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 *************************************************** The Facts about Vertical Integration? by Ken Stubbs http://www.circleid.com/posts/the_facts_about_vertical_integration/ WTR: 81% Of Global Brands Applying For New gTLD?s Will Make It, Rather Than The .Com Their Master Brand http://www.thedomains.com/2010/10/26/wtr-81-of-global-brands-applying-for-new-gtlds-will-make-it-rather-than-the-com-their-master-brand/ au: Darwin grinds through social media to award win http://www.computerworld.com.au/tag/Darwin City Council Wales loses to Cayman Islands in battle for .cym domain http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-11683239 Europe simulates total cyber war http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11696249 Digital Agenda: cyber-security experts test defences in first pan-European simulation [news release] http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1459 APEC Cyber Security Awareness Day [news release] http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2010_FourthQuarter_29October2010-APECCyberSecurityAwarenessDay Clinton and Gates in Australia to discuss defence strategies http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/clinton-and-gates-here-to-discuss-defence-strategies/story-fn59niix-1225948027227 "New Internet" message not getting through to business managers - Survey http://www.internetnz.net.nz/news/the-browser/2010/October 2010/new-internet-message-not-getting-through-business-managers-survey ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Why the Internet Governance Forum does not need structural reform A submission to a United Nations consultation on the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has argued that the annual discussion forum does not need structural reform and provides some interesting statistics to back up its argument. The report from Australia?s dot-au registry auDA specifically targets arguments put forward for a change in the way the IGF is managed and argues that those issues would be best tackled through the current processes. http://gibc.biz/2010/11/why-igf-does-not-need-reform/ Controversy Over New IGF Mandate, UN Role In Internet Governance A first proposal on the future mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is on the agenda this week at the ongoing 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. A proposal prepared by the Group of 77 and China opts for another five-year mandate for the IGF to discuss internet public policy related issues and embraces the so-called multi-stakeholder principle. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/11/04/controversy-over-new-igf-mandate-un-role-in-internet-governance/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** IDN Update: Arabic IDN ccTLDs At the recent ICANN Board meeting, the IDN ccTLD delegation request for ???. ("Qatar") to the Supreme Council of Information and Communication, ictQATAR, was approved. This means that users will soon have an additional top-level domain extension to choose from registering domain names, where the entire string is in Arabic characters. The new extension will be managed by ictQATAR?s Regulatory Authority through the Qatar Domains Registry. It is expected to be launched by early 2011. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-02nov10-en.htm Accountability and Transparency Review Team: Draft Proposed Recommendations for Public Comment The Accountability and Transparency Review Team issues this request for Public Comment on a set of draft proposed Recommendations that it has developed as part of its review of ICANN?s execution of its commitments to accountability and transparency under the Affirmation of Commitments (AoC). The ATRT is required to provide final Recommendations to the ICANN Board no later than December 31, 2010. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-03nov10-en.htm Letter from Eric Wilbers, WIPO, to Rod Beckstrom Protection Against the Misleading Use of the Names and Acronyms of International Intergovernmental Organizations in the Domain Name System http://icann.org/en/correspondence/wilbers-to-beckstrom-01nov10-en.pdf End of Life Notice for Interim Trust Anchor Repository (ITAR) The Interim Trust Anchor Repository is now being retired from service. Starting today, no new listings will be accepted by the service. Later this month, existing listings will be removed; with the entire service turned off early next year. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-04nov10-en.htm Pre-Cartagena ICANN Policy Update Webinar Invitation Whether you plan to participate in the upcoming ICANN meeting in Cartagena remotely or in person, you're invited to a quick reminder of the background and current status of each major policy issue currently under discussion in ICANN. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-04nov10-en.htm Proposed Changes to the ICANN Bylaws Article XI: Advisory Committees Relating to the Membership of the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) Pursuant to resolution 2010.28.10.11 passed by the ICANN Board at its meeting on 28 October 2010 the community is invited to provide comments on proposed Bylaws amendments addressing the recommendations arising out of the SSAC Review Working Group. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-03nov10-en.htm Location Recommendations Now Being Accepted for ICANN's 2012 Meeting in North America ICANN is actively seeking a location for its 45th meeting to be held 14-19 October 2012 in North America. Those in the geographic region are invited to submit recommendations for specific locations to hold the event. These recommended venues, along with others in the region that meet the selection criteria, will be considered. The final location for the ICANN Meeting will then be selected through the evaluation of both community-recommended and ICANN-identified locations. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01nov10-en.htm FY11 Travel Support Guidelines Version 2 and Cartagena Travel Summary are Now Posted The updated Travel Support Guidelines v2 are now posted at http://www.icann.org/en/topics/travel-support/. This updated version describes a change in how supported constituent stakeholder travelers may book transportation to/from an ICANN Meeting starting with the 40th ICANN Meeting in North America in San Francisco, California this coming March 2011. A public session will be held at the ICANN Meeting in Cartagena in December to discuss the changes. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-02nov10-en.htm Meet ICANN's 2010 Nominating Committee Selectees ICANN's Nominating Committee is charged with recruiting and selecting a portion of ICANN's leadership. NomCom is mandated to ensure, that overall, ICANN's leadership is diverse in geography, culture, skills, experience, and perspective. The basic criteria is that selectees are people of integrity, objectivity and sound judgment, can support decision-making within groups, can work effectively in English, have an understanding of ICANN's mission and operation, are committed to its success, experienced in world affairs, contribute to cultural, professional and geographic expertise, and can work long and hard as volunteers in the global public trust. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-04nov10-en.htm ICANN Nears Expansion of Domain Names Internet policymakers appear to be in the home stretch on a controversial plan to add hundreds of new domain name extensions -- such as .nyc, .africa and .sport -- that could forever alter the e-commerce landscape. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/110210-domain-names-milestone.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/209620/.html http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/366619/new_domain_names_near_milestone/ ICANN set to open top-level domain floodgates After decades of operating with no more than 21 generic top-level domains, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is preparing to start registering up to a thousand top-level domains in a year, according to PCWorld. ICANN plans to post a new TLD application guidebook for hopefuls looking to join the ranks of .org, .net and .jobs as soon as November 9. http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2010/11/icann-to-open-top-level-domain-floodgates.ars ICANN builds out its root server empire by Brenden Kuerbis ICANN has increased its number of root server instances by almost a factor of 10 since early 2010, according to data provided by root-servers.org. As of last month, 31 instances of the ICANN-operated "L" root have been deployed; 20 of them were deployed in October alone. The ?L? root now appears in every UN region (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania). If it continues this growth rate, ICANN would easily eclipse all other root server operators, including RIPE (18 instances of "K"), Autonomia (36 instances of ?I?), Internet Systems Consortium (49 instances of ?F?), and perhaps even their partner in root zone management, VeriSign (70 instances of "J", or 76 instances if you count their "A" server too). http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/11/1/4667451.html The Facts about Vertical Integration? by Ken Stubbs In a far less dramatic event, the ICANN Board will soon decide the question of vertical integration between domain name registries and registrars in the new Top-Level Domain (newTLD) round. But Adams' statement continues to ring true today and the question the ICANN Board must ask itself is: "what facts do we have before us to justify a change in policy." After 2+ years of intense community discussion on this topic, the answer is clearly -- very few. http://www.circleid.com/posts/the_facts_about_vertical_integration/ WTR: 81% Of Global Brands Applying For New gTLD?s Will Make It, Rather Than The .Com Their Master Brand According to a study conducted by World Trademark Review (WTR) magazine found that of those brands planning to apply to run a new gTLD, 81% plan on making their gTLD their master brand. http://www.thedomains.com/2010/10/26/wtr-81-of-global-brands-applying-for-new-gtlds-will-make-it-rather-than-the-com-their-master-brand/ Role of Registries will Change with New Top Level Domain Names The traditional role of a registry has been the technical coordination of top level domain names. In fact, many registries have deliberately not looked at themselves as promoters of their TLDs, and only technical service providers. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/11/02/role-of-registries-will-change-with-new-top-level-domain-names/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** au: Darwin grinds through social media to award win GRIND takes out best youth initiative award at auDA's Australia and New Zealand Internet Best Practice Awards 2010. Engaging the youth of Darwin and leveraging social networking were key to Darwin City Council's youth initiative win at the recent Australia and New Zealand Internet Best Practice Awards. http://www.computerworld.com.au/tag/Darwin City Council Wales loses virtual turf war with Caymans over '.cym' domain name Wales has had to put up with many things ? having the English as neighbours for one ? but now they have suffered the ignominy of being outranked by the Cayman Islands. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/wales-loses-virtual-turf-war-with-caymans-over-cym-domain-name-2125677.html Wales loses to Cayman Islands in battle for .cym domain A four-year campaign to secure a ".cym" internet address for Wales has been lost to the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-11683239 How .Free Plans to Earn a Profit Giving Away Free Domains A new global TLD, .Free is being proposed by Czech-startup company dotFree Group. The company sells software used to set up a domain registrar while offering free .cz.cc domain names themselves. http://www.dotsauce.com/2010/11/03/free-domains/ dotFree reports 15,000 .free preregistrations The dotFree Group, which intends to apply for the .free top-level domain, says it has taken almost 15,000 preregistrations in its first 48 hours. http://domainincite.com/dotfree-reports-15000-free-preregistrations/ Germany Puts the ? into Internet Addre??e? If you had to put your finger -- literally! -- on the one thing missing from Germany's online addresses, it would surely be the lack of the eszett or "?." http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/11/01/germany-puts-the-s-into-internet-addresses/ IctQatar takes over domain administration ICANN approved the delegation of the Qatar-specific internet domains ".???" (.qatar) and the redelegation of .qa to the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology, ictQatar. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=766364 ictQatar gets nod to administer domains ICANN has officially approved the delegation of the Qatar-specific Internet Domains ".???"(.qatar) and the re-delegation of ".qa" to the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQatar) during its Board meeting on October 28. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101104041214/ictQatar gets nod to administer domains .Travel Releases One and Two-Character Domain Names [news release] Since 2001 one and two-character domain names, both letters and digits such as 1, or A1 and UA, have been reserved in all TLDs and all names have been required to have a minimum of three characters. http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/11/02/travel-releases-one-and-two-character-domain-names/ http://www.travel.travel/ Uber-short .travel domains up for grabs Tralliance, the .travel registry, is to allocate one and two-character domains for the first time, via a request for proposals process. http://domainincite.com/uber-short-travel-domains-up-for-grabs/ Sunrise period for Ukrainian Cyrillic domain names ending in .COM.UA and .KIEV.UA now open Trademark owners have until November 17, 2010 to submit priority applications for Cyrillic domain names ending in .COM.UA and .KIEV.UA. The company charged with managing .UA domain names, Hostmaster Ltd., recently announced the start of a Sunrise Period during which brand owners may register their marks, provided they are: (1) composed of Cyrillic characters; and (2) registered in the Ukraine (a Madrid System registration covering the Ukraine should also suffice). The domain name requested must match the Registrant?s Cyrillic trademark exactly. http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=5a1315ff-c307-48a4-8608-167c08fd710b uk: Domain name industry report 2010 Today we have published our fourth annual Domain name industry report. The report reveals strong growth in .uk registrations, increased levels of consumer preference for .uk over .com sites, and for the first time, the extent to which websites are used in UK advertising. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=7997 .uk domain registrations rise despite economic uncertainty Nominet UK, the not-for-profit organisation responsible for .uk Internet infrastructure, today publishes its annual Domain name industry report, revealing strong growth in .uk registrations, increased consumer preference for .uk sites over .com sites, and for the first time, the extent to which websites are used in UK advertising. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/releases/?contentId=7999 Applications for 'short' .uk domains open on 1 December The application process for some of the UK?s most valuable domain names ? those with single numbers, single letters and two letters, will start on 1st December. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/releases/?contentId=7988 Nominet study reveals advertisers? favorite TLDs Domains ending in .uk are more popular among advertisers in the UK than .com domains, but not massively so, according to research published today by Nominet, the .uk registry. http://domainincite.com/nominet-study-reveals-advertisers-favorite-tlds/ One-letter .uk domains coming December 1 Nominet will start taking applications for one and two-letter .co.uk domains next month, starting with a sunrise period for trademark holders. http://domainincite.com/one-letter-uk-domains-coming-december-1/ Very short .uk domain names to be released in December Thousands of very short domain names, including names consisting of just each letter of the alphabet or each single digit, will be released for registration by Nominet, the registry for domain names which end in.uk, later this year. http://out-law.com/page-11520 Nominet to flog short domains More than 2,800 very short UK domain names are to be auctioned for the first time, starting next month. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/03/nominet_short_domains/ .XXX debate could test GAC powers The long-running .xxx top-level domain saga has tested ICANN processes to their limits over the last decade, and it looks like it may do so at least one more time. http://domainincite.com/xxx-debate-could-test-gac-powers/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Europe simulates total cyber war Essential web services have come under simulated attack as European nations test their cyber defences. The first-ever cross-European simulation of an all out cyber attack was planned to test how well nations cope as the attacks slow connections. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11696249 Europe tests cyber defences against hackers [AFP] European computer guards battled Thursday against a simulated attempt by hackers to bring down critical Internet services in the first pan-continental test of cyber defences. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/europe-tests-cyber-defences-against-hackers-20101105-17g0c.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/europe-tests-cyber-defences-against-hackers-20101105-17g0c.html Digital Agenda: cyber-security experts test defences in first pan-European simulation [news release] Europe's cyber security experts are testing their responses today in the first ever pan-European cyber-attack simulation exercise. In "Cyber Europe 2010", experts will try to counter simulated attempts by hackers to paralyse critical online services in several EU Member States. The simulation will be based on a scenario where internet connectivity between European countries would be gradually lost or significantly reduced in all participating countries so that citizens, businesses and public institutions would find it difficult to access essential online services. In the exercise, Member States will need to cooperate with each other to avoid a simulated total network crash. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1459 APEC Cyber Security Awareness Day [news release] Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy today marked the inaugural Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cyber Security Awareness Day. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2010_FourthQuarter_29October2010-APECCyberSecurityAwarenessDay Clinton and Gates in Australia to discuss defence strategies THE Obama administration is involved in top-level talks with Australia on efforts to combat cyber attacks on satellite communications. The attacks could blunt the technological advantage of the US and allied military forces. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/clinton-and-gates-here-to-discuss-defence-strategies/story-fn59niix-1225948027227 How do we counter cyber attack? That's the ?500m question The news that, according to the national security review at least, cyber attack comes second only to terrorism as the gravest security threat facing the nation will have come as a great surprise to most citizens. We are conscious of the annoyances of malware, viruses, worms, spam and phishing, but for most these are just minor irritations, not threats to the nation's survival. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/31/cyber-attack-networker-military Airliners fly in face of cyber attack scares Adrian Addison (AFP) Around the world, around the clock, circles of flickering screens keep aircraft apart in the air, ease them gently down to the ground and guide their precious human cargoes off the runway. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/airliners-fly-in-face-of-cyber-attack-scares-20101103-17duw.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/airliners-fly-in-face-of-cyber-attack-scares-20101103-17duw.html ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Lego files a UDRP complaint every three days Lego, maker of the popular building block toys, is rapidly becoming one of the most UDRP-happy big-brand trademark holders. http://domainincite.com/lego-files-a-udrp-complaint-every-three-days/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** "New Internet" message not getting through to business managers - Survey InternetNZ and the New Zealand IPv6 Task Force are concerned that the message about adopting the new Internet Protocol, IPv6, is still not getting through to leading enterprise managers in New Zealand (survey shows 71% unaware) , although there is increased understanding of the issues at a technical management level (74% informed). http://www.internetnz.net.nz/news/the-browser/2010/October 2010/new-internet-message-not-getting-through-business-managers-survey ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Paid-for content requires a focused approach from newspapers Conventional wisdom has it that the internet is killing newspapers. Paid-for circulations are relentlessly down across most of the market while, according to last week's ABCes, free internet access is just as relentlessly up. If these two are related ? as most people in the media industry believe they are ? the road to business nowhere beckons as analogue (or in this case hard-copy paper) pounds are unavoidably swapped for digital pence. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/nov/01/steve-hewlett-paywall-i-apps More Than 100,000 Pay for British News Site The News Corporation said on Tuesday that it had gained 105,000 paying customers for the digital versions of The Times and The Sunday Times of London since it started charging for access to their Web sites this summer. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/business/media/03newscorp.html Times claims 105,000 online 'sales' After weeks of speculation come some hard figures for online subscribers to the The Times and the Sunday Times. News International announced this morning that it has secured 105,000 sales from people who have paid to access either the papers' websites and/or its iPad and Kindle apps. In addition to digital-only subscribers, a further 100,000 print subscribers have activated their digital accounts. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/nov/02/thetimes-paywalls James Murdoch hails 50,000 surge in digital subscribers to Times Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation said yesterday that it had persuaded 50,000 people to subscribe to digital editions of the Times and Sunday Times since the newspapers became the first general-interest titles to introduce online charging in July. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/02/james-murdoch-digital-subscribers-times Microsoft takes technological leap with Kinect Microsoft sales strength eases Wall St fears - Oct-29Chris Nuttall: Microsoft squares that look hip - Oct-21FT Tech blog - Aug-08Google in US lawsuit over online applications - Nov-01Apple sues Motorola amid litigation scrum - Oct-31Microsoft is set the roll the dice this week on an ambitious new consumer technology which executives at the software company claim will bring a far-reaching new way for people to interact with computers. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4147d9dc-e67b-11df-95f9-00144feab49a.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** A World in Which You Can Be Mayor: People Vie for Title, Glory, and Discounts On Foursquare.com; Marketers Play Ball ... Bragging rights are the big prize in Foursquare, a fast-growing online game and social network that gives regular folks virtual status. Using the global positioning service on most mobile phones, users "check-in" at restaurants, stores and other buildings they frequent, giving marketers the opportunity to shower them with discounts and prizes. Users also check in at exclusive places they merely come in close proximity with. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704462704575590260880867750.html Addiction alarm sounds as Facebook goes mobile A Sydney child and adolescent psychiatrist says Facebook's lofty mobile phone ambitions are exacerbating the problem of internet addiction. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/addiction-alarm-sounds-as-facebook-goes-mobile-20101104-17f5h.html http://www.watoday.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/addiction-alarm-sounds-as-facebook-goes-mobile-20101104-17f5h.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4313271/Mobile-Facebook-raises-addiction-fears Facebook extends mobile services Facebook today revealed a series of improvements to its service on mobile devices in a move that lays the foundations for new revenue streams from retail stores, venues and small businesses. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/nov/03/facebook-deals-mobile ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ uk: Briefing on the internet, e-commerce, children and young people Consolidating and updating submissions recently made to the Ministry of Justice, the Office of Fair Trading and the Commission of the European Union on aspects of children?s and young people?s engagement with online commerce. http://www.chis.org.uk/2010/10/30/briefing-on-the-internet-e-commerce-children-and-young-people us: Videogames as Free-Speech Issue Videogame designers at ZeniMax Media Inc.'s Bethesda Softworks destroyed a virtual U.S. Capitol, Jefferson Memorial and other landmarks in the Mature-rated "Fallout 3," which depicts the ruins of post-apocalyptic Washington. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704477904575586343221664702.html nz: Telecom joins DIA internet filter Telecom has opted to join the Department of Internal Affairs? Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/telecom-joins-dia-internet-filter nz: Telecom installs govt website blocking filter Vodafone says it is working closely with Internal Affairs on implementing the DIA filter and is behind the concept. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telecom-installs-govt-website-blocking-filter-132625 Vodafone NZ combats cyber bullies with free SMS blocking Vodafone New Zealand has taken steps to combat cyberbullying that Australian telcos would to well to emulate: it has launched a free service that allows its mobile customers to easily block text and multimedia messages from any mobile number they choose. http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/mobility/42847-vodafone-nz-combats-cyber-bullies-with-free-sms-blocking Vodafone introduces anti-bullying tool Vodafone's Blacklist text service will be launched on November 8, allowing cellphone users to block out texts from people they don't want to receive them from. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/vodafone-introduces-anti-bullying-tool-3875840 Vodafone launches first NZ txt ?blacklist? service Vodafone has launched what it's billing as the first txt message blacklist service in New Zealand. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/vodafone-launches-first-nz-txt-blacklist-service-132543 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** US woman to pay $1.5m for downloading music [AFP] A US jury has ordered a Minnesota woman to pay $US1.5 million for illegally downloading 24 songs in a high-profile digital piracy case. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/05/3057944.htm http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/mother-refuses-to-pay-147-million-for-pirating-music-online-20101105-17g7j.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/mother-refuses-to-pay-147-million-for-pirating-music-online-20101105-17g7j.html Third jury fines Minnesota woman $1.5M for pirating 24 songs A federal jury this week ordered Minnesota native Jammie Thomas-Rasset to pay $1.5 million to six music companies for pirating 24 of their copyrighted songs. The decision came in the third trial on the same issue. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9194919/Third_jury_fines_Minnesota_woman_1.5M_for_pirating_24_songs YouView and on-demand TV: the battle behind the screens Have Sky and Virgin Media got what they wanted? On 22 October, Sky quietly launched Sky Anytime+, a video-on-demand service that required a vastly expensive rewrite of its set-top box software. "It's a big job to get right but we think we've cracked it," said Mike Darcey, Sky's chief operating officer, adding that the service's lengthy gestation had "caused no pain". Virgin Media finds itself in a similar position. The cable operator plans to launch its own next-generation on-demand service, powered by TiVo's set-top boxes, during the fourth quarter of this year. If both companies feel no pain, this may be because they've been so successful in delaying YouView, the competing free-to-air platform planned by a seven-strong consortium of broadcasters and ISPs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/01/youview-on-demand-television uk: Ministry of Sound suspends filesharing action Record label drops plan to send warning notices to more than 25,000 BT broadband customers after ISP deletes their details http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/nov/03/ministry-of-sound-filesharing-bt New Zealand P2P proposal: guilty until proven innocent Say you have a DSL connection at home. Should you be liable for big fines over infringements committed using your connection... even if you had nothing to do with them? And should rightsholder complaints carry the assumption of accuracy? New Zealand politicians say yes. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/11/new-zealand-p2p-proposal-guilty-until-proven-innocent.ars ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** 4G Wireless Reaches the New York Area On Monday, Clearwire, a wireless broadband company, rolled out its Clear 4G WiMax wireless Internet service in New York City and other areas of the country, including Connecticut, Florida and New Jersey. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/4g-wireless-reaches-the-new-york-area/ ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Europe simulates total cyber war Essential web services have come under simulated attack as European nations test their cyber defences. The first-ever cross-European simulation of an all out cyber attack was planned to test how well nations cope as the attacks slow connections. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11696249 Europe tests cyber defences against hackers [AFP] European computer guards battled Thursday against a simulated attempt by hackers to bring down critical Internet services in the first pan-continental test of cyber defences. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/europe-tests-cyber-defences-against-hackers-20101105-17g0c.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/europe-tests-cyber-defences-against-hackers-20101105-17g0c.html Digital Agenda: cyber-security experts test defences in first pan-European simulation [news release] Europe's cyber security experts are testing their responses today in the first ever pan-European cyber-attack simulation exercise. In "Cyber Europe 2010", experts will try to counter simulated attempts by hackers to paralyse critical online services in several EU Member States. The simulation will be based on a scenario where internet connectivity between European countries would be gradually lost or significantly reduced in all participating countries so that citizens, businesses and public institutions would find it difficult to access essential online services. In the exercise, Member States will need to cooperate with each other to avoid a simulated total network crash. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1459 APEC Cyber Security Awareness Day [news release] Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy today marked the inaugural Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cyber Security Awareness Day. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2010_FourthQuarter_29October2010-APECCyberSecurityAwarenessDay Clinton and Gates in Australia to discuss defence strategies The Obama administration is involved in top-level talks with Australia on efforts to combat cyber attacks on satellite communications. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/clinton-and-gates-here-to-discuss-defence-strategies/story-fn59niix-1225948027227 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates will meet Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Defence Minister Stephen Smith.\ The news that, according to the national security review at least, cyber attack comes second only to terrorism as the gravest security threat facing the nation will have come as a great surprise to most citizens. We are conscious of the annoyances of malware, viruses, worms, spam and phishing, but for most these are just minor irritations, not threats to the nation's survival. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/31/cyber-attack-networker-military Burma hit by massive net attack ahead of election An ongoing computer attack has knocked Burma off the internet, just days ahead of its first election in 20 years. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11693214 US Supreme Court appears split on California video game violence law The Supreme Court debated sex, violence and free speech Tuesday, as several justices strongly argued for breaking new ground and upholding a California law that would forbid the sale of violent video games to those under age 18. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-court-videos-20101103-6,0,7852742.story US Justices Debate Video Game Ban In a lively and sometimes testy Supreme Court argument on Tuesday over a law banning the sale of violent video games to minors, the justices struggled to define how the First Amendment should apply to a new medium. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/us/03scotus.html Violent Video Game Ban Could Set Dangerous Precedent Thank God Steve Jobs isn't on the Supreme Court. Our nation's highest justices, you see, are in the midst of debating a case about violent video games. They're trying to determine whether the government has the right to decide which video games minors should and shouldn't be allowed to buy. In other words, they're trying to determine whether centuries-old guidelines about free speech still apply to modern forms of media like Playstations and Xboxes. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/110210-violent-video-game-ban-could.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/209595/.html Supreme Court considers violent games rules case The highest court in the US is considering whether children can be stopped from buying violent video games. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11671196 Internet helped Muslim convert from Northern Virginia embrace extremism at warp speed For months, the radical young Muslim convert had been waging war online, championing violent jihad from his computer in Northern Virginia. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/01/AR2010110106394.html White House 'must shut down hate videos on YouTube' Ministers have urged the White House to order US websites hosting al-Qaeda videos to remove them after a student inspired by online sermons tried to murder a Labour MP. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/8106372/White-House-must-shut-down-hate-videos-on-YouTube.html Cyber sleuths fight online crime in Singapore If you've just become the victim of identity thieves or computer hackers, it's time to call in someone like Ali Fazeli. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/cyber-sleuths-fight-online-crime-in-singapore-20101104-17f76.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/cyber-sleuths-fight-online-crime-in-singapore-20101104-17f76.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** EU Seeks Tougher Online Code in Bid to Safeguard Private Data The European Union on Thursday proposed new privacy rights for citizens sharing personal data with websites such as Facebook and Google?threatening to heighten tensions between European regulators on the one hand and U.S. tech companies and a fast-growing online advertising industry on the other. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704805204575594423931135084.html E.U. Says It Will Overhaul Privacy Regulations The European Commission called on Thursday for stronger protection of Internet users? personal information, after news of data leaks at companies like Facebook and Google highlighted concerns about digital privacy. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/technology/05privacy.html Facebook Says User Data Sold To Broker Facebook Inc. said that a data broker has been paying application developers for identifying user information, and that it had placed some developers on a six-month suspension from its site because of the practice. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704477904575586690450505642.html Facebook uncovers user data sales Facebook has taken action against developers it caught selling user names and contact lists. The sales were uncovered as Facebook investigated a web browser bug that let user IDs be shared inadvertently. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11665120 Google and Facebook face new UK privacy code Individuals would be able to get redress against internet companies such as Google or Facebook if they feel they have invaded their privacy, under a code of internet conduct being proposed by the culture minister, Ed Vaizey. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/02/googe-facebook-privacy-code German Street View goes live with enhanced privacy The first images via Google's Street View service in Germany are live after months of wrangling over privacy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11673117 Google committed 'significant breach' over Street View in UK Google committed a "significant breach" of the Data Protection Act when its Street View cars collected personal data including full emails and passwords from unsuspecting internet users, the UK information commissioner confirmed today. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/nov/03/google-information-commissioner-street-view Google in 'significant breach' of UK data laws There was a "significant breach" of the Data Protection Act when Google collected personal data via its Street View cars, the UK's Information Commissioner has ruled. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11684952 Rep. Barton pledges push for Internet privacy oversight Fresh off the election results, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) said privacy would be a priority for the next Congress. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/11/rep_barton_pledges_push_for_in.html How anyone can 'point-and-click' to hijack your online accounts Logging in to your Facebook or online email accounts from an unsecured public Wi-Fi network? Think again, as a new add-on for the web browser Firefox allows even the most amateur hackers to hijack your account. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/how-anyone-can-pointandclick-to-hijack-your-online-accounts-20101101-179rg.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/how-anyone-can-pointandclick-to-hijack-your-online-accounts-20101101-179rg.html Facebook defends privacy practices to US Congress Facebook offered a pointed defense of its data protection practices in a letter to two members of Congress released today, saying recent reports of a privacy breach are "false" and misunderstood. http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20021667-281.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** YouTube Withdraws Cleric?s Videos Under pressure from American and British officials, YouTube on Wednesday removed from its site some of the hundreds of videos featuring calls to jihad by Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born, Yemen-based cleric who has played an increasingly public role in inspiring violence directed at the West. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/world/05britain.html Google CEO: China's Internet Censorship Will Fail in Time [IDG] China's strict controls on its Internet usage will eventually fail as more of the country's people go online and express themselves, said Google CEO Eric Schmidt. http://www.pcworld.com/article/209728/.html Syria Internet law threatens online freedom [AFP] Syria is preparing to vote on an Internet law that has raised concerns about online media in a country which already keeps a tight control of the Web and where access to at least 240 sites is blocked. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/syria-internet-law-threatens-online-freedom-20101105-17g25.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/syria-internet-law-threatens-online-freedom-20101105-17g25.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** ca: Tories reintroduce ISP intercept bill The federal Conservatives have reintroduced legislation that would allow police and intelligence officials to intercept online communications and get personal information from ISPs about their subscribers without first obtaining a warrant. http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/11/01/justice-nicholson-justice-isp.html UK minister proposes privacy mediation service and good-privacy kitemark A UK Government minister has proposed the creation of a mediation service for people who think their right to privacy has been violated on the internet. The mediation could result in the removal of material, Ed Vaizey said. http://out-law.com/page-11511 UK copyright laws to be reviewed, announces Cameron Britain's intellectual property laws are to be reviewed to "make them fit for the internet age," prime minister David Cameron has announced. He said the law could be relaxed to allow greater use of copyright material without the owner's permission. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11695416 uk: Government proposes ISP mediation for web takedowns The government will approach ISPs to discuss a mediation service for people who want to request a takedown of incorrect information held online. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/business-of-it/2010/11/01/government-proposes-isp-mediation-for-web-takedowns-40090709/ Google Sues Government Over Contract Exclusion Google has sued the federal government for excluding its products from being considered for a five-year contract worth about $59 million to upgrade the Department of the Interior?s e-mail system. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-52603420101101 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/technology/02google.html nz: Uncertainty around file sharing bill continues InternetNZ is concerned a new section of the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Bill, suggested by the Commerce Select Committee, reverses the usual principle of innocence until guilt has been proved. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/uncertainty-around-file-sharing-bill-continues Internet copyright bill watered down [Dominion Post] A controversial copyright bill giving courts the power to disconnect internet pirates from the web has been watered down by MPs. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/technology/4307132/Copyright-bill-watered-down http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4307132/Internet-copyright-bill-watered-down New Zealand edges closer to three strikes Internet activists and minor parties in New Zealand have slammed a decision by the two major parties to include a clause within a new law that - if effected - would see internet subscribers disconnected when found to have downloaded copyright-protected material. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/237463,new-zealand-edges-closer-to-three-strikes.aspx New Zealand ?3-Strikes? by 2012 if Warnings, Fines Fail Parliament?s commerce select committee recommends several changes to the Copyright (infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill ? most notably a compromise on disconnecting accused file-sharers from the Internet. http://www.zeropaid.com/news/91226/new-zealand-3-strikes-by-2012-if-warnings-fines-fail/ 3 Strikes Still On Agenda, But Only If Kiwis Keep On Pirating New Zealand?s Parliament Commerce Committee has reported back on the Copyright Infringing File Sharing Bill and it will now move to parliament for its second reading. The controversial 3 strikes provision is still included, but will now only be implemented if a letter writing scheme to educate citizens fails, and people continue to share illicit files during the next two years. http://torrentfreak.com/3-strikes-still-on-agenda-but-only-if-kiwis-keep-on-pirating-101103/ NZ Government's FTTH plan could breach WTO rules New Zealand's Internet industry association, InternetNZ, has warned that the New Zealand Government's plan to quarantine its planned FTTH network from independent regulatory oversight could put the country in breach of its international trade obligations. http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/regulation/42838-nz-governments-ftth-plan-could-breach-wto-rules nz: New unjust copyright law alert: you are guilty until you prove your innocence Despite Labour and various lobby groups patting themselves on the back, saying a compromise has been reached that makes the amended copyright law workable and fair, it looks like things have in fact taken a turn for the worse. http://www.geekzone.co.nz/juha/7454 Three-strikes still on agenda in New Zealand, though strike three has been postponed for two years New Zealand's attempts to introduce a three-strikes system continue, though with a new set back for those who advocate the launch of such an anti-piracy procedure in the country. http://newsblog.thecmuwebsite.com/post/Three-strikes-still-on-agenda-in-New-Zealand-though-strike-three-has-been-postponed-for-two-years.aspx Committee drops account suspension in copyright bill New Zealand internet advocacy group InternetNZ has welcomed the recommendation of the Parliament's Select Committee revisions of the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Bill to not introduce account suspension. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=766345 ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* The Great NZ Mix & Mash Competition Launched ... The competition has some big-name sponsors such as Google, InternetNZ and Microsoft and entrants stand to win over $30,000 in cash and prizes. http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/great-nz-mix-amp-mash-competition-launched/5/70469 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** APEC eyes high-speed broadband networks by 2020 [AFP] Asian and Pacific countries agreed on Sunday to help establish next-generation high-speed broadband networks in their region by 2020, overcoming the "digital divide" between rich and poor nations. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/apec-eyes-highspeed-broadband-networks-by-2020-20101031-178ur.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/apec-eyes-highspeed-broadband-networks-by-2020-20101031-178ur.html NZ Government's FTTH plan could breach WTO rules New Zealand's Internet industry association, InternetNZ, has warned that the New Zealand Government's plan to quarantine its planned FTTH network from independent regulatory oversight could put the country in breach of its international trade obligations. http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/regulation/42838-nz-governments-ftth-plan-could-breach-wto-rules +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2010 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim FlanneryReceived on Thu Nov 04 2010 - 22:05:05 UTC
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