Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** New Chief Defends U.S. Base for Agency That Manages Web http://nytimes.com/2009/07/13/technology/internet/13iht-icann13.html au: Government opposes .xxx domains http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,25760038-15306,00.html Locke Pays 'Serious Attention' To ICANN http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/07/locke-pays-serious-attention-t.php ICANN's $12M travel budget: Good will move or influence buying? http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135403/ICANN_s_12M_travel_budget_Good_will_move_or_influence_buying_ .AU: un second march? ?merge http://domainesinfo.fr/extension/1948/australie-au-un-second-marche-emerge.php How Unconscionable is the Profit That Verisign Makes from Its Registry? by John Levine http://www.circleid.com/posts/how_unconscionable_is_profit_that_verisign_makes_from_registry/ InternetNZ markets its domain [The Dominion Post] http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2586887/ New Zealand Internet Industry Awards ? applications open http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/new-zealand-internet-industry-awards-2013-applications-open InternetNZ rewards business http://www.telecommunicationsreview.co.nz/200907133392/internetnz-rewards-business.php New CEO Stresses ICANN's Role in Cybersecurity by Brenden Kuerbis http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090709_new_ceo_stresses_icann_role_in_cybersecurity/ A cyber-warfare mystery: Ghost in the machine - When is a cyber-attack a real one? http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14011859 Board Battle Erupts at Dark Blue Sea http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/09/board-battle-erupts-at-dark-blue-sea/ Printing.com.au sold for $10000 at DOMAIN8 auctions of expired Au domain names http://ecommercereport.com.au/story139.php ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** ICANN & Internet Governance: How Did We Get Here & Where are We Heading? Abstract: As the Internet has become the backbone of our Digital Age economy, the issue of "governance" has taken on a new importance. What's next for ICANN, the non-profit corporation responsible for coordinating administration of the domain name system? New developments and possible policy implications were discussed at "ICANN & Internet Governance: How Did We Get Here & Where Are We Heading?" a congressional seminar hosted on April 24, 2009 by The Progress & Freedom Foundation. In the edited transcript that follows, a panel of recognized experts discussed the history and evolution of ICANN and debated such topics as the proposal for new top level domains, domain name system security, and ICANN's future after the expiration of its Joint Project Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding with the Commerce Department. Speakers included Paul Twomey, Michael Palage and Milton Mueller. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1431004 Self-governance key to internet?s future The internet must continue to be self-governed if it is to be an engine for economic growth, delegates at the internet Best Practice Challenge 2009 awards ceremony heard last week. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/07/13/236869/self-governance-key-to-internets-future.htm ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Public Comments on a Proposed Reformulation of Bylaws Related to Organizational Review Cycles In its present formulation, the Section 4 of Art. IV of Bylaws contains provision for a three-year period between each consecutive review of the same key structure of ICANN. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-10jul09-en.htm New Chief Defends U.S. Base for Agency That Manages Web The U.S.-based agency that regulates Internet addresses, facing criticism that it is too America-centric, remains the best guardian of a ?single, unified, global Internet,? according its new chief executive. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/13/technology/internet/13iht-icann13.html au: Government opposes .xxx domains Adult entertainment companies seeking to operate internet red light districts would face resistance from the Rudd Labor government. The government said it would oppose their creation when they become available under the global internet regulator's new scheme to allow registration of generic top-level-domains (gTLDs). http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,25760038-15306,00.html The Australian Government Says No To .XXX The Australian government said today opposes an .XXX or any other gTLD that would establish a RedLight District on the Internet. http://www.thedomains.com/2009/07/09/the-austriallian-government-says-no-to-xxx/ L?Australie contre le .XXX ou le .SEX Apr?s les diff?rents refus de l?ICANN ? la cr?ation d?un .XXX, le gouvernement australien vient ?galement d?exprimer son opposition aux extensions de ce type. http://domainesinfo.fr/extension/1951/l-australie-contre-le-xxx-ou-le-sex.php Locke Pays 'Serious Attention' To ICANN Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is giving "serious attention to the critical responsibilities" of his department's role with respect to ICANN, he told Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., in a June 29 letter circulated this week. Nelson and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, wrote to him in May urging Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to help find "a permanent accountability mechanism to replace the oversight that has historically been provided by the department." http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/07/locke-pays-serious-attention-t.php ICANN's $12M travel budget: Good will move or influence buying? The group responsible for managing the Web's domain name system, ICANN, has grown in the 11 years since its inception to become a powerful organization with a nearly $55 million budget built on the domain registration fees it receives. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135403/ICANN_s_12M_travel_budget_Good_will_move_or_influence_buying_ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071309-icanns-12m-travel-budget-good.html http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=73AE0CA7-1A64-67EA-E4B2B71E73A420FB Lawyer Suggests Alternative to Rapid Domain Suspension Scheme There were a number of thoughtful comments submitted to ICANN regarding the Implementation Recommendation Team?s (IRT) final report. But attorney Paul Keating went a step further, suggesting a way to modify UDRP domain arbitration rather than introduce a dual solution. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/09/lawyer-suggests-alternative-to-rapid-domain-suspension-scheme/ Follow ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom on Twitter New ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom is certainly a different type of businessman than former CEO Paul Twomey. As an entrepreneur and having published his own book, Beckstrom is a marketing guy. That means he?s more visible in cyberspace than his predecessor. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/09/follow-icann-ceo-rod-beckstrom-on-twitter/ Web Filters in Australia Will Embarrass Government An ICANN chief has said the Australian government will "embarrass itself" if it pushes ahead with plans to install a national Internet content filter, according to a report filed by Darren Pauli of Sex Party.org. http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/web-filters-australia-will-embarrass-government-070809.html ICA Tells ICANN That The URS Is The Wrong POLICY For the DNS Yesterday the ICA filed its comment letter with ICANN regarding the final Report of the Implementation Recommendation Team (IRT). While reciting the constructive role that ICA has played on the new gTLD process since its inception, the letter takes aim and blasts away at the proposed Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) system as stripping registrants of due process rights, providing inadequate time for registrant responses, lacking adequate sanctions for complainant abuse, and failing to provide acceptable and affordable means of substantive. http://www.internetcommerce.org/node/198 Celebrate Freedom and Preserve Independence ? Domainers Are Strongly Urged to Comment on the IRT Report As U.S. Citizens prepare to mark the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, those in the global domain industry might well consider giving effect to Jefferson?s words, and acting to preserve their own freedom and independence, by taking the time to submit comments to ICANN regarding the Implementation Recommendation Team (IRT) Report and by considering attendance at an upcoming ICANN Consultation on the new gTLD program. http://www.internetcommerce.org/node/197 Last Call For Trademark (IRT) Comment Period For New TLDs by Michele Neylon Today marks the last day for public comments on the IRT (trademark protection) final report. The report, which I've mentioned a few times in the past, was drafted from the perspective of trademark holders in an effort to allay their fears and concerns associated with the launch of the new TLD program. http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2009/07/06/last-call-for-trademark-irt-comment-period-fo/ Why new domain names aren't worth the money A virtually limitless number of new top-level domains are about to hit the market, a move aimed at cutting down on cybersquatting by giving copyright holders more options beyond the traditional .com, .org, etc. http://www.smartbrief.com/news/socialmedia/storyDetails.jsp?issueid=6E9ACD8F-06C5-49A9-B075-C8C3235A3E41©id=DF035EED-9E11-45A8-B97B-64596D1654E4 ICANN?t Believe It?s .butter Let me guess. YourCompanyName.com, Your-Company-Name.com, Your-Company-Name-Industry.com (and all their .net counterparts) were all taken when you came to register your site. It?s understandable that you?re excited about ICANN?s new policy on TLDs?you?ll be able to register justabout.anything. http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2009/07/icann-new-top-level-domain-destructrive.html Democracy?s biggest ever IT project is 'Unique ID' While most young Iranians would like to believe that their revolution was fuelled by Twitter , the clerics who run the Islamic Republic would much rather blame it on the ?invisible hand? of (what they call) ?The Great Satan? aka the government of the US of A. The funny thing is that they both might be talking about precisely the same thing. ... According to him, the most astonishing thing about that project to link the DoD?s various computer networks, was, that at the peak of the cold war, a government agency took a call to put a classified piece of technology into the public domain and cede all but token control of it (The US Dept of Commerce still exercises indirect authority over ICANN, the body that oversees the internet?s domain name system). http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/Corporate-Dossier/Democracys-biggest-ever-IT-project-is-Unique-ID/articleshow/4760911.cms ICANN Chief Wants Agency to Stay in US There?s been some talk recently about moving the location of ICANN out of the USA but the new chief executive, Rod Beckstrom, believes it should stay here. Essentially, he said if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it. http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=NDA2ODcsLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdCwsLDE= ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** .AU: un second march? ?merge En avril 2008, le registre australien donnait la possibilit? aux internautes de revendre leurs noms en .AU. Un registrar local vient de publier les premi?res statistiques de ce second march?. http://domainesinfo.fr/extension/1948/australie-au-un-second-marche-emerge.php Annual Report 2008 of DNS BE The DNS BE Annual report 2008 is available in three languages. http://www.dns.be/en/home.php?n=435 CIRA supports media and Internet literacy programs for Canadian youth With increasing accessibility to digital technologies, media and Internet literacy programs are, now more than ever, essential to educating children and youth on how the media works and the impact it may have on their lifestyle choices. http://www.cira.ca/canadian-youth-nr/ How Unconscionable is the Profit That Verisign Makes from Its Registry? by John Levine VeriSign makes a great deal of money from the .COM and .NET registries. Can we tell how much they make, and how much that might change if the CFIT lawsuit succeeds? It's not hard to make some estimates from public information. The largest gTLD registry that VeriSign doesn't run is .ORG, which was transferred a few years ago to the Public Internet Registry (PIR) which pays Afilias to run the registry, and uses whatever is left over to support the Internet Society (ISOC). http://www.circleid.com/posts/how_unconscionable_is_profit_that_verisign_makes_from_registry/ IEDR's Attempt At Transparency Fails by Michele Neylon The IEDR's attempt at introducing some level of transparency, that I mentioned previously, has been rejected by its resellers. http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2009/07/08/iedrs-attempt-at-transparency-fails/ JPRS Plans to Implement DNSSEC in JP Domain Name Services Introduction: We, JPRS, are developing a plan to implement DNSSEC, the technology that adds improved security to the Domain Name System, in JP domain name services by the end of 2010. The purpose of this document is to present a background of the implementation and future actions. http://jprs.co.jp/en/topics/2009/090709.html Start deployment DNSSEC on Dutch ENUM zone SIDN, the registry for .nl and ENUM NL, has today signed its ENUM zone using DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions). In due course, SIDN intends to deploy DNSSEC on the .nl zone as well. The decision to implement DNSSEC is motivated by SIDN?s commitment to maximising the reliability of its zones. DNSSEC will be deployed on the .nl zone later, after operational experience on the ENUM zone has been acquired. Various operational issues also need to be resolved ahead of implementation, and SIDN is working with a number of other registries to find solutions. http://www.sidn.nl/ace.php/c,728,6066,,,,Start_deployment_DNSSEC_on_Dutch_ENUM_zone.html?ACE_Id=21cf0c33fb1904c9f8073f19e9f5bfac InternetNZ markets its domain [The Dominion Post] InternetNZ has launched an online marketing campaign to promote ".nz" internet addresses as growth in website registrations slows and fresh competition from new "top-level domain names" looms. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2586887/ New Zealand Internet Industry Awards ? applications open The Liz Dengate Thrush Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for the inaugural New Zealand Internet Industry Awards are now open. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/new-zealand-internet-industry-awards-2013-applications-open InternetNZ rewards business Web-savvy businesses will take the stage at the inaugural New Zealand Internet Industry Awards next month. Of the four awards now open to applicants, two specifically relate to business. http://www.telecommunicationsreview.co.nz/200907133392/internetnz-rewards-business.php Polish registry embroiled in financial scandal Former NASK Director Maciej Koz?owski was replaced on July 1st after it was reported that the polish registry lost over 3 million euros on bad investments. NASK, the entity in charge of Poland's .PL Internet suffix, has reportedly lost up to 14 millions zloty (around 3.2 million euros) on failed FOREX futures investment. http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/251-Polish-registry-embroiled-in-financial-scandal.html Fifty thousand .RS Internet domain names The Serbian National Register of Internet Domain Names (RNIDS) stated that the new Serbian Internet domain .RS got its 50,000th user on 7 July 2009. It is "Rival" d.?.?. from Belgrade that registered the domain name rival.co.rs. The company will be award free domain registration. http://rnids.rs/en/node/67?lang=en uk: Nominet 2009 AGM report We are pleased to report the outcomes of our AGM held on 8 July 2009. Non-executive director election: A formal poll was held, using weighted voting, for the election of non-executive directors. Clive Grace, Nora Nanayakkara and Jonathan Robinson were elected to the Board. 455 members voted, 16.41% of the electorate and 5,754,949 votes were cast, 63.90% of the total number of votes. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=6623 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** New CEO Stresses ICANN's Role in Cybersecurity by Brenden Kuerbis One summer sport in Internet governance is speculating on what direction ICANN's new CEO will take it in. Making the media rounds yesterday on Fox and Lehrer News Hour to talk about the recent DDoS attacks on US and S. Korea government and commercial websites, new CEO Rod Beckstrom pushed how the response to cyber attacks is a coordinated effort, he also alluded to ICANN's role in similar attacks. Responding to a question on the News Hour about the USG policy response to dealing with cyber attacks, Beckstrom highlighted the critical role of ISP filtering, and identified the "organic" as well as "somewhat structured" coordination which occurs during a typical response. More interestingly, he plugged ICANN's facilitating role. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090709_new_ceo_stresses_icann_role_in_cybersecurity/ A cyber-warfare mystery: Ghost in the machine - When is a cyber-attack a real one? America and other countries still have to fine-tune their cyber-defences to distinguish mere nuisances from real menaces. That, rather than any revelations about fiendish North Korean cyber-warfare, seems to be the upshot of the latest reported cyber-attack on South Korean and American websites. http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14011859 South Korean Web Sites Are Hobbled in New Round of Attacks South Korea was bombarded Thursday with a third wave of cyberattacks, which disrupted and in some cases halted access to government, banking and media Web sites. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR2009070901106.html Cyberattacks Show Need to Protect Federal Sites The network attacks that severely disrupted several federal agency Web sites this week highlights the need for the government to quickly finish implementing its ongoing consolidation of Internet access points, the former de facto CIO of the federal government and others said today. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/168262/.html Experts work to untangle US, Korea cyber attack [AP] U.S. authorities trying to unravel the widespread cyber attacks against government Web sites in the United States and South Korea this week are facing a lengthy, complex investigation that may never identify a culprit, at least not one they would be willing to reveal. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/08/national/w041853D82.DTL http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/07/10/experts_work_to_untangle_us_korea_cyber_attack/ http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D99BLI9O0.htm If this is cyber war, possible U.S responses are limited A lot of people are saying this is cyber war. But if the Internet attack on U.S. Web sites was an assault by North Korea or some other foreign government, what good responses are in America's arsenal? http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090710_5177.php Cyberattacks put spotlight on web vulnerabilities [AFP] Computer security experts are divided on whether North Korea was behind the ongoing attacks on US and South Korean websites, an assault that highlighted the vulnerabilities of the web. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25760092-15306,00.html A Federal CloudBursting & Cyber Defense Contingency Plan Over the last week several US government websites have been repeatedly attacked by a foreign botnet. A lot of folks in the media are now saying this is may actually be cyber war. I would argue that this isn't anything new, just more publicized. But if this Internet attack on U.S. federal web sites is an actual assault by North Korea or some other foreign government, what are the legitimate responses available in America's arsenal -- either traditional or cyber? Sadly right now the answer is, not many. http://java.sys-con.com/node/1031271 The hard part of DNS security lies beyond the next deadline With six months remaining until the deadline for agencies to digitally sign their Domain Name System address records, deployment of DNS Security Extensions remains a work in progress. http://gcn.com/articles/2009/07/13/dnssec-6-month-deadline-key-management.aspx ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Heineken Wants Heineken.tel Domain Name Heineken Espana, SA, has filed for arbitration at World Intellectual Property Organization to get the domain name Heineken.tel. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/10/heineken-wants-heinekentel-domain-name/ Domain name disputes are costly and can be avoided The rapid growth of the Internet has created rich pickings for the unscrupulous who take advantage of companies? goodwill and trademarks. http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page289766?oid=304823&sn=2009%20Detail&pid=287226 ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Five of the biggest IPv6-based threats facing CIOs The IETF has identified many security threats related to IPv6, the long-anticipated upgrade to the Internet's main communications protocol. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071309-ipv6-network-threat.html http://www.cio.com/article/497066/Five_of_the_Biggest_IPv_Based_Threats_Facing_CIOs Invisible IPv6 traffic poses serious network threat IPv6 ? the next-generation Internet protocol ? isn't keeping too many U.S. CIOs and network managers up worrying at night. But perhaps it should. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071309-rogue-ipv6.html http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=7392B594-1A64-6A71-CE5E7BF526BCD83A http://www.cio.com/article/497067/Invisible_IPv_Traffic_Poses_Serious_Network_Threat Africa hopes to leapfrog other regions in IPv6 adoption Africa's lag behind other regions in technology may actually serve to ensure a faster Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) adoption. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/07/07/africa-hopes-leapfrog-other-regions-ipv6-adoption ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Comcast Starts Typosquatting Domain Names Comcast has introduced a ?Domain Helper service?, which redirects web address typos to a page featuring pay-per-click advertisements. The pages also include a link to a web site that may be what you were originally looking for and organic search results. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/09/comcast-starts-typosquatting-domain-names/ The Story of MichaelJacksonIsDead.com As DNJournal reported we know that at least one fellow Domainer was also present at the Jackson Memorial Event Tuesday this week. Of course this celebrity death also created lots of domain name business, or at least attempts to capitalize his death. However when we checked the whois of MichaelJacksonIsDead.com we were surprised that the name was already registered five years ago. So we contacted the owner with a number of questions and you can read his answers after the jump. http://www.domainnamenews.com/news/michael-jackson-domains/5479 Designed to be Found ? Part 6 - Domain Names One of the most common beginner mistakes that people make in attempting to promote something online is to invest in dozens of domain names and attempt to use them. The fact is that it is twice the work to promote two domains as it is to promote one. http://blog.freshegg.com/designed-part-6-domain-names_1289/ Malaysia trials Jawi, Tamil, Chinese domain names [sub req'd] The Malaysian telecommunications regulator will trial non-ASCII domain names. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) will begin a one-year trial of Jawi, Chinese and Tamil script-based Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs). http://www.telecompaper.com/news/ Expert warns against keyword-heavy domains Keywords are not an important aspect of selecting a domain name, according to an expert. Adam Stafford, one of the founders of web consultancy Fresh Egg, has claimed that it is more vital for a domain to be "brandable" and simple for consumers to remember. http://www.globalgold.co.uk/web-hosting-news/domains-news/expert-warns-against-keywordheavy-domains-19261921.html ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Board Battle Erupts at Dark Blue Sea A battle over domain company Dark Blue Sea?s Board of Directors has erupted, with a significant shareholder calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting to remove the existing Chairman and insert two of its own to the board. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/09/board-battle-erupts-at-dark-blue-sea/ Printing.com.au sold for $10000 at DOMAIN8 auctions of expired Au domain names One of Australia?s newest domain name registrars ? DOMAIN8 (www.domain8.com.au ) ? is pioneering a radical new online business model. They?re selling expired domains at auction. And the model seems to already be proving itself with a recent auction of printing.com.au at DOMAIN8 producing a sale price of more than AUD$10,000 (Inc GST). http://ecommercereport.com.au/story139.php A Half-Million Dollar .Com Sale and the Year's Biggest .Net Sale Highlight This Week's Action in the Domain Aftermarket After taking a breather last week, six-figure sales are back this week with a $500,000 blockbuster and a $100,000 sidekick, both courtesy of Sedo.com. This week's undisputed champion is Talk.com whose half-million dollar price tag ranks it as the 6th biggest sale reported so far in 2009. TimeManagement.com also cracked the 6-figure barrier - just barely - at an even $100,000. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/07-08-09.htm Candy.com Set to Launch After Purchase of $3M Domain Candy.com is looking to become the largest online candy store in the world with a new website scheduled to launch July 20. The site will be a destination for everything candy - selling more than 6,000 different candy items from 500-plus manufacturers to offering product reviews, blogs and discussion boards. http://www.webhostdir.com/news/showNews.aspx?ID=33657 ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** OECD: Internet Access for Development The Internet has been remarkably successful in developing greater opportunities for communication access - and economic growth and social development - for the first billion users. The majority of the next several billion users will be mainly from developing countries and will connect to the Internet principally via wireless networks. But there are substantial discrepancies in access to ICTs between developed and developing countries and also within countries, depending on factors such as gender, rural coverage, skills and educational levels. http://www.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/display.asp?CID=&LANG=EN&SF1=DI&ST1=5KZBVK64FV6G ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Swiss Postal Service Is Moving Some Mail Online The Swiss postal service has started redirecting some mail from the letter box to the in-box. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/13/technology/internet/13mail.html Report: 20% of online video fans watch less TV A fifth of online video aficionados watch less TV as a direct result of online video, seemingly confirming the fears of TV networks that their traditional audience is moving online. A new report from Frank N. Magid Associates and Metacafe claims that online video offerings are now becoming as or more entertaining than shows on the boob tube, and the types of clips people watch online span many different genres. http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/07/report-20-of-online-video-fans-watch-less-tv.ars Comment: Chrome vs. Bing vs. You and Me The battle between Microsoft and Google entered a new phase last week with the announcement of Google?s Chrome Operating System ? a direct attack on Microsoft Windows. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/13/opinion/13cringely.html AP proposes new article formatting for the Web The Associated Press is proposing that publishers attach descriptive tags to news articles online in hopes of taming the free-for-all of news and information on the Web and generating more traffic for established media brands. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/ap-proposes-new-article-formatting-for-the-web-20090711-dga4.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/ap-proposes-new-article-formatting-for-the-web-20090711-dga4.html US, China account for 50% of internet attack traffic - study Online content delivery specialist Akamai Technologies has released its inaugural 'State of the Internet' report. During Q1, Akamai observed attack traffic originating from 68 unique countries around the world. The US and China were the two largest attack traffic sources, accounting for nearly 50 percent of observed traffic in total. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=680566 EBay?s Traffic Drops Amid Identity Crisis It has been a year and a half since Meg Whitman said she would hand the chief executive?s office at eBay to John Donahoe, and at least by some measures, the company continues to lose traction with both buyers and sellers. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/ebays-traffic-drops-amid-identity-crisis/ EBay Says It Has No Deal Yet With G.M. As General Motors emerged from bankruptcy protection on Friday, it appeared to get its signals crossed with the e-commerce giant eBay. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/11/technology/internet/11ebay.html GM aims for eBay test partnership in California General Motors and its dealers are aiming for a test program with eBay Inc in California that would allow customers to bid on new vehicles or buy them at a predetermined price online, the automaker said on Friday. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-40965020090710 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Note by 'teenage scribbler' on friends' media habits causes sensation A research note written by a 15-year-old, who was not born when former UK chancellor Nigel Lawson dismissed London analysts as ?teenage scribblers?, has become the talk of middle-aged media executives and investors. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/035e83fe-6f18-11de-9109-00144feabdc0.html Twitter is not for teens, Morgan Stanley told by 15-year-old expert A research note written by a 15-year-old Morgan Stanley intern that described his friends' media habits has generated a flurry of interest from media executives and investors. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/13/twitter-teenage-media-habits Does Social Networking Breed Social Division? Is the social-media revolution bringing us together? Or is it perpetuating divisions by race and class? Many of us would like to believe the Internet is a force for unity, but danah boyd, a social-media researcher at Microsoft Research New England and a fellow at Harvard Law School?s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, thinks we?re deceiving ourselves. http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/does-social-networking-breed-social-division/ Social Networks May Provide A Chattering Class For Viruses Recently, a high school pal wrote me about a strange new Web site, adding the parenthetical comment "(69241)." Then, a typically typo-free writer assured me I could "becomee a reall filmm staar noww" and pointed me to a site in India. And a normally level-headed colleague passed along yet another strange address, followed by the exultation "Best store!!!" -- then resent the message a minute later. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/10/AR2009071001617.html Facebook Lures Advertisers at MySpace's Expense Facebook has won over millions of users from social networking pioneer MySpace. It's becoming more alluring to advertisers, too. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2009/tc2009079_233343.htm ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Editorial - Battle of the Behemoths: Google and Microsoft There is a kind of bloodthirsty thrill in learning that Google plans to develop a personal computer operating system to compete with Microsoft Windows. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/09/opinion/09thur4.html Google?s Bid to Shatter Windows: Should Microsoft be worried about the search giant's new operating system? Not yet. Silicon Valley watchers like to view the competition between Google and Microsoft through the prism of all-out war. And the search giant's announcement that it is developing a free operating system, dubbed Google Chrome OS, certainly seems to fit the metaphor: an invasion onto Microsoft's home turf, the bedrock of the $200 billion company, just as Microsoft's new search offering, Bing, has finally chipped away at Google's lead. (NEWSWEEK is a content partner of Microsoft's MSNBC and MSN.) http://www.newsweek.com/id/205809 Google OS created over Schmidt?s objection Eric Schmidt resisted the development of Google?s computer operating system ? what later would be named the Chrome OS ? for the first six years after he joined the company as chief executive in 2001. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6abb869a-6cfd-11de-af56-00144feabdc0.html Chrome OS for the clueless: What it means for real people Late Tuesday night, Google, the company that became a tech giant through search and advertising company, announced that it's branching out into an unrelated direction, the operating system business. It will release next year the Chrome OS, a free competitor to Microsoft's Windows operating system. It will be targeted at Netbooks, a class of small, inexpensive computers, although eventually it will make its way to full-powered notebooks and desktop computers. It will be designed for accessing Web applications (like Google's own GMail and Google Docs), and it will take a lot of design and technology cues, as well as its name, from Google's browser, Chrome. http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10283555-250.html Chrome vs. Android Google's plans to release computer software were instantly seen as an attempt to tread on Microsoft's turf. The impact of the new operating system, Chrome OS, probably won't be felt in Redmond any time soon. Where Chrome OS will have a more immediate?and, likely, profound?impact is in Google's own backyard: on a project called Android. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2009/tc2009079_065270.htm ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Cyber-bullying and the courts: Megan's law - A sad case in Missouri prompts national concern Megan Meier was a troubled 13-year-old girl in the small St Louis suburb of Dardenne Prairie. In 2006 one of the few bright spots in her life was her online boyfriend with the soap opera-ish name Josh Evans. She was happy until Josh suddenly turned on her, writing ?You are a bad person and everybody hates you?the world would be a better place without you.? Megan hanged herself in her bedroom wardrobe. http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14002757 Australian Communications Minister, Conroy, Named UK Internet Villain of the Year Stephen Conroy's mandatory internet filtering plans have earned him the title of Internet Villain of the Year at the 11th annual ISPA Internet Industry Awards. The Internet Villain category recognises individuals or organisations that have upset the Internet industry and hampered its development - those whom the industry loves to hate. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/conroy-named-internet-villain-of-the-year-20090713-di8q.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/conroy-named-internet-villain-of-the-year-20090713-di8q.html nz: Vodafone promises to block txt bullies Txt the word ?bully? to 4001and the telco says it will investigate - and possibly temporarily bar an account or deactivate it altogether. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/vodafone-promises-block-txt-bullies-105150 nz: Socialite's 'year of cyber hell' A fixture of the social pages is at the centre of an alleged text and cyber bullying storm. Police are investigating claims from Auckland socialite Pearl Going that she has been subjected to death threats and abuse via text, Facebook and emails. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10583918 Govt revamps child online safety resources The Rudd Government?s Cybersmart education program for school children was boosted today with the launch of the Australian Communications and Media Authority?s (ACMA) new Cybersmart Web site. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/310892/ New Cybersmart website provides gateway to online safety resources [news release] Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, today launched the Australian Communications and Media Authority?s new Cybersmart website?an important initiative under the Australian Government?s Cybersmart education program. http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311800 au: Save the Children opposes internet filter Save the Children has urged the Federal Government to abandon its plans to censor the internet, saying it will not be effective in protecting kids from online dangers. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/09/2621354.htm Online dangers a worry for children, parents Australian children are becoming more savvy about cyber safety but their parents are still worried about what they are doing online, a new study shows. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,25760058-5013040,00.html Net filtering a $33m waste: child groups Child rights groups have come out in force to criticise the Rudd Labor government's controversial plan to censor the internet, saying the scheme will divert around $33 million away from more effective ways of tackling online child pornography. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25756003-15306,00.html Internet content filtering a waste of money: child groups Several child protection groups have issued a joint statement opposing the government's proposed Internet filtering scheme http://computerworld.com.au/article/310722/ http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=65247D54-1A64-6A71-CE30BD151C40101F Conroy launches re-jigged cyber safety site The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has re-launched its Cybersmart web site, with the emphasis shifting to providing school teachers with tools to protect children using internet technologies in the classroom. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/149962,conroy-launches-re-jigged-cyber-safety-site.aspx Oz kids more savvy about cyber safety, says study [ANI] A new study has revealed that even though Aussie kids are becoming more conscious of the danger lurking on the Internet, their parents are still worried about what they are doing online. http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-70518.html http://news.smashits.com/404312/Oz-kids-more-savvy-about-cyber-safety-says-study.htm http://www.australiannews.net/story/517060 http://www.dailyindia.com/show/322107.php http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/110859 http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/oz-kids-more-savvy-about-cyber-safety-says-study_100215628.html Risk savvy Aussie kids love the net A new report by the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) has found Aussie children are knowledgeable about the risks online with 75% of children surveyed claiming to know not to give out personal details. http://www.digital-media.net.au/article/risk-savvy-aussie-kids-love-the-net/489992.aspx Think before handing out phones to kids An expert from Britain believes that giving children a handphone from too young an age could make them more vulnerable to bullies and cyberbullies. http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/7/10/technology/20090710123525&sec=technology Web Filters in Australia Will Embarrass Government An ICANN chief has said the Australian government will "embarrass itself" if it pushes ahead with plans to install a national Internet content filter, according to a report filed by Darren Pauli of Sex Party.org. http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/web-filters-australia-will-embarrass-government-070809.html ie: Calls for mobile operators to help fight cyber-bullying Ireland's mobile phone operators are being urged to do more to protect children from cyber-bullying. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/calls-for-mobile-operators-to-help-fight-cyberbullying-14399750.html us: Younger children getting online early A new study from Nielsen Online found that nearly 16 million U.S. children ages 2 to 11 were online in May. They made up about 9.5 percent of Internet users. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090711/BUSINESS/907110347/1003 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Collapse in UK illegal sharing and boom in streaming brings music to executives' ears They are the record companies' bogeyman: the 15-year-old in their bedroom ripping off a star's latest album and sharing it with their friends has been blamed for bringing an industry to its knees. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/12/music-industry-illegal-downloading-streaming ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** UK mobile phone users should share the pain of broadband tax, says BT BT has called for the government's proposed ?6-a-year broadband tax to be extended to mobile phone users in a move that could reduce the size of the tax. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/10/bt-digital-britain-tax OECD: Mobile broadband: Pricing and services [pdf] Mobile broadband growth is significant in markets where data are available. Although data is not yet easily available, this paper provides an overview of prices, speeds and data caps of mobile broadband services. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/19/43280727.pdf ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** FBI wants more online security education and skepticism According to two U.S. government officials, Internet crime rates will continue to increase because end-users and enterprises lack awareness and education about the current online threat landscape. http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/Home/News.asp?id=53818 http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/168263/.html Jail for cyber criminals: NSW govt Cybercriminals who use Facebook to get personal information about their potential victims will face up to five years in jail. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25771728-15306,00.html uk: Two jailed for inciting racial hatred online Two men have been jailed after becoming the first in the UK to be convicted of inciting racial hatred online. Simon Sheppard, 52, was sentenced to four years and 10 months while Stephen Whittle, 42, was given a term of two years and four months. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/two-jailed-for-inciting-racial-hatred-online-1741921.html Australian govt urged to crack down on cyber crime The Federal Government should to do more to combat the growing problems of cyber crime and online security, the Australian Computer Society says. http://www.theage.com.au/national/crackdown-urged-on-cyber-crime-20090710-dg43.html Rosetta Stone Sues Google Over Trademarks in Searches Rosetta Stone, the Arlington language-learning software firm, said yesterday it has filed a lawsuit against Google for trademark infringement, alleging the Internet search giant allowed other companies to use Rosetta Stone's trademark brand for online advertisements without permission. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/10/AR2009071003526.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** The Paradox of Privacy Maintaining privacy is on many people?s minds these days, but sometimes that?s the last thing they do. Allegations last week that two British tabloids, The Sun and The News of the World, had employed high-technology snoops to listen in on the mobile phone messages of public figures highlighted fears of what can happen when digital data fall into dubious hands. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/13/technology/internet/13iht-cache13.html Tim Berners-Lee calls for limits on web snooping Governments and companies should limit the snooping they do on web users. So said Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, who said that growing oversight of browsing could have a pernicious effect. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8144713.stm ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Government plans to filter New Zealand Internet I am a member of the InternetNZ and I have just been reading its internal mailing list about the frightening possibility of Internet filtering coming to New Zealand, courtesy of our Department of Internal Affairs. http://www.geekzone.co.nz/freitasm/6625 Germany calls for ban of neo-Nazi sites abroad [AP] Germany's Justice Minister is calling for Internet service providers in the U.S. and elsewhere to remove neo-Nazi images, text and other content that can be viewed inside the country in violation of laws forbidding any Nazi symbols. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/germany-calls-for-ban-of-neonazi-sites-abroad-20090710-devv.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/germany-calls-for-ban-of-neonazi-sites-abroad-20090710-devv.html German Web Censorship Law Passed The German web censorship law passed the German Bundestag earlier today. This could mean that German Internet providers with more than 10.000 customers have to create filters based on a secret list that is provided by the German Federal Criminal Office. Users who access Internet sites that are included in the list will be presented with a stop sign instead of the website itself. The traffic details will be recorded but cannot be used for criminal prosecution. The police does have the right to check the data on suspicion. http://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/10/german-web-censorship-law-passed/ Israeli Government Decides Against Internet Filtering Law The Ministerial Committee for Legislation voted against a bill proposed by Shas MK Amnon Cohen and supported by the previous Communications Minister, Ariel Atias (also from Shas), which would have made it mandatory for internet service providers (ISPs) to offer filtered internet as a default package to home consumers. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132358 Kazakh leader signs law curbing Internet-activists Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed into law new controls on the Internet that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has called repressive, local activists said Monday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE56C1FY20090713 China's Web porn arrests include tech-savvy site owners [IDG] Chinese porn site owners who tried to hide from Web police by moving their illegal ventures to foreign servers are the latest victims in China's crackdown on online smut. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071309-chinas-web-porn-arrests-include.html China's 'Blue Dam' Internet Filtering Software Expected to Surpass 'Green Dam' Despite the controversy around the Green Dam Internet filtering software, the Shanghai Andatong Information Safety Technology Company is embarking on plans to manufacture Blue Dam, a filtering software project worth 800 million yuan. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/19467/ ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** French "3 strikes" law returns, now with judicial oversight! The French Senate has approved an updated version of the "three strikes" online copyright infringement bill aimed at taking repeat offenders offline. The approval comes exactly one month after the country's Constitutional Council ripped apart the previous version of the Cr?ation et Internet law. The nouveau version of the bill attempts to get around the constitutional limitations by moving the final decision to cut off users' Internet accounts to the courts. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/its-baack-french-3-strikes-law-gets-another-go-from-senate.ars Round 2 in NZ copyright fight [The Dominion Post] Hostilities are expected to resume this week between internet advocates and the music and movie industries after the Government releases details of controversial changes to copyright law. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/2586890/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/features/technology/2586890/ Cutting internet connections for copyright violation ?still an option? The latest attempt to sort out the vexed issue of policing copyright law on the internet is due to be released tomorrow. Justice Minister Simon Power said the discussion document would canvass a number of options that would be open for consultation for three to four weeks. http://www.3news.co.nz/ScienceTech/Story/tabid/412/articleID/112330/cat/74/Default.aspx http://www.3news.co.nz/News/PoliticsNews/Cutting-internet-connections-for-copyright-violation-still-an-option/tabid/419/articleID/112330/cat/67/Default.aspx http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/latest-attempt-sort-out-copyright-on-the-internet-out-tomorrow/11/9413 Report: Bush-era surveillance went beyond wiretaps The Bush administration's post-Sept. 11 surveillance efforts went beyond the widely publicized warrantless wiretapping program, a government report disclosed Friday, encompassing additional secretive activities that created "unprecedented" spying powers. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-wiretap11-2009jul11,0,1989283.story U.S. Wiretaps Were of Limited Value, Officials Report While the Bush administration had defended its program of wiretapping without warrants as a vital tool that saved lives, a new government review released Friday said the program?s effectiveness in fighting terrorism was unclear. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/11/us/11nsa.html European Publishers Call on E.U. to Protect Copyright Leading European newspaper and magazine publishers on Thursday called on the European Commission to strengthen copyright protection as a way to lay the groundwork for new ways to generate revenue online. http://nytimes.com/2009/07/10/technology/internet/10copyright.html European publishers want a law to control online news access The desertion of advertising dollars from the ailing print media industry has left publishers searching for more of the one thing that the Internet seems intent on denying them: paying customers. Print publications in the US and Europe are scrambling to find ways to charge somebody?readers, link aggregators, blogs, competitors?for deriving any sort of benefit from the reporting they're doing. http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/07/european-publishers-want-news-access-controls-legislated.ars Digital Britain opts for the slow lane The main highlights of the government?s flagship report, Digital Britain, include an annual tax of ?6 on fixed telephone lines to pay for faster broadband, an examination of extending license fees beyond the BBC and a call for UK ISPs to cut illegal file-sharing on their networks by 70%. http://www.iwr.co.uk/information-world-review/analysis/2245910/digital-britain-opts-slow-lane ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Why Australia's NBN is bigger than Ben Hur The National Broadband Network (NBN) has all the trappings of a Hollywood Blockbuster - massive budget, high concept and, oddly, a remarkably similar story structure. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/biz-tech/why-the-nbn-is-bigger-than-ben-hur-20090713-dim4.html Telstra moves to fix internet traffic jam Telstra has boosted its link between Melbourne and Sydney in order to cope with a tenfold increase in network traffic between the two cities. http://business.theage.com.au/business/telstra-moves-to-fix-internet-traffic-jam-20090712-dhg3.html Opinion: Australian NBN team flying blind The telecommunications industry is abuzz with speculation about who might be on the board of the $43 billion national broadband network which is expected to be announced over the next few weeks. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25760098-15306,00.html Doubt thrown on NZ broadband plans A telecommunications industry insider has raised questions over Telecom's broadband investment in light of the Government's billion-dollar broadband rollout. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10584025 Another broadband cable for NZ? [The Dominion Post] A fresh effort is under way to break Southern Cross Cable Network's near-monopoly over New Zealand's international telecommunications. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2586889/ Ericsson to invest $1.5bn in Korea Ericsson, the world?s largest telecoms equipment provider, plans to invest $1.5bn in South Korea over the next five years to set up a research and development centre for next-generation wireless technology. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1472171e-6f77-11de-bfc5-00144feabdc0.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home mail: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA "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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere. Show me how: http://au.mobile.yahoo.com/mailReceived on Mon Jul 13 2009 - 06:33:44 UTC
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