/Article/200911315458212 Canadian Woman Loses Benefits Over Facebook Photo [AP] A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave says she lost her benefits because of photos on Facebook and she's fighting to get them reinstated. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/22/world/AP-CN-Canada-Facebook-Insurance.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3086499/ ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Gore says supercomputing can be killer app in climate change Former Vice President Al Gore today told an audience of scientists, programmers and system builders at the SC09 conference here that their work is essential in the effort to avoid global catastrophe caused by climate change. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141192/Gore_says_supercomputing_can_be_killer_app_in_climate_change http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/327085/ Apple laptops fourth in reliability: study Mac fans are often quick to claim superior performance from their Apple laptops, but a study from a warranty supplier in the US has ranked the reliability of their hardware fourth behind Asus, Toshiba and Sony. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-laptops-fourth-in-reliability-study-20091118-im8t.html http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-laptops-fourth-in-reliability-study-20091118-im8t.html Sony Bets on Online Push As Sony Corp. scrambles to reassert its technological relevance, Chief Executive Howard Stringer is betting on a strategy for the electronics giant that focuses on adding online content to more of its gadgets. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704204304574544812985792906.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ uk: Children exposed to too much pornography on internet and television, MP warns Children as young as five are simulating sex acts at school because they are exposed to pornography on satellite television and the internet, a senior MP has warned. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/6609629/Children-exposed-to-too-much-pornography-on-internet-and-television-MP-warns.html IWF: Eradicating child sexual abuse images: beyond rhetoric and borders IWF submitted a contribution to the UK Internet Governance Forum?s blog on key issues facing the internet governance community. Reflecting on our area of expertise and experience, this article focuses on child sexual abuse content which is as much an issue for the UK internet as for every country, every law enforcement body, every facet of the global internet community, and every citizen. There are few issues so serious, on and offline, as child sexual abuse; and there are few mediums so appropriate for the distribution, sharing and trade in records of this abuse than the internet. We believe, however, that the abuse of the internet by criminals around the world for the distribution, sharing, and trade of child sexual abuse images can be thwarted. http://www.iwf.org.uk/media/news.271.htm nz: 'Gang mentality' bullying claim as girl quits school [The Press] An 11-year-old girl has been pulled from school amid allegations of bullying by her classmates, including an email that suggested she should kill herself. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/3086800/ PlayStation Helps Feds Catch Pedophiles Federal officials have put the Sony PS3 to work breaking passwords on computer equipment confiscated from suspected child pornographers. according to a story released on the Scripps Howard Foundation wire. http://www.pcworld.com/article/182814/.html uk: Children social network in secret says Prof Byron Many children are social networking without their parents' knowledge, the government's internet safety czar, Professor Tanya Byron, has said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8369111.stm How to handle a cyber-bully You've told your child so many times not to share personal information or passwords online that you almost certainly sound like a grown-up from the Peanuts movies ? wah, wah, wah, wah. But what if someone online is already making your kid's life miserable? http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/newsfeatures/article/727137--if-child-is-bullied-online-first-step-is-to-reassure ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** The strange death of illegal downloading - no thanks to the music industry or government Stand by for the death of illegal music downloads. It is already gathering pace, being one of the fastest growing ? or contracting ? activities on the web. It is not happening because of the music industry's rough justice (such as suing customers); nor because of Lord Mandelson's variant of "three strikes and you're out" for people caught downloading illegally ? though doubtless they will claim credit. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/end-of-illegal-downloading British illegal downloaders face broadband limits set in Digital Economy Bill Internet users who illegally download films and music will run the risk of being cut off from the web under new laws published by the Government today. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/illegal-downloaders-face-broadband-limits-1824357.html iiNet accuses Hollywood of outsourcing copyright enforcement iiNet yesterday accused Hollywood of trying to "outsource" its copyright enforcement to internet firms as it continued to battle in Federal Court against claims it authorised illegal file-sharing on its network. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/iinet-accuses-hollywood-of-outsourcing-copyright-enforcement/story-e6frgakx-1225800094356 AFACT v iiNet: ISP draws on TV copyright battle Internet service provider (ISP) iiNet continued to draw on a 2002 copyright case between Channel 9 and Channel 10 over segments broadcast on The Panel as part of its case against the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT). http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/326964/ Investors eye Australian internet TV boom Malaysian billionaire and media investor T. Ananda Krishnan has seized an opportunity created by the government's proposed national broadband network, whereby he could challenge traditional media players for Australian television viewers. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/investors-eye-internet-tv-boom/story-e6frg9rx-1225801828612 ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Crackdown launched on Chinese mobile phone porn China Mobile, the country's largest wireless carrier, is coming under pressure to shut off access to pornography through its cell phone network. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-11/20/content_9007928.htm http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/6818535.html http://www.china.org.cn/china/2009-11/20/content_18922146.htm The Googlephone: Google gears up for attack on mobile-phone market Google is gearing up for an all-out assault on the mobile-phone market that will include a new, Google-branded handset and the first comprehensive Google phone service with unlimited free calls. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article6924233.ece Cellphone Entertainment Takes Off In Rural India In the furthest reaches of India's rural heartland, the cellphone is bringing something that television, radio and even newspapers couldn't deliver: Instant access to music, information, entertainment, news and even worship. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704533904574545451866310232.html Ofcom investigates potential for new wireless communications technology [news release] Ofcom today published a discussion document to explore the potential of a new technology that could wirelessly link up different devices and offer enhanced broadband access in rural areas. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/11/nr_20091117a Counterfeit handsets proliferate in China: Talk is cheap Chinese consumers appear fixated with Apple?s iconic iPhone. It draws throngs of eager buyers in Shanghai?s Xujiahui computer market. Similarly, at the Canton Trade Fair in October, vendors hawking familiar-looking silver and black slabs were convulsed in crowds, in sharp contrast to the deserted booths of rival brands, where lonely salesmen slurped disconsolately at noodles. So how can it be that China Unicom has seen dismal initial sales under its exclusive arrangement to sell the iPhone in China? http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14931575 Smartphone growth to continue strong in 2010 The wireless chip industry expects smartphone market surge to continue, with British microchip designer ARM saying growth would likely even accelerate further next year. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5AJ0VH20091120 ********************** SPAM ********************** What's Driving Spam and Domain Fraud? Illicit Drug Traffic Spam is not about who sent it, it's about who benefits from it. For a moment forget everything you know about filters, zombie PCs, firewalls, spoofing, viruses, beisyan algorithms, header forgery, botnets, or blacklists. These are all methods for sending spam or preventing spam delivery. None of these explain why spam is sent and for far too long all the attention has been paid to the effects and not the driving force. Under the endless onslaught of junk mail it is easy to feel that the goal of the game is send spam and annoy us all. But this isn't the goal. The goal of spam is a transaction. Motivation not method. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091119_whats_driving_spam_and_domain_fraud_illicit_drug_traffic/ ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Two held over ZeuS trojan virus that steals personal data Two suspected hackers have been arrested by police investigating a "trojan" computer virus that gathers confidential details from individuals and is believed to have infected tens of thousands of computers around the world. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/zeus-zbot-trojan-virus Why Zbot is the most notorious malware The Zbot or Zeus malware is a trojan ? a program that comes disguised as one thing (such as an email attachment which says you need to click on it to reconfigure your email clients), but instead steals online banking details. Trojans are a serious threat to the security of users' machines: the cleverest prevent antivirus software from downloading updates that would catch it and wait silently until the user goes on to a banking, share-dealing or social networking site, at which point it will capture login details. F-Secure, a computer security company, noted that "to gather more information, the malware author can even create additional fields, which are then injected into a targeted webpage for the unsuspecting victim to fill in". The person in control of Zbot could capture enough information to steal unsuspecting users' identities completely. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/18/zbot-zeus-trojan-malware us: FDA targets rogue Internet pharmacies The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pressuring a number of Internet service providers to shut off nearly 12 dozen Web sites alleged to be selling counterfeit or unapproved prescription drugs. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/11/fda_targets_rogue_internet_pha.html Counterfeit Drugs and Internet Smarts - More public education would help stem the problem of fake pharmaceuticals?restricting Internet trade would not. Whatever happened to caveat emptor? Consumers are indeed put at serious risk when they buy counterfeit drugs over the Internet. But sweeping restrictions on Web-based drug sales stand to worsen their ills. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704888404574547541353754078.html FDA Issues 22 Warning Letters to Web site Operators - Part of International Internet Week of Action [news release] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today completed a coordinated, weeklong, international effort, called the International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), intended to curb illegal actions involving medical products. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm191330.htm ENISA clears the fog on cloud computing security The EU?s ?cyber security? agency, ENISA launches a comprehensive, new report on ?Cloud Computing: Benefits, risks and recommendations for information security?. http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/enisa-clears-the-fog-on-cloud-computing-security-1 McAfee, Inc. Warns Consumers about "The Twelve Scams of Christmas," or Popular Online Attacks This Holiday Season As cybercriminals begin to take advantage of the holiday season, McAfee, Inc. today revealed the ?Twelve Scams of Christmas? ? the twelve most dangerous online scams that computer users should be cautious of this holiday season. According to Consumer Reports? 2009 State of the Net Survey, cybercriminals have bilked $8 billion from consumers in the past two years, and McAfee warns consumers not to fall victim to the top scams this year. http://newsroom.mcafee.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=3596 McAfee warns about '12 Scams of Christmas' [news release] Retailers aren't the only ones gearing up for the holiday season. Criminals are also out in force. To highlight the increased crime during the holidays, security company McAfee has come up with the "12 Scams of Christmas" ranging from bogus electronic greeting cards that deliver malware instead of cheer to fake charities that steal your money and your identity. http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10403100-238.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada Highlights Youth Privacy on the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Human Rights of the Child On the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of the Child, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, is advising Canadians to think about how young people are integrating the Internet and its services into their daily lives, because many young people are unaware of the privacy risks that are involved. http://www.priv.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2009/nr-c_091120_e.cfm ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Charting the Cuban blogosphere They are new, number just a few dozen and hardly anyone can read them ? but Cuba's government has already decided it does not like independent blogs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/18/cuba-blogs-blogosphere ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Local net content in line for review The federal government has opened the door for regulation of local content on the internet after Minister for Broadband Stephen Conroy confirmed the government's intention to commence a review of convergent media regulation. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/local-net-content-in-line-for-review/story-e6frg9sx-1225801823743 Mandelson seeks to amend copyright law in new crackdown on filesharing Lord Mandelson is seeking to amend the laws on copyright to give the government sweeping new powers against people accused of illegal downloading. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/19/mandelson-copyright-filesharing-murdoch-google A world class Digital Economy for Britain [news release] The Digital Economy Bill, introduced today, sets out Government plans to ensure the UK is at the leading edge of the global digital economy. Published jointly by the Department for Business and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Bill aims to support growth in the creative and digital sectors and includes measures aimed at tackling widespread online infringement of creative copyright, such as peer-to-peer file-sharing. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=408781&SubjectId=2 Push starts to make ?Digital Britain? law The culmination of more than a year?s work on boosting a ?Digital Britain? was published on Friday as the UK government put forward legislation to tackle illegal file sharing and abuse of internet domain names, protect local news provision and add age ratings to video games. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e66bcd0-d5c9-11de-b80f-00144feabdc0.html Digital Economy Bill gets tough on file-sharers People who unlawfully download copyrighted material could be disconnected from their internet accounts as part of the Digital Economy Bill, a major overhaul to the UK's technology legislation. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39893271,00.htm Brit internet users bashed The powers that be in the UK are incurring the ire of Brit internet users with the newly announced Digital Economy Bill. Echoing similar protests to those heard with New Zealand's controversial Section 92A of the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act, the UK's Digital Economy bill incorporates a 'three-strikes' rule that could see households disconnected from the internet because of copyright infringement accusations without any onus put on the accuser to prove the validity of any file sharing accusations. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10611099 Spain mandates affordable broadband for all Spanish officials said earlier this week that the government will require service providers to offer broadband with speeds of at least 1 Mbps at regulated rates to residents living anywhere in the country. http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10402643-266.html nz: Suppression debate shows importance of Seminar [news release] The Law Commission report "Suppressing Names and Evidence" released on Monday is expected to come under intense scrutiny at the December seminar on law and the Internet to be jointly hosted by InternetNZ, the Law Commission and the Ministry of Justice. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/suppression-debate-shows-importance-of-seminar ISPs may have to remove suppression order data [The Dominion Post] InternetNZ has questioned a recommendation by the Law Commission that internet providers should stop customers accessing information that breaches court suppression orders. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3086311/ Jeremy Hunt: Tories would scrap push to roll out broadband in rural areas by favouring cities first Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative shadow culture secretary, has said his party would encourage telecoms companies to take the lead in the rollout of superfast broadcast services to major cities, before moving on to rural areas. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/18/jeremy-hunt-tories-broadband-cities au: Paper and internet petitions may soon be treated equally Politicians are tweeting, blogging and poking, but most remain out of reach when it comes to receiving petitions over the internet. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/paper-and-internet-petitions-may-soon-be-treated-equally-20091119-iozg.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/3089663/ ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Google previews Chrome open source operating system Internet search giant Google has lifted the lid on its operating system, known as Chrome OS. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8369611.stm Google aims to take over the netbook market with its Chrome operating system Google dominates the web and is already making a big impact in the smartphone business with its Android operating system. The netbook computer is next in line, and Google is targeting this fast-growing market with Chrome OS, a stripped down operating system designed to do everything inside its own Chrome web browser. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/nov/19/google-chromeos-netbooks-web-cloud Google Chrome OS: What We Might See In just a few hours, the tech world's attention will shift to the Googleplex in Mountain View, California where the company will offer a developer preview of Google Chrome OS. We should learn a fair amount about what the new OS will be able to do, and what Google's future plans are. I was able to uncover a few tidbits about predictions in advance of the Chrome OS unveiling; here are some things to ponder while we wait for Google to show their hand. http://www.pcworld.com/article/182597/.html Google Offers Peek at Operating System, a Potential Challenge to Windows Google began lifting the veil on its planned Chrome operating system on Thursday, but it said that computers powered by the software would not be available for a year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/technology/companies/20chrome.html Employment in the ICT sector continues dropping Employment is continuing to drop in the information and communications technology (ICT) goods sector and remaining flat in most ICT services, according to a new OECD report. Employment in ICT manufacturing dropped by around 6-7% year-on-year in most countries in the second quarter of 2009. Sweden is the only exception with a smaller decline (3%), but Swedish job losses were accelerating. http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34223_44078153_1_1_1_37441,00.html ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Tesco links with Cable & Wireless in broadband and home phones push Tesco?s telecoms arm threatened a price war with the likes of BT, Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse as it unveiled plans yesterday to offer bundled broadband and home phone packages for the first time. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article6924195.ece Smart Grid Riding On The Information Superhighway If Internet companies and some utilities have their way, the smart grid will rely on the existing infrastructure of the information superhighway in order to function. They argue that by relying on existing standards like Internet Protocol (IP), the smart grid will grow faster and more organically than if utilities adopt an assortment of proprietary methods. Issues like security become easier to address too because the Internet manages exceptionally sensitive data quite well with existing technologies. To that end, the players dominating in the Internet arena including Google, Microsoft, and Cisco are all banking on the Internet's role in the future of electricity management. http://www.reuters.com/article/mnGreenTechnology/idUS153132048820091120 nz: Rivals hit out at Telecom IT separation waiver Telecom has an extra nine months to sort out key IT systems after Communications and IT Minister Steven Joyce granted it a waiver to its operational separation undertakings. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10610947 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/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 __________________________________________________________________________________ Win 1 of 4 Sony home entertainment packs thanks to Yahoo!7. Enter now: http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset/Received on Sun Nov 22 2009 - 21:15:05 UTC
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