Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** US security braced for 'cybergeddon' [AFP] http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/01/07/1231004071216.html Ruling Due on Kentucky Effort to Seize Domain Names http://www.pcworld.com/article/156475/.html Verizon's Cybersquatter Based in China http://www.internetnews.com/government/article.php/3794306 CheckFree warns 5 million customers after hack [IDG] http://computerworld.com.au/article/272237/ AT&T builds $23M IPv6 network for U.S. military http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/010609-ipv6-us-army-att.html ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN Should Pay Even More and Increase Its Spending Several Fold by Sivasubramanian Muthusamy Where does this idea that the employees of all non-profit organizations alike shall lead a public-transportation lifestyle come from? ICANN's monetary resources do not come from war widows and pensioners, for ICANN to feel guilty about every penny that it spends on administration. Nor does its resources, wherever they come from, are any that are earmarked to be spent on famine relief or on basic health care for the most unfortunate. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090106_icann_pay_more_increase_spending/ ICANN Uses For-Profit Companies as "Comparables" in Its Eemployee Compensation by George Kirikos Note that the comparables have been "for-profit". This is obviously ridiculous, given the purported non-profit nature of ICANN, with its inherent job security. Indeed, ICANN has had major blunders, yet to my knowledge no staff were ever held accountable through termination or pay reductions. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090105_icann_for_profit_companies_comparables/ ICANN Advertises to the Mainstream, Update on New TLDs As I finished the Christmas Double Issue of The Economist, I flipped through the final pages of ads and was surprised to see this: http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/05/icann-advertises-to-the-mainstream-update-on-new-tlds/ Negotiating the Domain Name Thicket An Internet domain name can make or break a business, so choosing wisely is critical. Even pricey names may offer value that far exceeds a buyer's initial outlay. However, the rules of the game are about to change. This spring, the Internet will undergo a domain name revolution. http://ecommercetimes.com/story/65729.html Why Washington Must Face New-Cyber-Name-Economy? by Naseem Javed The serious objections by US Department of Commerce to ICANN's new policies on creating unlimited domain suffixes are primarily based on old domain name thinking and continued fear of losing control of Internet. The comments lack serious knowledge of global business naming problems surrounded by international demands of multiple-cyber-branding platforms now impacting 99% of buyers and sellers worldwide. Businesses need to create global name brands for the new world with great speed and minimal costs and this time Washington could lead this charge or risk losing support to control the Internet. http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4039307.html Major cities lobby ICANN to cut prices on new domain names [sub req'd] Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg and New York have written to ICANN to lobby for lower prices for new top-level domain names such as .paris, ... http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=652350 ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** .CO.NL Grandfather Period ? only 9 days left! [news release] The .CO.NL Grandfather period that opened on Tuesday November 18th 2008 was received with great enthusiasm, and the Operator wishes to remind holders of a .nl domain that applications for the corresponding .CO.NL name can still be made for nine days. http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/.co.nl-grandfather-period-only-9-days-left.html http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/01/06/conl-grandfather-period-%e2%80%93-only-9-days-left/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** US security braced for 'cybergeddon' [AFP] Cyber attacks pose the greatest threat to the US after nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction - and they are increasingly hard to prevent, FBI experts said Tuesday. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/01/07/1231004071216.html http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/01/07/1231004071216.html Web defacements escalate as Israel moves farther into Gaza The number of websites defaced in protest of the Israeli invasion of Gaza dramatically spiked over the weekend as the war entered its 10th day on Monday. http://www.scmagazineus.com/Web-defacements-escalate-as-Israel-moves-farther-into-Gaza/article/123542/ Experts uncover weakness in Internet security Independent security researchers in California and researchers at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in the Netherlands, EPFL in Switzerland, and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands have found a weakness in the Internet digital certificate infrastructure that allows attackers to forge certificates that are fully trusted by all commonly used web browsers. http://innovations-report.de/html/berichte/informationstechnologie/experts_uncover_weakness_internet_security_124931.html Cyber Security Reaches ?Tipping Point? in 2008; Attacks on Critical Infrastructure Systems and Cyber E-mail New VeriSign iDefense Report Looks Back at 2008?s Most Serious Security Threats; Outlines New Trends and Security Disruptors To Develop in 2009 January 6, 2009 ? The year 2008 was a time security threats and malicious activity reached a tipping point, and 2009 stands to be the year critical infrastructure systems become prime targets for cyber criminals and the global financial crisis will be exploited for a variety of malicious activities, according to a new report released today from VeriSign iDefense Security Intelligence Services. http://www.itwire.com/content/view/22537/545/ ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Ruling Due on Effort to Seize Domain Names The Kentucky Court of Appeals is expected to issue a ruling soon on whether a state court can order the seizure of Internet domain names that are registered in another state or country. The appeals court is deliberating whether to uphold a lower court's approval of a Commonwealth plan to seize Internet domain names belonging to 141 online gambling sites. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9124998 http://www.pcworld.com/article/156475/.html Kentucky Gambling Row Rages On As the Kentucky online gaming row continues unabated, a major precedent could be set should judge Thomas Wingate's ruling not be overturned by an appeals court this month. http://www.onlinecasinoreports.com/news/specialreports/2009/1/6/kentucky-gambling-row-rages-on.php Verizon's Cybersquatter Based in China OnlineNIC, the cybersquatter against which telecommunications giant Verizon was awarded a record $33.15 million judgment recently, is one of the largest domain name registrars in China, InternetNews.com has learned. http://www.internetnews.com/government/article.php/3794306 Domain Name Disputes Involving Automobile Manufacturers The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration Panels have upheld the rights of automobile manufacturers who request transfer of domain names that incorporate their trademarks. WIPO Arbitration Panels particularly protect automobile trademark owners from cybersquatters and rival companies that divert Web-traffic to their own sites. http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=F90A523F-169A-44F6-9538-A65493DF91EA CheckFree warns 5 million customers after hack [IDG] CheckFree and some of the banks that use its electronic bill payment service are notifying more than 5 million customers after criminals took control of several of the company's Internet domains and redirected customer traffic to a malicious Web site hosted in the Ukraine. http://computerworld.com.au/article/272237/ http://techworld.com.au/article/272237/ http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9125078 http://www.infoworld.com/article/09/01/07/CheckFree_warns_5_million_customers_after_hack_1.html Companies Have Fiduciary Responsibility to Lock Down Domain Names CheckFree is warning 5 million customers about its domain name mishap last month where its nameservers were changed to forward its web site. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/07/companies-have-fiduciary-responsibility-to-lock-down-domain-names/ The continued curse of cybersquatting For some, it?s a problem confined to the early days of the Internet. But current figures suggest that the cybersquatting problem is, if anything, growing. http://www.itpro.co.uk/609456/the-continued-curse-of-cybersquatting ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** AT&T builds $23M IPv6 network for U.S. military AT&T is building a production-quality IPv6 data network for the U.S. Army in Germany that will cost approximately $23 million when it is completed next year. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/010609-ipv6-us-army-att.html http://webwereld.nl/articles/54245/at-amp-t-builds--23m-ipv6-network-for-u-s--military.html Verizon?s 2009 Advice: Do More With Less In the spirit of the current economic times, Verizon Business crafted a list of 10 business technology trends designed to help corporate and government IT departments to ?do more with less.? Verizon?s list includes just about all the areas one would expect, including advice involving unified communications (UC), Software as a Service (SaaS), IPv6 and the greening of telecom plus a major push for managed services as a key to grabbing the brass ring of keeping spending down. http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/33862?199 cn: National Plan to Resolve IP Shortage In response to recent discussion of IPv4 address depletion, expert from Information Office of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reckons that IPv4 depletion and moving to next generation Internet is not only a challenge but an opportunity to us. We should fully apprehend the seriousness and timing pressure of resolving this issue, and then take action on national strategy plan. http://www.cnnic.net.cn/html/Dir/2008/10/06/5348.htm ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** German trade mark law protects unregistered marks The World Trademark Review has recently published an interesting article exploring German trade mark law. The article states that unregistered trade marks are protectable in Germany as long as they function as trade marks and have acquired a reputation through use. Other commercial signs may also be protected, with the distinctiveness requirement varying depending on the type of right sought. http://www.lawdit.co.uk/reading_room/room/view_article.asp?name=../articles/7016-German-trade-mark-law-protects-unregistered-marks.htm Register.com?s Customer Service Lie Domain name registrar Register.com likes to tout its J.D. Power and Associates call center certification. Perhaps their call center representatives are friendly, but the company?s policies make it difficult to get trivial things done. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/05/registercoms-customer-service-lie/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Crab.com Top of the Sedo List in Lead-Up to Christmas In the week to December 15, there were no six-figure sales, although crab.com crept close, selling for US$92,000 through GreatDomains according to a recent Sedo update. Second for the week was zp.com, selling for $81,000, also through GreatDomains. The largest ccTLD sale for the week was schauspiel.de which sold for ?20,000. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/01/07/crabcom-top-of-the-sedo-list-in-lead-up-to-christmas/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/crab.com-top-of-the-sedo-list-in-lead-up-to-christmas.html Mystery Domain Auction Shuts Down After just 4 short days, John Motson has shut down his controversial Mystery Domain Auction site, according to a blog post on his site. Apparently Motson was worried about both legal issues and technical problems toward the end of the auction. I would be somewhat surprised if PayPal would allows ist service to be used for the site. And the technical problem ? processing bids toward the end of the auction ? would have been a big hurdle. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/05/mystery-domain-auction-shuts-down/ Directi/Skenzo one of Asia's Top Fastest Growing Tech Companies For the 4th consecutive year Directi/Skenzo has been named one of Asia's Top 500 Fastest Growing Tech Companies by Deloitte & Touche. Deloitte said Directi/Skenzo achieved a phenomenal average revenue growth rate of 141.97% annually over the past three years to retain its place on Asia's elite Fast 500 list. http://dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2009/dailyposts/01-06-09.htm 2009 Domain Name Wire Survey Opens Domain Name Wire has just opened the response period for its 4th Annual Domain Name Wire Survey. The survey collects domain name industry feedback on the state of the industry, service providers including domain registrars and domain parking companies, and opinions on domain name issues. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/06/2009-domain-name-wire-survey-opens/ ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** A Free Speech Theory of Copyright by Steven J. Horowitz [Stanford Technology Law Review] Copyright is a system of federal regulation that empowers private actors to silence others, yet no one seriously doubts that copyright is consistent in principle with the First Amendment freedom of speech. Scholars and courts have tried to resolve the tension between exclusive rights in expression and free speech in one of two ways: some appeal to copyright?s built-in accommodations to suppress any independent First Amendment analysis, while others apply standard First Amendment tests to evaluate whether and where copyright becomes an unconstitutional burden on speech. Neither of these approaches properly appreciates the constitutional balance struck at the Framing between the Copyright Clause and the First Amendment. This Article develops a free speech theory of copyright informed by this balance. I advocate thinking of the Copyright Clause?s limits as free speech limits, giving them the force of an individual right. http://stlr.stanford.edu/pdf/horowitz-free-speech-theory.pdf ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** The shape of things to come A self-confessed 'pretty unlikely early adopter', the digital guru Clay Shirky still proved to be uncannily prescient about the impact of the web - which is why Tom Teodorczuk is getting his media forecast for 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/05/clay-shirky-future-newspapers-digital-media Online is the future and the future is now With bosses focused on commerce and ratings, papers are falling behind where it really matters, says Roy Greenslade - creating online material and innovations people are prepared to pay for http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/05/recession-newspaper-industry-online-innovations Andrew Keen: This healthy industry now has the printed word in its sights American President-elect Barack Obama gets my award for the new media star of 2008, probably the most digitally eventful year of the 21st century. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/andrew-keen-this-healthy-industry-now-has-the-printed-word-in-its-sights-1225195.html China blogger population exceeds 50 mln: report [AFP] China now has more than 50 million bloggers as increasing numbers of people seek an outlet for their views, state press reported. http://news.theage.com.au/technology/china-blogger-population-exceeds-50-mln-report-20090107-7btm.html http://news.smh.com.au/technology/china-blogger-population-exceeds-50-mln-report-20090107-7btm.html Internet travel seaches drop 42 per cent The number of people searching for flights in the week after Christmas fell 42 per cent this year compared to the same period last year, as consumers reign in their spending as a result of the slowdown. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article5470860.ece Doctors Will Make Web Calls in Hawaii American Well, a Web service that puts patients face-to-face with doctors online, will be introduced in Hawaii on Jan 15. http://nytimes.com/2009/01/06/technology/internet/06health.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Twitter accounts of Obama, Britney Spears hacked [AFP] The Twitter accounts of US president-elect Barack Obama, singer Britney Spears and other prominent figures were hacked on Monday (US time) and fake messages sent out in their names on the micro-blogging service. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/06/2460200.htm Hackers hijack Obama's, Britney's Twitter accounts Hackers hijacked the Twitter accounts of more than 30 celebrities and organizations, including President-Elect Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Fox News, early on Monday, the company confirmed today. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9124900 Zuckerberg: New year, 150 million Facebook users It was only a matter of time. Social network Facebook says it has hit the milestone of 150 million active users, just more than two months after reaching 120 million and about four months after reaching 100 million. The site hit 140 million in the middle of December. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10134266-36.html Zuckerberg: Facebook Hits 150M Member Mark [IDG] Facebook reached the 150 million-member mark on Wednesday, a milestone the company's CEO Mark Zuckerberg heralds as significant: now he needs to deliver ads that they find engaging. http://www.pcworld.com/article/156545/.html Social networks link terrorists [IDG] A new breed of terrorists are using online forums to recruit people who align themselves with the mission of Al Qaeda, creating global networks of would-be terrorists who pose a growing threat, a senior cyberterrorist researcher warned this week. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/010709-social-networks-link.html ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Netbooks next big thing in electronics world Netbooks, small laptop computers with more limited memory and features, look likely to be big sellers this year as all the big manufacturers jump onto one of the only consumer electronics bandwagons still rolling. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article5469308.ece ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Many American teens display risky behaviour on MySpace More than half of teenagers mention risky behaviours such as sex and drugs on their MySpace accounts, U.S. researchers said on Monday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE50451U20090105 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4811467a28.html us: Majority of Teens Discuss Risky Behaviors on MySpace, Studies Conclude In a pair of related studies released by Seattle Children?s Research Institute and published in the January 2009 issue of Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, researchers found that 54 percent of adolescents frequently discuss high-risk activities including sexual behavior, substance abuse or violence using MySpace, the popular social networking Web site (SNS). The studies, Adolescent Display of Health Risk Behaviors on MySpace, and Reducing At-Risk Adolescents? Display of Risk Behavior on a Social Networking Web Site, were led by research fellow Megan A. Moreno, MD, MPH, MSEd, and Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children?s Research Institute, and the University of Washington. http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/547809/ uk: Letters: Online regulation can protect children by John Carr We need to have a more sophisticated discussion about the internet and how children and families interact with it (Leaders, 5 January). For a start, we have to stop talking about "parents" and "children" as if they were all the same. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jan/06/letter-children-internet au: Opinion - why Kevin Rudd's internet censorship plan will not work MUCH has been written about the Rudd Government's proposed "'clean feed" internet censorship regime. But it isn't until you delve into the policy's unintended consequences that some of its biggest problems come into view. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24876765-5006364,00.html http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24876765-5006301,00.html Australian Internet Censorship Plan Meeting Heavy Criticism Trials of Australia's mandatory censorship program will begin soon -- details of which the government is refusing to reveal -- despite a high-level report to the Rudd government that found the technology simply does not work, will significantly slow Internet speeds, and will block access to legitimate websites. http://infopackets.com/news/government/2009/20090105_australian_internet_censorship_plan_meeting_heavy_criticism.htm ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Kiwi file-sharers to be 'presumed guilty' next month A controversial amendment to the NZ Copyright Act will mean that if a file-sharer is accused of copyright infringement, they are immediately presumed guilty. http://www.3news.co.nz/ScienceTech/Story/tabid/412/articleID/86240/cat/73/Default.aspx Apple to end music restrictions Apple Inc has agreed to start selling digital songs from its iTunes store without copy protection software. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7813527.stm Apple drops DRM copy protection from millions of iTunes songs The millions of songs available for download from Apple will no longer be tied only to iPods and customers will be able to transfer their tracks freely. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/06/apple-drops-itunes-copy-protection Want to Copy iTunes Music? Go Ahead, Apple Says In moves that will help shape the online future of the music business, Apple said Tuesday that it would remove anticopying restrictions on all of the songs in its popular iTunes Store and allow record companies to set a range of prices for them. http://nytimes.com/2009/01/07/technology/companies/07apple.html Will iTunes Changes Hurt Competing Music Sellers? Apple?s announcement on Tuesday that it would drop anticopying measures from all of the music in its iTunes store is likely to shake up the digital music business in more ways than one. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/apple-itunes-drm-indie-record-stores/ Upgrading to a DRM-free iTunes library will cost you Apple and the three largest music labels didn't take any half steps in walking away from copy-protection software at Macworld 2009 Tuesday. ... An Apple spokesman offered more details: Users of iTunes can now upgrade their music libraries with a click of a button. For an additional 30 cents per song, a user can receive a DRM-free version of their existing tracks at a 256-kbps bit rate. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10132759-37.html Apple strips iTunes of digital rights management Apple is offering millions of songs free of copy protection on its iTunes digital music store, allowing buyers to play the music they purchase on all devices, not only Apple products. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5461500.ece Apple offers variable pricing, more DRM-free music on iTunes After fighting with record labels over its everything-for-99-cents stance, Apple today said it would finally start offering different songs at different prices. Apple is the No. 1 music seller in the U.S., so the fact that it's finally doing what capitalists everywhere have always done -- charge more for, say, a hot new Lil Wayne track and less for an old tune by Yanni -- is sure to ripple through the music industry and could give consumers more reasons to buy digital downloads. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/01/apple-blinks-st.html ITunes embraces 3-tier pricing, will remove anti-copy software With the lure of every song for 99 cents, Apple Inc.'s iTunes upended the retail establishment to become the nation's top music seller in less than six years. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-itunes7-2009jan07,0,4241351.story Changes Coming to the iTunes Store [news release] Apple today announced several changes to the iTunes Store. Beginning today, all four major music labels?Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, are now offering their music in iTunes Plus, Apple?s DRM-free format with higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes customers can also choose to download their favorite songs from the world?s largest music catalog directly onto their iPhone? 3G over their 3G network just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price as downloading to their computer. And beginning in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/01/06itunes.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** China says to issue 3G licences to 3 main carriers China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it would issue licences for next generation (3G) mobile networks to its three state-run carriers on Wednesday afternoon. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-37317920090107 http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE5061KP20090107 China's 3G plan puts users in a tough spot China approved long-awaited licenses last week for 3G, the next generation of mobile networks, whetting investors' appetites with the promise of major new orders for equipment makers and revenue for network operators. http://iht.com/articles/2009/01/05/business/col06.php IP call centers will do well despite VoIP slowdown Sales of IP contact centers will grow in 2009, but probably not as dramatically as they did in 2008 due to an expected slowdown in sales of IP telephony gear, according to a new Infonetics report. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/010509-ip-contact-centers.html Telstra bought iBurst's wireless spectrum The Australian Communications and Media Authority has confirmed that Telstra was the unknown bidder who bought the wireless spectrum belonging to Commander subsidiary Personal Broadband Australia, which shut down its iBurst network last month. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Telstra-bought-iBurst-s-wireless-spectrum/0,130061791,339294117,00.htm us: AT&T moves closer to offering in-home cell base stations AT&T is contacting some of its customers asking if they'd like to test an in-home extension to its cellular networks powered by a subscriber's own broadband?a femtocell. Femtocells use frequencies licensed by the carrier for data and voice, while handling backhaul through a customer-provided service. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20090107-femtocells-from-att-for-home.html ********************** SPAM ********************** Chinese mobile phone users receive 300b spam messages in 2008 [Xinhua] Every mobile phone subscriber in China was receiving 10 spam text messages each week on average as of the end of 2008, despite the government and operators' continuing anti-spam efforts, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-01/07/content_7375196.htm http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6569638.html http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2009-01/07/content_171651.htm [Chinese] The CAN-SPAM Act as a warning It is widely expected that the new Congress and administration will be passing a lot of regulations to deal with all sorts of perceived problems. It may be that the now 5-year-old CAN-SPAM Act is one of the better examples of what not to do as far as regulations go. http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2009/010609bradner.html http://www.infoworld.com/article/09/01/06/The_CANSPAM_Act_as_a_warning_1.html Google comes in third on top 10 list of spam enablers [IDG] Google Inc. has yet to stop a rising number of spammers from abusing Google Docs, its Web-based collaboration and spreadsheet application, according to junk mail watchdog Spamhaus. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9124984 http://computerworld.com.au/article/272185/ http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/156402/.html EMX reaches $10,000 SMS spam settlement with ACMA A small Sydney-based firm will pay a $10,000 ?settlement? to the Australian Communications and Media Authority for allegedly spamming numbers it had rented as a list from a commercial brokerage. http://itnews.com.au/News/92141,emx-reaches-10000-sms-spam-settlement-with-acma.aspx ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** au: Internet Service Providers, The New Internet Police? Although it might not affect you directly unless your company is an ISP (or you are personally an avid down loader of movies and television shows from the internet), we thought you might be interested to know about a potentially landmark case that commenced in the Federal Court of Australia on 20 November 2008. http://www.maddocks.com.au/download/ipt-december-2008.pdf Despite Economy, Security Spending To Increase In 2009 Despite a troubled economy, both large and small enterprises are poised to spend a higher percentage of their IT budgets on security in 2009, a major research firm said today. http://www.darkreading.com/security/management/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212700661 US newspapers to battle over headline copyright in court A small regional newspaper publisher in the US is suing The New York Times Company over the online republication of news headlines. The case could help to define at what point republication becomes copyright infringement. http://out-law.com/page-9685 Report: Phishing A Low-Paying, Low-Skills Job Most experts agree that phishing has become more automated, sophisticated, and widespread. But that doesn't mean all phishers make big bucks, according to a recently published report. http://www.darkreading.com/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212701168 Aussie pair in $4m Nigerian scam Two Queenslanders have been charged over recruiting people to a Nigerian scam which netted the fraudsters more than $4.3 million. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/01/07/1231004088407.html QLD police charge Nigerian scammers The Queensland police have charged two people with allegedly conducting a Nigerian scam operation as well as a further four people for using credit cards with skimmed data. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/QLD-police-charge-Nigerian-scammers/0,130061744,339294156,00.htm Phishing scam hits ATO Australians have been warned to ignore a scam email offering refunds from the tax office. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24883020-15306,00.html ATO again the target of phishing scam Just like it did this time last year, the Australian Tax Office is again warning taxpayers of a fraudulent email being circulated that claims to offer citizens a tax refund. http://computerworld.com.au/article/272223/ http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/272223/ Malaysia mulls 'cyber court' to handle Internet crimes [AFP] Malaysia is considering establishing a "cyber court" to deal with the increasing number of crimes related to the Internet and blogging, a report said Tuesday. http://news.smh.com.au/technology/malaysia-mulls-cyber-court-to-handle-internet-crimes-20090106-7b1m.html http://news.theage.com.au/technology/malaysia-mulls-cyber-court-to-handle-internet-crimes-20090106-7b1m.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** UK Police 'encouraged' to hack more The Home Office has signed up to an EU strategy against cybercrime that "encourages" police across Europe to remotely access personal computers. The plan has sparked fears that the government is looking to increase police powers to hack into people's computers without a court warrant. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7812353.stm UK government plans to extend powers to spy on personal computers Police could routinely hack into personal computers without the need for a warrant under new plans from the European Union. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/4109031/Government-plans-to-extend-powers-to-spy-on-personal-computers.html New powers for police to hack your PC Police have been given the power to hack into personal computers without a court warrant. The Home Office is facing anger and the threat of a legal challenge after granting permission. Ministers are also drawing up plans to allow police across the EU to collect information from computers in Britain. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/new-powers-for-police-to-hack-your-pc-1225802.html British Police set to step up hacking of home PCs [The Times] The Home Office has quietly adopted a new plan to allow police across Britain routinely to hack into people's personal computers without a warrant. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24875392-15306,00.html EU Cops Are Free to Snoop Without Warrants Police from around Europe can now routinely hack into your PC and browse your data -- without requiring even a warrant. The Home Office has increased police powers to allow officers to monitor email and web activity. It also allows the plod (or le plod) to hack into computers in offices and even homes. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=108977 http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/156373/.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Internet censorship and the revolt of the masses Democratic governments have toyed with the idea of Internet censorship for years. ISP-level filtering technology is slowly progressing, but the changing politics of Internet usage is undermining public support for censorship. http://www.ovum.com/news/euronews.asp?id=7585 China cracks down on 'vulgar' websites Chinese officials yesterday launched a crackdown on "vulgar" websites including Google and the country's leading search engine, Baidu. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/05/china-internet-crackdown-google http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/06/china-internet-censorship Baidu Web site apologizes for pornography charge [AP] China's most popular search engine Baidu apologized Wednesday for hosting links to pornographic content after it was criticized by the government, saying it was sorry for the negative impact on society. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010603502.html http://iht.com/articles/2009/01/07/technology/baidu.php Chinese web portal porn apology A leading Chinese search engine has apologised for providing links to pornographic content following an official internet crackdown. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7814949.stm Chinese net companies apologise for lewd content Three Chinese Internet operators have apologised for failing to purge "vulgar" content following a government pledge this week to expose and shut down offending websites. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-37318420090107 http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE5060U020090107 Chinese Internet portals argue porn crackdown easier said than done Leading Chinese Internet portals said Tuesday they would do what they could to stamp out pornography in line with a new government crackdown, but said it would be hard to carry out in practice. http://news.smh.com.au/technology/chinese-internet-portals-argue-porn-crackdown-easier-said-than-done-20090107-7bb2.html http://news.theage.com.au/technology/chinese-internet-portals-argue-porn-crackdown-easier-said-than-done-20090107-7bb2.html Beijing urges firms to 'purify' Web from porn The Chinese government broadened its recent effort to limit pornography on the Internet by criticizing 19 Internet companies by name Monday, including Google and Baidu, the providers of the two most popular search engines in the country. http://iht.com/articles/2009/01/05/technology/censor.php http://nytimes.com/2009/01/06/world/asia/06pornography.html China to 'clean up' the internet The Chinese authorities have launched a fresh campaign to get rid of unhealthy, vulgar and pornographic content on the internet. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7811550.stm Chinese government to Web companies: No porn allowed In what amounts to a thinly-veiled legal threat, the Chinese government has intensified its campaign against sexually-explicit Internet material by instructing companies including Google to curb the availability of pornography. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10132348-38.html China targets Google, Baidu in latest 'Net filth crackdown China's state agencies are porn-hunting again, but this time their targets also include search engines like Google and Baidu. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20090105-china-targets-google-baidu-in-latest-net-filth-crackdown.html China Launches Campaign Against Vulgar Websites Seven Chinese government departments held a teleconference in Beijing today and announced that they would start a nationwide campaign to fight websites that spread pornography and vulgarity on the Chinese Internet. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2009/01/05/8411-china-launches-campaign-against-vulgar-websites/ Thailand blocks 2,300 sites deemed insulting to king Thailand has blocked 2,300 Web pages deemed insulting to the country's revered monarchy and plans to block another 400, Communications Minister Ranongrak Suwanchawee said on Tuesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE5052YY20090106 http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-37312120090106 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4811485a28.html Thailand blocks 2,300 websites for insulting monarchy [AFP] Thai authorities have blocked 2,300 websites for allegedly insulting the country's revered monarchy and are waiting for court approval to restrict another 400, the government said Tuesday. http://news.theage.com.au/technology/thailand-blocks-2300-websites-for-insulting-monarchy-20090106-7b10.html http://news.smh.com.au/technology/thailand-blocks-2300-websites-for-insulting-monarchy-20090106-7b10.html us: Yelp user faces lawsuit over negative review San Franciscan Christopher Norberg went to a chiropractor after being injured in a car accident in 2006. After a disagreement with the chiropractor over billing, he posted a negative review of the business on Yelp suggesting that the doctor was dishonest. Now he is facing a defamation lawsuit that could chill self-expression on the popular gripe Web site. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10133466-93.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Government flags closer relationship with IT industry over e-security Australian Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, have flagged closer relationships with the IT industry and ISPs as necessary to improving the nation?s e-security. http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/272022/ http://computerworld.com.au/article/272022/ http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/272022/ http://cio.com.au/article/272022/ http://techworld.com.au/article/272022/ nz: Group petitions against copyright law change [NZPA] A group has launched a petition against new copyright laws which they claim will force internet service providers to take down internet connections and websites of anyone accused, but not convicted of copyright infringement. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/group-petitions-against-copyright-law-change-2436645 Kiwis rally opposition to NZ copyright bill Two controversial provisions of a New Zealand copyright law, slated to take effect next month, are stirring opposition. Artists and ISPs say the law will result in the disconnection of users and deletion of content on the basis of mere allegations of copyright infringement. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20090106-kiwis-rally-opposition-to-nz-copyright-bill.html Rechtsstaatliche Bedenken gegen Internet-Sperregelung in Neuseeland Ende Februar soll in Neuseeland der Copyright Amendment Act in Kraft treten. Die Abschnitte 92 a und 92 c des Gesetzes regeln zwar nicht explizit, dass ein Beschuldigter beim Vorwurf des nicht lizenzierten Filesharings zuk?nftig so lange als schuldig gilt, bis er das Gegenteil beweist. http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Rechtsstaatliche-Bedenken-gegen-Internet-Sperregelung-in-Neuseeland--/meldung/121271 Kenya passes communications law After five years of consultations, President Mwai Kibaki has signed the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, which introduces e-commerce sections to the 1998 Act. http://www.computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/01/06/kenya-passes-communications-law ********************************* COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS ********************************* Wikipedia to stay free as readers rush to the rescue Users of Wikipedia have seen off a threat that the website would be forced to carry advertisements or charge for access, after one of the most successful online fundraising campaigns ever. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/wikipedia-to-stay-free-as-readers-rush-to-the-rescue-1225804.html Wikipedia proves its popularity with fundraising surge Good news for all fans of Wikipedia.The nonprofit foundation that runs the online encyclopedia has met its $6 million fundraising goal for this fiscal year until the end of June. http://timesonline.typepad.com/technology/2009/01/wikipedia-prove.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein address: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA email: Goldstein_David §yahoo.com.au phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (home) "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look http://au.docs.yahoo.com/mail/smarterinboxReceived on Wed Jan 07 2009 - 19:12:05 UTC
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