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 gTLD Economic Study Phase II Report is Released http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-03dec10-en.htm ICANN Doesn?t Take Down Websites by Rod Beckstrom http://blog.icann.org/2010/12/icann-doesn?t-take-down-websites/ Why ICANN should ignore the NTIA's letter by Milton Mueller http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/12/3/4694980.html US Government Opposes Launch of New gTLD Program in Cartagena by Rod Beckstrom http://blog.icann.org/2010/12/us-government-opposes-launch-of-new-gtld-program-in-cartagena/ US government shouts Stop! at ICANN over new gTLD program http://gibc.biz/2010/12/us-government-shouts-stop-at-icann-over-new-gtld-program/ Olympic Committee Thinks It's God And Gets Grumpy With ICANN Over New gTLDs http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12992 auDA moves to kill off Bottle Domains http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/regulation/43647-auda-moves-to-kill-off-bottle-domains High-density Swiss web: 1.5 million .ch addresses registered http://switch.ch/about/news/2010/1500000-punkt_ch.html 60,000 .?? Domain Names Unblocked by Coordinator http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=33090 au: Cyber Security Code takes effect [news release] http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2010_FourthQuarter_1December2010-CyberSecurityCodetakeseffect au: Defence seeks cyber reporting system http://www.zdnet.com.au/defence-seeks-cyber-reporting-system-339307769.htm WikiLeaks Changes Domain Name After Cyber Attacks http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/world/europe/04domain.html WikiLeaks moves site to Switzerland amid U.S. fury [Reuters] http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/WikiLeaks_moves_site_to_Switzerland_amid_U.S._fury.html Legal Analysis: U.S. Government Seizes 82 Websites: A Glimpse at the Draconian Future of Copyright Enforcement? http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/11/us-government-seizes-82-websites-draconian-future Ownership rights in IP addresses? A legal analysis by Milton Mueller http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/11/29/4691769.html ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** New gTLD Economic Study Phase II Report is Released Following on from the previously published Economic Framework for the Analysis of the Expansion of gTLDs (June 2010), Phase II of this independent economic analysis has now been completed. See Economic Considerations in the Expansion of Generic Top-Level Domain Names, Phase II Report: Case Studies (Phase II Report). http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-03dec10-en.htm New gTLD Economic Study ICANN posted a follow-up independent economic study, ?Economic Considerations in the Expansion of gTLDs, Phase II.? In the works for several months, the report provides an analysis of potential benefits of new gTLDs, potential costs of new gTLDs, and results from empirical research on the domain names associated with top international brands. http://blog.icann.org/2010/12/new-gtld-economic-study/ ICANN Doesn?t Take Down Websites by Rod Beckstrom There have been many questions in recent days stemming from actions by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) in shutting down dozens of web sites. As we have said many times, ICANN was not a party to those actions by ICE, nor was it a target of them. http://blog.icann.org/2010/12/icann-doesn?t-take-down-websites/ Why ICANN should ignore the NTIA's letter by Milton Mueller Like a clinging, overbearing parent, the U.S. Commerce Department just can?t seem to let go of ICANN. Yesterday Lawrence Strickling, the Assistant Secretary in charge of the NTIA, sent a stern letter to the ICANN?s CEO in an attempt to dictate the course of domain name policy. Strickling called for yet another delay in the implementation of new top level domains because - incredibly - he claims that the issue hasn?t been studied enough! Strickling thus ignores ten years of research, deliberation and debate both inside and outside ICANN ? some of it commissioned by the Commerce Department itself. Here's a little bedtime reading to bring Strickling and the rest of the NTIA up to speed on the ongoing debate over the economic implications of new top level domains. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/12/3/4694980.html US Government Opposes Launch of New gTLD Program in Cartagena by Rod Beckstrom We appreciate the many comments received so far on the draft Applicant Guidebook in its five full versions. We thank the community and all who contributed for their engagement, thoughts and opinions during the course of this process. http://blog.icann.org/2010/12/us-government-opposes-launch-of-new-gtld-program-in-cartagena/ Public Comments: Draft Final Report on Policy Aspects Regarding Introduction of Single Character IDN TLDs The joint ccNSO and GNSO IDN working group (JIG) is pleased to announce the publication of its Draft Final Report on the policy aspects of introducing Single Character IDN TLDs. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-04dec10-en.htm Letter from Alan C. Drewsen, International Trademark Association, to Peter Dengate Thrush Economic Analysis of New gTLDS http://icann.org/en/correspondence/drewsen-to-dengate-thrush-02dec10-en.pdf Public Comment: Community Comment Invited on New Permanent Charter of GNSO's Commercial Stakeholder Group The Constituencies of the GNSO?s Commercial Stakeholder Group (CSG) have informed ICANN Staff that they have ratified a permanent CSG charter document. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-02dec10-en.htm US government shouts Stop! at ICANN over new gTLD program An aggressive letter sent by the US government to ICANN?s Board has warned the organisation not to approve the final rules for new Internet extensions at its public meeting next week. http://gibc.biz/2010/12/us-government-shouts-stop-at-icann-over-new-gtld-program/ ICANNs Swift Response to the Department of Commerce On Thursday, the Department of Commerce (the ?DoC?) criticized ICANN?s eagerness to move forward with the new gTLD program, and the next day ICANN answered back. To set the scene, there has been a great deal of anticipation regarding progress on the new gTLD program (the introduction of new generic top level domain extensions to the right of the dot) which may be forthcoming at the next ICANN conference, ICANN 39 ? Cartagena, to be held from December 5th-10th. http://idnblog.com/2010/12/05/icanns-swift-response-department/ Letter of December 2, 2010 concerning WIPO Center Comments on ICANN?s Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook Set out below are observations of the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO Center) in connection with rights protection mechanisms (RPMs) found in ICANN?s ?Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook? (Guidebook). These comments are offered against the background of the WIPO Center?s previously articulated proposals for New gTLD RPMs, which were followed by a series of separate detailed reactions to ICANN?s adaptations to these, as well as other RPMs. http://wipo.int/export/sites/www/amc/en/docs/icann021210.pdf The Next Internet Revolution Will Not Be In English: New Multilingual URLs This year marks the first time a website address may exist fully in Chinese, Russian, Arabic, or other non-Latin scripts. Ten years from now, the percentage of English content could easily drop below 25 percent. But there are still obstacles to this linguistically local revolution. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/12/03/new-multilingual-urls-the-next-internet-revolution-will-not-be-in-english/ Routing it right: The survival of the internet?s governing body has come at a price PETER DENGATE THRUSH knows a lot about names. A scientist by training, he has much respect for Carl Linnaeus, the 18th-century classifier of plants and animals. But these days Mr Thrush is busy looking after a different taxonomy: internet addresses, or more precisely their suffixes such as ?.com? or ?.net?. He chairs the board of ICANN, the closest thing the web has to a governing body. New addresses are more than names, he explains, they are creations. http://www.economist.com/node/17627815 US Government Waves the Caution Flag at ICANN by Steve DelBianco This month, ICANN is driving hard to get two of its horses to the finish line. The first is barely a year old - it's the first formal review of ICANN's accountability and transparency. The second horse is going on 4 years old: ICANN's plan to introduce hundreds of new top-level domains (TLDs) for the Internet. Just as these horses have entered the home stretch, one of the racecourse officials is vigorously waving the yellow caution flag. And ICANN would do well to pull back on the reins. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101202_us_government_waves_the_caution_flag_at_icann/ Olympic Committee Thinks It's God And Gets Grumpy With ICANN Over New gTLDs The International Olympic Committee has written to ICANN stating its unhappiness with the new generic Top Level Domain process saying they "uniformly request - in the event that ICANN does proceed to launch an unlimited number of new gTLDs - that the Olympic trademarks, including OLYMPIC and OLYMPIAD, be placed on the reserved names list." http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12992 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/02/olympic-committee-thinks-its-god-and-gets-grumpy-with-icann-over-new-gtlds/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/olympic-committee-thinks-it-s-god-and-gets-grumpy-with-icann-over-new-gtlds.html Legal Threats Should Not Diminish ICANN's Resolve by Johnny Du Guidebook for all interested parties. The best way to start this process would be to give conditional approval to the proposed final AGB next week. This may in fact involve acquiescing to the specific requests placed before it by litigious special interests, but those requests should be granted because they are reasonable and in the best interests of the program and its participants and stakeholders, not because ICANN feels it has to cave at the first sign of a gTLD opponent lawyering up. http://www.circleid.com/posts/legal_threats_should_not_diminish_icann_resolve/ ICANN's Governance Conundrum by Michael D. Palage After reading Steve Delbianco's recent CircleID article entitled The Tale of Two Governance Models I was torn. On one hand I agreed and supported Steve's comments about the strength of the bottom-up consensus driven model upon which ICANN was originally founded. As I am about to begin my thirty fifth ICANN regional meeting over the last eleven years, it is a model which I still believe in and fiercely fight to defend. However, on the other hand I look back over the last eleven years http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101203_icann_governance_conundrum/ Comment Period for New gTLDs Surprisingly Short by Elisa Cooper On November 12th, ICANN released the Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook (PF-AG) which incorporated some significant revisions to the Program including the elimination of most restrictions on Registry / Registrar cross-ownership. Given the impact of this and other changes to the Program, and the fact that this is potentially the ?Final? version of the Guidebook, one might have expected a fairly lengthy comment period. http://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/comment-period-for-new-gtlds-surprisingly-short/ gTLD Applicants Should Keep Eye on .LA & Other ccTLD Marketing Did you know there is a .LA domain extension? Similar to .TV being for Tuvalu, .CO being for Colombia, and .ME being for Montenegro, .LA is the country code for the southeast Asian country of Laos. http://www.elliotsblog.com/gtld-applicants-should-keep-eye-on-la-other-cctld-marketing-1253 Peter Sunde of Pirate Bay Speaks on Alternates to ICANN: Dashworlds Opens First New DNS registry [news release] Peter Sunde feels the DNS can change. He's right. Proof arrives as a brand new Internet opens to the public. This newly formed DNS is not connected reliant or answerable to ICANN. Using Dashcom (not Dotcom) protocols, the system is completely free. http://www.prlog.org/11122455-peter-sunde-of-pirate-bay-speaks-on-alternates-to-icann-dashworlds-opens-first-new-dns-registry.html ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** auDA moves to kill off Bottle Domains auDA's long running battle with domain registry Australian Style, which trades as Bottle Domains, is drawing to a close with AuDA seeking to have the company wound up for failing to pay almost $400,000 in legal costs awarded to auDA after its successful legal action against Bottle Domains. http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/regulation/43647-auda-moves-to-kill-off-bottle-domains Bulgarians step up ICANN protest A domain name registrar association from Bulgaria is laying the groundwork to appeal ICANN?s rejection of the country?s proposed Cyrillic top-level domain. http://domainincite.com/bulgarians-step-up-icann-protest/ High-density Swiss web: 1.5 million .ch addresses registered A total of 1.5 million web addresses with the ending .ch are registered in Switzerland. The country thus has one of the highest levels of coverage with internet addresses anywhere in the world. SWITCH, the registry for .ch and .li addresses, is welcoming the 1.5 millionth website with a gift. http://switch.ch/about/news/2010/1500000-punkt_ch.html AFNIC launches a new communication campaign for prescribers to promote the .fr TLD Check out the new AFNIC communication campaign on the web from 29 November to 17 December 2010. Designed to develop the market profile of .fr domain names, it targets prescribers involved in advising companies and individuals in filing domain names. With casinos and card games for its backdrop, the on-line communication campaign aims to demonstrate a genuine communication strategy over the Internet should never be left to chance. http://www.afnic.fr/actu/nouvelles/268/afnic-launches-a-new-communication-campaign-for-prescribers-to-promote-the-fr-tld Debate starts in the French National Assembly on the new legislative framework for domain names On 6 October, the French Constitutional Council ruled that Article L45 of the French Post and Electronic Communications Code would be unconstitutional as of 1 July 2011, handing the initiative over to the legislature to change it. http://www.afnic.fr/actu/nouvelles/269/debate-starts-in-the-french-national-assembly-on-the-new-legislative-framework-for-domain-names .KE Domain Names Hit 15,000 The .KE domain names hit the 15,000 mark on the 29th November 2010. http://www.kenic.or.ke/ 60,000 .?? Domain Names Unblocked by Coordinator About 60,000 Cyrillic domain names improperly processed by registrar Ru-Center were unfrozen Tuesday, according to the national domain coordinator, which had ordered the temporary blockage. A special commission will be assembled to look into the matter. http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=33090 New Auction Terms for .?? Domains From December 02, 2010 the new private auction terms for .?? Preordered Domains will take effect. http://www.nic.ru/news/en/2010/rf_case_changes2.html .?? Domains to Be Released The first meeting between the Conciliation Commission of the Coordination Center for TLD RU and the RU-CENTER authorized registrar took place on November 29, 2010. The issues considered at the meeting included the coordination and interaction between the Coordination Center and the registrar in the examination of users' requests in connection with domain ownership private auctions, where two or more requests had been submitted to the registrar during the preorder period. http://www.nic.ru/news/en/2010/rf_block_stop.html Saudi Domain names media campaign CITC started it?s recently a media Campaign dedicated to internet services in the kingdom, it will include multiple ads that delivers several messages aiming to raise the general public awareness about Saudi domain names and the Arabic domain names. the Campaign is planned to last for two months and it will include a TV, Radio and websites banners Ads along with activates in the shopping malls. http://blog.nic.net.sa/en/?p=32 Publishing The Regulation for Opening Second level domain names registration The Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announces the it has published the Regulation for Opening Second level domain names registration under (.sa). http://blog.nic.net.sa/en/?p=26 .SE receives quality award The jury?s commendation: ".SE serves as a role model for systematic business development, and has made itself worthy of the Swedish Quality Award 2010 through years of work developing its operations.? http://www.iis.se/en/pressmeddelanden/se-mottagare-av-utmarkelsen-svensk-kvalitet-2010 Registered Rights Sunrise for short .uk domains opens today The application process for the previously reserved short .uk domains opens at midday (GMT) today, 1 December, with a Registered Rights Sunrise phase for trade mark holders. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=8047 xxx: Porn group threatens lawsuits over new TLDs Porn trade group the Free Speech Coalition has added its name to the list of organizations saying that ICANN could be sued over its new top-level domains program. http://domainincite.com/porn-group-threatens-lawsuits-over-new-tlds/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Threat of Cyberwar Calls for Treaties, Hotlines Security expert Bruce Schneier has called for governments to establish "hotlines" between their cyber commands, much like the those between nuclear commands, to help them battle against cyber attacks. http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/security/3251799/bruce-schneier-we-need-cyberwar-hotlines-to-match-nuclear-hotlines/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/212488/.html Chinese army must deal with cyberwarfare: state media [AFP] China's army should seriously consider how to deal with cyberwarfare amid severe threats to online and information security, state media said Thursday, days after authorities detained hundreds of hackers. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/chinese-army-must-deal-with-cyberwarfare-state-media-20101203-18igp.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/chinese-army-must-deal-with-cyberwarfare-state-media-20101203-18igp.html Two Years Later Dozens of Registrars Still in the Shadows by Garth Bruen In June of 2008 KnujOn reported that 70 Registrars did not have a business address listed in the InterNIC Registrar Directory. Only after reporting a month later that little had changed did ICANN perform a mass update of the directory. On further inspection we found many of the newly disclosed addresses were phantom locations, false addresses, and PO boxes. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101203_two_years_later_dozens_of_registrars_still_in_the_shadows/ au: Cyber Security Code takes effect [news release] Attorney-General Robert McClelland and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy have announced that a voluntary code for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to assist in protecting Australians from online threats comes into effect from today. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2010_FourthQuarter_1December2010-CyberSecurityCodetakeseffect au: Defence seeks cyber reporting system The Department of Defence has issued request for information documents seeking industry advice on potential Cyber Event Management and Reporting Systems for the government's information network. http://www.zdnet.com.au/defence-seeks-cyber-reporting-system-339307769.htm ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** WikiLeaks Changes Domain Name After Cyber Attacks An American provider of Internet domain names withdrew its service to the WikiLeaks Web site after a barrage of attacks by hackers that threatened to destabilize its entire system, according to the provider and WikiLeaks itself on Friday. But within hours, WikiLeaks said it had registered its domain name in Switzerland. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/world/europe/04domain.html WikiLeaks fights to stay online after US company withdraws domain name The US was today accused of opening up a dramatic new front against WikiLeaks, effectively "killing" its web address just days after Amazon pulled the site from its servers following political pressure. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-knocked-off-net-dns-everydns Domain Provider Drops WikiLeaks Name WikiLeaks' Internet domain name, wikileaks.org, was temporarily inaccessible on Friday after a U.S. domain name service provider said it had withdrawn service to the controversial document-leaking organization. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703989004575652033710430418.html Cyber attack forces Wikileaks to change web address Whistle-blowing website Wikileaks has been forced to change its web address after the company providing its domain name cut off service. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11907641 Wikileaks .ORG Domain Cancelled; Re-Registered With .CH Domain Wikileaks has been forced to change its domain name after its registrar, EveryDNS, withdrew its services for the wikileaks.org domain. The whistleblower website has now re-registered a domain name in Switzerland and its new domain is wikileaks.ch. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13010 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/03/wikileaks-org-domain-cancelled-re-registered-with-ch-domain/ U.S. domain name service boots WikiLeaks after series of attacks on site WikiLeaks, which has sought to leverage the anonymity and ubiquity of the Internet in its efforts to make public secret information, is struggling to keep its Web site online without interruption. Late Thursday night, an American provider of domain name service deactivated WikiLeaks.org, so that any query for that site returned a "Server not found" message. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120300599.html WikiLeaks moves site to Switzerland amid U.S. fury WikiLeaks moved its website address to Switzerland on Friday after two U.S. Internet providers ditched it in the space of two days, and Paris tried to ban French servers from hosting its database of leaked information. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6B225F20101203 WikiLeaks hopscotching avoids hackers Whistle-blower site?s shuffling demonstrates the group?s resilience and the extreme difficulty of keeping anything off the internet http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fba399d2-ff13-11df-956b-00144feab49a,dwp_uuid=9a36c1aa-3016-11da-ba9f-00000e2511c8.html International campaign targets WikiLeaks web site As part of efforts to block the release of documents obtained by WikiLeaks, there is an escalating campaign, led by the US government, to bring down the organization?s web site. This effort is taking place in parallel with an international dragnet targeting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/dec2010/wiki-d04.shtml WikiLeaks moves site to Switzerland amid U.S. fury [Reuters] WikiLeaks moved its website address to Switzerland on Friday after two U.S. Internet providers ditched it in the space of two days, and Paris tried to ban French servers from hosting its database of leaked information. http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/WikiLeaks_moves_site_to_Switzerland_amid_U.S._fury.html Wikileaks moves its site to Switzerland as EveryDNS.net withdraws its support. Wikileaks has moved its site to a Switzerland-based address after its domain name provider pulled the plug. http://www.itpro.co.uk/629122/wikileaks-goes-swiss-as-domain-provider-pulls-plug WikiLeaks moves website to Switzerland after its web address is 'killed' by U.S. firm Wikileaks today moved its website to Switzerland after it was effectively taken off the internet when the U.S firm that 'translates' its address withdrew its services. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335244/WikiLeaks-moves-website-Switzerland-web-address-killed-U-S-firm.html WikiLeaks Back Up on Swiss Network [NewsCore] Whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks came back up Friday morning on a Swiss network after being terminated by its American domain host. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpps/news/wikileaks-website-back-up-on-swiss-network-dpgonc-20101203-gc_10917440 WikiLeaks' site back with Swiss name after cyber attacks [AFP] Whistleblower website WikiLeaks came back online with a Swiss name on Friday around six hours after its wikileaks.org domain name was shut down because it was suffering massive cyber attacks. http://www.ndtv.com/article/wikileaks%20revelations/wikileaks-site-back-with-swiss-name-after-cyber-attacks-70358 WikiLeaks back online after it 'moves to Switzerland' [AP] Wikileaks was forced Friday to switch over to a Swiss domain name after a new round of hacker attacks on its system prompted its American domain name system provider to withdraw its service. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40486718 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2034783,00.html WikiLeaks reappears on Swiss Net domain WikiLeaks re-emerged today on a Swiss Internet domain, sidestepping a move that had in effect taken the controversial site off the Internet. http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20024517-264.html Legal Analysis: U.S. Government Seizes 82 Websites: A Glimpse at the Draconian Future of Copyright Enforcement? Over the past few days, the U.S. Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and nine U.S. Attorneys? Offices seized 82 domain names of websites they claim were engaged in the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods and illegal copyrighted works. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/11/us-government-seizes-82-websites-draconian-future ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** IPv4 Addresses Almost Gone With IANA allocating four /8 blocks of IPv4 addresses to the Regional Internet Registries on 30 November, there are now only seven /8s remaining in IANA free pool of IPv4 addresses, or 2.73 per cent of the original total. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12993 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/02/ipv4-addresses-almost-gone/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/ipv4-addresses-almost-gone.html Changes at GetIPv6.info ARIN made available a public wiki site focused exclusively on IPv6 in May 2007 at http://getipv6.info. In the time since that release, there have been hundreds of contributions made by many active participants in our community. To help facilitate this on-going effort to expand and share knowledge on IPv6, ARIN recently shifted the content on the website into more intuitive groups and to outline some new areas where we believe additional information would be helpful to the large and diverse community we serve. https://www.arin.net/announcements/2010/20101129_wiki.html ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Ownership rights in IP addresses? A legal analysis by Milton Mueller A new paper on ownership rights in IPv4 addresses has been drafted; it is posted here. Author Ernesto Rubi is a J.D. candidate at Florida International University School of Law. The paper explores the legal framework (or rather, the lack thereof) surrounding IP addresses. The depletion of the IPv4 free pool will, the author contends, intensify arguments about ownership interests in ipv4 address blocks. He concludes that ?the concept of IP number ?ownership? or claim of right may be inevitable.? http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/11/29/4691769.html Update on Global Deployment of Resource Certification Public statements made about Internet resource certification by the Number Resource Organization (NRO) over the past 12 months set a date of 1 January 2011 for deployment by the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). http://www.nro.net/news/2010-update-on-global-deployment-of-resource-certification.html ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Sedo Beams Up a Six-Figure Sale to Lead This Week's Domain Sales Chart Sedo banked $136,000 for Beem.com this week to take the pole position on our latest all extension Top 20 Sales Chart. That was just the start of a red hot run that saw them claim 10 of the first 11 places on the elite list and 14 of 20 positions overall. With a price tag of $90,000, a very timely domain - BlackFridaySales.com - took the runner-up slot and found a good home with Frank Schilling's Name Administration Inc. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2010/20101201.htm Monte Cahn Leaving Oversee.net and Moniker.com at End of December Oversee.net , parent company of Moniker.com, announced today that Moniker.com founder Monte Cahn will no longer be with their organization effective December 31, 2010 http://www.domainnamenews.com/people/monte-cahn-leaving-oversee-december/8468 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Top papers to charge online, but how? Three of the world's most influential newspapers have finally come to terms with the notion that charging readers online is the only way to survive. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINTRE6B264P20101203 British Newspaper Finds Readers Flocking Online For daily, or even hourly, updates on the life of Cheryl Cole, a British television talent-show judge and sometime pop singer who used to be married to a soccer star, there may be no better resource than the Web site of The Daily Mail. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/business/media/06dailymail.html The porn supremacy: how every wave of technological advance has been fuelled by pornography It's a dirty little secret, the thing they don't tell you, and they don't talk about - how every wave of technological advance has been fuelled by pornography. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/the-porn-supremacy-20101203-18jwy.html Will Netflix Kill the Internet? The crushing demands of video delivery and mobile devices are changing the economics of the Internet http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_50/b4207043617708.htm Lufthansa offers broadband Internet again on transatlantic flights Lufthansa's transatlantic passengers with laptops and smartphones can now surf the Internet in midair. Voice chats aren't permitted, but there's no telling what sites passengers might visit. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6293074,00.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Social Networking and Games Leap in Web Use Nielsen finds that U.S. Internet users are spending more time on social networks and games?and less on e-mail and traditional Web portals http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2010/tc2010081_994774.htm Comment: Defamation case a timely reminder of the risks of hateful tweeting Twitter is proving itself to be a very efficient platform to publish things. Things such as news items, sure, but also defamation, hate speech and just about anything else one could imagine. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/defamation-case-a-timely-reminder-of-the-risks-of-hateful-tweeting/story-e6frg996-1225966040618 Malaysia says Facebook used to recruit girls as 'drug mules' International drug syndicates are using social networking site Facebook to recruit young Malaysian women as "drug mules", the deputy foreign minister said Thursday. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/malaysia-says-facebook-used-to-recruit-girls-as-drug-mules-20101203-18imw.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/malaysia-says-facebook-used-to-recruit-girls-as-drug-mules-20101203-18imw.html ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Estonia's rare earth break China's market grip [AFP] High-tech firms across the globe have been hit hard by China's slashing of rare earth metals exports but it is turning out to be good news for Estonia's small Silmet factory. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/estonias-rare-earth-break-chinas-market-grip-2151827.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch-Up Ninth grade was supposed to be a fresh start for Marie?s son: new school, new children. Yet by last October, he had become withdrawn. Marie prodded. And prodded again. Finally, he told her. ?The kids say I?m saying all these nasty things about them on Facebook,? he said. ?They don?t believe me when I tell them I?m not on Facebook.? http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/us/05bully.html http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40518087/ns/today-today_health/ The parents who police the online bullies If you knew your teenager was being attacked on Facebook, would you log on and pretend to be them? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/8181621/The-parents-who-police-the-online-bullies.html Council general approach on fight against sexual exploitation of children [Conislium - news release] [From QuickLinks] At its meeting on 2 December 2010, the Council reached a general approach, thus opening the way for negotiations with the European Parliament, on two directives regarding: - the fight against sexual exploitation of children. During the Council meeting, ministers focused their debate on the following issues: disqualifications arising from convictions which aims to ensure that a person convicted may be temporarily or permanently prevented from exercising at least professional activities involving regular contacts with children; and measures against websites containing or disseminating child pornography, including the removal or, where not possible, blocking of webpages containing or disseminating child pornography. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/118183.pdf Strong demand for SuperClubsPLUS in NZ: Telstra Telstra has encountered stronger than expected interest in New Zealand for SuperClubsPLUS, a protected online social network for kids. ... SuperClubsPLUS' other sponsors include ACMA, LaTrobe University and the Victorian state government. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/370103/strong_demand_superclubsplus_nz_telstra/ Focus on the crime, not the technology: Global taskforce founder The founder of an international taskforce, established to tackle child pornography distribution rings, has urged law enforcement authorities to focus on the crime, rather than the technology over which it was committed. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/370123/focus_crime_technology_global_taskforce_founder/?fpid=5 au: The last straw, a porn scandal State Parliament is engulfed in yet more scandal as the government prepares to face the electorate, with an investigation into the possible use of child pornography in Parliament and a revelation that hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted on the failed Metro project. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-last-straw-a-porn-scandal-20101202-18ia1.html US congressman plans 'Do Not Track' bill for children [AFP] A US congressman unveiled plans on Thursday to introduce legislation that would bar companies from tracking the behavior of children online. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/us-congressman-plans-do-not-track-bill-for-children-20101203-18il2.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/us-congressman-plans-do-not-track-bill-for-children-20101203-18il2.html Video Barbie Gets FBI Warning: 'Possible Child Pornography Production Method' Beware of Barbie. That seems to be the message from the FBI after an internal memo reportedly leaked from the agency's Sacramento field office this week. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/03/video-barbie-fbi-warning_n_791466.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Comment: Secrets of the "New Music Industry" that the "Old Music Industry" Doesn't Want to Know This week's news that the feds seized 82 websites based on allegations of copyright infringement demonstrated that government website seizures can silence innocent speech. But let's take a broader view for a moment. The domain seizure debacle, the COICA Internet censorship bill, ACTA, and many other short-sighted efforts to eliminate copyright infringement all depend on (a) the traditional entertainment industry's yowling wail that "piracy" on the the Internet is injuring the livelihoods of artists and (b) the US government's chronically uncritical acceptance of those complaints. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/11/secrets-new-music-industry-old-music-industry Google tweaks to tackle online piracy Google has said it will tweak its search service in an attempt to tackle online piracy, following lobbying by the music industry. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11900347 Google ramps up anti-piracy measures Google is introducing a range of measures to improve its policing of digital piracy, promising to respond to requests for the removal of material that infringes copyright from its search service "within 24 hours". http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/02/google-piracy-illegal-downloads Google Outlines Steps To Curb Infringement Google outlined a series of news steps Thursday it plans to take in the coming months to help curb copyright infringement online. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/google-outlines-steps-to-curb.php Viacom Set to Appeal in YouTube Case Viacom Inc. says a new wave of digital piracy could threaten the U.S. media business unless federal courts overturn its defeat in a copyright-infringement lawsuit against Google Inc.'s YouTube video-sharing site. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703741004575651041817080912.html LimeWire, After Lengthy Battle, to Shut Down Dec. 31 LimeWire, the popular music file-sharing service that ran afoul of the music industry, has reached its end. The company said on Friday that it would be shutting down by the end of the year and closing its sole office in New York. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/limewire-after-lengthy-battle-to-shutdown-dec-31/ Limewire says to close Dec. 31 after legal battle LimeWire, the music file-sharing service embroiled in a lengthy legal challenge from the music industry, said on Friday it would be shutting down by the end of the year and closing its sole office in New York. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53342420101204 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6B30MR20101204 Future of TV? Snapping, swiping and surfing Fall back on your sofa in five years, snap your fingers to turn on a TV that's thin as paper and stretches across a wall, then ask it to switch to your favorite sports channel so you can watch the day's baseball game in 3-D -- no glasses required. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53315520101202 ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Europe to Examine Cap on Roaming Charges for Mobile Internet The European Union?s telecommunications commissioner said Thursday that she would conduct a review of mobile phone roaming charges, a process that could lead to the first cap on the retail cost carriers charge for cross-border mobile Internet use in Europe. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/business/global/03roaming.html EU Wants 4G by 2013 The European Commission wants radio spectrum for wireless broadband?also known as the fourth-generation mobile network?available by 2013, it said Thursday in a Memo ahead of the European Union Telecom Ministers' meeting. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703989004575652013636881230.html Mobile internet usage ramping up in Southeast Asia Internet users in Southeast Asia are shifting away from desktop PCs, according to Tommaso Del Re, head of mobile and business development of Yahoo Southeast Asia. http://www.cio.de/news/cio_worldnews/2010/2257129/index.html The Smartphone Race Heats Up According to a report released Wednesday by the Nielsen Company, a market research firm, 30 percent of all mobile phones in the United States are now smartphones as customers move away from standard-issue mobile devices. The trend is expected to continue as consumers jump to the Apple iPhone, Google Android platform and the new Windows Phone 7 devices. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/the-u-s-smartphone-race-grows/ Smartphones and Tablets to Take Over in 2011, Researchers Say The research firm IDC predicts that in 2011, computing?s third major technology wave will become mainstream, when computers held in one?s hand ? smartphones and tablets ? really take over and start putting personal computers in the rearview mirror. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/smartphones-and-tablets-take-over-in-2011-researchers-say/ Blackberry Aims for a Better Look Research In Motion, which gave us the Blackberry, was once considered the leader in mobile phone technology, creating mobile devices that changed the business world and rapidly propelled the adoption of instant communication. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/blackberry-aims-for-a-better-look/ Report: India to Get BlackBerry Data Through Customers [IDG] India has initiated talks with companies in the country to provide access to BlackBerry corporate e-mails when required by security agencies, according to a report on Sunday in The Wall Street Journal. http://www.pcworld.com/article/212503/.html India wants BlackBerry access from companies: report The Indian government is talking to companies using Research in Motion's's BlackBerry to gain access to their employees' secure communications when it is deemed necessary, an official told the Wall Street Journal. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B420J20101205 France wants country on 4G mobile phones by 2015 France's government aims to have 99 percent of the population covered by fourth-generation mobile phone technology by 2015, French Industry Minister Eric Besson told Europe 1 radio on Sunday. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53360420101205 ********************** SPAM ********************** Russian man to face spamming charges in American court [AP] A 23-year-old Russian man accused of running a worldwide spamming network, which Internet-security experts say on some days accounted for one of every three unwanted e-mails, is scheduled to appear in a Wisconsin courtroom to hear charges against him. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/russian-man-to-face-spamming-charges-in-american-court/story-e6frgakx-1225965122658 http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4420927/Spam-king-due-in-court Russian man tells US court not guilty in global spam scheme A 23-year-old Russian man pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges he operated a spam e-mail business that may have accounted for a third of global spam, and he was ordered held without bail. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53339220101203 Russian man pleads not guilty to global spam scheme A Russian man accused of operating an e-mail spam business that at times accounted for one third of global spam has pleaded not guilty in a federal court in the US state of Wisconsin. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11917471 Accused Spam King to Be Arraigned A 23-year-old Russian man accused by U.S. authorities of generating nearly a third of the spam emails world-wide is expected to be arraigned Friday in a Milwaukee court. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704377004575651232273336218.html ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** Opinion: I've Seen the Future (in Haiti) by Nicholas D. Kristof Cash is so 20th century. I?ve been experimenting with a 21st-century alternative, using money on a cellphone account to buy goods in shops. It?s a bit like using a credit card, but the system can also enable you to use your cellphone account to transfer money to individuals or companies domestically or internationally. And it?s more secure because a thief would have to steal not only your phone but also your PIN to get access to your money. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05kristof.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** "The Internet Is Not a Lawless Place" Germany on Wednesday unveiled plans to beef up Internet privacy after a public outcry over Google's Street View service. The new law would allow people to opt out from tracking services as well as ban services that combine data to create comprehensive profiles of individuals. German media on Thursday are critical of the plans, asking if they go far enough. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,732451,00.html WikiLeaks: France adds to US pressure to ban website The French government today added to international calls for WikiLeaks to be prevented operating online, warning that it is "unacceptable" for a "criminal" site to be hosted in the country. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-france-ban-website WikiLeaks hit by new online onslaught - PayPal joins US firms and officials targeting site WikiLeaks suffered the most serious blow in its struggles with corporate and official America yesterday when PayPal, the payments processing company, suspended the organisation's account. The move will have a major impact on WikiLeaks' ability to collect donations. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/wikileaks-hit-by-new-online-onslaught-2151570.html Swiss Supporters: WikiLeaks Server Goes Down [AP] WikiLeaks's main server in France has gone offline, preventing many users from accessing the U.S. State Department cables and other documents the site has posted online, a group of Swiss supporters said Sunday. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/12/04/world/europe/AP-WikiLeaks.html New Hurdles for WikiLeaks As the political storm over their release of 250,000 secret American diplomatic cables continues, the WikiLeaks Web site and its founder, Julian Assange, are facing new legal and operational challenges from Swedish prosecutors and from one of the online payment services that have been used to channel donations to the whistle-blowing organization. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/world/05paypal.html WikiLeaks cables reveal fears over Chinese cyber warfare The US fears China is plotting internet warfare via private companies that are known to have recruited top hackers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/04/wikileaks-cables-china-cyber-warfare Vast Hacking by a China Fearful of the Web As China ratcheted up the pressure on Google to censor its Internet searches last year, the American Embassy sent a secret cable to Washington detailing one reason top Chinese leaders had become so obsessed with the Internet search company: they were Googling themselves. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/world/asia/05wikileaks-china.html Wikileaks: China accused of plotting cyber warfare China is accused of plotting internet warfare using sophisticated computer hackers specially employed by private companies, according to the latest state department cables released by WikiLeaks. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8181846/Wikileaks-China-accused-of-plotting-cyber-warfare.html France seeks to bar hosting WikiLeaks website The French government is examining how it could ban website WikiLeaks from being hosted on servers in France, according to a letter written by Industry Minister Eric Besson and seen by Reuters on Friday. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53334720101203 WikiLeaks Struggles to Stay Online After Attacks The operators of the WikiLeaks Web site are in the midst of a game of virtual dodge ball, as they battle a diverse group of hackers and try to keep their stash of once confidential documents online. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/world/europe/04domain.html China leadership 'orchestrated Google hacking' Senior Chinese figures were behind the hacking of Google earlier this year which forced the search engine to quit the country, leaked US cables suggest. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11920616 Cables Discuss Vast Hacking by a China That Fears the Web As China ratcheted up the pressure on Google to censor its Internet searches last year, the American Embassy sent a secret cable to Washington detailing one reason top Chinese leaders had become so obsessed with the Internet search company: they were Googling themselves. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/world/asia/05wikileaks-china.html Chinese leaders ordered Google hack, U.S. cable quotes source as saying A brazen series of computer intrusions into Google networks in China announced by the search engine company earlier this year were directed by the highest levels of the Chinese government, a "well-placed" Chinese source told U.S. Embassy officials in Beijing in January. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/04/AR2010120403323.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Editorial: Protecting Online Privacy The Federal Trade Commission has come up with timely recommendations to protect privacy online. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05sun2.html Some Data-Miners Ready to Reveal What They Know Seeking to head off escalating scrutiny over Internet privacy, a group of online tracking rivals is building a service that lets consumers see what information those companies know about them. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704377004575650802136721966.html http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/news/some-data-miners-ready-to-reveal-what-they-know/story-e6frg90x-1225965273969 Web bug reveals browsing history Porn sites are among the top users of a browser bug that reveals all the places people go online, finds research. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11899092 US Legislators Support Internet Privacy, but Question How to Do It Lawmakers examining the Federal Trade Commission?s recommendation for a ?do not track? mechanism to restrict the monitoring of Internet users said that they supported stricter safeguards for consumer privacy, but raised questions on how the system would work. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/technology/03privacy.html FTC's New Privacy Report Endorses "Do Not Track" Mechanism to Empower Online Consumers This morning, the Federal Trade Commission released its long-anticipated privacy report. The report is the final result of a series of FTC privacy roundtables held earlier this year that solicited comments from leading scholars, industry figures and nonprofits including EFF about the consumer privacy challenges posed by new technologies. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/ftcs-privacy-report-calls-attention-privacy YouPorn Lawsuit Targets an Online Data Collection Technique Two California residents filed suit against the owner of adult website YouPorn, alleging it had violated cybercrime and consumer-protection laws by using surreptitious technology to harvest information about what websites they had visited. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704767804575654910216593180.html Google guilty of trespassing in Street View case [IDG] After a legal battle that lasted two-and-a-half years, Google has been found guilty of trespassing on a Pennsylvania family's property to take photos of their property for its Maps website. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9199218/Update_Google_guilty_of_trespassing_in_Street_View_case au: Google escapes criminal charges for Wi-Fi snooping After a six-month investigation, the Australian Federal Police has determined Google may have breached telecommunications interception laws when it hoovered up reams of personal information from home Wi-Fi networks. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/google-escapes-criminal-charges-for-wifi-snooping-20101206-18lot.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/google-escapes-criminal-charges-for-wifi-snooping-20101206-18lot.html AFP: No action on Google The Australian Federal Police will not pursue Google despite finding the internet giant could have breached local laws when it snooped on WiFi networks. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/afp-no-action-on-google/story-e6frgakx-1225966374015 au: AFP drops charges on Google Street View blunder The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has dropped charges against Google related to the collection of Wi-Fi data by its Street View cars, noting the data collection may have been "inadvertent" rather than a deliberate privacy breach. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/370258/afp_drops_charges_google_street_view_blunder/ AFP lets Google off the hook for Wi-Fi spy The Australian Federal Police has dropped any case against Google over its high-profile collection of Wi-Fi data via its Street View cars, noting that the data collection may have been "inadvertent" rather than a deliberate privacy breach. http://www.zdnet.com.au/afp-lets-google-off-the-hook-for-wi-fi-spy-339307761.htm au: Click of approval for online privacy tool has $2bn ad industry in spin The $2 billion online advertising industry has been thrown into confusion. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/click-of-approval-for-online-privacy-tool-has-2bn-ad-industry-in-spin/story-e6frg996-1225966040652 Nigeria Takes Aim at Cyberscams Nigeria made a major step toward demonstrating its commitment to addressing cybercrime by hosting the first West Africa Cybercrime Summit, attended by public and private sector organizations. http://www.pcworld.com/article/212484/.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Comment: Amazon and WikiLeaks - Online Speech is Only as Strong as the Weakest Intermediary The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression against government encroachment - but that doesn't help if the censorship doesn't come from the government. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/amazon-and-wikileaks-first-amendment-only-strong ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Google is finding out how unpopular it is in Old Europe The news that the EU has decided to investigate whether Google is abusing its dominance of the market for internet searches naturally led your columnist to type "Google abuses market dominance" into, well, Google. In 0.19 seconds it reported 4.4 million results. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/05/google-investigation-european-commission Google and antitrust: The European Union is right to take a closer look at Google This year is turning into an annus horribilis for Google. First the search giant attracted almost universal opprobrium and a tonne of legal headaches when it accidentally recorded personal data from unprotected wireless networks in various countries. Then some much-hyped new services flopped, in particular Google Wave (see article). Now it faces a formal investigation by the European Union into allegations that it has broken antitrust rules by abusing its dominant position in the online-search business to stifle competition. http://www.economist.com/node/17629823?story_id=17629823 How long will Google's magic last? It flourished during the first phase of the internet. The next one may be tougher "Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one,? wrote Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the search firm?s founders, in a letter to investors ahead of its stockmarket flotation in 2004. Since then, Google has burnished its reputation as one of the quirkiest companies on the planet. This year alone it has raised eyebrows by taking a stake in a wind-energy project off the east coast of America and by testing self-driving cars, which have already covered over 140,000 miles (225,000km) on the country?s roads. http://www.economist.com/node/17633138?story_id=17633138 Editorial: Google and Europe The European Commission did the right thing on Tuesday when it opened a formal antitrust investigation into allegations that Google abused its dominant position in online search to help its other businesses at the expense of rivals. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/opinion/02thu3.html Google v Regulators: The battle begins It's been predicted for years - and now it has finally happened. The company that many see as the most powerful force on the internet - and some believe abuses that power - is being investigated by a major competition regulator. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2010/11/google_v_regulators_the_battle.html Groups oppose UK web traffic control A group of major internet companies, including Ebay, Yahoo and Skype, have written to Ed Vaizey, communications minister, urging the British government not to impose regulation that would allow the country?s internet service providers to favour traffic from one content provider over another. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6fd0bf90-fe30-11df-abac-00144feab49a.html uk: Virgin Media boss restates opposition to net neutrality The head of Virgin Media, the UK's third biggest ISP, has reiterated his opposition to net neutrality, saying that making ISPs treat all network traffic equally would be "wrong". http://out-law.com/page-11645 Mixed Reaction to F.C.C. Internet Plan The plan from the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to ensure an open and neutral Internet drew mixed reviews on Wednesday from consumer advocates and Internet service providers, presenting the agency with an uncertain way forward as it considers new broadband regulation. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/technology/02fcc.html How to Discredit Net Neutrality by Milton Mueller On Tuesday (November 30) Internet backbone provider Level3 publicly accused cable-based ISP Comcast of trying to thwart competing video services delivered through the internet. Comcast was, according to Level3, suddenly choosing to charge it more because of its carriage of Netflix traffic. The accusation was consciously framed to raise net neutrality alarms. It appeared as if a cable TV giant was using its control of internet access to make access to a competing, over the top video service more expensive... Then the full story came out. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101202_how_to_discredit_net_neutrality/ NZ Govt Copyright Leak: Doubts Value of WIPO Internet Treaties, Supports Flexible Digital Lock Rules New Zealand is one of several countries currently negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a regional trade deal that the U.S. would like to see include a major chapter on intellectual property (Canada has been excluded from the talks). http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5498/125/ ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Japanese Regulator Approves a Search Partnership of Google and Yahoo Japanese regulators on Thursday approved a partnership between Google and Yahoo Japan for local Web search, clearing the way for an alliance that would control almost all of the country?s search market. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/technology/03yahoo.html Joi Ito: The web needs copyright tools Internet entrepreneur Joi Ito is promoting licences that allow artists and academics to share ? and profit from ? their work online http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/05/my-bright-idea-joi-ito nz: 'No Numpties' scholarship launched in Paul Reynolds' honour The National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ), Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) and InternetNZ are honouring the memory of internet pioneer and commentator Paul Reynolds with a scholarship for international study, worth a minimum $5000. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/no-numpties-scholarship-launched-honour-paul-reynolds-134264 Scholarship launched to honour memory of Paul Reynolds The National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ), Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) and InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) are honouring the memory of internet pioneer and commentator Paul Reynolds with a scholarship for international study dubbed the "no numpties" award. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/scholarship-launched-to-honour-memory-of-paul-reynolds http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/new-scholarship-honour-paul-reynolds-039no-numpties-award039/5/74626 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** BT to trial 1Gbps fibre broadband in England Telecoms company BT has announced that it will begin trialling fibre-based home and business broadband connections of up to 1Gbps from next year. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/tech-tech-boom-10017860/bt-to-trial-1gbps-fibre-broadband-10021233/ au: NBN has utilities, media excited Utilities companies are more excited than other industries about business opportunities available through the national broadband network, according to an online survey of about 500 businesses. http://www.theage.com.au/business/nbn-has-utilities-media-excited-20101202-18i5c.html nz: Business keen on ultra fast broadband [NZPA] Ultra fast broadband (UFB) looks set to be popular with business, suggests a survey carried out by Crown Fibre Holdings and the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ). http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4420963/Business-keen-on-ultra-fast-broadband WikiLeaks: NZ cables 'critical' to US security Undersea cables on Auckland's North Shore have been called "critical" to US security in a diplomatic document signed off by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10692447 Kroes to urge EU Telecoms Council to agree rapidly on harmonised use of radio spectrum European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes will urge the EU's Council of Telecoms Ministers in Brussels on 3rd December (starting at 15.00) to boost Internet access in Europe by agreeing to the Commission's September proposal to make spectrum available for wireless broadband by 2013. Wireless broadband is essential to meet the commitments made in the Digital Agenda for Europe to give every European access to basic broadband by 2013 and fast and ultra-fast broadband by 2020. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/639 ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** Pitcairn mayor charged with child porn offences The mayor of Adamstown, the only settlement on Pitcairn island, has been charged with possessing child pornography. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/04/3084714.htm Pitcairns mayor faces child pornography case [NZPA] The mayor of remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific Ocean, 5000km east of New Zealand, has been charged with child pornography. http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/4423668/Pitcairns-mayor-faces-child-pornography-case Pitcairn mayor on child porn charges [AFP] The mayor of the remote British territory of Pitcairn, a Pacific island notorious in recent times for child sex convictions, has been charged with possessing child pornography, it was reported on Saturday. http://www.theage.com.au/world/pitcairn-mayor-on-child-porn-charges-20101204-18kjj.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (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 Sun Dec 05 2010 - 19:27:53 UTC
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