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 *************************************************** OECD: Internet Addressing - Measuring Deployment of IPv6, Apr. 2010 http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/48/51/44953210.pdf ICANN Consultation on New gTLD Agreement Amendment Process and Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Process http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-07apr10-en.htm CADNA Launches Another Spurious Survey On Costs to Brand Owners of New gTLDs http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=10905 In cyberwar, who's in charge? The president for sure, but after that, it's pretty murky http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/040610-cyberwar-who-is-in-charge.html ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** OECD: Internet Addressing - Measuring Deployment of IPv6, Apr. 2010 IPv4 addresses are nearing full allocation, with over 92% of all available addresses already in use in March 2010. Global adoption of IPv6 ? the long-term solution to the address space problem ? would require a major increase in its use, in little time, and significant mobilization across all parts of the Internet. This report shows that while IPv6 use seems to be growing slightly faster than IPv4, IPv6 is not being deployed sufficiently quickly to intercept the estimated IPv4 exhaustion date, which could stifle creativity and the deployment of new services. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/48/51/44953210.pdf ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN Consultation on New gTLD Agreement Amendment Process and Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Process ICANN invites community participation in an open consultation on the Process for New gTLD Registry Agreement Amendments and the Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Process. This consultation was organized in response to a request from the Registry Stakeholder Group to discuss concerns they have raised in their stakeholder meetings and public comments fora on new gTLDs. This meeting is open to all interested participants and observers. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-07apr10-en.htm CADNA Launches Another Spurious Survey On Costs to Brand Owners of New gTLDs The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) has released a report claiming that the introduction of new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) as proposed by ICANN will cost brand owners worldwide over $746 million. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=10905 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/04/07/cadna-brand-owners-new-gtlds/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/cadna-launches-spurious-survey-on-costs-to-brand-owners-of-new-gtlds.html ICANN?s gTLD Launch Costs Businesses $746 Million, Increases Cyber Crime [news release] The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) has released a report which found that ICANN's anticipated launch of 400 generic top-level domains (gTLDs) could cost brand owners worldwide over $746 million. http://www.cadna.org/en/newsroom/press-releases/icanns-gtld-launch-costs-businesses CADNA: New gTLD Launch to Cost Businesses $746 Million ... On the other hand, Earlier this year, Minds + Machines reported on an analysis predicting new gTLDs will only cost $.10 per trademark worldwide. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100406_cadna_new_gtld_launch_to_cost_businesses_746_million/ The new domain landscape - an increased threat or business as usual? INTA president, and lead counsel for intellectual property at WellPoint Inc, Heather Steinmeyer has identified generic top-level domains (gTLD) as one of the fundamental challenges facing both the trademark industry and the Internet itself, yet the majority of in-house practitioners remain unsure whether the new regime will have an impact on their enforcement strategies. http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/Detail.aspx?g=20b3a926-4d94-431d-8a77-258f0a4850b3 ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** AFNIC Publishes New Issue Paper on "the Secondary Market in Domain Names" Today AFNIC is publishing its new issue paper on the secondary market in domain names. The paper?written to inform individuals as well as businesses?gives a detailed account of the concept of "secondary market", the valuation mechanisms used, and the main players involved. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100407_afnic_publishes_issue_paper_on_domain_name_secondary_market/ Brand Protection on the Internet in Pakistan [IDG] Here's something to think about.. What if you were a customer of PIA and you went to the website pia.com.pk . It had the PIA logo and trade name/marks. It gave PIA Flight information. It asked you to enter your personal information (maybe even passwords) and asked you to send emails with confidential information to info§pia.com.pk. It may or may not have several ads on the website. The website offered airline tickets online. Next month you check your credit card balance online and your credit card had a huge overdue amount. (Such a spoofed website exists and is not PIA's website). http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=D9B8EF7A-1A64-67EA-E41A873555A51D7C Commissioners Give Thumbs Up to .Vegas Domain Tag You could soon be logging on to a website with a .Vegas domain tag. http://www.8newsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=12265201 http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12265201 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** In cyberwar, who's in charge? The president for sure, but after that, it's pretty murky When the first salvos of cyberwar are fired against the United States, the responsibility to defend the country falls to the president who, aided by advisers from the broad spectrum of government agencies and also the private sector, must feel his way along an uncertain path to decide the appropriate response. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/040610-cyberwar-who-is-in-charge.html Is the U.S. the nation most vulnerable to cyberattack? Although the United States likely has the best cyberwar capabilities in the world, "that offensive prowess cannot make up for the weaknesses in our defensive position," one-time presidential advisor Richard Clarke argues in his forthcoming book Cyber War. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/040610-cyberattacks-clarke.html Google-China Spat Sets Stage for Cyberwar Few events have crystallized U.S. fears over a cyber catastrophe, or brought on calls for a strategic response, more than the recent attacks against Google and more than 30 other tech firms. http://www.pcworld.com/article/193758/.html ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** CitizenHawk: Pulling the Sheets Off a ?Typosquatting Recovery Firm? One of the more controversial domain name companies is CitizenHawk. The company was founded in 2007 to help brands recover typos of their domain names. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/04/07/citizenhawk-pulling-the-sheets-off-a-typosquatting-recovery-firm/ RL.com Case Shows What Can Happen if You Buy a Stolen Domain Name In light of recent domain thefts, you might ask yourself what can happen if you happen to buy a stolen domain name. Look no further than the case of John Laxton, who bought the domain name RL.com for $15,000 in 2005. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/04/07/rl-com-case-shows-what-can-happen-if-you-buy-a-stolen-domain-name/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Verizon follows Comcast lead on IPv6 Verizon appears to be playing catch-up to broadband rival Comcast with its announcement Tuesday of a residential trial of IPv6, a long-anticipated upgrade to the Internet's main communications protocol. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/342133/verizon_follows_comcast_lead_ipv6/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/193720/.html Is IPv6 ready for prime time? It may sound arcane but without support for the latest version of the Internet Protocol, the rapid expansion of people and devices trying to link to the Internet could hit a major speed bump. http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800603179_499495_NT_b93a0a04.HTM ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** ITU In A Converging World: Interview With ITU Strategist Alexander Ntoko The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), based in Geneva, is a 191-member United Nations body. Intellectual Property Watch recently spoke with Alexander Ntoko, a top strategist in the organisation, about priorities in this critical year, inclusion of the public interest, and how convergence is bringing more issues related to digital content to the traditional telecom body. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/04/06/itu-in-a-converging-world-interview-with-itu-strategist-alexander-ntoko/ ITU on Internet governance debates by Brenden Kuerbis From IP Watch, an extensive interview with ITU Strategist Alexander Ntoko, which covers among other things, ITU's recommendation to member states to continue the IGF, and the ITU's preparations for the upcoming Plenipot this October in Mexico, including how the ITU-ICANN debate is "about countries wanting to play an equal role in those global policies that affect the internet," how "the management of IPv6 is peanuts" compared to international spectrum management, but "there has to be clarity in what membership wants us to do": http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/4/6/4498769.html VeriSign Offers Tools to Secure Domain Names VeriSign two factor authenticationWith a couple recent high profile domain thefts, and the recent hijacking of Baidu?s nameserver settings, I reached out to VeriSign Chief Technology Officer Ken Silva to learn what VeriSign offers to help domain owners protect themselves. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/04/07/verisign-offers-tools-to-secure-domain-names/ Countries Try To Tame The Wild Territory Of The Net If the Internet is ever shut down, Ken Silva will be among the first to see it. Not know it ? see it. Silva is chief technology officer for VeriSign, one of about a dozen entities around the world responsible for keeping Internet traffic moving. He can literally follow the flow on a monitor in the VeriSign operations center in Northern Virginia. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125634056 ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** What's a Domain Name Worth? The Sex.com Auction is Stopped, as Creditors Try to Maximize the Name's Value Just last month, one of the world's most infamous domain names, sex.com, was up for auction, with bidders required to bring a $1 million certified check just to place a bid. Even so, the auctioneer claimed that there was considerable interest. http://writ.news.findlaw.com/ramasastry/20100407.html Mike Mann Files Objection, Says Sedo Should Auction off Sex.com Mann files opposition to Dom Partners? motion to dismiss bankruptcy petition; Sedo CEO files declaration about value of Sex.com domain. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/04/06/mike-mann-files-objection-says-sedo-should-auction-off-sex-com/ ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** OECD: Developments in Cable Broadband Networks, Mar. 2010 The cable television market has changed drastically in recent years. The threat to cable from non-traditional video sources has pushed cable operators to upgrade their networks to support higher bandwidth data services and new video content and applications. This report examines developments in cable markets including the growth of cable voice services, recent consolidation trends and the transitions toward all-IP infrastructure models. http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2009doc.nsf/LinkTo/NT000097D6/$FILE/JT03280592.PDF OECD: The Economic and Social Role of Internet Intermediaries, Apr. 2010 Internet intermediaries give access to, host, transmit and index content originated by third parties or provide Internet-based services to third parties. This report develops a common definition and understanding of what Internet intermediaries are, of their economic function and economic models, of recent market developments, and discusses the economic and social uses that these actors satisfy. It is Part I of the Committee?s larger project on the role of Internet intermediaries in advancing public policy objectives. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/49/4/44949023.pdf OECD Expert Workshop, "The Role of Internet Intermediaries in Advancing Public Policy Objectives", Paris, 16 June 2010 The goal of this workshop is to identify best practices and lessons learned from experience to date of Internet intermediaries in advancing public policy objectives. It will discuss the roles and responsibilities of Internet intermediaries for actions by users of their platforms, the nature and extent of their role and implications. http://www.oecd.org/document/62/0,3343,en_2649_33703_44949886_1_1_1_1,00.html ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** OECD Conference: The evolution of news delivery: Opportunities and challenges: London 21 June 2010 This conference aims to further the understanding of changes in news delivery and policy issues associated with these changes. It will focus on the transformation of the news value chain, drivers of change and the development of new business models, on-line governance, standards and competition and other emerging issues. http://www.oecd.org/document/1/0,3343,en_2649_34223_44950337_1_1_1_1,00.html COP15: The role of ICTs for climate change. Lead role or supporting act? Meeting without travelling: The OECD used latest video-conferencing technology to hold an international discussion in real-time at COP15 (the UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009). The topic was: ?The role of ICTs for climate change. Lead role or supporting act??. It involved speakers in Denmark, India, Hong Kong (China), France and Japan. At COP15, participants joined at the UNFCCC iSeeT§COP15 Kiosk (Bella Center, Central Hall E). http://www.oecd.org/document/50/0,3343,en_2649_34223_44201906_1_1_1_1,00.html National Library harvests NZ?s web The National Library will be conducting its second ?web harvest? of New Zealand websites, from May 12 to 25. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/newmedia/national-library-harvests-nzs-web I'll stop Google taking our news for nothing, says defiant Rupert Murdoch Rupert Murdoch has launched a spirited defence of putting up paywalls around his newspaper websites, while embracing the game-changing potential of Apple's iPad. The News Corp chairman hailed the new device as a possible saviour of the newspaper industry. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/07/rupert-murdoch-google-paywalls-ipad Iraq Video Brings Notice to a Web Site Three months ago, WikiLeaks, a whistleblower Web site that posts classified and sensitive documents, put out an urgent call for help on Twitter. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/world/07wikileaks.html Pentagon says Wikileaks is a threat to national security A secret video showing US air crew falsely claiming to have encountered a firefight in Baghdad and then laughing at the dead after launching an air strike that killed a dozen people, including two Iraqis working for Reuters news agency, was revealed by Wikileaks today. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/05/wikileaks-us-army-iraq-attack Pentagon Sees a Threat From Online Muckrakers To the list of the enemies threatening the security of the United States, the Pentagon has added WikiLeaks.org, a tiny online source of information and documents that governments and corporations around the world would prefer to keep secret. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/us/18wiki.html North Korean Red Star operating system details emerge Details of a home-grown computer operating system developed by North Korea have emerged. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8604912.stm ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** AOL wants to shut or sell declining Bebo The social networking website Bebo could close this year after its parent company said it would not continue to fund the service. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/07/aol-sell-or-shut-bebo Bebo: where did it all go wrong? The announcement that AOL is likely to close or sell off the social networking site Bebo comes as no surprise to industry watchers, marking the latest in a string of acquisitions that seem to have become the kiss of death for web startups. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/07/bebo-facebook Bebo failed to learn the lessons of history Suddenly, the millions that Britain's ITV lost on Friends Reunited - bought for ?170m (NZ$366.4m) in 2005 and sold last month for ?25m (NZ53.8m) - does not look quite so embarrassing. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10637075 AOL plans to sell or close struggling Bebo The struggling internet company AOL plans to sell or shut down the online social network Bebo only two years after buying it for $850 million. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article7089774.ece AOL plans to sell or shut down Bebo Internet company AOL has announced plans to sell or shut down the social networking site Bebo. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8606379.stm Social networking most engaging in Philippines In the Asia-Pacific region, social networking is capturing user attention most effectively in the Philippines, according to ComScore's latest report. http://www.zdnetasia.com/social-networking-most-engaging-in-philippines-62062492.htm Social Networking Habits Vary Considerably Across Asia-Pacific Markets : Philippines Exhibits Highest Social Networking Engagement [news release] comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its latest report on social networking activity in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China) based on data from its World Metrix service. The study found that 50.8 percent of the total online population in the Asia-Pacific region visited a social networking site in February 2010, reaching a total of 240.3 million visitors. Facebook.com ranked as the top social network across the majority of individual markets in the region, while competing brands commanded the top position in certain markets, including Orkut in India, Mixi.jp in Japan, CyWorld in South Korea and Wretch.cc in Taiwan. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/4/Social_Networking_Across_Asia-Pacific_Markets Men switching off from web communities, says study In a sharp reversal, more young women are now embracing online communities than their male counterparts, a new study says. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10636879 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/study-more-women-embracing-web-communities-20100407-rpmt.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/study-more-women-embracing-web-communities-20100407-rpmt.html Twitter Needs More Filters Twitter users only really have one kind of filter: people. You follow someone, or you un-follow them. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/twitter-needs-more-filters/ ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ au: Euthanasia 'hacking classes' to help bypass filter Pro-euthanasia group Exit International is training elderly Australians to bypass the Federal Government's proposed mandatory internet filter. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/06/2865643.htm Pirate Party and Philip Nitschke teach seniors to hack filter Pro-euthanasia group Exit International is holding national hacking crash-courses in how to bypass the Federal Government's planned ISP-level Internet content filter with help from the Australian Pirate Party. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/342180/pirate_party_philip_nitschke_teach_seniors_hack_filter/ http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/security/euthanasia-group-teaches-seniors-to-hack-aussie-filter http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/040610-pirate-party-and-phil-nitschke.html au: Web filter splits opposition THE federal opposition is yet to formulate a position on the proposed internet filter despite Labor flagging its intention to introduce the measure before the last election. http://www.theage.com.au/national/web-filter-splits-opposition-20100406-rpf7.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/web-filter-splits-opposition-20100406-rpf7.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/web-filter-splits-opposition-20100407-rptm.html http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/web-filter-splits-opposition-20100406-rpf7.html Let's not create a cyberbullying panic Recent stories in the press about teenage cyberbullying and real-world bullying are sickening. It's hard to know how much cyberbullying contributed to her decision to kill herself, but the case of the Phoebe Prince brings tears to my eyes. The South Hadley, Mass., 15-year-old was reportedly the brunt of repeated cruelty at the hands of classmates (six of whom are now facing criminal charges) until she put an end to her life. http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-20001982-238.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Britain's mobile phone broadband network may face 'capacity crunch' Britain's legion of smartphone users may have to watch their iPhone or BlackBerry become potentially useless as the UK's mobile phone networks face a potential "capacity crunch". http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/05/mobile-phones-capacity-crunch ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Spying on Computer Spies Traces Data Theft to China Turning the tables on a China-based computer espionage gang, Canadian and United States computer security researchers have monitored a spying operation for the past eight months, observing while the intruders pilfered classified and restricted documents from the highest levels of the Indian Defense Ministry. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/science/06cyber.html Cyber-spies based in China target Indian government and Dalai Lama A cyber-spying operation traceable to south-west China stole classified documents from the Indian defence ministry, obtained emails from the office of the Dalai Lama and compromised a United Nations agency, an eight-month investigation has revealed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/06/cyber-spies-china-target-india Shadow cyber spy network revealed A "complex cyber-espionage" network that penetrated various organisations including the Office of the Dalai Lama, has been uncovered by researchers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8605548.stm US Defense Contractors Face 'Relentless' Online Assaults A recently released government report found foreign nations are increasingly exploiting the Internet, including social network sites, to conduct industrial espionage against Defense Department contractors, Nextgov.com reported. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/04/defense-contractors-face-relen.php Think tank in Estonia ponders war in cyberspace [IDG] When one nation launches a missile at another, it's easy to pinpoint the aggressor. But during a cyberattack, the aggressor may not be so identifiable, and the traditional rules of warfare don't quite fit. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9174925/Think_tank_in_Estonia_ponders_war_in_cyberspace http://www.pcworld.com/article/193700/.html Estonia readies for the next cyberattack [IDG] More than anyone else, Jaak Aaviksoo has first-hand knowledge of what a cyberwar might feel like. In April 2007, Estonia's banking, media and government presence online was disrupted by several waves of distributed denial-of-service attacks that knocked services offline. The country is heavily wired -- 90% of all financial transactions are conducted over the Internet, and 70% of the population files their tax returns electronically -- so the incident was widely felt by the country's 1.3 million citizens. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9174923/Estonia_readies_for_the_next_cyberattack http://www.pcworld.com/article/193698/.html 1-in-10 Windows PCs still vulnerable to Conficker worm More than a year after doomsday reports hinted that the Conficker worm would bring down the Internet, one-in-10 Windows PCs still have not been patched to plug the hole the worm wriggles through, new data shows. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9174998/1_in_10_Windows_PCs_still_vulnerable_to_Conficker_worm http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/342379/1--10_windows_pcs_still_vulnerable_conficker_worm Threat of cyberattacks from overseas high, federal US IT execs say A survey released Tuesday by Lumension Security Inc. highlighted growing fears among federal IT security officials of cyberattacks being launched against critical U.S. infrastructure targets by foreign adversaries in the near future. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9174906/Threat_of_cyberattacks_from_overseas_high_federal_IT_execs_say Targeted cyberattacks test enterprise security controls Targeted cyberattacks of the sort that hit Google and more than 30 other tech firms earlier this year are testing enterprise security models in new ways and pose a more immediate threat to sensitive data than a full-fledged cyberwar. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9174559/Targeted_cyberattacks_test_enterprise_security_controls In cyberwar, who's in charge? The president for sure, but after that, it's pretty murky When the first salvos of cyberwar are fired against the United States, the responsibility to defend the country falls to the president who, aided by advisers from the broad spectrum of government agencies and also the private sector, must feel his way along an uncertain path to decide the appropriate response. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/040610-cyberwar-who-is-in-charge.html Is the U.S. the nation most vulnerable to cyberattack? Although the United States likely has the best cyberwar capabilities in the world, "that offensive prowess cannot make up for the weaknesses in our defensive position," one-time presidential advisor Richard Clarke argues in his forthcoming book Cyber War. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/040610-cyberattacks-clarke.html Google-China Spat Sets Stage for Cyberwar Few events have crystallized U.S. fears over a cyber catastrophe, or brought on calls for a strategic response, more than the recent attacks against Google and more than 30 other tech firms. http://www.pcworld.com/article/193758/.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** 30th Anniversary of the OECD Privacy Guidelines, 10 Mar. 2010 The OECD held the first of three events to mark the 30th anniversary of its Privacy Guidelines. The Honorable Michael Kirby delivered the keynote address at the Roundtable, held in Paris on 10 March. He was joined by representatives from governments, civil society and business, who paid tribute to the impact the Guidelines around the world and discussed the Guidelines in light of current privacy challenges. http://www.oecd.org/sti/privacyanniversary http://www.oecd.org/document/39/0,3343,en_2649_34255_44946983_1_1_1_1,00.html German anti-Facebook backlash gathers speed [AFP] Anti-Facebook feelings in Germany grew Wednesday as a major consumer group urged people to abandon the social networking website unless it scraps planned changes to its privacy policy. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/german-antifacebook-backlash-gathers-speed-20100408-rsgw.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/german-antifacebook-backlash-gathers-speed-20100408-rsgw.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** China tightens rules on Internet cafes [AFP] Cybercafes in China that admit three or more underage patrons will have their licences revoked under the government's latest effort to tighten controls on web access in the world's largest online market. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/china-tightens-rules-on-internet-cafes-20100407-rrqv.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/china-tightens-rules-on-internet-cafes-20100407-rrqv.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** OECD: Experts Workshop on Internet Intermediaries, 16 June 2010, Paris, France In the 2008 Seoul Declaration for the Future of the Internet Economy , Ministers invited the OECD to ?examine the role of various actors, including intermediaries, in meeting goals for the Internet Economy?. The goal of the OECD Workshop on ?The Role of Internet Intermediaries in Advancing Public Policy Objectives? is to discuss and identify best practices and lessons learned from experience to date of Internet intermediaries in advancing public policy objectives. In particular, the Workshop aims to identify: i) the roles and responsibilities that Internet intermediaries are undertaking for actions by users of their platforms; ii) where they exist, the nature and extent of these responsibilities and; iii) their positive and negative implications. Guiding themes for the Workshop will be the dynamics of economics, responsibility, accountability and trust that help to ensure a balance between economic, social and technological tensions, as well as the necessary dialogue between Internet intermediaries and other private-sector stakeholders, policy makers, civil society and consumer representatives, and well as end users. http://www.oecd.org/document/62/0,3343,en_2649_33703_44949886_1_1_1_1,00.html Britain's Digital Economy bill faces further scrutiny Controversial elements of the Digital Economy Bill will face further scrutiny even if the bill is passed later, Commons Leader Harriet Harman has said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8605648.stm UK's super-fast broadband tax scrapped The broadband tax has been scrapped in the last-minute scramble to rush key legislation through before Parliament is dissolved next week. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8606639.stm Anger about digital 'stitch-up' Ministers have been accused of a "stitch-up" to pass laws cracking down on digital piracy before the election. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8608478.stm Digital Economy Bill progresses through controversial legislative 'wash up' The Digital Economy Bill is likely to be passed into law in an accelerated legislative process ahead of the just-announced general election. The Opposition will oppose just three parts of it in negotiations today. http://out-law.com/page-10898 The legislative farce of the Digital Economy Bill OPINION: They say that there are two things you should never see made: laws and sausages. As a tiny group of MPs discussed the Digital Economy Bill last night, the stomachs of an online audience turned. http://out-law.com/page-10900 U.S. Court Curbs F.C.C. Authority on Web Traffic A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that regulators had limited power over Web traffic under current law. The decision will allow Internet service companies to block or slow specific sites and charge video sites like YouTube to deliver their content faster to users. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/technology/07net.html Court rules for Comcast over FCC in 'net neutrality' case A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Federal Communications Commission lacks the authority to force Internet service providers to keep their networks open to all forms of content, throwing into doubt the agency's status as watchdog of the Web. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/06/AR2010040600742.html Court Drives FCC Towards Nuclear Option to Regulate Broadband A federal appeals court all but told the FCC Tuesday that it has no power to regulate the internet, putting large chunks of the much-lauded national broadband plan at risk. And the FCC has only itself to blame. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/04/fcc-next/ US broadband plan in 'legal limbo' after court ruling America's broadband plan is in "legal limbo" and on "life support" claim advocacy groups after a court ruling affecting net neutrality enforcement. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8606280.stm Court rules against FCC's Comcast Net neutrality decision [IDG] A U.S. appeals court has ruled that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission did not have the authority to order Comcast to stop throttling peer-to-peer traffic in the name of network management. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9174869/Update_Court_rules_against_FCC_s_Comcast_Net_neutrality_decision http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/342167/court_rules_against_us_fcc_comcast_net_neutrality_decision InternetNZ slams ACTA digital enforcement discussions There is ?no evidence? to suggest the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) should include discussion of a new digital enforcement framework, says InternetNZ. http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/feature/FF781B3E4EC60084CC2576FD00186BE6 ACTA treaty draws fire in NZ submissions InternetNZ and the New Zealand Open Source Society have released their submissions to the Ministry of Economic Development's consultation on this month's ACTA negotiations, with the two organisations taking different, but equally critical tacks on the issue. http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=D529C25D-1A64-6A71-CEC36798729C796B InternetNZ Criticizes ACTA Discussions Regarding New Digital Enforcement InternetNZ says that there is "no evidence" to advise that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) should include conversation about new digital enforcement outlines. http://topnews.us/content/215599-internetnz-criticizes-acta-discussions-regarding-new-digital-enforcement France passes bill to open up online gambling market France's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday to end a state monopoly on online gambling and allow privately owned websites to offer bets on poker, soccer and horse racing. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-47485920100406 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Optus sides with Telstra in national broadband controversy Optus has joined Telstra in baulking at a deal with the government over the national broadband network, with the No 2 carrier saying drastic changes were needed to draft legislation before it will sign up to the $43 billion project. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/industry-sectors/optus-sides-with-telstra-in-national-broadband-controversy/story-e6frg9hx-1225851118825 Australia's NBN bid to stretch China ties Australia is facing another test in its relationship with China, as the country's largest technology group, Huawei Technologies, makes a bid for a piece of the $43 billion Australian National Broadband Network. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/industry-sectors/nbn-bid-to-stretch-china-ties/story-e6frg9hx-1225851112174 ACMA paves way for VoIP Out geographic numbers Outbound-only Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscribers will soon be able to sign-up for a chosen geographic number, under legislation amendments proposed in a discussion paper released by the Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA). http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/342105/acma_paves_way_voip_geographic_numbers_/ ACMA proposes amendments to numbering rules to accommodate VoIP services [news release] The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to change numbering rules to improve flexibility in the Numbering Plan to recognise some of the realities of newer services, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services. http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312086 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2010 --------- 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 FlanneryReceived on Wed Apr 07 2010 - 22:29:28 UTC
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