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 June 19 edition of the news include: OECD proposes roadmap for the future of the Internet economy | Governments give consumers a boost at high-level OECD meeting on the future of the Internet | No Vacancy: Make Room for New Internet Addresses by Dr Paul Twomey | EU speaks out about seizing opportunities in the global internet economy | au: Conroy Hints At International Web Security Pact | ICANN: Improving Institutional Confidence consultation launched | ICANN: Proposed Global Policy for Autonomous System Numbers - Final Call for Comments and Background Report | VeriSign builds out DNS security defences | In First Quarter of 2008, Internet Keeps Pace with Quarterly Growth Rate Set in 2007 | VeriSign: Domain-name Registrations Keep Growing | US FTC Halts Domain Name Registration Scam | us: FTC Halts Cross Border Con Artists: Thousands of Small Businesses and Nonprofits Billed for Domain Registrations They Didn't Get | au: Lawsuit against AdultShop.com settled - DBS subsidiary settles mutual lawsuit with AdultShop And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** OECD proposes roadmap for the future of the Internet economy | Governments give consumers a boost at high-level OECD meeting on the future of the Internet | No Vacancy: Make Room for New Internet Addresses by Dr Paul Twomey | EU speaks out about seizing opportunities in the global internet economy | au: Conroy Hints At International Web Security Pact | ICANN: Improving Institutional Confidence consultation launched | ICANN: Proposed Global Policy for Autonomous System Numbers - Final Call for Comments and Background Report | VeriSign builds out DNS security defences | In First Quarter of 2008, Internet Keeps Pace with Quarterly Growth Rate Set in 2007 | VeriSign: Domain-name Registrations Keep Growing | US FTC Halts Domain Name Registration Scam | us: FTC Halts Cross Border Con Artists: Thousands of Small Businesses and Nonprofits Billed for Domain Registrations They Didn't Get | au: Lawsuit against AdultShop.com settled - DBS subsidiary settles mutual lawsuit with AdultShop us: Charging by the Byte to Curb Internet Traffic http://nytimes.com/2008/06/15/technology/15cable.html ICANN Solicits Public Comment on Single Character Name Allocation Framework http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-13jun08-en.htm Draft Final Report of Recommendations for IDN ccTLD Fast Track Mechanism Made Available http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-13jun08-en.htm Canadian Internet Registration Authority ends free-for-all over personal information [news release] http://cira.ca/en/media-room/news/225.html Facebook.com.au WIPO Decision http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2008/06/12/facebookcomau-wipo-decision/ Lewis estate takes on 11-year-old in new battle of Narnia http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jun/16/intellectualproperty.news ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** us: Charging by the Byte to Curb Internet Traffic Some people use the Internet simply to check e-mail and look up phone numbers. Others are online all day, downloading big video and music files. For years, both kinds of Web surfers have paid the same price for access. But now three of the country?s largest Internet service providers are threatening to clamp down on their most active subscribers by placing monthly limits on their online activity. http://nytimes.com/2008/06/15/technology/15cable.html http://iht.com/articles/2008/06/15/technology/online.php AT&T looking at charging heavy Internet users extra AT&T Inc., the country's largest Internet provider, is considering charging extra for customers who download large amounts of data. http://businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D918P12O0.htm ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN Solicits Public Comment on Single Character Name Allocation Framework In response to community comment and interest, ICANN has developed a proposed allocation framework and use of funds from the allocation of single-character second-level domain names (SC SLDs) in existing gTLDs. ICANN is proposing an auction mechanism and disbursement of funds toward areas of public good for the Internet community. Discussion of proposed allocation methods will involve consultation with gTLD registries. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-13jun08-en.htm Update on 2008 ICANN Nominating Committee This is an update on the 2008 ICANN Nominating Committee. The nomination period closed on 15 April 2008. Since then, the Nom Com has been working with its assessment provider, Ray & Berndtson, to review statements of interest, candidate information, and assess candidates based on the job descriptions developed in consultation with the Board, ALAC, ccNSO and GNSO. The Nom Com has conducted four conference calls since 15 April in order to extensively review candidate information and refine its selection processes for the 2008 Nom Com cycle. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-13jun08-en.htm Draft Final Report of Recommendations for IDN ccTLD Fast Track Mechanism Made Available Summary: The IDNC Working Group (IDNC WG) is currently working to develop and report on feasible methods that would enable the timely and efficient ("fast track") introduction of a limited number of non-contentious IDN ccTLDs, while an overall long-term IDN ccTLD policy is being developed. The IDNC WG has created a Draft Final Report designed to highlight the latest topics and issues that need to be considered in developing (1) a mechanism for the selection of the IDN ccTLD string and (2) a mechanism to designate an IDN ccTLD manager. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-13jun08-en.htm Review of the At-Large Advisory Committee Independent reviewer, Westlake Consulting, has submitted a *draft* final report for review and comment. Westlake will present the draft report at a workshop on Monday, 23 June, at the Paris ICANN meeting, and it also has been posted for public comment. The BGC ALAC Review Working Group will discuss the draft report at a workshop on Wednesday, 25 June, at the Paris ICANN meeting. This draft report has not been reviewed by the ICANN Board or the Board Governance Committee. It is being shared for public information prior to it being finalised by Westlake. The final report will be submitted to the Board after the ICANN Paris meeting. Opportunity for public comment on the final report also will be provided. http://icann.org/reviews/alac-28feb07.htm ICANN Paris: Seeking Comments from Internet Users in North America by Robert Guerra Ahead of next week?s ICANN meeting in Paris, I would like to consult users, At-Large Structures (ALSs) and others involved in internet governance in North America. As one of the three regional representatives on the ICANN At-Large Advisory committee, I want to make sure individuals, users and ALS?s are given the chance to summit their own questions, suggestions and items to the agenda of the upcoming meeting. http://www.circleid.com/posts/icann_paris_comments_internet_users/ Upcoming Event: Civil Society Meeting at ICANN-Paris to discuss representative structure reforms by Brenden Kuerbis At the the upcoming Paris meeting of ICANN June 23 - 28 some reforms may be made which could greatly improve ICANN's representative structure. In a nutshell, representation of noncommercial users (public interest groups, NGOs, and individuals of a public interest bent) will be increased from its current 14%, possibly to 25% or one-third. This will also involve a change in the nature of noncommercial interest representation in ICANN. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/6/13/3743193.html ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Canadian Internet Registration Authority ends free-for-all over personal information [news release] The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) announced today that it has launched a new privacy policy and WHOIS search tool to protect the privacy of dot-ca domain name registrants. The new policy limits public access to personal information except under extraordinary circumstances or through explicit consent of the registrant. http://cira.ca/en/media-room/news/225.html New CIRA WHOIS Policy Goes Live The new WHOIS Policy is now in effect at the Canadian Internet Registry Authority (CIRA). That means the contact information for individual registrants of .ca domain names is now hidden by default. Registrant information for non-individuals is exposed by default. http://about.tucows.com/2008/06/10/new-cira-whois-policy-goes-live/ CZ.NIC Enables Domain Holders to Block Their Data in the Central Registry The CZ.NIC association, administrator of the top-level .CZ domain, today announced extension of their domain administration system (DSDng) which can now be used by domain holders to block data on their respective domains, contacts and name server sets. The purpose of this system improvement is, among other things, to further increase the security of holder information as well as the entire .CZ domain registration and administration system. http://www.nic.cz/page/458/cz.nic-enables-domain-holders-to-block-their-data-in-the-central-registry/ 80000 .lt domains [news release] On 2008-06-13 number of registered .lt domain has reached 80000. During last 8 months the .lt registry has grown by 20000 domain names. http://nic.lt/public?pg=85D44E&loc=en Now Is The Time For .ME ?? Landrush Underway The .ME Registry Landrush is underway, which means for the first time anyone can apply for names with the new .ME domain name extension. The Landrush process began Friday and is a 20-day period in which the public can "put a stake in the ground" for .ME names they want to register. http://www.nic.me/index.php?page=12&news=90 Worldwide Study Indicates Strong Consumer Demand for a Better Mobile Web [news release] dotMobi and AKQA Mobile, the mobile division of the global independent creative agency, announced the results of an extensive consumer study of mobile Internet usage and attitudes. Conducted by the AKQA?s Research & Insights department in conjunction with dotMobi, the survey reveals key insights into the importance of a better mobile Web for consumers in the U.S. and U.K. http://mtld.mobi/node/1051 Misleading marketing from Norsk Internett Register (in Norwegian only) [news release] http://www.norid.no/nytt/dad.html nz: InternetNZ appoints Paul Swain as Chair of Executive Board [news release] InternetNZ (the Internet Society of New Zealand Inc) is pleased to announce it has appointed Paul Swain as Chair of the Society?s newly-established Executive Board. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/2008/paulswain100608 RegistryPro Announces ?Third Level Transition? Initiative [news release] RegistryPro, the exclusive operator of the .Pro top-level domain (TLD) on the Internet, announced today it will begin accepting pre-orders for second-level domains from current .Pro registrants who use any of the registry?s 11 profession-specific third-level designations. The pre-orders are being accepted as the first step in the registry?s highly anticipated transition to new registration parameters, slated for July 14, 2008. http://registrypro.pro/pressreleasses/2008/0612.html Proposal for .sport, a New Top-Level Domain by Patrick Vande Walle OK. Now my lawyer has given me the green light, I can officially announce I am working on a proposal for a .sport TLD, to be submitted to ICANN for consideration as a new TLD next year. There is still a long way to go in terms of getting the proposal ready, but I this this one is a winner. http://www.circleid.com/posts/icann_sport_top_level_domain/ Call for Reporting Disputable .yu Domains [news release] The Transition Commission of RNIDS invites Registrars and the Internet community to take a more active part in reporting disputable .yu domains. Fast reporting and solving problems regarding .yu register will ensure that there are no damaged parties on 10th September, when all unregistered .yu domains become available for registration. The sessions of the Transition Commission are held at least twice a week. The aim of the Commission and RNIDS is to enable pre-registration for the largest possible number of disputable .yu domains before the final deadline. http://rnids.rs/en/node/67?lang=en ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** EU states extend life of Internet security body European Union telecoms ministers agreed on Thursday to extend the life of the bloc's Internet security watchdog by three years as threats to the Web increase. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL1226032820080612 Weak evidence links congressmen's cyberattacks to China, experts say [IDG] U.S. House members who say that China may have been responsible for attacks on their computers have provided little evidence to back up their claims, according to computer security experts. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9097758 Will a Global TAR Make DNSSEC Stick? by Brenden Kuerbis Two US Government contractors and the National Institute of Science and Technology have released a white paper, "Statement of Needed Internet Capability," detailing possible alternatives and considerations for a Trust Anchor Repository (TAR) to support DNSSEC deployment. The document was released through the DNSSEC-Deployment Group this week with a request that it be circulated as widely as possible to gather feedback. A Trust Anchor Repository (TAR) refers to the concept of a DNS resource record store that contains secure entry point keys. http://www.circleid.com/posts/86128_global_tar_make_dnssec_stick/ http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/6/12/3739812.html On Technical (and Political) Risks by Milton Mueller Public Interest Registry wants to implement DNSSEC in the .org zone. According to ICANN's regulations, this is a "new registry service" and it has to be reviewed by a committee of technical experts to assess its impact on the security and stability of the Internet before it can be approved. The expert panel released its report on PIR's proposal June 4. The report, like so many things associated with DNSSEC implementation, has fascinating implications which are buried in technical details that few people will understand. One conclusion that could be drawn from the report is that the US government's insistence on maintaining control of the root zone file is actually decreasing Internet security. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2008/6/9/3736297.html ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** eu-domain-names: The battle after sunrise - alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) puts new domains on hold by Attorney Dr. Volker Herrmann The first sunrise period for the registration of the new european domains has come to a provisional end. From 7th December 2005 till 6th February 2006 a large number of applications have been filed to EURid. This institution was installed by the European Union and is acting as the registration agency for the .eu-domain-names. All applicants must now prove their priority rights (e.g. trademarks) on which the registration was based on within a strict deadline of 40 days. http://www.aufrecht.de/news-und-beitraege/eu-domain-names-the-battle-after-sunrise-alternative-dispute-resolution-adr-puts-new-domains-on-hold.html Lewis estate takes on 11-year-old in new battle of Narnia It was meant to be a special 11th birthday present, the perfect gift for a young CS Lewis fan. Instead, the ?70 purchase of the domain name Narnia.mobi has pitted the boy's family against the author's literary estate just before the UK premiere of the new Narnia film and sparked a legal war involving one of the world's largest law firms and UN intellectual property regulators. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jun/16/intellectualproperty.news Family in battle over web address An Edinburgh father who bought a website domain name for his son is facing a battle with the estate of Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis. Richard Saville-Smith paid ?70 for the name www.narnia.mobi so his son Comrie, 10, who is a CS Lewis fan, could use it for his e-mail address. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7455822.stm Scottish family embroiled in Narnia net dispute A Scottish family has become embroiled in an intellectual property dispute with the estate of the author CS Lewis after it bought a Narnia internet domain name for their 10-year-old son as a birthday present. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL1553107020080615 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/15/2275224.htm http://stuff.co.nz/4585652a1860.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10516606 Facebook.com.au WIPO Decision The decision regarding facebook.com.au has been published. The respondent tried to use the defence that no trademark existed in Australia at the time of registration, however that argument was rejected. http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2008/06/12/facebookcomau-wipo-decision/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** se: Only 3 out of 20 IT managers have started thinking about introducing IPv6 [news release] In spite of warnings from important Internet authorities like RIPE and ICANN that the problems with a shortage of IP addresses are become ever more pressing, neither the Swedish industry nor its business and public sector clients are particularly well-prepared for the transition to IPv6. This is evident in a new report from .SE (The Internet Infrastructure Foundation). http://www.iis.se/about/press?id=144 EU gets to grips with telecoms reform European Union telecoms ministers meet in Brussels today to discuss a package of reforms and report back on progress towards the Commission's information society strategy. Among the reforms on the agenda are coordinating pan-European use of the analogue spectrum freed up by the switchover to digital TV, changes to the GSM standard, coordination of mobile satellite services and adoption of IPv6. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2218887/eu-telecoms-ministers-reform us: Government Not Driving IPv6 for Enterprise The U.S. government deadline of June 30 for IPv6 compliance is nearing. Though the government is mandating compliance, two of the biggest vendors in the government networking space do not see a mad rush in the final week. http://www.opticallynetworked.com/news/article.php/3752991 http://www.internetnews.com/government/article.php/3752921 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Kremlin pushes Cyrillic alphabet net Recently-installed Russian president Dmitry "Vladimir Putin" Medvedev has pressed for internet authorities to change the web's naming system to allow domain names in the Cyrillic alphabet. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/12/cyrillic_domain_names/ Russian President: let the web work in Cyrillic The Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, has called for the internet to accommodate the Cyrillic alphabet as part of a drive to highlight the importance of the Russian language. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4119960.ece Kremlin wants Russian URLs [AFP] For Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, an avowed computer addict who came to power in May, it's a matter of national importance. http://technology.iafrica.com/news/technology/729849.htm Gmail.com not accessible from Germany anymore ... Now, I knew Google hasn?t been allowed to promote its email service under the Gmail name in Germany due to trademark issues, but it had always been possible to access my Gmail account via Gmail.com. Unfortunately, as it seems, Google is now blocking German users from using this domain name so that they will have no choice other than to use the longer, bulky URL above. Alternatively, one can also go to GoogleMail.com, but this is still not as nice as Gmail.com, in my opinion. http://www.dmueller.com/2008/06/12/search-engines/gmailcom-not-accessible-from-germany-anymore/ Registrars Release Suspended Domains to Attackers A new outbreak of SQL attacks began on the 8th. Not that they ever really go away, but new waves replace the old ones. The attackers are using a much larger number of domains than seen in previous months. Just 11 days into June, and already 54 of these domains have been observed. http://blog.scansafe.com/journal/2008/6/10/registrars-release-suspended-domains-to-attackers.html Who Owns Hillary4McCain.com? DomainTools To the Rescue A bit of research turns up a probable registrant of Hillary4McCain.com. http://domainnamewire.com/2008/06/13/who-owns-hillary4mccaincom-domaintools-to-the-rescue/ Phone Numbers and Our Evolving Communications Identity ENUM and P2P VoIP are focus topics for this month?s issue, but while they both pertain to Internet Telephony, it?s also true that apples and hamburgers are both food. The conjunction does prompt one to reflect on how telecom identities are evolving and where it will lead. http://voipservices.tmcnet.com/feature/articles/31133-phone-numbers-our-evolving-communications-identity.htm ARIN's Annual Report 2007 Now Available [news release] ARIN publishes annual reports to document the operations and activities of the organization for the community. The Annual Report 2007 is broken into four chapters: http://www.arin.net/announcements/20080611.html NeuStar Launches Its UltraDNS Traffic Controller Service [news release] NeuStar announced the launch of UltraDNS Traffic Controller, a server load balancing solution within NeuStar's UltraDNS managed services suite. http://neustar.biz/pressroom/announcements/press_release.cfm?press_id=1504 ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Wild Week in the Aftermarket With a Trio of Six-Figure Sales and An Avalanche of Big 3-Letter .Com Buys We saw something happen in the domain aftermarket this week that we've never seen before. There was a stunning wave of 3-letter .com sales including 15 of them at $40,000 apiece at the AfternicDLS alone! Those totaled a tidy $600,000. All told 18 of the 30 positions on our expanded Top 30 sales chart went to 3-letter .coms including the #1 domain - CPC.com, sold for a whopping $201,750 at Moniker.com. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2008/domainsales06-10-08.htm First Australian Web Site to Auction ".au" Domain Names [news release] After the recent auDA (au Domain Administration) decision to allow the sale, purchase and trade of ".au" domain names, the anticipated .au property boom has begun. The need for a well structured, affordable venue, advertising domain names for sale in Australia, has been realised by the creation of the Domain Shed Web site Domainshed http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/06/15/the-first-au-auction-web-site/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/domain-shed-launches-first-australian-.au-auction-site.html Hot Domain Names In Google Hot Trends Searches Google Hot Trends Reveals huge number of people search for domain names rather than typing them into the browswer address bar. Any list of popular keywords shows that yahoo.com, google.com and cnn.com are among the most searched phrases on the web on a daily basis - but Google Hot Trends refreshes on an hourly basis to show that the top 100 most frequently searched phrases at Google ALWAYS includes domain names on the list. On average that list of 100 top search terms at Google Hot Trends includes 5 or 6 domain names on the list, but on occasion it includes as many as twenty full url's! http://www.searchnewz.com/blog/talk/sn-6-20080612HotDomainNamesinGoogleHotTrendsSearches.html Auction Review - Detailed Look At the MyID Auction As I previously discussed, there is a MyId dot ca auction in process. I said I'd analyze the domains soon, and now that it's the weekend I've had some quiet time to do this. Here is the list of domains on auction, with the reserve range in brackets, and my thoughts on some of them afterwards: http://www.domainbits.com/auction-review/ Pricing Your Names Increases Likelihood of Sale We?ve posted before about the importance of pricing your listed names and responding quickly to offers on your unpriced domains. Proactively pricing your domains increases the likelihood they will sell. Here?s one more reason why: Investors constantly ask our sales team for lists of our best names. For example, sales might be asked for a list of our best Geo domains or our best domains that include a certain keyword or are about a theme or category (e.g. : ?send me a list of your best real estate names?) http://afternicdlsblog.com/2008/06/11/pricing-your-names-increases-likelihood-of-sale/ From Death's Door To A Heavenly Mountain: How Dr. Chris Hartnett Built a Billion Dollar Company and Discovered the Real Meaning of Wealth ... Meet Dr. Chris Hartnett who resides on North Carolina's Heavenly Mountain. Though he is the sole owner of approximately 12,000 domain names and part owner of around 20,000 more, Hartnett made his fortune in a different field before returning to the domain business three years ago. http://dnjournal.com/cover/2008/june.htm ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** Guiding the Censor's Scissors: Assessing Internet Filtering by Derek Bambauer [Brooklyn Law School] Abstract: On-line censorship is on the rise, in democratic states - including the U.S. - as well as authoritarian ones. It is no longer sufficient to employ a country's mode of governance as a proxy for the legitimacy of its Internet restrictions. In addition, attempting to apply one state's normative views regarding on-line content to practices of other states is likely to devolve, unhelpfully, into accusations of cultural colonialism or repression. This Article seeks a new approach to evaluating the legitimacy of Internet filtering by focusing on the process by which censorship decisions are made, the protections available for content owners and users, and the narrowness with which these choices are implemented. It hopes to engage a range of stakeholders - from governments to watchdogs to activists to corporations - in assessing filtering regimes through quantitative metrics, and then to utilize these measurements in both public and private decisionmaking. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1143582 The internet and the US 2008 election [news release] Fully 46% of all Americans have used the internet, email or cell phone text messaging to get news about the campaign, share their views and mobilize others. Further, the proportion of Americans going online on a typical day at the tail end of the primary season to get political news or information has more than doubled since a comparable point in the 2004 race?from 8% of all adults in spring 2004 to 17% of all adults in spring 2008. http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/303/press_release.asp ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Lost in Email, Tech Firms Face Self-Made Beast The onslaught of cellphone calls and e-mail and instant messages is fracturing attention spans and hurting productivity. It is a common complaint. But now the very companies that helped create the flood are trying to mop it up. http://nytimes.com/2008/06/14/technology/14email.html Mobile internet use 'rocketing in Europe' Europe has taken to 3G faster than any other region in the world and usage is growing rapidly as networks proliferate, according to research commissioned by mobile operator body the GSM Association (GSMA). http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39244960,00.htm http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0,39044192,62042538,00.htm Internet use doubles in White House race: survey A new study says the internet now plays a central role in US politics, with nearly half of all Americans using the web and other new media to follow the presidential campaign. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/16/2275350.htm Internet report shows digital divide in Canada Almost 75 per cent of Canadians aged 16 or older surfed the Net last year, but factors such as age, income, education and place of residence contribute to a ?digital divide? in the country, a new Statistics Canada report says. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080612.winternet0612/BNStory/Technology/ More Canadians hooking up to faster internet More Canadians are connecting to the internet through faster broadband connections, leading to an increase in activities such as downloading music or movies, according to a new study from Statistics Canada. http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/06/12/statscan-internet-study.html Canadian teens driving up use of the Internet [Canadian Press] Almost all 16-and 17-year-olds in Canada have used the Internet either for doing school work, sending text messages, playing video games or listening to music, according to a study released Thursday. http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/442010 http://www.canadaeast.com/rss/article/323770 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080612/canada_internet_080610/20080612 http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080612/canada_internet_080610/20080612/?hub=TorontoNewHome ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Social networking sites and confidential information [reg req'd] A recent application before the High Court focused on the tension between businesses encouraging employees to use social networking websites for professional reasons and later restraining the release of confidential information at the end of their employment. The Court ordered a previous employee of Hays Recruitment to provide pre-action disclosure of various documents relating to business contacts he had accumulated on a social networking site, LinkedIn, during his employment with the company. The case is likely to be of interest to employers concerned both about the strength of their confidentiality agreements and also their policies on the use of social networking websites at work. http://www.law-now.com/law-now/2008/socialjun2008.htm ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Korea protests a proving ground for gadgets and geeks When tens of thousands of Koreans converged in the center of Seoul on Tuesday for a mass protest against the new president, many were clutching two vital items: a candle and a mobile phone loaded with snazzy features. http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN0534545220080613 http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-34038320080612 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** EBay delays PayPal policy EBAY has delayed plans to force its Australian customers to use its PayPal payment service with its online auction house. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23857981-15306,00.html eBay to fight ACCC PayPal ruling Online auctioneer eBay says it will challenge the Australian competition watchdog's ruling to block its plan to force its users onto a PayPal-only payments system. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/06/13/1213321602934.html http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/13/1213321602934.html ACCC thwarts eBay PayPal plan The competition watchdog has flagged its intention to scuttle a plan by online auctioneer eBay to force its Australian users on to a PayPal-only payments system. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/06/12/1212863822348.html http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/12/1212863822348.html ACCC plans to reject eBay's PayPal push 13/06/2008 10:06:00 The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is proposing to revoke a notification lodged by eBay. http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;559064227 Australia calls shenanigans on eBay PayPal-only policy The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a notice to eBay over its plans to go PayPal-only in Australia later this month, saying that it plans to reject the proposal. The group says that eBay's plans could allow eBay to abuse its power and eliminate competition in the market where PayPal operates. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080612-australia-calls-shenanigans-on-ebay-paypal-only-policy.html us: Jail sentence for botnet creator A hacker who hijacked hundreds of PCs to create a botnet has been sentenced to 41 months in jail by a US court. Robert Matthew Bentley of Panama City, Florida also faces $65,000 (?33,000) in fines and will be under supervision for three years on his release. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7451268.stm ************************** PRIVACY ************************** uk: BT off hook for secret Phorm trials The Office of the Information Commissioner (ICO) has decided not to take BT to court over its secret trials of the Phorm personalised web advert serving system. The trials, conducted in 2006 without the consent of BT broadband users, have created huge controversy. Several prominent privacy and security experts have stated that the trials were unlawful, and cast doubt on the legality of the Phorm service itself. http://www.heise-online.co.uk/news/BT-off-hook-for-secret-Phorm-trials--/110887 ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ us: ISPs: We're limiting our own Usenet groups, not blocking others An announcement this week by New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo that three Internet service providers would "block" sources of child porn has caused a surprising amount of confusion. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9967004-38.html nz: InternetNZ announces major investment in Hector?s World [news release] InternetNZ (Internet Society of New Zealand Inc) is to provide up to $200,000 in funding for the ongoing development of Hector?s World?, a world-leading cybersafety resource for young children. Hector?s World is produced by Hector's World Limited (HWL), an innovative social entrepreneurship venture and charitable subsidiary of New Zealand?s cybersafety organisation NetSafe. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/2008/inz%20hectors%20world Spain treats child phone addicts Two children in Spain have been admitted to a mental health institution to be treated for addiction to their mobile phones, Spanish media report. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7452463.stm Danish filter catches Romanian child-porn sites With 86 sites, Romania is the country with the most domains caught in a Danish child-pornography filter. However, the generic domains .com, .info, .biz and .net totaled 3,240 out of 3,864 domains caught by the filter in early 2008. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9097018 Cyber playgrounds It's no wonder parents are confused and troubled about which websites to let their children visit when cyber stalking is almost daily news. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4582856a28.html uk: Boy found hanged suffered website abuse, says family The family of a teenager thought to have killed himself believe bullying about his taste in music on a social networking site may have contributed to his death. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jun/12/socialnetworking.internet ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** EU telecom ministers dismiss plan for regulatory body [IDG] The 27 telecommunication ministers of the European Union unanimously dismissed Commissioner Viviane Reding's plans to create a powerful central telecom regulatory body at a meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/061208-eu-telecom-ministers-dismiss-plan.html EU scales back plan for telecommunications regulator The European Commission on Thursday scaled back plans to create a Europe-wide telecommunications regulator, apparently making a tactical retreat as it attempted to win support for more controversial measures to regulate the sector. http://iht.com/articles/2008/06/12/business/regulate.php Swedish National Defense Radio Agency to Wiretap All Internet Traffic Several people abroad have started mailing me and others asking if rumors of new legislation to be passed in Sweden on the 17th of June is for real. There are also reports in international forums starting to pop up. This is fairly old news, and I think that most of us are surprised that this has not generated more press both inside and outside Sweden earlier. This legislation will allow for the Swedish National Defense Radio Agency (FRA) to wiretap Internet traffic leaving the country. http://www.circleid.com/posts/861293_swedish_defense_wiretap_internet_traffic/ ********************************* COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS ********************************* Mozilla Girds for Mobile Browser Warfare When Mozilla releases its Firefox 3 browser update June 17, it hopes to set the first-ever Guinness world record for number of Internet software downloads in 24 hours. The target: 5 million. That would be quite a feat, since the last Firefox update netted just 1.6 million downloads. But it's no mission impossible. Firefox 3 speeds up browsing and adds a host of improvements, including the ability to adapt to your preferences as you use it. Over the past half-decade, Mozilla, an open-source software company, has gained grassroots support from some 170 million users and amassed an 18% worldwide market share, according to Web metrics outfit Net Applications. In the process, it has broken Microsoft's grip on the critical browser market. http://businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2008/tc20080612_114801.htm Google-Yahoo! deal under competition scrutiny The advertising and search deal secured on Thursday night between Yahoo! and Google could still be unravelled after the chairman of an anti-cartel Senate committee in Washington pledged to launch an investigation into the transaction. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article4133270.ece Google-Yahoo Poses Ad-Rate Worries Some marketing executives said they are fearful that a new partnership between Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. may raise advertising rates while reducing control over where their ads are displayed. But others cautioned that the impact of the deal -- announced Thursday as Yahoo ended talks about selling its search business to Microsoft Corp. -- remains unclear. They said a lot hinges on how Yahoo chooses to implement the complex agreement and whether Yahoo continues to give advertisers incentives, such as higher placements, for working with it directly. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121340486730674061.html?mod=2_1571_topbox Google's Yahoo Rebound Play With Microsoft out of the picture, Web search king Google strikes a search ad deal with Yahoo. But where does that leave the struggling portal? After more than four months of Sturm und Drang, the blockbuster Internet deal of the year is over, with only one clear winner: Google. On June 12, Microsoft and Yahoo said they ended talks that focused on, at turns, an outright takeover by the software giant to a combination of the companies' Web-search operations. Within hours, Google swooped in with a long-discussed alternative deal that involves placing search ads on Yahoo pages. http://businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2008/tc20080612_745212.htm Yahoo! succumbs to the power of Google The firm's advertising tie-up wounds Microsoft but hurts its own future too, says John Naughton: Truly, you couldn't make it up - unless perhaps you were a script consultant for a soap opera. Here's the plot line so far: Microsoft, a successful but ageing computer company with a vast deposit account, decides it needs an attractive acquisition to enable it to keep up with the younger - Web 2.0 - generation. So it makes a generous offer to Yahoo!, a fashionable but faltering younger company. But Yahoo! doesn't want to be ravaged by an older corporation and embarks on all kinds of crazy schemes to repulse its offer, including making overtures to Google, the new boy on the block. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/15/technology.mediabusiness Yahoo-Google agree online ad deal Yahoo has agreed a deal with Google which will see Yahoo use the search engine giant's advertising technology. Under the agreement, Google ads will appear alongside some Yahoo search results in the US and Canada. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7451946.stm Yahoo spurns Microsoft for advertising deal with Google Yahoo cut off all merger talks with Microsoft last night as it clinched a search advertising deal with Google. Yahoo said the ending of talks, which had been off and on since Microsoft made its approach public in January, had come after Microsoft made it clear in a meeting on Sunday that it was no longer interested in buying the company outright, even at the price of $33 per share which Microsoft had last suggested. That would have valued Yahoo at up to $47.5bn (?23.5bn). http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/13/yahoo.microsoft Yahoo partners with Google on ads after Microsoft talks fall apart Microsoft's four-month-long courtship of Yahoo has finally thrown Yahoo into the arms of their biggest common rival, Google. http://iht.com/articles/2008/06/13/technology/13yahoo.php http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/technology/13yahoo.html Follow the leader - Apple ditches its unusual business model to boost handset sales ALMOST a year after launching what he thinks is the phone to change all phones, Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, took to the stage again this week to introduce its second version, the iPhone 3G. In the past year Mr Jobs, who had surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2004, has visibly aged. Looking emaciated, he farmed out large parts of his speech, which is usually a big marketing and media event, to other presenters. But he still held the crowd in thrall as ever. http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11543761 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Consumer telecoms spending to hit $2tn by 2012 Revenue from consumer telecoms network services will hit $2tn globally by 2012 as the digital divide between developed and developing nations deepens, market watchers predict. In-Stat expects the sector to grow at a steady annual pace of about 5.7 per cent, on average, over the next five years. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2218932/consumer-telecoms-spending-hit Shock report ranks New Zealand 38th for broadband A fresh perspective has been added to the OECD broadband rankings commonly used to benchmark New Zealand?s network capabilities ? and that perspective isn?t flattering. The report comes from network caching company Akamai, which has servers in the network all around the world and says it is well positioned to measure actual network performance. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/655531390B23FA91CC257468008042BD TelstraClear and Orcon lead ComCom broadband survey [NZPA] TelstraClear and Orcon, a subsidiary of state-owned Kordia, have come out top in the first of a new series of quarterly broadband surveys released by the Commerce Commission. The Epitiro-IDC New Zealand Broadband Index, commissioned by the commission, measures 13 internet service providers (ISPs) every 15 minutes over 24 hours across 11 sites in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telstraclear-and-orcon-lead-comcom-broadband-survey In NZ, smaller broadband providers do better Most of the biggest telecommunications companies deliver the worst broadband services, according to a report commissioned by the Commerce Commission. Broadband services from Telecom, Vodafone and Slingshot all scored average or below average in the March quarter. But those of their much smaller competitors, including MaxNet, Snap and Compas, consistently out-performed the industry average. http://stuff.co.nz/4584881a13.html Telecom and Vodafone broadband worst - Commission (+report) Two of NZ's biggest broadband providers are the worst performers, says the Commerce Commission. A report issued yesterday ranked Telecom, Vodafone and smaller company Slingshot the worst performers. The three companies scored average to below average in tests, including time taken to connect to the internet, download speeds and the time taken to send and receive emails. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=93&objectid=10516545 Melbourne club's broadband bid DIRECTORS of some of Australia's most powerful companies and organisations - including Leightons, the Macquarie Infrastructure Group and the ABC - have emerged as backers of the mysterious Acacia syndicate which wants a slice of the Rudd Government's $15 billion broadband network. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23856950-5013040,00.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** WiMax 'more appealing' to consumers Experts predict that WiMax wireless broadband services are likely to be shunned by businesses but taken up by consumers. Analyst firm In-Stat said that WiMax has the "right balance" for consumers, but that businesses will provide more of a challenge to WiMax operators because of the need for ubiquitous coverage. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2218902/wimax-appealing-consumers Telstra's media ambitions pay off TELSTRA'S bid to turn itself into a media company is paying dividends, according to BigPond chief Justin Milne, who yesterday told the Cannes Advertising Festival that the number of people viewing media content on the carrier's 3G network had grown 43 per cent in the past six months, and that they had spent 45 per cent more than 2G users. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23868444-643,00.html ********************** VoIP ********************** Compressed web phone calls are easy to bug Plans to compress internet (VoIP) phone calls so they use less bandwidth could make them vulnerable to eavesdropping. Most networks are currently safe, but many service providers are due to implement the flawed compression technology. http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn14124-compressed-web-phone-calls-are-easy-to-bug.html ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN ********************************** Brazilian cops alert Poland to child porn ring [AFP] Polish police announced on Thursday the detention of 37 people suspected of copying and distributing child pornography over the Internet during a recent swoop in 12 Polish cities. http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iSectionId=2891&iArticleId=4451883 Brisbane man latest charged in child porn blitz A Brisbane man is the latest to be charged as part of a major child pornography investigation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/14/2274656.htm Another man arrested in child porn bust A BRISBANE man is the latest to be charged as part of a major international child pornography investigation. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23862208-5006786,00.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (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/mailReceived on Wed Jun 18 2008 - 09:51:05 UTC
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