Don't forget to check out http://auda.org.au/domain-news/ for today's edition of the complete domain news, including an RSS feed - already online!


Headlines from the April 3 edition of the news include:
NTIA Statement on the Mid-Term Review of the Joint Project Agreement(JPA) Between NTIA and ICANN | ICANN Welcomes Statement on JointProject Agreement | Estonia to drill NATO's future cyber-war defenders| Europe debates cybercrime law enforcement in NATO, Council of Europemeetings | Internet has a garbage problem, researcher says | NZ teenhacker Akill admits cyber crime charges | Owen 'Akill' Walker was partof botnet 'A-team' | IPv6 Deployment: Just Where Are We? by GeoffHuston | Dark Blue Sea values domain portfolio at $570m


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


***************************************************

The domain name news is supported by auDA

***************************************************


The big internet land grab - domaining down under
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/03/29/1206207499138.html

VeriSign increases .com and .net fees
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4400

Scotland seeks its own internet domain name
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3648301.ece

Europe poised to bolster Web shield
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/30/technology/cyber31.php

DNS Developments Feed Growing Cybersquatting Concerns [news release]
http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2008/article_0015.html

WIPO says unprecedented number of cybersquatting cases in 2007
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4397

UN agency warns on cybersquatting
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33040a58-fc1d-11dc-9229-000077b07658.html

Network Solutions? Statement Regarding the Suspension of Fitnathemovie.com [news release]
http://newsroom.networksolutions.com/2008/network-solutions-statement-on-fitnathemoviecom/

Systematic.com sold for $400,000
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4399

Pizza.com going for a tasty $2,505,000
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4425

Google suffers from weak growth in ad clicks
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/28/google.google


**********************
GOVERNANCE
**********************
Comcast Adjusts Way It Manages Internet Traffic
Comcast, the country?s largest residential Internet provider, said on Thursday that it would take a more equitable approach toward managing the ever-expanding flow of Web traffic on its network.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/technology/28comcast.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/27/technology/comcast.php

Comcast agrees with BitTorrent to modify disputed network practices [Reuters]
The U.S. cable operator Comcast said Thursday that it would change the way it managed its network and would cooperate with critics to resolve allegations that it had unreasonably interfered with some Internet file-sharing services like BitTorrent.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN2720038620080328
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/27/technology/comcast.php

Software for Keeping ISPs Honest
Yesterday's announcement of a d?tente between Comcast and BitTorrent was great news. Unfortunately, the general problem of ISPs doing strange things to Internet traffic without telling their customers is likely to continue in the future. EFF and many other organizations are working on software to test ISPs for unusual (mis)behavior. In this detailed post, we have a round-up of the tools that are out there right now, and others that are in development.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/03/keeping-isps-honest

Comcast relents on Web video
After criticism for allegedly blocking a popular software program for watching video online, Comcast Corp. pledged Thursday not to discriminate against specific technology as it tries to keep increasing amounts of data flowing through its cable networks.
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-comcast28mar28,1,4991180.story

Comcast/BitTorrent agreement raises questions [IDG]
Though some FCC members praise announcement, net neutrality proponents are more skeptical of the partnership
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/27/Comcast-BitTorrent-agreement-raises-questions_1.html
http://www.itworld.com/Net/2607/comcast-bittorrent-tie-up-080328/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143904-c,dslcablesatellite/article.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032901058.html

Comcast to Stop Filtering Internet Traffic
Cable operator Comcast is reversing its controversial policy of blocking some P2P network traffic, saying it will treat all Internet use with equal priority.
http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/story/16186/comcast_to_stop_filtering_internet_traffic

Net Neutrality's Quiet Crusader
Bearing video cameras, laptops and cellphones, a small army of young activists flooded into a recent federal meeting in protest. Members of public-interest group Free Press weren't there to support a presidential candidate or decry global warming. The tech-savvy hundreds came to the Federal Communications Commission's hearing at Harvard Law School last month to push new rules for the Internet.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/27/AR2008032703618.html

**********************
DOMAIN NAMES
**********************

**********************
 - ICANN
**********************
Interview: ICANN Official On The Domain Name Infrastructure
ICANN coordinates the domain name system globally. ICANN was created in 1998 to perform various Internet administrative tasks previously done by a range of bodies including universities, private companies and the U.S. government. These tasks involve ensuring the domain name system functions properly and that individuals and companies can easily obtain and use domain names for their lawful purposes. We asked Jason Keenan, Media Advisor with ICANN, how it all works.
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/703/Interview-ICANN-Official-On-The-Domain-Name-Infrastructure/

ICANN, UDRP, and antitrust
USA: two plaintiffs who "would like to have been able to enter contracts to register ... 109 domain names that did not force them to agree to the [UDRP] or the Domain Transfer Agreement" sue ICANN for antitrust practices.
http://domaine.blogspot.com/2008/03/icann-udrp-and-antitrust.html

TRA is hosting ICANN regional outreach meeting [news release]
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority will be hosting the ICANN Regional Meeting from 1-3 April 2008 at the Dubai Grand Hyatt Hotel.
http://aeda.ae/news3.html

**********************
 - (cc)TLD NEWS
**********************
Millions register .asia domains
The latest internet domain, the .asia registry, has been switched on and new domain names are now available on a first-come first-served basis. Over 150 million names have already been registered.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2212862/asia-domain-goes-live
http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2212862/asia-domain-goes-live

The big internet land grab - domaining down under
Australian internet entrepreneurs are earning millions of dollars each year by spotting the true value of what's in a name. The so-called "Domainers" search out generic or popular names that have not been turned into websites and then register them for as little as $7.60 - names such as bedroomfurniture.com.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/03/29/1206207499138.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/03/29/1206207491203.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/03/29/1206815304989.html
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2008/03/29/1206815304989.html
http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/4458515a28.html
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4419
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/30/domain-trading-set-to-begin-down-under/

Seminars to debate .au domain policy changes
With the ban on advertising .au domain names soon to be lifted and selling Aussie domain names to become legal, the Australian eCommerce Network is organising seminars in April in Sydney and Melbourne to discuss the changes.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4424
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/30/seminars-to-debate-au-domain-policy-changes/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/news/.au-domain-policy-changes-to-be-debated-2.html

No new .Au domain name registrars until after ad ban ends
Board minutes of auDA reveal that there will be no more Australian domain name registrars accredited until after the new rule changes come into effect later this year
http://www.ecommercereport.com.au/login/story5.htm

Creator of .ca celebrates 20 years on Web
When John Demco created Canada's online identity with the .ca domain name 20 years ago, he also registered himself as the "godfather of dot-ca" as a joke. Little did he realize he would one day be recognized as one of the founders of the Canadian Internet, with dot-ca signing up more than 835,000 individuals and businesses and becoming the 13th most popular country code domain name in the world.
http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=cb46afad-2966-413b-b1a7-751bb8d09e18

VeriSign increases .com and .net fees
VeriSign have announced that as of October 1, 2008, they will be increasing domain name fees for .com and .net, per its agreements with ICANN. The registry fee for .com domain names will increase from $6.42 to $6.86 and that the registry fee for .net domain names will increase, from $3.85 to $4.23.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4400
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/28/verisign-increases-com-and-net-fees/

VeriSign Raises Doman Name Fees Again
VeriSign has raised the registration fee for domain names ending in .com and .net for the second time since the company took control of the top-level domains in 2006.
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207000558

VeriSign ups cost of .com, .net domains second year in a row
Exercising its contractual right to raise prices, VeriSign is once again increasing the base registration fees for .com and .net domain names. It's the second increase in as many years since the company extended its control of those two TLDs in 2006.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080328-verisign-ups-cost-of-com-net-domains-second-year-in-a-row.html

.ME migration schedule from .yu to .me
The .ME registry have announced the rollout schedule for the migration from .yu to .me. The process is as follows:
http://www.nic.me/eng/e_index.php

dotMobi Launches DeviceAtlas, an Industry-Leading Mobile Development Tool [news release]
dotMobi, the company behind .mobi ? the first and only Internet address designed specifically for mobile phones ? today announced the launch of DeviceAtlas, the definitive source of mobile handset information for mobile content developers.
http://mtld.mobi/node/961
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/28/dotmobi-launches-deviceatlas-an-industry-leading-mobile-development-tool-2/

.na Domain names stay private
Drafters of the long overdue Communication Bill have decided, for now, to leave out the clause that will regulate the registration of Internet domain names. The drafters felt that the regulation of such services would better be handled under an Act different from the one they are drafting. It is expected that the registration and regulation of domain names would be addressed by a legislation that would also address the issue of electronic transactions and electronic filing of documents.
http://www.economist.com.na/content/view/5973/1/
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803280643.html

Dot-Pro Domain Name Gets the Green Signal
EnCirca has announced it is now taking orders in advance from all businesses that might qualify for the dot-pro domain. After a lot of deliberation, the dot-pro registry and ICANN have done away with many of the restrictions for dot-pro domain names. All professionals anywhere in the world can now register a dot-pro domain name that operates in the similar way as dot-com domain names.
http://internetcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/enterprise/articles/23933-dot-pro-doma-name-gets-green-signal.htm

.pr IDNs now available
The NIC.PR have announced that Internet users can now register .pr domain names using Internationalized Domain Names (IDN). The introduction of these new domain names now enables Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese speakers to establish web sites using words commonly used in those languages such as mu?eca.pr, tel?fonos.pr, gar?on.pr, sch?n.pr, or amanh?.pr. (March 25, 2008).
http://www.nic.pr/index.asp?f=1

Scotland seeks its own internet domain name
The Scottish National party is to take its campaign for independence into cyberspace by seeking to change the endings of all websites based in the country, from ?.co.uk? to ?.sco?.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3648301.ece

Scotland 'to get its own internet domain suffix'
The Scottish National Party not only wants to break up the Union, it has emerged that it is also seeking virtual independence in cyberspace.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/30/nscot130.xml

Plans for Scottish web domain name
The Nationalist Government is considering moves to create a Scottish web domain name.
http://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/latest-scottish-news/Plans-for-Scottish-web-domain.3928775.jp
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/snp+considering+web+domain+plans/1896452
http://iclanarkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/news/scotland/headlines/tm_headline=plans-for-scottish-web-domain-name&method=full&objectid=20694326&siteid=50144-name_page.html
http://icscotland.icnetwork.co.uk/news/tm_headline=plans-for-scottish-web-domain-name%26method=full%26objectid=20694327%26siteid=50141-name_page.html

Tartan Week has designs on internet and Down Under
Plans to increase the profile of Scotland across the world are afoot with its own top-level internet domain and Scotland Week celebrations, currently under way, heading Down Under.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2157642.0.Tartan_Week_has_designs_on_internet_and_Down_Under.php

**********************
 - DNS SECURITY
**********************
Europe poised to bolster Web shield
Nearly a year after Estonia weathered an onslaught of cyberattacks, its name has become a rallying cry for countries pressing to strengthen global cooperation between governments and private Internet service providers to combat computer crime. But some privacy advocates and computer experts remain wary of such efforts.
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/30/technology/cyber31.php

Free Honeypot Client Could Sting Malware
The Honeynet Project has released a new freebie honeypot client tool that lets security pros and researchers automatically detect and dissect bot infections and other malware attacks on client machines.
http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=149408

Major Web sites hit with growing Web attack [IDG]
A blossoming Web attack, first reported by security researcher Dancho Danchev earlier this month, has expanded to hit more than a million Web pages, including many well-known sites.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143942/article.html
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/28/Major-Web-sites-hit-with-growing-Web-attack_1.html

E-Mailers Beware: Phishers Never Sleep
Can you recall the five worst phishing scams to grace your e-mail in-box? Can you spot a genuine e-mail from your financial institution or government agency?
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/62311.html
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/security/62311.html

**********************
 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
**********************
DNS Developments Feed Growing Cybersquatting Concerns [news release]
Against the background of an unprecedented number of cybersquatting cases in 2007, the evolving nature of the domain name registration system (DNS) is causing growing concern for trademark owners around the world. Last year, a record 2,156 complaints alleging cybersquatting ? or the abusive registration of trademarks on the Internet - were filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization?s (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center (Center), representing an 18% increase over 2006 and a 48% increase over 2005 in the number of generic and country code Top Level Domain (gTLDs and ccTLDs) disputes.
http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2008/article_0015.html

WIPO says unprecedented number of cybersquatting cases in 2007
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced there were an unprecedented number of cybersquatting cases in 2007. WIPO also said the evolving nature of the domain name registration system is causing growing concern for trademark owners around the world.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4397
http://www.domainnews.com/en/news/wipo-says-unprecedented-number-of-cybersquatting-cases-in-2007.html
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/27/wipo-says-unprecedented-number-of-cybersquatting-cases-in-2007/

Cybersquatters get marching orders from dodgy domains [Reuters]
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) ousted a record number of 'cybersquatters' from websites with domain names referring to trademarked companies, foundations and celebrities in 2007.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKL275020020080327
http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7416108
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10500655
http://www.news.com/2100-1030_3-6235857.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4455295a28.html

Cybersquatters have reached record numbers, says WIPO
Everyone has had it happen to them: you're trying to remember the URL to your bank's web site, but type in some variation of the domain?americabank.com instead of bankofamerica.com, for example. Next thing you know, instead of your bank's web site, you end up at some place trying to sell you cheap Viagra. Cybersquatters are the bane of many users' (and businesses') existence, and the World Intellectual Property Organization says that they have grown to unprecedented numbers in recent years. WIPO says that it received a record number of complaints over cybersquatting in 2007?2,156 to be exact, which is a nearly 50 percent increase since 2005.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080327-cybersquatters-have-reached-record-numbers-says-wipo.html

Cyber-squatting complaints soar in 2007
Cyber-squatting is on the increase, according to figures from the Wipo, which points the finger of blame at new gTLD names.
http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2213054/cybersquatters-sitting-pretty

Cybersquatting Increasing
Complaints of "cybersquatting" where a person sets up a site using a trademarked name and profits by selling the name to the owner reached a record level last year according to the WIPO.
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/03/28/cybersquatting-increasing

Domain-Name Complaints Rise To a High Over 'Cybersquatting'
Complaints of "cybersquatting," where someone sets up a Web site using a trademarked name and then profits by selling the name to the owner, surged to a record high in 2007, a watchdog group says.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120666525487870461.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120666525487870461.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

UN agency warns on cybersquatting
Abusive practices by registrars of internet domain names are fuelling growth of cybersquatting and undermining the integrity of the international domain name system, the World Intellectual Property Organisation warned on Thursday.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33040a58-fc1d-11dc-9229-000077b07658.html

Cybersquatting at a Record High
The number of cases of "cybersquatting," the act of registering trademarks on the Internet for financial gain, has risen considerably in the past three years, said the World Intellectual Property Organisation on Thursday.
http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/032708_Cybersquatting_at_a_Record_High.cfm

WIPO kicks cybersquatters out
Nobody likes squatters, even in cyberspace, which is why WIPO, the World Intellectual Property Organization and branch of the UN, has ousted a record number of cybersquatters from Web sites with domain names nicked from trademarked companies.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/03/27/wipo-kicks-cybersquatters

Record number of cybersquatters evicted from domains
United Nations agency WIPO ejected 18 per cent more people and organisations in the last year from domains involved in trademark and intellectual property disputes.
http://www.itpro.co.uk/internet/news/182550/record-number-of-cybersquatters-evicted-from-domains.html

Cybersquatting cases on the rise [AFP]
If you tried to guess the web domain for FIFA without knowing the exact address, chances are, you would get to an Internet page that has nothing to do with the International Football Federation.
http://news.theage.com.au/cybersquatting-cases-on-the-rise/20080328-220l.html
http://news.smh.com.au/cybersquatting-cases-on-the-rise/20080328-220l.html
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jyzyrtgSjiMMdaugq2152dkt77zw
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23444678-23109,00.html
http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=15935

Cybersquatters are back in town
Whether you are the Prince of Wales, Sting or Homer Simpson, no one is safe from the internet racket having an unexpected resurgence.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/31/cnweb131.xml

'Cybersquatters' target Simpsons and Prince Charles
The Simpsons and The Prince's Trust were among an increasing number of cybersquatting victims last year, it has been revealed.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=129337&in_page_id=34

What's in a name? Cybersquatting case has an answer
It's not often that a domain-name holder accused of cybersquatting actually prevails in a dispute with the party that filed the complaint. It's rarer still for that entity to then win a counterclaim of attempted reverse domain-name hijacking.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1066687502;fp;2;fpid;1
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1066687502
http://www.cio.com.au/index.php/id;1066687502

Network Solutions? Statement Regarding the Suspension of Fitnathemovie.com [news release]
Over the last month, Network Solutions received a number of complaints regarding the website FITNATHEMOVIE.COM. At the same time, our hosting customer for this site also made several public comments regarding their plans for the use of this site.
http://newsroom.networksolutions.com/2008/network-solutions-statement-on-fitnathemoviecom/

Network Solutions pre-emptively takes down website Dutch parliament member Geert Wilders by Michel van Eeten
The website of Geert Wilders' upcoming film has been taken down by registrar Network Solutions, while they are ?investigating whether the site?s content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy.? That message has been up for about five days now. One wonders how long it takes to investigate six words and a single picture.
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/3/27/3605277.html

NetSol Explains Anti-Koran Site Ban
Network Solutions says it was just following standard protocol earlier this week by taking down the website promoting a Dutch politician's film that is said to criticize the Koran.
http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/032808_NetSol_Explains_Anti_Koran_Site_Ban.cfm

Internet Registry Freezes Domain of Anti-Islamist Critic
A Dutch lawmaker concerned about the Islamicization of Holland intends to release a short movie critical of Islamism at the end of this month. Now, however, Internet registry Network Solutions has decided to freeze the domain at which his film was to be accessed.
http://www.jbs.org/node/7617

**********************
 - MISCELLANEOUS
**********************
Netcraft March 2008 Web Server Survey
In the March 2008 survey, we received responses from 162,662,052 sites. Growth has continued to rise over the past few months, with this month seeing a gain of four and a half million new sites.
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2008/03/26/march_2008_web_server_survey.html

ARIN XXI: Check Out The Agenda!
For those interested in the work of ARIN, they have released the agenda of their upcoming meeting, ARIN XX!, to be held in Denver Colorado in early April: We look forward to your participation at the ARIN XXI Public Policy and Members Meeting, taking place 6-9 April 2008, in Denver, Colorado. The meeting will take place at the Grand Hyatt Denver. Hotel and travel information, meeting registration, and agenda details, are available through
http://www.arin.net/announcements/20080325a.html

Find Out Who Owns A Domain Name System
A reverse DNS Lookup, also known as a reverse DNS search, or an rDNS, is a form of searching service that allows you to discover the hostname or the host that is associated with an IP address or with the host?s address.
http://www.losangeleschronicle.com/articles/56603

What's in a domain name?
While Google bombs and sites that operate as giant search engine optimization hacks can make it difficult to find what you're looking for on some search engines, sometimes it's even harder to get to the page of a product or service you saw a promotion for while out and about.
http://www.webware.com/8301-1_109-9904020-2.html

**********************
 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
**********************
Systematic.com sold for $400,000
TEXADA Software sold its domain name systematic.com for US$400,000 this week. The domain name became unused upon consolidation of the company?s websites under the one umbrella of TEXADAsoftware.com. The company is a provider of equipment rental and mobile asset management software.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4399
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/28/systematiccom-sold-for-400000/

eBay Boots Digital Goods Off Auction Block
Sales of digital goods on eBay is contributing to feedback manipulation ? both real and perceived ? according to Brian Burke, director of global feedback policy, so eBay is changing the way merchants process these transactions. To thwart any attempts to boost ones own feedback through the sale of digital goods, as of March 31 all goods that can be digitally downloaded or transferred electronically must be listed using eBay's Classified Ads format.
http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/essentials/ebay/article.php/3736441

Pizza.com going for a tasty $2,505,000
With three and a half days of bidding to go, US$2,505,000 has already been bid for the domain name pizza.com on Sedo in what is already going to be one of 2008?s biggest sales.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4425
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/30/pizzacom-going-for-a-tasty-2505000/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/news/pizza.com-currently-a-hungry-2-505-000.html

Pizza.com Auction Eclipses $2.5 Million
Auction for pizza.com hits reserve, may be one of biggest domain name sales ever.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/03/30/pizzacom-auction-eclipses-25-million/

Pizza.com Auction Dough Rises to over $2 million
Pizza.comThe top-tier one word domain name Pizza.com is up for sale on Sedo.com and attracting a lot of attention in early bidding. In just 2 days of bidding, the domain has already attracted bids in excess of $2 million . Twenty bidders have already placed bids on the auction which has 5 more days left. This is a stellar domain but at these price levels, Domain Name News would expect there to be ?end user? (rather than speculator) bidding on this domain name.
http://www.domainnamenews.com/domain-auction/pizzacom-auction-dough-rises-to-over-2-million/1495

Casino.de Hits ?400,000 Jackpot To Lead This Week's Domain Sales Chart
Denmark's Balslev Media has acquired Casino.de for ?400,000 ($625,060 at the exchange rate on the day of this writing - March 18). That was the biggest domain sale reported this week and one of the largest .de (German country code) sales ever. The press release announcing the sale incorrectly stated that it was a record price for a German domain (Poker.de sold for ?695,000 ($957,937) last July) but it still ranks right up there.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2008/domainsales03-25-08.htm

MyID.ca Launches .ca Auctions
MyID.ca has now tossed their hat into the .ca auction market ring. Prior to this, the only company offering .ca auctions was Sibername. Sibername only started offering these auctions in December 2007. It's good to see increasing competition in this market, and it's a sure sign that .ca domains are becoming more important.
http://www.domainbits.com/myid-launches-ca-auctions/

Domain Names, New and Old - Everybody Sells by Frank Schilling
What does a guy who is well known for ?not selling domains? know about selling domain names? Well I might just know a thing or two. As the title of this post states: Everybody sells. It doesn?t matter whether you?re selling cars, homes, financial instruments, religion... everyone sells something. Some of us are hard-sell : Timeshares on Maui spring to mind. Some of us are soft-sell: Water in the desert for example. Make no mistake, the global economy functions on sales and whether you?re paparazzi or a politician, a plumber or a pastor, everyone sells something.
http://www.sevenmile.com/2008-03/everybody-sells/

Spitzer memorabilia isn't bringing in the big bucks [AP]
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer may have spent thousands on high-priced call girls, but collectors of the disgraced governor's memorabilia can find serious bargains on eBay. ... Of course, you can spend a little more on Spitzer stuff: For and asking price of just $250,000 you can buy the Web domain name clientnine.com.
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/NEWS01/803280348

Chitika Launches Parking Solution
While many parking companies seem to be having issues it's interesting to see a new "player" entering the foray. Chitika, which is best known for it's "blog friendly" advertising solutions, has just launched a domain parking solution called "Chitika for Domains".
http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2008/03/26/chitika-launches-parking-solution/

us: What's in a name? Big money for local entrepreneur
Internet domain-name speculator Christian Zouzas recently pocketed a hefty profit by flipping several hundred of his cyberspace properties. Zouzas, a Chelmsford-based real estate attorney who dabbles in virtual properties on the side, last month sold about 800 of his three-letter dot-us domain names to NameMedia Inc., a Waltham-based company that controls more than 2 million domain names.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/03/31/story10.html
http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/03/31/story10.html

First Domain Sold Via Fusu
Fusu have announced they have sold their first domain name listed on their Exchange. The domain name, KPY.com was listed on Exchange during the public Beta cycle with a value of US$5,000 and found 14 investors buying 45% of the domain. In the trading, the market value of the domain rose to $5,800.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/03/28/first-domain-sold-via-fusu/
http://www.fusu.com/blog/fusu/first-domain-sold-fusu

Google AdWords Feature: AdSense for Domains Opt Out
Should you opt for the new AdSense for Domains opt out feature, quietly launched with the Google AdWords upgraded Site Exclusion tool? The site exclusion tool applies to the content network. However, notice what happens if you click on the ?Page Types? tab from within a pure search advertising campaign:
http://www.searchenginejournal.com/adwords-new-feature-adsense-for-domains-opt-out/6614/

Google suffers from weak growth in ad clicks
Google has suffered a second consecutive month of weak growth in advertising clicks, fuelling concern that the high-flying internet search specialist is suffering in the economic slowdown.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/28/google.google

Slump even affects Google [Bloomberg]
Google saw slower growth in the number of clicks on its text advertisements in the first two months of the year, according to a research firm, adding to concern that a sputtering economy is hurting its sales.
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/27/business/google.php

Weak Google paid-clicks data generate debate on Wall Street [AP]
New data confirming slowing growth in Google Inc.'s paid clicks renewed debate Thursday on Wall Street over whether the Internet search company's revenue can quickly adjust to changes it made in how it generates clicks.
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-google28mar28,1,6584696.story
http://news.smh.com.au/google-paid-clicks-data-generate-debate/20080328-220o.html
http://news.theage.com.au/google-paid-clicks-data-generate-debate/20080328-220o.html

Google's Click-Through Slowdown Shakes Confidence
New data confirming slowing growth in Google's paid clicks renewed debate Thursday on Wall Street over whether the Internet search company's revenue can quickly adjust to changes it made in how it generates clicks.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/62334.html

Google's paid search growth soft again in February [IDG]
For the second straight month, a comScore report suggests that Google Inc.'s revenue engine is slowing down, highlighting again the perils of the company's overwhelming dependence on a single type of online advertising to fuel its business.
http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9072738

DomainTools auction preview
The Roundtable is coming up in just a few weeks and we are busy reviewing domains for the auction. We have already selected over 150 premium domains and we are VERY excited about the list of several thousand domains that have been submitted to us to pick through. The reserves are set to attract Domain buyers both big and small. We are very selective of what gets in the auction this year.
http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/03/domaintools-auction-preview/

The Roundtable is a month away!
DRT monthWith less than a month to go, the team at Domain Roundtable is getting ready to host our most exciting line-up to date! First, let?s talk money - and ways to save! Save on your conference passes! DomainTools Silver and Gold members receive a discount.
http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/03/the-roundtable-is-a-month-away/

Chitika Launches Domain Parking Program
Online advertising company Chitika, which has long been an alternative to Google Adsense, has launched a program for domain parking. This is good news for domain owners who have seen parking revenues drop due to changes at ad providers.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/03/28/chitika-launches-domain-parking-program/

**********************
RESEARCH PAPERS
**********************
Cybering, Online Grooming and Ageplay by Sylvia Kierkegaard [Computer Law & Security Report]
Abstract: Recent advances in computer technology have been aiding sexual predators, stalkers, child pornographers, child traffickers, and others with the intent of exploiting children. Internet bulletin boards, chat rooms, private websites, and peer-to-peer networks are being used daily by paedophiles to meet unsuspecting children. Compounding the problem is the lack of direct governance by an international body, which will curb the illegal content and activity. Most countries already have laws protecting children, but what is needed is a concerted law enforcement and international legislation to combat child sex abuse. With the enactment of the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, this may soon become a reality in Europe. This current article will discuss some of the recent legal developments concerning online child protection, including the new Convention.
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1114282

**********************
INTERNET USE
**********************
us: Finding Political News Online, the Young Pass It On
Senator Barack Obama?s videotaped response to President Bush?s final State of the Union address ? almost five minutes of Mr. Obama?s talking directly to the camera ? elicited little attention from newspaper and television reporters in January. But on the medium it was made for, the Internet, the video caught fire. Quickly after it was posted on YouTube, it appeared on the video-sharing site?s most popular list and Google?s most blogged list. It has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, been linked by more than 500 blogs and distributed widely on social networking sites like Facebook.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27voters.html

Broadening Broadband in the US - New York Times Editorial
The big problem in providing Internet service to rural America is often called ?the last mile? ? the difficulty in reaching the smallest communities and farthest-flung houses and farms. In cities, that problem might be called ?the last block? ? the difficulty in reaching every neighborhood, no matter how poor.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/opinion/29sat4.html

Hulu Hoopla: Is Hulu the future of television?
For the past couple of years, TV and the Internet have existed in a pleasant state of harmony. If forced to watch live television (by breaking news, by sports), you could surf the Web during commercials and dull moments. The laptop-TV combo was ideal, enfolding you in a narcotic halo of constant information.
http://www.slate.com/id/2187501/

Wikipedia hits 10 million total articles
That's how many Wikipedia has now, if you count all the articles in the 250-plus languages the encyclopedia is available in.
http://www.news.com/8301-13772_3-9905726-52.html
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,62039537,00.htm

**********************
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
**********************
Mobile phones 'more dangerous than smoking'
Mobile phones could kill far more people than smoking or asbestos, a study by an award-winning cancer expert has concluded. He says people should avoid using them wherever possible and that governments and the mobile phone industry must take "immediate steps" to reduce exposure to their radiation.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/mobile-phones-more-dangerous-than-smoking-802602.html

Dave Stewart, Nokia envision brave new mobile world [Reuters]
At first glance, Nokia's Tero Ojanpera and Dave Stewart might seem like an odd pair. As executive vice president of entertainment and communities for Nokia, Ojanpera oversees all of the company's music, gaming, video, and social-networking initiatives, including the Nokia Music Store and Comes With Music. Stewart is a musician/producer best known as one half of the Eurythmics. In February, Stewart was named founding member of Nokia's new Artist Advisory Council, an initiative created to foster an artist-friendly environment within the company.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN2929974520080330
http://www.news.com/2100-1026_3-6236144.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032902810.html

Massive Computer Centers Worse than Air Traffic
There's been a lot of hand-wringing lately about how much air traffic contributes to global warming. An even more damaging culprit, however, has recently been found: the Internet. Computer centers consume massive amounts of energy, and their use is growing astronomically. Creative solutions are being sought -- and found.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,544053,00.html

Apple has biggest brand impact -survey
The Apple brand has the biggest impact on the world's consumers, while Microsoft (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and the United States nation brand are those considered most in need of a remake, a survey showed on Monday. The poll by online magazine brandchannel.com asked its readers to identify the brands with the greatest impact on their lives, and say how they affected readers' behaviour and their view of the world.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKL2850164020080331
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/30/AR2008033002134.html

Cuba lifts mobile phone restrictions
The Cuban president, Ra?l Castro, today lifted restrictions on ownership of mobile phones. Castro's move was another indication that he is prepared to grant more freedom to the island's residents. The right to own mobile phones had been restricted to the employees of foreign firms or those holding key posts in the communist-run state.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/28/cuba

Castro opens new era by lifting mobile phones ban
Cubans are to be allowed mobile phones in the latest step by the new President, Raul Castro, to improve access to consumer goods. Cuba has the lowest rate of mobile use in Latin America, and the service had been restricted to foreigners or government officials and employees.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/castro-opens-new-era-by-lifting-mobile-phones-ban-802360.html

Cuba Lifts Restrictions On Personal Cellphones
Cuban President Ra?l Castro lifted much-loathed restrictions on personal cellphone ownership Friday, a move that could increase the flow of political ideas and news to the isolated and information-starved island nation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032801242.html

Cubans allowed to get cellphone service [AP]
First microwaves, now cell phones. Is this the new Cuba? Raul Castro is revolutionizing his brother's island in small but significant ways ? the latest in a decree Friday allowing ordinary Cubans to have cell phone service, a luxury previously reserved for the select few. The new president could be betting greater access to such modern gadgets will quell demand for deeper change.
http://iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/28/news/CB-GEN-Cuba-Cellular-Phones.php

Cuba ends restriction on cellular phones [Reuters]
Cuba said on Friday it will allow all Cubans to buy and use mobile telephones for the first time in the latest step by new President Raul Castro to improve access to consumer goods.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN2815132920080328

**********************
DIGITAL DIVIDE
**********************
Joocing the Next Billion Internet Users
It's a conundrum that the best and brightest of the tech industry haven't yet solved: how to get computers to the "next billion" customers in developing countries. The highest-profile effort to date, called One Laptop Per Child, has run into a series of setbacks . Spearheaded by digital guru Nicholas Negroponte, the U.N.-supported program envisions equipping millions of children in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with innovative $100 laptops. But demand for the devices has been lower than expected, in part because they still cost nearly twice their intended price.
http://businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2008/gb20080325_844094.htm

**************************
ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL
**************************
Where the Law Stands on Virtual Property
The filing of a complaint by a Pennsylvania lawyer against the operators of an online virtual world, and last year's decision by a Pennsylvania federal district court in that case, Bragg v. Linden Research Inc., has generated a great deal of interest in the media and among lawyers, as well as in the virtual world community.
http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/pubArticleLT.jsp?id=1206614810253

French court fines user-generated website for privacy breach [AFP]
A Paris court ruled on Thursday that a user-generated website had violated a film star's privacy by hosting a link to a report about him, in a potentially landmark ruling for the French Internet. The court ruled that fuzz.fr made an "editorial" decision to link to a story on a gossip news site about French actor Olivier Martinez and his relationship with singer Kylie Minogue -- and was therefore responsible for its content.
http://news.smh.com.au/french-court-fines-usergenerated-website-for-privacy-breach/20080328-220t.html
http://news.theage.com.au/french-court-fines-usergenerated-website-for-privacy-breach/20080328-220t.html

Putin defies Convention on Cybercrime
Russia does not intend to sign the European Convention on Cyber Crime. The RF President Vladimir Putin held to acknowledge invalid the ordinance ?On signing the Convention on Cyber Crime? of November 15th, 2005, the N & I Agency RIA Novosty reports. In accordance with the given ordinance Russia is to decide independently whether to join the Convention, provided the provisions of Item ?b? Article 32, which ?might damage the sovereignty and security of member countries and their citizens? rights?, might be revised. The given item reads ?Party may, without the authorisation of another Party access or receive, through a computer system in its territory, stored computer data located in another Party, if the Party obtains the lawful and voluntary consent of the person who has the lawful authority to disclose the data to the Party through that computer system?.
http://eng.cnews.ru/news/top/indexEn.shtml?2008/03/27/293913

Apple settles "millions of colors" lawsuit
Apple Inc. has settled out of court a 10-month-old lawsuit over its displays. Terms were not disclosed, and Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. Two California professional photographers filed a class-action suit last May, saying they were duped into buying MacBook Pro notebooks by Apple's claim that the MacBook and MacBook Pro could display millions of colors.
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/eric2_0/2008/03/apple-settles-m.html

Apple settles the amazing multicolor lawsuit
The heated debate over whether Apple is tricking you into believing you can see millions of colors on your Mac has come to a quiet conclusion.
http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9903602-37.html

Jail time for Australian identity cheats
Proposed new offences for identity crimes are needed to fill "gaps" in existing federal and state laws and should carry jail terms of up to five years, the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting in Adelaide has been told.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23440509-16123,00.html

**************************
PRIVACY
**************************
IBM project seeks privacy controls for users
A three-year project to infuse privacy controls into identity technologies and emerging social networking communities is being undertaken by IBM Research with funding help from the European Union.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/032808-ibm-privacy.html
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/28/IBM-project-seeks-privacy-controls-for-users_1.html

uk: We are not Big Brother, says online ad tracker Phorm
The boss of Phorm defended the embattled online advertising technology developer yesterday, offering to open the company up to outside scrutiny by a panel of independent web experts after the firm was blasted by privacy campaigners. The challenge followed a 5% drop in Phorm shares as the Guardian declared it would not be signing up to the firm's advertising platform because of worries over the information the company had on internet users.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/27/advertising.digitalmedia

Internet book piracy will drive authors to stop writing
Book piracy on the internet will ultimately drive authors to stop writing unless radical methods are devised to compensate them for lost sales. This is the bleak forecast of the Society of Authors, which represents more than 8,500 professional writers in the UK and believes that the havoc caused to the music business by illegal downloading is beginning to envelop the book trade.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3648813.ece

Online raiders stole my book - Ben Macintyre: Commentary
For many writers, digital books are the scariest things to hit publishing since Stephen King. They have created an atmosphere of uncertainty in the industry, with some hailing a new golden age of writing and reading, while others predict the death of the book.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/ben_macintyre/article3648814.ece

**********************
FILE SHARING
**********************
TorrentSpy's closure a win for MPAA; war far from over
TorrentSpy has joined the choir invisible, as the site announced that it has decided of its own accord to shut down. Not so fast, says the MPAA, which says the erstwhile tracker site had no choice. Either way, the P2P wars are far from over.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080328-torrentspys-closure-a-win-for-mpaa-war-far-from-over.html

YouTube to reveal which videos are watched where
YouTube is to begin using the vast pools of information it collects about its users to provide video creators with feedback about how their content is being viewed.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3633744.ece

UK video-site traffic triples in a year
UK traffic to online video websites has roughly tripled in the last year, according to the internet monitor Hitwise. In a blog posting this week, the organisation revealed that UK visits to the top 25 online video sites had increased by 178 percent between February 2007 and February 2008. However, the analyst that carried out this research, Robin Goad, suggested that this figure is an underestimate and the total is actually closer to 200 percent.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39374397,00.htm

New German Data Law Could Benefit Music Pirates
Germany's music industry fears that a new telephone data law could become a carte blanche for Internet users, who download tunes illegally. Until now, they've traced music pirates with the help of phone records.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3220471,00.html

jp: Winny copyright infringers 'should be identified'
An advisory panel to the National Police Agency that is looking into ways to prevent cybercrime released Thursday a report on copyright violation issues concerning the person-to-person file sharing software Winny, proposing that Internet service providers should be required to disclose the identity of customers who have used the software to illegally exchange copyrighted movies and music.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080328TDY02308.htm

**********************
CENSORSHIP
**********************
Website withdraws Dutch MP's anti-Islam film after threats [AFP]
Internet site Liveleak.com says it has withdrawn anti-Islam film Fitna by far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders following threats to its staff. "Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill-informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers," the UK-based site said in an online statement.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/29/2202599.htm

Anti-Islamic Film Taken Offline Following Threats
LiveLeak.com said it removed the film Fitna from its servers after serious threats to its employees. Fitna, an anti-Islamic film made by Dutch politician Geert Wilders that equates Islam with violence, debuted on Thursday at Web site LiveLeak.com, only to be taken down a day later following threats to LiveLeak's staff.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207000505

Dutch Film Against Islam Is Released on Internet
The anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert Wilders on Thursday released on the Internet his highly charged and much-anticipated anti-Koran film, which matches graphic images of terrorist attacks and death threats against Jews by Muslim extremists with verses of the Muslim holy book.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/world/europe/28dutch.html

Britain drawn into controversy over anti-Islam video by Geert Wilders
Britain was dragged into the controversy over an anti-Islam film made by a far-Right Dutch MP after Iran condemned its appearance on a UK-based video-sharing website today. ?This heinous measure by a Dutch lawmaker and a British establishment... is indicative of the continuation of the evilness and deep vengeance such Western nationals have against Islam and Muslims,? Iran?s Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3640828.ece

Dutch fear anger as anti-Koran film hits Web [Reuters]
The Netherlands government tried to defuse Muslim anger after the release of a film by a Dutch lawmaker that accuses the Koran of inciting violence and shows an image of the Prophet Mohammad primed to explode.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL268605320080328

Dutch await reaction after MP releases film on Qur'an
Dutch MP Geert Wilders released a film critical of Islam yesterday, setting verses of the Qur'an against images of terror attacks. The 15-minute film, entitled Fitna - strife or division - was posted on the internet, and shortly afterwards segments were rebroadcast by TV channels.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/28/netherlands.islam

Dutch MP Geert Wilders posts explosive anti-Islam film on web
A far-right Dutch MP released a provocative film about the Koran on a British website last night, a move that is likely to provoke violent repercussions from angry Muslims around the world.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3636049.ece

The Fitna farce - Comment by Ali Eteraz
I just watched Dutch right-winger Geert Wilders' film, Fitna, The Movie. He had promised it would be too shocking, too frightening, too disturbing - and much of the world was holding its breath in a morbid, anxious wait for its release. The media feared rabid violence by those Muslims. My initial reaction is a yawn. I blame production. The soundtrack is Tchaikovsky's mellow classical piece called "Arab Dance". Quick tip to future demagogues: when trying to incite riots, try not to use musical pieces that are based on Georgian lullabies. Quick tip to future Islamophobes: when trying to demonise Islam, try not to use elements of western culture that are inspired by Arabs and Muslims as that reveals that Muslims have contributed positively to the world.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ali_eteraz/2008/03/the_fitna_farce.html

Dutch MP's anti-Islam film gets barbs, cheers on YouTube [AFP]
Snippets of an Islam-bashing film by Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders were causing a stir Thursday on YouTube, where they triggered cheers and barbs among thousands of viewers.
http://news.theage.com.au/dutch-mps-antiislam-film-gets-barbs-cheers-on-youtube/20080328-224p.html
http://news.smh.com.au/dutch-mps-antiislam-film-gets-barbs-cheers-on-youtube/20080328-224p.html

Malaysian blogger hit with libel verdict [AFP]
A Malaysian court has ordered a top blogger and editors of an opposition newspaper to pay 2.2 million US dollars in damages over libel claims by a university head, reports said Thursday. University Utara Malaysia and its vice-chancellor Nordin Kardi filed a lawsuit against Raja Petra Kamaruddin and the opposition party Keadilan's newspaper, which also published the item, over a piece that alleged Nordin had plagiarised an article.
http://news.smh.com.au/malaysian-blogger-hit-with-libel-verdict/20080327-21wa.html
http://news.theage.com.au/malaysian-blogger-hit-with-libel-verdict/20080327-21wa.html

YouTube Removes Videos Banned in Turkey [AP]
YouTube has removed several video clips that had prompted Turkish authorities to block access to the video-sharing Web site, a move the company believes will lead to a restoration of access soon.
http://news.theage.com.au/youtube-removes-videos-banned-in-turkey/20080328-220i.html
http://news.smh.com.au/youtube-removes-videos-banned-in-turkey/20080328-220i.html

Royal pardon for Internet user, condemned to three years of jail for creating spoof Facebook profile for prince
Fouad Mourtada (JPEG) Reporters Without Borders welcomes Fouad Mourtada?s release after receiving a royal pardon yesterday for Aid Mawlid Nabaoui, the holiday marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25900

************************************************
CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION
************************************************
UK parents ignore government's internet warning
Parents are letting their children wander around cyberspace with no protection or supervision, according to a study published this week. Despite government warnings that children going online can be vulnerable to bullying, paedophiles or images of sex and violence, two-thirds of families have no parental controls on home computers, according to the website Mumsnet.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article3646319.ece

uk: Dr Tanya Byron warns digital-age children should be left to take risks
Asked by Gordon Brown to investigate the new dangers to children being brought up in the digital age, Tanya Byron last week produced a 224-page report. The child psychologist?s recommendations included a cinema-style system of classification for video games and a thorough public education campaign. However, she warns that protecting children against all risks stunts their development and an important part of growing up is learning to assess and deal with danger
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article3645034.ece

UK child internet safety plans under fire over game censors
The government yesterday backed an ambitious blueprint by the TV psychologist Dr Tanya Byron to improve child safety online, but immediately faced a backlash over plans to introduce cinema-style ratings for video games.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/mar/28/childprotection.internet

Good old parenting will keep the online bogeymen at bay
The day after Barack Obama won in Iowa, I tried to engage my nine-year-old daughters in a conversation about what had the feel of a historic moment. "Oh yeah," one replied. "I've seen him on Presidential Paintball." I looked bemused, and she promptly Googled up a game in which players could adopt the persona of White House hopefuls, blasting away at each other with green goo.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/mar/28/internet.children

The Byron review - Internet angst: Guardian Leader
Leo XIII, on the whole a reforming pope, never quite came to terms with the bible in the vernacular. It offered, he felt, a subversive opportunity for people to make their own judgments. There is a little of the pope about the child psychologist Dr Tanya Byron, who yesterday proposed a national strategy for internet safety. Like the pope, who assumed sin, Dr Byron's day job with dysfunctional families risks distorting her perception of the problem she is tackling. It is possible for paedophiles to groom children through chatrooms, but it is not likely.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/mar/28/internet.children1

uk: Plaudits and concern over Byron
The games industry has welcomed the recommendations of the Byron Review but concerns have been raised that ratings still need to be future proofed. Dr Tanya Byron has recommended that the role of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) be expanded.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7317015.stm

uk: Facebook, Bebo, My Space face censorship orders
Social networking sites will be required to remove material unsuitable for children, such as nude or violent images and comments, within 24 hours of receiving a complaint, under a tough new code for internet safety.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3635685.ece

Byron Report targets Google, YouTube in internet safety shake-up
The home page of Google and every other search engine used in the UK would be obliged to display links to information on how to search the internet safely under new proposals backed by the Government.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3632862.ece

Minister backs Byron's web safety push
The education minister, Ed Balls, today committed the government to fully implementing the recommendations of Dr Tanya Bryon's report on child internet safety, including the setting up of a council to oversee industry self-regulation of content.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/27/digitalmedia.childprotection2

The Byron report: key points
Key points from the executive summary
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/27/digitalmedia.childprotection1

uk: Computer games to get cigarette-style health warnings
Video games will be forced to carry cigarette-style health warnings under proposals to protect children from unsuitable digital material.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3628894.ece

Family 'digital divide' putting children at risk
Grandparents as well as parents should take part in a national internet safety campaign to ensure children in their care cannot access unsuitable material online, a Government-backed review has concluded.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/28/ncomputer128.xml

UK Government to create child internet safety council
The Government has said that it will establish a Council for Child Internet Safety and start to apply to computer games the age restrictions used to classify films.
http://out-law.com/page-8987

au: Ministers fail to agree on game rating change
The issue of whether to create an R18+ classification for video games will be put to public consultation following a meeting of censorship ministers today.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/03/28/1206207383592.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/03/28/1206207383592.html

au: Book twist in child pornography case
Child pornography novels can be freely bought in Australia, and carry no warning about their illicit content - or the danger faced by people who buy them. Several of the books were found at the home of Carl Laurence Adams, 30, of Box Hill, one of seven Victorians nabbed in a global child porn sting.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23443147-2862,00.html

Finnish Internet Awareness (FiA) project initiates moderator training
The first pilot training programme for content providers and moderators of social networking sites targeted at children and youth was organised in Finland in February, and the experiences drawn from it were encouraging.
http://www.saferinternet.org/ww/en/pub/insafe/news/articles/0308/moderator_training_finland.htm

Greek study shows kids afraid to report porn
Nine out of ten Greek parents do not know how to protect their children from online child pornography, according to research conducted by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=14877&t=Greek+study+shows+kids+afraid+to+report+porn

**************************
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
Newspapers in Slovakia protest media legislation [Reuters]
Slovakia's leading newspapers published identical protests on otherwise blank front pages Thursday to condemn legislation that they said would undermine press freedom. The six main dailies left their front pages empty except for a list of "seven sins" in the legislation, which would require them to print responses by people or institutions to any news article even if the published information were true.
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/27/business/smedia.php

Indonesian ministry Web site hacked over porn ban [Reuters]
Hackers have defaced the Web site of Indonesia's information ministry in response to a government move to restrict access to pornographic material on the Internet, an official said on Friday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKJAK24257120080328

*********************************
COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS
*********************************
China Law Could Impede Microsoft Deal for Yahoo
Microsoft?s hostile-takeover attempt against Yahoo may encounter an unexpected hurdle in August after a Chinese antimonopoly law takes effect that will extend the nation?s economic influence far beyond its borders.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/technology/28yahoo.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/28/technology/yahoo.php

**********************
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
**********************
nz: Industry welcomes Telecom separation plan [NZPA]
A finalised plan to split Telecom into at least three separate divisions will ensure better and cheaper internet and phone services for most consumers, industry groups say.
http://stuff.co.nz/4458622a13.html

nz: Telecom split will bring 'better broadband'
The separation of Telecom into at least three separate divisions will mean faster cheaper broadband and phone services for most consumers, Communications Minister David Cunliffe says. Mr Cunliffe today announced he had approved Telecom's plan for a three-way split in its operations.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10501042

nz: Separation day and what it means
Today is March 31, the day Telecom and the Government have for months had in mind as the day the operational separation of Telecom's into three divisions becomes official. Pushing the time limit to its maximum, the Government has just today rubber-stamped Telecom's revised strategy for separation after previously knocking back a proposal based on the criticism of parties like InternetNZ.
http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/griffins-tech-blog/2008/3/31/separation-day-and-what-it-means/

nz: Telecom split becomes official
A plan to split New Zealand's biggest public company, Telecom, into separate business units has been formally approved by Communications Minister David Cunliffe.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1672256

InternetNZ welcomes ?Separation Day? [news release]
InternetNZ (the Internet Society of New Zealand Inc) welcomes the Minister of Communication?s decision approving the three-way operational separation of Telecom from today.
http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/2008/sepday

**********************
MOBILE/WIRELESS
**********************
Airwaves Up for Grabs: How much free space is left in the broadcast spectrum?
Just a day after Verizon Wireless spent nearly $10 billion in its bid for a valuable slice of the airwaves last week, Google asked the Federal Communications Commission to open up other unused pieces of the spectrum for wireless broadband. The plan calls for allowing companies like Google and Microsoft to beam wireless Internet access on frequencies between those allocated for television channels?in the so-called "white space"?as well as frequencies reserved for channels that don't exist in a given area. How much of the broadcast spectrum is still up for grabs?
http://www.slate.com/id/2187502/

**********************
VoIP
**********************
How to Secure VOIP
The time to secure VOIP traffic is now, before the threats outweigh the benefits of this cost-saving communications technology. The technology offers a host of benefits, from lower calling costs and greater mobility to advanced functions like unified messaging and collaborative whiteboarding. But as VOIP matures, and as hackers become more familiar with its intricacies, the threats may someday equal the benefits?unless companies prepare now.
http://www.midmarket.eweek.com/c/a/News/How-to-Secure-VOIP/

**********************************
ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN
**********************************
au: Changed bail conditions for accused former teacher
A former teacher who is accused of using online chat rooms to lure young girls for sex has been given permission by an ACT magistrate to use the internet.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/27/2200989.htm

au: 'Online predator' arrest
Police tonight arrested a Melbourne man on suspicion of using the internet to groom a 15-year-old American girl for sexual purposes.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/03/27/1206207305377.html

au: Policeman faces child porn charges
An ACT police officer has been charged with child pornography offences and will appear in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/31/2203093.htm

au: ACT cop charged with child porn offences
An ACT police officer has been arrested and charged after child pornography was found on his home computer.
http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=471474

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(c) David Goldstein 2008

 
---------

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


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





      Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address.
www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mail