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 *************************************************** Hustler: We Will Fight Infringement of Our Trademarks on .XXX http://news.avn.com/articles/Hustler-We-Will-Fight-Infringement-of-Our-Trademarks-on-XXX-441132.html An ITU cut and paste job for new TLDs could cost $150k by Chris Wright http://www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=823 Second .NXT Conference Focuses On Taking Advantage of New gTLD Landscape http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/07/13/second-nxt-conference-focuses-on-taking-advantage-of-new-gtld-landscape/ New ICANN Chair To Open Munich New TLDs Conference http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/07/12/new-icann-chair-to-open-munich-new-tlds-conference/ .CN's Tightened Registration Policy Sees Phishers Go To CO.CC And .TK http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=15245 us: Feds Defend Internet Domain Seizure in Piracy Crackdown http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/07/domain-seizures-defended/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** The bw code gets industry nod Last week, the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) held a one day stakeholder consultation conference on the Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) to update and discuss on issues surrounding the management and re-delegation of the .bw ccTLD, as well as map the way forward in the establishment of an independent Registry Administrator. http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:the-bw-code-gets-industry-nod&catid=13:business&Itemid=2 http://gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:the-bw-code-gets-industry-nod&catid=13:business&Itemid=2 Google search blocks 11 million .co.cc websites to fight malware Google has blocked all .co.cc websites from its search results because the domain has been found to be too "spammy." The .cc top-level domain, which belongs to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and regular .cc websites are unaffected by Google's changes, according to The Register. http://www.techspot.com/news/44622-google-search-blocks-11-million-cocc-websites-to-fight-malware.html China: 1.3 million websites shut in 2010 More than one million websites closed down in China last year, a state-run think tank has said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14138267 Anti-.jobs coalition keeps up pressure on ICANN The .JOBS Charter Compliance Coalition, which wants ICANN to rein in .jobs registry Employ Media, has sent a couple of stern letters to ICANN recently. http://domainincite.com/anti-jobs-coalition-keeps-up-pressure-on-icann/ The future of vanity TLDs: Porn?s .XXX business plan by Violet Blue At a recent summit, porn industry leaders and an expert panel held a discussion with .XXX?s Vaughn Liley. The open industry Q and A, to form the industry?s business plans for the new TLD, did not go well. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/violetblue/the-future-of-vanity-tlds-porn-8217s-xxx-business-plan/522 Hustler: We Will Fight Infringement of Our Trademarks on .XXX Hustler has issued a statement saying it remains unrelenting in its stance that ICM Registry is prohibited from registering or selling to a third party any .XXX domain names that contain the world-famous Hustler trademark or other Hustler-related trademarks. The company further stated that on more than one occasion, it has made clear in writing that any attempt to do so will constitute infringement of its intellectual property rights and that legal action will be taken. http://news.avn.com/articles/Hustler-We-Will-Fight-Infringement-of-Our-Trademarks-on-XXX-441132.html Hustler Prepared to Fight .XXX Infringement Hustler on Tuesday took a firm stand against ICM Registry's attempt to exploit .XXX domain names, declaring the sTLD operator is "prohibited from registering or selling to a third party any .XXX domain names that contain the famous Hustler trademark or other Hustler-related trademarks." http://newswire.xbiz.com/view.php?id=136179 Will Larry Flynt sue over .xxx domains? The porn publisher Hustler is ?prepared to take whatever legal action may be necessary? to stop ICM Registry letting people register its trademarks in .xxx, according to a report. http://domainincite.com/will-larry-flynt-sue-over-xxx-domains/ .XXX to launch nothing-but-smut unsafe search engine ICM Registry, the company behind the forthcoming .xxx domain extension, plans to launch a search engine devoted entirely to porn at search.xxx. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/13/xxx_firm_to_launch_pron_search_engine/ ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** Cities could cash in on new domain extensions The gates are opening, but it's unclear if a flood of applicants will rush to register the name of their corporate or municipal website for a potentially longer "dot-anything" suffix, starting in January, for a whopping price tag. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-07-12-ICANN-domain-names_n.htm An ITU cut and paste job for new TLDs could cost $150k by Chris Wright It was with great interest that I read a recent announcement about a plan by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to publish template answers on a wiki for the 22 questions relating to registry technical operations contained within ICANN?s new Top-Level Domain Applicant Guidebook. http://www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=823 http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=15253 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/07/12/an-itu-cut-and-paste-job-for-new-tlds-could-cost-150k-by-chris-wright-ausregistry-international/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/an-itu-cut-and-paste-job-for-new-tlds-could-cost-150k-by-chris-wright-ausregistry-international.html The ICANN New gTLD Program is Approved: Now What? How to Submit a Quality Application in 6 Months by John Matson On January 12, 2012, the application window opens. Any corporation or organization can submit a request to own a piece of the Internet -- their own top-level domain (TLD). Many reporters are confusing a TLD with a domain name... But with less than six months between now and when an application can first be submitted, many are wondering if there's enough time to do it right. http://www.circleid.com/posts/icann_new_gtld_program_is_approved_now_what_how_to_submit_quality_app/ Second .NXT Conference Focuses On Taking Advantage of New gTLD Landscape With ICANN approving the Applicant Guidebook for new generic Top Level Domains and the window for applications opening on 12 January, the second .NXT conference in San Francisco in late August is focussing on giving potential applicants, registries and consultants the very latest information on the process and prepare for launch. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=15267 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/07/13/second-nxt-conference-focuses-on-taking-advantage-of-new-gtld-landscape/ New ICANN Chair To Open Munich New TLDs Conference The newly elected ICANN chair, and one of the internet?s founding architects, has been announced as the keynote speaker at the upcoming ?newdomains.org - The Munich Conference on new TLDs? meeting in September. http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/07/12/new-icann-chair-to-open-munich-new-tlds-conference/ Legal Brief - July 2011 ICANN?s Extension Expansion: What?s the Impact? by Matt Traister :: Sedo.com Legal Staff ICANN has recently approved a plan that will forever alter the internet?s navigational landscape. The plan will empower applicants to register new extensions (TLDs), such as .music, .green, .shop, and more, while greatly expanding the "size" and possibilities of the internet. In the wake of this historical decision, many current and would-be domain owners have inquired into the implications and possible policy changes surrounding the implementation of this new plan. https://sedo.com/links/showlinks.php3?tracked=&partnerid=&language=us&Id=2881 New top-level domains increase brand exposure Franchisors in Canada need to be aware of the new ?top-level domain? extensions (TLDs) which were recently approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). As of January 12, 2012, franchise owners can able to apply for a TLD with a custom extension that incorporates its brand (i.e. franchise.brand). http://business.financialpost.com/2011/07/13/new-top-level-domains-increase-brand-exposure/ Another new gTLD consultancy launches ITEMS International, a Paris-based consulting firm, has launched a practice to specialize in helping new top-level domain applicants with their ICANN proposals. http://domainincite.com/another-new-gtld-consultancy-launches/ DotAsia to Support Asian New gTLDs Following the approval from ICANN for the implementation of the new gTLD program, DotAsia today announces its plans to support new gTLDs from Asia, including its own IDN (Internationalized Domain Name) TLDs: ".??/.?? ", ".???", ".???", etc. and applications from other Asian new gTLD applicants. http://www.idn.asia/main/2011/07/dotasia-to-support-asian-new-gtlds.html Ambitious .app project seeks funding A community initiative to apply to ICANN for the .app top-level domain is looking for expert assistance and, more importantly, financial backers. http://domainincite.com/ambitious-app-project-seeks-funding/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** .CN's Tightened Registration Policy Sees Phishers Go To CO.CC And .TK The tightening of registration policies for .CN domain names by CNNIC has seen a rapid decline in the number of phishers using .CN domain names and an increase in the use of other top level domains and services, and in particular the CO.CC sub-domain and .TK country code TLD. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=15245 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/07/11/cns-tightened-registration-policy-sees-phishers-go-to-cocc-and-tk/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/cns-tightened-registration-policy-sees-phishers-go-to-cocc-and-tk.html Great wall: US, China face vast divide on cyber issues For two years, academic experts from the United States and China have quietly held talks on cyber-security, straining to establish rules of the road in a realm that has proven a persistent irritant between the world's two largest economies. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/idINIndia-58245320110713 Key US senator calls for special cyber security panel Republican Senator John McCain called on Wednesday for the creation of a bipartisan panel to draft long-sought legislation to combat data breaches and espionage aimed at U.S. companies and defense networks. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/usa-cybersecurity-congress-idUKN1E76C1X520110713 http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/idINIndia-58247120110713 UK spies losing Web experts to private sector British intelligence eavesdroppers are suffering a steady loss of Internet experts to the private sector because the likes of Google and Microsoft offer much higher wages, a group of lawmakers said on Wednesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/uk-britain-cyber-intelligence-idUKTRE76C3N220110713 UK claims cybercrime victory after phishing gang sentencing [IDG] U.K. cybercrime investigators claimed victory with the sentencing of three men on Monday following the prosecution of an organized phishing gang. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/071111-uk-claims-cybercrime-victory-after.html Is Military Prepared for Cyberwarfare? If you think that combatting cyber criminals is hard in your organization, imagine doing it in an enterprise with some 18 or so layers of management between the top man (and it is always a man) and the most junior employee. http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/07/12/is-the-military-prepared-cyberwarfare/ UK Authorities Brace For 'Cyber Jihad' By Al Qaeda After Bin Laden Death British authorities are bracing for an increase in cyberterrorism as al Qaeda calls for "cyber jihad" following the death of Osama bin Laden, according to a report released Tuesday. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/al-qaeda-cyber-jihad_n_895579.html Counter-terrorism strategy driven by 'cyberjihad' threat A new generation of scanning technology, watchlists, no-fly lists and databases to track terrorist travel was promised by the home secretary, Theresa May, on Tuesday as she published the government's new counter-terrorism strategy. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/12/counter-terrorism-strategy-cyberjihad-threat A new U.S. law-enforcement tool: Facebook searches U.S. law-enforcement agencies are increasingly obtaining warrants to search Facebook, often gaining detailed access to users' accounts without their knowledge. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/12/idINIndia-58226220110712 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/facebook-search-warrant_n_896328.html Cyberwar and Cyber-Isolationism There has been a bit of a splash in the press recently about a mention by former CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden of the idea of creating new, extra secure internets for government or commerce. Users would have to give up their privacy to use these versions of the Internet, with a requirement for the use of real names and all their traffic subject to deep packet inspection. The vision seems to be that government would use one such network and services such as banking would use another. http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2011/071211-bradner.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/235573/cyberwar_and_cyberisolationism.html ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** us: Feds Defend Internet Domain Seizure in Piracy Crackdown Federal prosecutors are asking a judge not to return the domain names of one of Spain?s most popular websites, seized as part of a major U.S. crackdown on internet piracy. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/07/domain-seizures-defended/ http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/07/feds-defend-internet-domain-seizure-in-piracy-crackdown.ars Feds Respond To Rojadirecta's Challenge To Domain Seizures: If We Give It Back, They'll Infringe Again Last month, we were the first to report on the fact that the Spanish company Puerto 80 had petitioned the US government to have it return its domains, which were seized, under questionable reasoning, by Homeland Security's Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) division. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110713/00485515074/feds-respond-to-rojadirectas-challenge-to-domain-seizures-if-we-give-it-back-theyll-infringe-again.shtml ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Most of world still resisting IPv6 adoption It appears those outside of the Asia-Pacific region are still wary of IPv6, according to a new report from analyst firm, Ovum. http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/393569/most_world_still_resisting_ipv6_adoption/ Slow migration to IPv6 a costly mistake Slow migration to Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) could end up being a costly mistake for Australian enterprises, according to Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) vice-president, Narelle Clarke. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/393562/slow_migration_ipv6_costly_mistake/ ARIN's John Curran warns of IPv6 misconfigurations, but sees migration issues dwindling John Curran, President of the American Registry Internet for Internet Numbers (ARIN), who once spent stints at XO Communications, is leading the Internet's ongoing migration from IPv4 to IPv6. While World IPv6 Day in June went off with little, if any, impact on traditional users, Curran points out that the main issues will be found in users that have devices that aren't configured correctly for IPv6, meaning that if you're connected to v6 Internet, but you don't actually have a connection to v6, you won't be able to access certain websites. http://www.fiercetelecom.com/special-reports/arins-john-curran-warns-ipv6-misconfigurations-sees-migration-issues-dwindl IPv6 transition stalled by lack of motivation The telecom industry?s call to action over the adoption of IPv6 is falling on deaf ears in the enterprise space, according to analyst research released on Wednesday. http://www.telecoms.com/30695/ipv6-transition-stalled-by-lack-of-motivation/ ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** News International's new domains show move towards seven-day Sun News International has taken control of the web domain for sunonsunday.co.uk and thesunonsunday.co.uk, which were registered on 5 July, fuelling expectations that the company will launch a replacement for the News of the World by expanding the Sun brand into a seven-day operation. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/12/news-international-domains-sunday-sun How to Abolish the DNS Hierarchy... But It's a Bad Idea by Steven Bellovin There's been a fair amount of controversy of late about ICANN's decision to dramatically increase the number of top-level domains. With a bit of effort, though and with little disruption to the infrastructure -- we could abolish the issue entirely. Any string whatsoever could be used, and it would all Just Work. That is, it would Just Work in a narrow technical sense; it would hurt innovation and it would likely have serious economic failure modes. http://www.circleid.com/posts/how_to_abolish_the_dns_hierarchy_but_its_a_bad_idea/ Go Daddy no-no means No Daddy is no-go Go Daddy has managed to effectively gag its fiercest critics by acquiring and then shutting down the high-ranking Go Daddy gripe site: NoDaddy.com. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/12/godaddy_shuts_down_nodaddy/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Sedo launches domain pricing index Sedo has launched Internet Domain Name Index, a research project that shows long-term domain pricing trends and compares the data to larger economic trends. http://domainincite.com/sedo-launches-domain-pricing-index/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Spelling mistakes 'cost millions' in lost online sales An online entrepreneur says that poor spelling is costing the UK millions of pounds in lost revenue for internet businesses. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14130854 Social media causing 'mind change' Heavy use of the internet by adolescents has been linked with shrinking of brain tissue - a new research finding which underlines the need for more investigation into internet-driven ''mind change'', says neurologist Susan Greenfield. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/social-media-causing-mind-change-20110713-1he3v.html ********************************* CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY ********************************* us: Anti Child-Porn Act Runs Into Trouble Over Privacy You might not expect to find many politicians willing to take a stand against something called the ?Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act.? http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/07/12/anti-child-porn-act-runs-into-trouble-over-privacy/ us: Online child porn bill raises privacy fears A bill that seeks to clamp down on online child pornography is raising some alarms in the tech and privacy communities because of a provision that would require Internet service providers to store users' IP addresses for 18 months. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58772.html California Sexting Law, SB919, Would Allow Schools To Expel Students A controversial bill that makes student sexting an expellable offense was approved last week by the California Assembly Education Committee. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/california-sexting-law-sb_n_896352.html 'Sexting' craze not in NZ schools A technology phenomenon getting Australian students in trouble hasn't caught on with Kiwi kids yet. http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5281320/Sexting-craze-not-in-NZ-schools Teen sexting's main danger lies in adult overreaction The idea of young people facing child porn charges is preposterous. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/teen-sextings-main-danger-lies-in-adult-overreaction-20110711-1hal9.html http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/teen-sextings-main-danger-lies-in-adult-overreaction-20110711-1hal9.html au: Does the filter breach user agreements? Does the mandatory implementation of a limited internet filtering scheme by Telstra and Optus constitute a breach of the internet service providers' existing agreements with their users? So far the situation is unclear, according to Australia's Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. http://www.zdnet.com.au/does-the-filter-breach-user-agreements-339318375.htm Safety online A Guardian roundtable discussed what parents can do to protect their children online and asked who should be responsible for their safety http://www.guardian.co.uk/public-leaders-network/2011/jul/13/guardian-roundtable-online-safety us: Bill to curb child porn may feed hacking frenzy, critic says A bill aimed at combating child pornography will meet strong opposition on Tuesday from privacy advocates who say it could serve up a buffet of personal data for hacker groups who have become more active and dangerous in recent months. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110711_1978.php Social networks 'should do more' on cyberstalking Social and mobile networks do not do enough to help victims of harassment online, according to a study handed to MPs. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/8630244/Social-networks-should-do-more-on-cyberstalking.html EU Parliament group rejects mandatory Web blocking [IDG] The European Parliament's civil liberties committee has voted unanimously to reject mandatory European Union-wide blocking of child pornography websites. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/071211-eu-parliament-group-rejects-mandatory.html Step forward on new EU rules against child pornography online Child abusers and viewers of child sex images on the web would face tough penalties for abuse, exploitation and pornography offences under draft European Union rules as agreed with European Council representatives and approved by the European Parliament's civil liberties committee. http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/07/13/1122363_step-forward-on-new-eu-rules-against-child-pornography-online ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** eu: Commission consults on how best to seize the opportunities for TV and film in the online age [news release] Digital technology and the internet are rapidly changing the way in which audiovisual works are produced, marketed, and distributed. Consumers increasingly expect to be able to watch anything, anywhere, any time and via any one of a number of devices (TV, personal computer, games console, mobile media device). Business models have to evolve rapidly to keep pace with the ever faster pace of technological change which offers new opportunities for creators and distributors and also new consumer expectations and ultimately more growth and jobs. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/868 Telstra to team up with ISPs in battle with Hollywood studios Telstra is attempting to team up with its rivals to fend off Hollywood's latest attempt to make ISPs increase sanctions against customers suspected of pirating their content online. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/telstra-others-battle-hollywood-studios/story-e6frgakx-1226093767745 ISPs should pay copyright costs: AFACT The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has said that New Zealand's decision to impose a NZ$25 charge on rights holders who want internet service providers to process user copyright infringement notices is not the ideal answer to tackling the copyright problems. http://www.zdnet.com.au/isps-should-pay-copyright-costs-afact-339318463.htm French three strikes law: 470,878 warnings, no lawsuits yet [IDG] France's High Authority for the Distribution of Works and the Protection of Rights on the Internet (Hadopi) has prosecuted no one for illegal file sharing in the nine months since it began operating under a so-called "three strikes" copyright enforcement law. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/393494/french_three_strikes_law_470_878_warnings_no_lawsuits_yet/ http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/235648/french_three_strikes_law_470878_warnings_no_lawsuits_yet.html Internet-connected TVs proliferate but users still prefer live TV format [Relaxnews] Two out of five households have a connected TV in their living room but very few consumers are making the most of its features. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/internetconnected-tvs-proliferate-but-users-still-prefer-live-tv-format-2312307.html Netflix criticizes new Internet billing by bits Netflix said Friday that moves by Internet service providers to charge users by the amount of data they use could end up costing consumers more. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/netflix-criticizes-new-internet-billing-by-bits/2011/07/08/gIQA2sTi3H_blog.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Pew: One-third of U.S. adults own smartphones Smartphone adoption is growing in many demographics, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20078528-94/pew-one-third-of-u.s-adults-own-smartphones/ As smartphones proliferate, some users are cutting the computer cord A third of all American adults own a smartphone and for many minority and low income users, those mobile devices have replaced computers for Internet access. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-smartphones-proliferate-some-users-are-cutting-the-computer-cord/2011/07/11/gIQA6ASi9H_story.html Smartphones and Mobile Internet Use Grow, Report Says Every few months a new report comes out showing the rapid adoption of smartphones, and the decline of their ordinary mobile counterparts. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/smartphones-and-mobile-internet-use-grow-report-says/ Study Finds More Than a Third of Adults Have a Smartphone Do you have a mobile phone? Is your mobile phone a smartphone? According to a new study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the odds are increasing that your answer to both of those questions is yes. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/235415/study_finds_more_than_a_third_of_adults_have_a_smartphone.html Smartphone Adoption and Usage Overview: In its first standalone measure of smartphone ownership, the Pew Internet Project finds that one third of American adults ? 35% ? own smartphones. The Project?s May survey found that 83% of US adults have a cell phone of some kind, and that 42% of them own a smartphone. That translates into 35% of all adults. http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Smartphones.aspx Smartphones head to 'tipping point' Android is now the top smartphone OS in six of eight key countries having edged past Nokia's Symbian in Spain, according to the latest quarterly sample data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/jul/11/ios-android-blackberry-smartphone-data Apple to GetJar: Drop 'App Store' From Name In Apple Inc.'s latest effort to control its U.S. trademark for the term "App Store," a law firm representing the company sent a cease-and-desist letter to wireless-application store operator GetJar. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303544604576434093477117756.html Telstra's new mobile network could cost $2bn: analysts Telstra's new mobile network could cost it $2 billion, according to research by industry analysts. http://www.theage.com.au/business/telstras-new-mobile-network-could-cost-2bn-analysts-20110711-1hapm.html http://www.smh.com.au/business/telstras-2-billion-bill-to-sate-mobile-broadband-demand-20110711-1harq.html Apple files patent complaint against phone maker HTC Apple has accused the smartphone maker HTC of infringing its patents, in the latest phase of the legal battle between phone and tablet PC makers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14117049 Smartphone security under threat Android and Apple devices are coming under increasing attack from malware and Trojans, a leading security firm has claimed http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/8630777/Smartphone-security-under-threat.html More malware targeting Android Researchers are reporting the discovery of malware targeting Android devices, specifically a new variant of the DroidDream Trojan found in apps that Google removed from the Android Market, as well as malware on alternative app markets in China designed to run up premium SMS bills, and a data-stealing Trojan that targets one-time bank SMS pass codes. http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20078606-245/more-malware-targeting-android/ http://www.zdnetasia.com/more-malware-targeting-android-62301151.htm ********************** SPAM ********************** Beware, some Google+ 'invites' are really spam OK, Google+, you're a bona fide Web sensation now. Which is to say, you've inspired your very own spam. http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-04/tech/google.plus.spam_1_google-sophos-new-social-networking-service Google+ Growing Pains Produce Spam Storm Google over the weekend briefly ran out of storage space for its Google+ notification tracking system. Unable to store the notifications, which get sent to Google+ users when others add them to their Circles or comment on their posts, Google+ re-sent the messages repeatedly, causing a minor spam storm. http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/google/231001339 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Is Military Prepared for Cyberwarfare? If you think that combatting cyber criminals is hard in your organization, imagine doing it in an enterprise with some 18 or so layers of management between the top man (and it is always a man) and the most junior employee. http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/07/12/is-the-military-prepared-cyberwarfare/ UK Authorities Brace For 'Cyber Jihad' By Al Qaeda After Bin Laden Death British authorities are bracing for an increase in cyberterrorism as al Qaeda calls for "cyber jihad" following the death of Osama bin Laden, according to a report released Tuesday. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/al-qaeda-cyber-jihad_n_895579.html Counter-terrorism strategy driven by 'cyberjihad' threat A new generation of scanning technology, watchlists, no-fly lists and databases to track terrorist travel was promised by the home secretary, Theresa May, on Tuesday as she published the government's new counter-terrorism strategy. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/12/counter-terrorism-strategy-cyberjihad-threat A new U.S. law-enforcement tool: Facebook searches U.S. law-enforcement agencies are increasingly obtaining warrants to search Facebook, often gaining detailed access to users' accounts without their knowledge. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/12/idINIndia-58226220110712 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/facebook-search-warrant_n_896328.html Cyberwar and Cyber-Isolationism There has been a bit of a splash in the press recently about a mention by former CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden of the idea of creating new, extra secure internets for government or commerce. Users would have to give up their privacy to use these versions of the Internet, with a requirement for the use of real names and all their traffic subject to deep packet inspection. The vision seems to be that government would use one such network and services such as banking would use another. http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2011/071211-bradner.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/235573/cyberwar_and_cyberisolationism.html Ebay and marketplace sites may be liable for trademark abuse Online shopping sites such as eBay may be liable for trademark infringements if they play an "active role" in promoting counterfeit goods, Europe's top court ruled today. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/jul/12/ebay-marketplace-sites-trademark-abuse-loreal EBay Suffers Setback on Trademark Infringement EBay may be held liable for trademark breaches on its auction site if it has knowledge of the infringing data, the European Union?s highest court said Tuesday in a dispute involving the cosmetics maker L?Or?al. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-12/ebay-may-be-liable-in-l-oreal-trademark-suit-eu-court-says-1-.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/business/global/ebay-suffers-setback-on-trademark-infringement.html eBay says it ?can live with? today?s major ECJ judgment Online marketplace eBay has said it ?can live with? today?s judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) in the ongoing litigation brought against it by L?Or?al. eBay told WTR that it was hoping for more clarity on a number of points, but that the ruling in general reflects ?what eBay already does? with regard to stopping the sale of counterfeits on its platform. http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/Detail.aspx?g=32f490f6-5ad0-45ca-b747-7274adb8e91a ECJ online marketplace ruling gives brand owners certainty, says expert A ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which will make online marketplaces responsible for some sellers' trade mark infringements will make brand owners more sure of their rights than before, an expert has said. http://out-law.com/page-12078 UK investment in IP-protected assets reached ?65bn by 2008, research finds Sixty five billion pounds was invested in assets protected by intellectual property rights in 2008, according to reports published by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). http://out-law.com/page-12079 Online marketplaces liable for sellers' infringement in 'promoted' sales, says ECJ EBay and other online marketplaces will be liable for sellers' trade mark infringements if they promote infringing sales or help sellers to 'optimise' their pages, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. http://out-law.com/page-12077 Great wall: US, China face vast divide on cyber issues For two years, academic experts from the United States and China have quietly held talks on cyber-security, straining to establish rules of the road in a realm that has proven a persistent irritant between the world's two largest economies. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/idINIndia-58245320110713 Key US senator calls for special cyber security panel Republican Senator John McCain called on Wednesday for the creation of a bipartisan panel to draft long-sought legislation to combat data breaches and espionage aimed at U.S. companies and defense networks. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/usa-cybersecurity-congress-idUKN1E76C1X520110713 http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/idINIndia-58247120110713 UK spies losing Web experts to private sector British intelligence eavesdroppers are suffering a steady loss of Internet experts to the private sector because the likes of Google and Microsoft offer much higher wages, a group of lawmakers said on Wednesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/uk-britain-cyber-intelligence-idUKTRE76C3N220110713 UK claims cybercrime victory after phishing gang sentencing [IDG] U.K. cybercrime investigators claimed victory with the sentencing of three men on Monday following the prosecution of an organized phishing gang. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/071111-uk-claims-cybercrime-victory-after.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Facebook data privacy questioned by Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden Facebook has some explaining to do in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, according to a report. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/07/facebook-privacy-questioned-by-denmark-finland-norway-and-sweden.html Commission advice on cookies is ambiguous, data protection watchdog says The European Commission has not clearly told businesses how to comply with EU cookie laws, according to the data protection watchdog for EU institutions. http://out-law.com/page-12081 ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Iran tightens online censorship to counter US 'shadow internet' Iran has stepped up online censorship by upgrading the filtering system that enables the Islamic regime to block access to thousands of websites it deems inappropriate for Iranian users. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/13/iran-tightens-online-censorship China: 1.3 million websites shut in 2010 More than one million websites closed down in China last year, a state-run think tank has said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14138267 ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** A Call to Take Back the Internet From Corporations Is the Internet due for a ?Magna Carta moment?? That is a question being posed by Rebecca MacKinnon, an Internet scholar at the New America Foundation, who argues that private corporations are exerting excessive power over the Internet and should have that power checked. Just as the English barons crafted the original Magna Carta in 1215 to constrain the power of the unpopular King John, she says, Internet users should organize and push back against the companies. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/a-call-to-take-back-the-internet-from-corporations/ EU telecoms groups seek charging shake-up European telecoms operators should be free to develop new business models, including the controversial idea of charging online content providers for delivering their material to consumers, a new report is expected to say on Wednesday. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/cce9b8b0-abcf-11e0-945a-00144feabdc0.html nz: ISPs to charge rights holders in file sharing law Internet providers will be able to charge rights holders to process allegations of copyright infringement under a controversial law designed to prevent illegal file sharing. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10738004 nz: Complaint fees revealed for new internet copyright law Internet service providers will be able to charge rights holders up to $25 for processing an allegation of copyright infringement, Justice Minister Simon Power said today. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/fees-revealed-complaints-under-new-internet-copyright-law-ck-96984 nz: Opinion: No prizes for guessing how fees will pan out Successive governments have steered September's controversial changes to copyright law through Parliament with the precision of a munted supermarket shopping trolley. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion/5283952/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-fees-will-pan-out http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/5283952/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-fees-will-pan-out http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/business/5283952/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-fees-will-pan-out http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/business/5283952/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-fees-will-pan-out http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/business/5283952/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-fees-will-pan-out http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/business/5283952/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-fees-will-pan-out http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/5283952/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-fees-will-pan-out http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/5281918/No-prizes-for-guessing-how-new-piracy-fees-will-pan-out us/nz: US file-sharing agreement allows six strikes Internet service providers and major entertainment companies and industry associations in the US have come to an agreement that allows file-sharing copyright infringers up to six ?strikes? before facing any penalty. This is considerably greater latitude than the ?three strikes? previously pushed by the music and movie lobbies and now enshrined in New Zealand?s Copyright (Infringing File-Sharing) Act. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/us-file-sharing-agreement-allows-six-strikes nz: ISPs can charge $25 to process copyright infringement notices ISPs will be able to charge rights holders up to $25 for processing an allegation of copyright infringement, commerce minister Simon Power has announced. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/isps-can-charge-25-to-process-copyright-infringement-notices ISP data retention plan hits Capitol Hill snag Controversial legislation to require Internet providers to store logs about their customers for 18 months has run into an unexpected obstacle: a former supporter. http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20078785-281/isp-data-retention-plan-hits-capitol-hill-snag/ us: Police: Internet providers must keep user logs Law enforcement representatives are planning to endorse a proposed federal law that would require Internet service providers to store logs about their customers for 18 months, CNET has learned. http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20078653-281/police-internet-providers-must-keep-user-logs/ uk: Review into viability of website blocking rules to be announced soon, Government says A report into a whether website blocking measures are viable is to be published shortly, the Culture Minister has said. http://out-law.com/page-12072 China touts nine-month intellectual property crackdown [IDG] China's nine-month campaign to crackdown on intellectual property violations has been the country's most successful one to date, resulting in the closure of numerous websites hosting pirated materials and the confiscation of hordes of fake electronic goods, according to Chinese authorities. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/071311-china-touts-nine-month-intellectual-property.html ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Book review: I'm Feeling Lucky - How Google Got Going At the tail end of the 1990s dot-com boom, Douglas Edwards took a gamble: He left his marketing job at an old-media company, taking a $25,000 salary cut to start work at a small, little-known Internet concern in its second year of operation. That his new employer was losing money and burning through venture capital went without saying. But unlike the footloose 20-somethings who usually populated Silicon Valley start-ups, Mr. Edwards had little margin to bet wrong; he was 41, with a mortgage, three children and a worried wife. He hoped he could get his old job back if the company ran out of money. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304066504576351650017002270.html Europeans prefer all in one 'packages' for internet, phone and TV Four out of ten Europeans households are buying "bundled" internet, phone and TV services from a single provider, a new Eurobarometer survey shows. The survey also found that 65% of people limit their mobile phone calls because of cost and that calls over the Internet are becoming increasingly popular. The E-Communications Household Survey was carried out between 9 February and 8 March 2011 using a sample of 27,000 households that are representative of the EU population. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/858 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Euro telcos urge less regulation The bosses of Europe's major telecom companies urged regulators to adopt a lighter touch on big industry mergers and allow them to charge major websites like Google to prioritise their traffic on networks. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/oukin-uk-euinternet-idUKTRE76C4KB20110713 EU warned on broadband targets The European Union?s ambitious targets to improve broadband speeds will be missed unless governments and regulators enable telecoms operators to cut their costs and tap new revenue sources, leading chief executives warned on Wednesday. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a887347a-ad6e-11e0-bc4f-00144feabdc0.html NZ broadband getting faster, but overseas links still miserable The average New Zealand broadband connection is getting faster, the Commerce Commission?s July-December 2010 Report on NZ Broadband Quality found. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nz-broadband-getting-faster-overseas-links-still-miserable-ck-97140 Internet service expanded in Vanuatu In Vanuatu, four communities on the islands of Embrym, Pentecost and Malekula will soon be able to access Broadband Internet in a pilot project set up by the government. http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/201107/s3267258.htm Irish are fourth fastest in Europe to ditch their landlines Around one-third of Irish households (35pc) had moved to mobile phones only ? making Irish households the fourth fastest in the EU to ditch landlines in favour of mobiles. Ireland is also now slightly above average for computer and internet access in Europe. http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/22630-irish-are-fourth-fastest-in/ Europe's Telecoms Chafe at Opening Networks to Rivals When the chief executives of Europe?s biggest telecom companies meet on Wednesday in Brussels with Neelie Kroes, the European Union commissioner who oversees their industry, they plan to present her with a list of 11 suggestions on how to spur investment in high-speed broadband networks. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/technology/top-telecoms-chafe-at-opening-up-networks-to-rivals.html To Rebound, RIM Courts the Carriers Even though Research in Motion, the maker of BlackBerry devices, has been undermined by Apple?s iPhone and phones using Google?s Android software, the exceptional success of its competitors could provide the foundation of its recovery. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/technology/research-in-motion-courts-carriers-in-hopes-of-rebound.html Telcos slugged for misleading mobile plan 'confusopoly' Australian consumers need complex mathematical formulas to work out their mobile phone plans, a new analysis has found, as telcos cop more flack for confusing advertising. http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/telcos-slugged-for-misleading-mobile-plan-confusopoly-20110713-1hcxt.html http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/telcos-slugged-for-misleading-mobile-plan-confusopoly-20110713-1hcxt.html Trans-Pacific cable to earn $91 million Pacific Fibre's first deal to sell capacity on its proposed trans-Pacific communications cable would be worth $91 million to the company. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/5277648/Trans-Pacific-cable-to-earn-91-million Regulatory complexities hinder China's converged media plans Joint development of converged media services between telcos and media outlets in China has been hampered by the various regulatory barriers and lack of a single regulatory body, stated a new report. http://www.zdnetasia.com/regulatory-complexities-hinder-chinas-converged-media-plans-62301163.htm +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2011 ------ David Goldstein email: david§goldsteinreport.com web: http://goldsteinreport.com/ http://davidgoldstein.tel/ 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 Wed Jul 13 2011 - 21:51:53 UTC
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