Hello DNS list followers!

This is the last ?news? for 2011, however as usual I will monitor news online over the holiday period and will return in the week commencing 2 January to commence another big and bright year on domain name and other internet news.

Thanks to auDA for their ongoing support in 2011 as well.

Over the holiday period I will still be posting in my usual spots - http://www.domainpulse.com/ and http://www.domainnews.com/ on domain name issues and my own site http://goldsteinreport.com/ on general internet stories, and the occasional domain name issue.

And of course, I welcome any feedback on the news on issues such as content and layout. It is difficult to know what people find relevant all the time, but if there are issues you think might be of interest to others as well as yourself that I don?t include, please let me know. I can always get better!

So I hope for those celebrating you have a wonderful Christmas and new year!

All the best and see you in cyberspace at least in 2012!

Cheers
David


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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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New Year Brings More Public Comment Enhancements to Life, Addressing Four ATRT Recommendations
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-22dec11-en.htm

.AT Domain Names Face Limited Number Of Disputes, Finds Latest .AT Report
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/22/latest-at-report-focuses-on-domain-name-legal-issues/

More Financial Options May Mean More Applicants for New gTLDs by Pat Kane
http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/more_financial_options_may_mean

Verisign predicts 1,000-1,500 new TLD applications and up to 2/3 .brand
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/19/verisign-new-tlds/

Halt domain name bidding, lawmakers say
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20111222_9695.php

US Government Departments Differ On ICANN's New gTLD Programme
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/19/us-government-departments-differ-on-icanns-new-gtld-programme/

Cyber Attack on U.S. Chamber Pressures Congress to Speed Web Rule Rewrite
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-22/cyber-attack-on-u-s-chamber-presses-congress-to-fix-web-rules.html

UDRP reform put on hold for four years
http://domainincite.com/udrp-reform-put-on-hold-for-four-years/

IPv6 due for wide deployment in 2012, experts say
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/122111-ipv6-254342.html

Don't Break the Internet by Mark Lemley, David S. Levine, & David G. Post
http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/dont-break-internet

Global Domain Name Registrations Climb 5 Million to 220 Million: Verisgn
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/23/global-domain-name-registrations-climb-5-million-to-220-million-verisgn/


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GOVERNANCE
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Issues for 2012 #1: Should the UN Govern the Internet?
"The communications public policy effort that may affect all of us the most in 2012... will take place far from our shores," stated U.S. Federal Communications Commissioner Robert McDowell, in a speech in Washington before a bar association two weeks ago. "As we sit here today, scores of countries, including China, Russia and India, are pushing hard for international regulation of Internet governance."
http://www.readwriteweb.com/enterprise/2011/12/issues-for-2012-1-should-the-u.php

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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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New Year Brings More Public Comment Enhancements to Life, Addressing Four ATRT Recommendations
The Public Comment Process is fundamental to ICANN's multistakeholder, bottom-up, consensus-driven process. It was also the focus of several recommendations made by the Accountability & Transparency Review Team (ATRT). Since the ATRT made its recommendations almost a year ago, the ICANN community has devoted many hours to brainstorming, discussion and consultation about how to improve ICANN's Public Comment Process.
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-22dec11-en.htm

2011 Annual Report Published
The 2011 Annual Report for ICANN has been published online today. The report highlights the organization's achievements and progress from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011, including:
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-21dec11-en.htm

New gTLD Roadshows by Rod Beckstrom
I have spent a lot of time on the road recently. My visits to 16 countries in three months were just one part of ICANN?s busy and successful international roadshows to raise awareness of new gTLDs.
http://blog.icann.org/2011/12/new-gtld-roadshows/

Public Comment: New gTLD Financial Assistance Implementation Plan
ICANN is introducing today for public comment the implementation plans for the gTLD Applicant Support Program. Among other goals, the program seeks to provide financial assistance to applicants demonstrating financial need in order to succeed as a new gTLD applicant and registry operator, and also a mission to operate in the public interest.
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20dec11-en.htm

Further Progress by the CEO Search Committee
The CEO Search Committee has now completed a job description for the position of CEO and a CEO candidate profile. It has contracted with a search firm, Odgers Berndtson of Brussels, to assist us in the search process.
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-20dec11-en.htm

ICANN Publishes Its Annual Report and Reports $100 Million in Assets by Michael Berkens
ICANN just published its annual report for 2011 and god bless, in the worst economy of our lifetimes they managed to get up to just short of $100 Million in assets; cash, investments and accounts receivable for the year ending June 30, 2011. According to the report as of June 30, 2011, ICANN has over $29 Million in Cash, $51 Million in investments and over $15 Million in accounts receivable, and with some other assets all totalled, just short of $100 Million dollars.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111221_icann_publishes_its_annual_report_reports_100_million_in_assets/

Receiver: ?ICANN thumbing its nose at the Court?, asks court fo find ICANN in contempt
Earlier this month a Texas court ordered ICANN to stay a UDRP case for FunnyGames.com. ICANN responded by saying that it had no authority to stay a UDRP proceeding and that the court had no jurisdiction to order it to do so. The court disagreed.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/22/receiver-icann-thumbing-its-nose-at-the-court-asks-court-fo-find-icann-in-contempt/

Did Beckstrom even read the Washington Post editorial?
Another day, another communications failure by ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom. Having taken four days to respond to a highly critical editorial in the Washington Post - the equivalent of turning up to match practice the day after your team lost - it soon becomes clear that the $1m-a-year frontman hasn't even read the article he is replying to.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/12/19/did-beckstrom-even-read-post-editorial

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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.AT Domain Names Face Limited Number Of Disputes, Finds Latest .AT Report
Austrian domain names are subjected to few disputes, with only 1200 domains disputed and of these, only ten per cent of disputes end up in court, the latest .at report notes. The third .at report in 2011 focuses on legal issues faced by the Austrian registry, including the impact of the global financial crisis that has seen the nic.at legal department facing an increase on the average of 2000 .AT domain names involved in insolvency proceedings each year.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=16577
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/22/latest-at-report-focuses-on-domain-name-legal-issues/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/at-domain-names-face-limited-disputes-finds-latest-at-report.html

Key-Systems wins .dm registry deal, 20 others
The German domain name registrar Key-Systems will provide the registry platform for Dominica?s soon-to-relaunch .dm country-code domain, the company has announced.
http://domainincite.com/key-systems-wins-dm-registry-deal-20-others/

Hogan Lovells: Appeal Court Finds AFNIC Not Liable For Failing To ?Freeze? A Domain Name
In October 2009 the French Association for Internet Names and Cooperation (AFNIC), the registry for the '.fr' ccTLD, was ordered to pay compensation of ?4,500 to Francelot (a company specialising in the management and building of residential housing) for failing to 'freeze' a domain name upon its request. However, to AFNIC's great relief, this decision was recently overturned.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/20/hogan-lovells-appeal-court-finds-afnic-not-liable-for-failing-to-freeze-a-domain-name/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/hogan-lovells-appeal-court-finds-afnic-not-liable-for-failing-to-freeze-a-domain-name.html

Only half of dot-gov sites are active, GSA reports
Nearly one-fifth of federal Web domains are inactive and one-fourth redirect to other dot-gov sites, according to an inventory conducted between August and October.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20111219_9136.php

Key-Systems Announced As New Operator Of .DM Registry
The DotDM Corporation, the official administrator for the TLD of the Eastern Caribbean?s Commonwealth of Dominica .dm has partnered with Germany?s Key-Systems to provide a state-of-the-art registry platform.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/19/key-systems-announced-as-new-operator-of-dm-registry/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/key-systems-announced-as-new-operator-of-dm-registry.html

Vatican 'porn' web address snapped up
An unknown buyer has purchased the web address vatican.xxx, raising the possibility that it could be used by a pornographic website.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/8971514/Vatican-porn-web-address-snapped-up.html

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 - NEW TLDS
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More Financial Options May Mean More Applicants for New gTLDs by Pat Kane
In developing its plan to create potentially hundreds of new TLDs, ICANN had to strike a difficult balance between technical stability and economic accessibility. And while ICANN did a good job of establishing that balance, a small market-driven adjustment to the organization?s policy could expand the program?s reach, without jeopardizing stability and security.
http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/more_financial_options_may_mean

Verisign predicts 1,000-1,500 new TLD applications and up to 2/3 .brand
There are a lot of new TLD name service providers out there, and each has its own estimates on how many new TLD applications will be submitted next year.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/19/verisign-new-tlds/

Halt domain name bidding, lawmakers say
A bipartisan group of House members, along with Senate Democrats, are asking ICANN to postpone plans for opening up the market of domain name endings, such as dot-music, in the wake of consumer cybersecurity concerns.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20111222_9695.php

U.S. lawmakers ask ICANN to delay generic domain plan [IDG]
A group of U.S. representatives has asked ICANN to delay its plan to begin rolling out new TLDs in early 2012.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222971/U.S._lawmakers_ask_ICANN_to_delay_generic_domain_plan
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/411041/lawmakers_ask_icann_delay_generic_tld_plan/
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/122211-lawmakers-ask-icann-to-delay-254364.html

Congressmen ask ICANN to delay new gTLDs
Seventeen US Congressmen have put their names to a letter asking ICANN to delay its new gTLDs program.
http://domainincite.com/congressmen-ask-icann-to-delay-new-gtlds/

Chance of new gTLD delay ?above zero?
ICANN has not completely ruled out the possibility that its new gTLDs program will be delayed, according to senior vice president Kurt Pritz.
http://domainincite.com/chance-of-new-gtld-delay-above-zero/

US Government Departments Differ On ICANN's New gTLD Programme
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Trade Commission have given differing views as to whether they believe ICANN should forge ahead with its proposal to introduce new gTLDs, with the former supportive and the latter opposed.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=16567
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/19/us-government-departments-differ-on-icanns-new-gtld-programme/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/us-government-departments-differ-on-icanns-new-gtld-programme.html

FTC to ICANN: New Domain Suffixes Will ?Undermine? the Internet
If ICANN has its way, .xxx domains are just the beginning: Starting January 12, organizations will be able to apply for new domain suffixes that include almost any word or phrase (such as .techland or .time instead of the more familiar .com). Well, unless the FTC manages to convince the organization otherwise.
http://techland.time.com/2011/12/19/ftc-to-icann-new-domain-suffixes-will-undermine-the-internet/

FTC tells global Internet body to cut back domain name plan
Wary of fraud, U.S. regulators are asking ICANN not to move forward with plans to accept bids in January for new domain name endings, such as dot-bank. The Federal Trade Commission on Friday sent ICANN, the international body that oversees Web address names, a letter urging the organization to first roll out safeguards aimed at preventing bad actors from buying those address extensions to swindle visitors.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20111219_1641.php

US gov split over new domain explosion
ICANN is receiving mixed messages from the US government over its plans to dramatically expand the number of TLDs available on the internet.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/19/us_gov_split_over_new_domain_explosion/

Critics stage last-ditch effort to derail domain name expansion plan
Debate around a controversial plan to add hundreds of new domain name extensions to the Internet infrastructure has reached a fever pitch in the nation's capital, as critics engage in a last-ditch effort to scrap or delay the plan, which is scheduled to launch Jan. 12.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/121911-domain-names-254226.html

ICANN?s at-large committee debating recommendation to throttle new TLD release
The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), which represents the interests of internet users, is the latest group to consider asking ICANN to do a phased release of its new TLD program.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/21/new-tld-alac-batching/

At-Large mulls new gTLDs U-turn
In what is likely to turn out to be a storm in a teacup, ICANN?s At-Large Advisory Committee is set to vote on a resolution calling for a delay to the new gTLDs program.
http://domainincite.com/at-large-mulls-new-gtlds-u-turn/

New gTLD industry pleads with senators
Twenty-eight domain name industry players have written to two influential US senators in support of ICANN?s new gTLDs program.
http://domainincite.com/new-gtld-industry-pleads-with-senators/

ICANN?s plan for needy new gTLD applicants is really, really bad
I just finished reviewing ICANN?s draft plan to assist ?needy? applicants wishing to apply for a new TLD name.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/21/icanns-new-tld-non-profit/

Lawmakers Press Commerce Over ICANN's New Domain Name Plan
Two senior lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee are urging the Commerce Department to try to delay the rollout of a program that could dramatically expand the number of Internet addresses.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/12/lawmakers-press-commerce-over.php

ICANN Pressured to Reserve Names: "We don't accept any more reservations!" by Konstantinos Komaitis
It is not a secret that I have been (and I continue to be) against the requests made to ICANN by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Red Cross for special protection of their names and their variations. I am mainly against it because of the problems associated with these types of protection, the potential implications they may have and the fact that any attempt to reserve any names in the Domain Name Space will set a very bad precedent that will be detrimental to the whole new gTLDs experience. Well, the effect of this precedent is right upon us.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/icann_pressured_to_reserve_names_we_dont_accept_any_more_reservations/

ICANN's Internet Users Representatives Decry New Top-Level Domain Implementation by Frederick Felman
Surprisingly, and adding to the rapidly growing field of objections to ICANN's proposed expansion of the domain naming system, the group that represents individual Internet users in the ICANN community, the ICANN At-Large Advisory Committee, posted their advice on new gTLDs.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111221_icanns_internet_users_representatives_decry_new_tld_implementation/

ANA Applauds Strong Letter from FTC to ICANN Citing Major Concerns About Top-level Domain Expansion Program
The Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the leader of the 160-member Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight (CRIDO), today praised the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for sending a detailed, 15-page letter to ICANN's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Stephen D. Crocker, and its President and CEO, Rod Beckstrom, expressing major concerns regarding ICANN's plan to greatly expand gTLDs, starting January 12, 2012. The letter specifically highlights "the potential for significant consumer harm resulting from the unprecedented increase in gTLDs."
http://www.ana.net/content/show/id/22658

ANA Applauds Representatives Goodlatte and Berman for Urging Department of Commerce to Halt ICANN Domain Expansion Plan
The Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the leader of the 160-member Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight (CRIDO), today praised two Congressmen, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet, and Howard Berman, Ranking Member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, for sending an unequivocal letter to John Bryson, Secretary, Department of Commerce.
http://www.ana.net/content/show/id/22671

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Cyber Attack on U.S. Chamber Pressures Congress to Speed Web Rule Rewrite
A cyber attack on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will intensify pressure on Congress to overhaul Web security regulations written before the existence of Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Google Inc.?s Gmail.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-22/cyber-attack-on-u-s-chamber-presses-congress-to-fix-web-rules.html

China Hackers Hit U.S. Chamber: Attacks Breached Computer System of Business-Lobbying Group; Emails Stolen
A group of hackers in China breached the computer defenses of America's top business-lobbying group and gained access to everything stored on its systems, including information about its three million members, according to several people familiar with the matter.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204058404577110541568535300.html

Chinese hack on U.S. Chamber went undetected for 6 months
Chinese hackers lurked in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce network for six months without being detected, enjoying unrestricted access although it is unknown what information they exploited, according to a published report.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/122111-chinese-hack-254327.html

Industrial Control Systems Security: Recommendations for Europe & Member States [news release]
ENISA, the EU?s ?cyber security? agency, has today issued the results of a study on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security. The report describes the current situation on ICS security and proposes seven recommendations for improving it.
http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/industrial-control-systems-security-recommendations-for-europe-member-states

Firms Bid on NATO Cyberwar: 'Technically Ambitious' Upgrade in Security Likely to Lead to More-Lucrative Work [sub req'd]
NATO, fresh from its battlefield success in Libya, is focusing on the next front: cyberwar. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Monday will collect bids from some of the world's top defense companies, including Lockheed Martin Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp., to update and expand the alliance's cybersecurity abilities.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203733304577102171947782202.html

DDoS Mitigation: A Blend of Art and Science by Miguel Ramos
As DDoS attacks become larger, more frequent and complex, being able to stop them is a must. While doing this is part science, a matter of deploying technology, there is also an art to repelling sophisticated attacks. Arbor Networks, Citrix and others make great gear, but there's no magic box that will solve all your problems for you. Human expertise will always be a crucial ingredient.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111220_ddos_mitigation_a_blend_of_art_and_science/

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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bmwdiscounts.com.au - BMW AG verliert vor WIPO
Die Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW AG) versuchte in einem Schiedsgerichtsverfahren vor der in Genf ans?ssigen WIPO den Domain-Namen bmwdiscounts.com.au zu ergattern, scheiterte jedoch an der entwickelten Rechtsprechung f?r F?lle einer eindeutigen Nutzung solcher Domains durch Dritte.
http://www.domain-recht.de/magazin/domain-news-2011/bmwdiscounts-com-au-bmw-ag-verliert-vor-wipo-id668124.html

UDRP reform put on hold for four years
ICANN?s cybersquatting rules, including the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy, will be reviewed and possibly reformed, but probably not until 2016 at the earliest.
http://domainincite.com/udrp-reform-put-on-hold-for-four-years/

Ari Goldberger gets reverse domain hijacking win for Kevin Ham
Ari Goldberger?s lawfirm ESQwire has won a reverse domain name hijacking claim on behalf of client Vertical Axis, which is Kevin Ham?s company.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/19/ari-goldberger-gets-reverse-domain-hijacking-win-for-kevin-ham/

Internet poker owner says he broke U.S. gambling law
One of the owners of three of the largest Internet poker companies pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a criminal charge of deceiving U.S. banks over the processing of gambling proceeds.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/oukin-uk-poker-fraud-plea-idUKTRE7BJ1D620111220
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-poker-fraud-pleatre7bj1de-20111220,0,7685012.story
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/business/internet-poker-owner-admits-deceiving-banks.html

Texas court claims jurisdiction over ICANN and says ICANN can stay a UDRP proceeding
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas has issued a ruling stating that it has jurisdiction over ICANN in a bankruptcy case and that ICANN must stay a UDRP proceeding.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/20/texas-court-claims-jurisdiction-over-icann-and-says-icann-can-stay-a-udrp-proceeding/

au: Corporate Mobile Recycling Limited v. Mazuma Mobile Pty Ltd - Case No. DAU2011-0034
1. The Parties: The Complainant is Corporate Mobile Recycling Limited of London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ( ?United Kingdom?), represented by Rollingsons Solicitors Limited, United Kingdom. The Respondent is Mazuma Mobile Pty Ltd of Victoria, Australia, represented by Clarke Willmott LLP, United Kingdom. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <fonebank.com.au> (the ?Domain Name?) is registered with NetRegistry Pty Ltd. (the ?Registrar?). ... 7. Decision: For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the domain name <fonebank.com.au> be transferred to the Complainant upon the Registrar being satisfied of the Complainant?s eligibility. Alternatively, the Panel orders that the Domain Name <fonebank.com.au> be cancelled.
http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2011-0034

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 - IPv4/IPv6
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IPv6 due for wide deployment in 2012, experts say
This was the year that IPv6 garnered major headlines, but 2012 is expected to be the year when the next-generation Internet protocol gets widely deployed by U.S. carriers and enterprises.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/122111-ipv6-254342.html
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/411027/ipv6_due_wide_deployment_2012_experts_say/
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222969/IPv6_due_for_wide_deployment_in_2012_experts_say

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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Don't Break the Internet by Mark Lemley, David S. Levine, & David G. Post
Two bills now pending in Congress?the PROTECT IP Act of 2011 (Protect IP) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House?represent the latest legislative attempts to address a serious global problem: large-scale online copyright and trademark infringement. Although the bills differ in certain respects, they share an underlying approach and an enforcement philosophy that pose grave constitutional problems and that could have potentially disastrous consequences for the stability and security of the Internet?s addressing system, for the principle of interconnectivity that has helped drive the Internet?s extraordinary growth, and for free expression.
http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/dont-break-internet

GoDaddy Faces boycott over SOPA support
Major Internet companies have formed a united front in their opposition to the Protect IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act. Well, almost. One exception has been the domain registrar GoDaddy. In a op-ed published in Politico shortly after SOPA was introduced in the House, GoDaddy applauded the bill and called opponents "myopic."
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/12/godaddy-faces-december-29-boycott-over-sopa-support.ars

Global Domain Name Registrations Climb 5 Million to 220 Million: Verisgn
The number of domain names registered around the world continues its never-ending rise, with the registered domain name base climbing to nearly 220 million registrations across all TLDs at the end of the third quarter in 2011 according to the latest Verisign Domain Name Industry Brief. This represents an increase of 4.9 million registrations, or 2.3 per cent, over the second quarter of 2011. This marks the third straight quarter with greater than two percent growth.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=16584
http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/12/23/global-domain-name-registrations-climb-5-million-to-220-million-verisgn/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/verisign-global-domain-name-registrations-climb-5-million-to-220-million.html

Internet Grows to Nearly 220 Million Domain Names in Third Quarter
Nearly five million domain names were added to the Internet in the third quarter of 2011, bringing the total number of registered domain names to nearly 220 million worldwide across all domains, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief, published by VeriSign, Inc.
http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/news-events/press-room/articles/index.xhtml?artLink=aHR0cHM6Ly9wcmVzcy52ZXJpc2lnbi5jb20vZWFzeWlyL2N1c3RvbXJlbC5kbz9lYXN5aXJpZD1BRkMwRkYwREI1QzU2MEQzJnZlcnNpb249bGl2ZSZwcmlkPTgzMjI2MiZyZWxlYXNlanNwPWN1c3RvbV85Nw%3D%3D

The Myth of the Unintended Infringer in SOPA and PIPA by Paul Vixie
In a recent op-ed piece in TheHill.COM, some friends and I described the futility of mandated DNS blocking as contemplated by the SOPA (H.R. 3261) and PIPA (S. 968) bills now working their way through the U.S. Congress:
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111219_myth_of_the_unintended_infringer_in_sopa_and_pipa/

It's Official: Go Daddy Partnership Is A "Done Deal" - Go Daddy, KKR, Silver Lake & TCV Join Forces to Create Bigger Tech Powerhouse
Go Daddy now officially includes strategic financial partners, KKR, Silver Lake and Technology Crossover Ventures. The three powerful technology players have joined Go Daddy, as part of an investment deal that officially closed today. The partnership creates a vibrant technology company poised to expand farther and faster internationally.
http://www.godaddy.com/newscenter/release-view.aspx?news_item_id=376

IP Address Space Covered by Certificates by Mirjam Kuehne
Since the RIPE NCC launched its Resource Certification service, there is a steady increase in the number of prefixes covered by certificates. The Resource Certification (RPKI) service was launched at the beginning of 2011. The system enables network operators to perform Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) origin validation, which means that they can securely verify if a BGP route announcement has been authorised by the legitimate holder of the address block.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111220_ip_address_space_covered_by_certificates/

No jury trial over incentive plan in Monte Cahn v. Oversee.net
The case of Monte Cahn v. Oversee.net, et al is scheduled to go to trial next month.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/12/22/no-jury-trial-over-incentive-plan-in-monte-cahn-v-oversee-net/

nz: Website disappears into space
A mistake at the company which registers the New Plymouth District Council website domain name is being blamed for a two day shut down of the site.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/6181981/Website-disappears-into-space

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Two-Letter .Com Changes Hands for Six Figures to Top This Week's Domain Sales Chart
Moniker/SnapNames completed a $124,975 sale of QX.com to take the top spot on our latest weekly all extension Top 20 Domain Sales Chart. QX.com becomes one of seven two-letter .com domains that have earned places on our Year to Date Top 100 Sales Chart. Those seven rare ultra-short domain names sold for prices ranging from $80,000 (for TZ.com last February) to a whopping $700,000 for VU.com last month.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2011/20111221.htm

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INTERNET USE
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Webpages showing sharp growth in girth
It is not just humans that are steadily growing in girth, webpages are going the same way too. The average page is now about 965 kilobytes in size, reveals a study of top sites by the HTTP Archive.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16300000

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SOCIAL NETWORKING
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Irish privacy watchdog calls for Facebook changes
The Irish data protection commissioner has recommended widespread changes to improve privacy on Facebook. They include making its terms and conditions clearer and offering users greater control over how their data is used on the site.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16289426

Facebook told to stop indefinitely holding users' advertising data
Facebook has been told to stop its practice of indefinitely retaining data about which adverts its 500 million users outside the US click on, following a review by the Irish data protection commissioner of its non-US operations.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/dec/21/facebook-advertising-data

Selling user data to advertisers is legitimate, watchdog says in Facebook audit report
It is "legitimate" for Facebook Ireland to use information users provide about themselves on the social networking site to enable advertisers to serve targeted ads, the Office of the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has said.
http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/selling-user-data-to-advertisers-is-legitimate-watchdog-says-in-facebook-audit-report/

uk: Social network shutdowns during times of disorder not justified, MPs say
Shutting down social media during times of civil unrest would be "actively unhelpful" and should not happen, a committee of MPs has said.
http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/social-network-shutdowns-during-times-of-disorder-not-justified-mps-say/

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NEW TECHNOLOGIES
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Sony's bio battery turns waste paper into electricity
Sony has unveiled a paper-powered battery prototype in Japan. The technology generates electricity by turning shredded paper into sugar which in turn is used as fuel.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16288107

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
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nz: Online holiday plans are assisting burglars
Holiday makers are being warned that posting your travel plans on Facebook and Twitter can be as dangerous as placing a sign on your front door saying "no-one home".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6176149/Online-holiday-plans-are-assisting-burglars
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/6177536/Don-t-say-on-Facebook-Twitter-you-re-off-on-holiday-Netsafe

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ONLINE TV & MUSIC
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Apple Plots Its TV Assault
Apple Inc. is moving forward with its assault on television, following up on the ambitions of its late co-founder, Steve Jobs.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204791104577106531093742246.html

Report: Apple discusses the future of TV
Apple executives have been speaking to media companies about their vision for the future of television, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/report-apple-discusses-the-future-of-tv/2011/12/19/gIQADRyH4O_story.html

Irish ISP ordered to stop using 'three strikes' system against illegal file-sharers
The Irish data protection watchdog has ordered the country's largest internet service provider (ISP) to stop using its 'three strikes' system for identifying and warning alleged illegal file-sharers, according to media reports.
http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/irish-isp-ordered-to-stop-using-three-strikes-system-against-illegal-file-sharers/

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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Google activating 700K Android devices every day
The phenomenal growth rate of Google's Android continues to increase, according to Android chief Andy Rubin.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57345925-94/google-activating-700k-android-devices-every-day/

Google: Android Activations Top 700,000 a Day
Google: Android Activations Top 700,000 a DayEvery day more than 700,000 people sign up for a new Android device, Google's Android chief, Andy Rubin, said late Tuesday via Twitter and Google+. That works out to nearly 5 million new Android users every week, which is about the equivalent of an iPhone 4S opening weekend every seven days. Rubin also clarified that Google's 700,000 activations per day includes new devices only and not resold ones. "We count each device only once," Rubin said in a follow-up post on Google+. "Activations means you go into a store, buy a device, [and] put it on the network by subscribing to a wireless service."
http://www.pcworld.com/article/246764/google_android_activations_top_700000_a_day.html

Cellphone Jugglers Seek Best Deals: Companies in Markets Like Indonesia Curb 'Freebies' to Hang On to Subscribers Who Churn Them
It's not unusual for Americans to keep their cellphone numbers for 10 years, maybe longer. Indonesia's Marko Adiwibowo has burned through more than 10 this year alone.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204844504577098611152926038.html

uk: Police and BT target cable thieves
The Metropolitan Police has launched a unit to tackle copper cable theft following a spate of robberies that have caused telecommunications and rail outages.
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/security-threats/2011/12/19/police-and-bt-target-cable-thieves-40094686/

BT sues Google over Android
British Telecom is claiming billions of dollars of damages from Google in a lawsuit filed in the US which says that the Android mobile operating system infringes a number of the telecoms company's key patents.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/dec/19/bt-sues-google-over-android

BT sues Google over Android 'patent infringements'
UK-based telecoms group BT is suing Google in the US over claims that six of its patents have been infringed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16243414

ITC judge: Motorola Mobility infringed Microsoft patent
Motorola Mobility has been found to have infringed one of Microsoft's patents in a preliminary ruling by a US trade panel judge.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16284020

U.S. Backs Apple in Patent Ruling That Hits Google
A federal agency ruled on Monday that a set of important features commonly found in smartphones are protected by an Apple patent, a decision that could force changes in how Google?s Android phones function.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/technology/apple-wins-partial-victory-on-patent-claim-over-android-features.html

Apple Ruling Hits Android
Apple Inc. was handed a legal victory that is bad news for rival Google Inc., as a U.S. trade agency ruled that some HTC Corp. smartphones that use the Internet company's Android software infringe an Apple patent.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204791104577109010174484888.html

HTC loses key patent battle: How does it affect you?
The International Trade Commission, a federal agency with the power to enforce bans on products shipping to the U.S., ruled that HTC infringed upon one of Apple's patents. While clearly a win for the company, it could have gone a lot better; Apple originally accused HTC of violating 10 patents.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57345657-94/htc-loses-key-patent-battle-how-does-it-affect-you/

us: How the iPhone Zapped Carriers
Americans are glued to their mobile devices, obsessively calling, texting, emailing and downloading applications. So why is the U.S. wireless industry in such straits, as shown by AT&T Inc.'s crucial but failed plan to buy T-Mobile USA?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204879004577110830967627616.html

Kids free to roam with mobile of their own
Primary school kids who know how to use a mobile phone have more independence to roam the neighbourhood and are more street-wise.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/kids-free-to-roam-with-mobile-of-their-own/story-e6frg6nf-1226226189239

Cambodia has 14 million subscribers of mobile phone services: minister
There are about 14 million subscribers of mobile phone services in Cambodia, or 98 percent of the country's 14.3 million people, So Khun, minister of Posts and Telecommunications, said on Monday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2011-12/19/c_131315223.htm

nz: Mobile price barriers coming down
The difference between the costs of mobile on-net and off-net calls and text messages is continuing to narrow and this has led to increased calling and text messaging between mobile networks, according a report by the Commerce Commission.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/mobile-price-barriers-coming-down

nz: Mobile phone premiums remain high
Mobile phone users are still paying 70 per cent extra on average to call people who are on a different mobile network from their own.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/6170791/Mobile-phone-premiums-remain-high

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SECURITY
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Cyber Attack on U.S. Chamber Pressures Congress to Speed Web Rule Rewrite
A cyber attack on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will intensify pressure on Congress to overhaul Web security regulations written before the existence of Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Google Inc.?s Gmail.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-22/cyber-attack-on-u-s-chamber-presses-congress-to-fix-web-rules.html

China Hackers Hit U.S. Chamber: Attacks Breached Computer System of Business-Lobbying Group; Emails Stolen
A group of hackers in China breached the computer defenses of America's top business-lobbying group and gained access to everything stored on its systems, including information about its three million members, according to several people familiar with the matter.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204058404577110541568535300.html

Chinese hack on U.S. Chamber went undetected for 6 months
Chinese hackers lurked in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce network for six months without being detected, enjoying unrestricted access although it is unknown what information they exploited, according to a published report.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/122111-chinese-hack-254327.html

Industrial Control Systems Security: Recommendations for Europe & Member States [news release]
ENISA, the EU?s ?cyber security? agency, has today issued the results of a study on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security. The report describes the current situation on ICS security and proposes seven recommendations for improving it.
http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/industrial-control-systems-security-recommendations-for-europe-member-states

Firms Bid on NATO Cyberwar: 'Technically Ambitious' Upgrade in Security Likely to Lead to More-Lucrative Work [sub req'd]
NATO, fresh from its battlefield success in Libya, is focusing on the next front: cyberwar. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Monday will collect bids from some of the world's top defense companies, including Lockheed Martin Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp., to update and expand the alliance's cybersecurity abilities.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203733304577102171947782202.html

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CENSORSHIP
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U.S. Considers Combating Somali Militants? Twitter Use
The United States government is increasingly concerned about the Twitter account of the Shabab militant group of Somalia, with American officials saying Monday that they were ?looking closely? at the militants? use of Twitter and the possible measures to take in response.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/world/africa/us-considers-combating-shabab-militants-twitter-use.html

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
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Don't Break the Internet by Mark Lemley, David S. Levine, & David G. Post
Two bills now pending in Congress?the PROTECT IP Act of 2011 (Protect IP) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House?represent the latest legislative attempts to address a serious global problem: large-scale online copyright and trademark infringement. Although the bills differ in certain respects, they share an underlying approach and an enforcement philosophy that pose grave constitutional problems and that could have potentially disastrous consequences for the stability and security of the Internet?s addressing system, for the principle of interconnectivity that has helped drive the Internet?s extraordinary growth, and for free expression.
http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/dont-break-internet

GoDaddy Faces boycott over SOPA support
Major Internet companies have formed a united front in their opposition to the Protect IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act. Well, almost. One exception has been the domain registrar GoDaddy. In a op-ed published in Politico shortly after SOPA was introduced in the House, GoDaddy applauded the bill and called opponents "myopic."
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/12/godaddy-faces-december-29-boycott-over-sopa-support.ars

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MISCELLANEOUS
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Yahoo Discussing Plan to Cut Alibaba Stake to 15%
Three months after firing its chief executive and opening its doors to suitors, Yahoo Inc. is revisiting a proposed deal that would shed most of its Asian assets while narrowing the Internet firm's focus and rewarding stockholders.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204464404577112831114731306.html

Google Will Pay Mozilla Almost $300M Per Year in Search Deal, Besting Microsoft and Yahoo
Earlier this week, Google and Mozilla said they had struck a deal to renew their search royalty agreement for another three years.
http://allthingsd.com/20111222/google-will-pay-mozilla-almost-300m-per-year-in-search-deal-besting-microsoft-and-yahoo/

Google to pay Mozilla $300M yearly in new search deal, says report
Google promised to pay Mozilla almost $300 million annually to keep its search engine as the default in Firefox, according to a report today on AllThingsD, a blog operated by the publisher of the Wall Street Journal.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222980/Google_to_pay_Mozilla_300M_yearly_in_new_search_deal_says_report
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/122211-google-to-pay-mozilla-300m-254375.html

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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uk: Government announces list for 'super-connected' cities
The UK government has announced the 14 cities eligible to bid for money to make themselves "super-connected".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16269267

EU mobile roaming proposals face flack from all sides [IDG]
Both new and existing telecoms operators have expressed caution about the European Union's plans to extend price caps on European roaming charges.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222965/EU_mobile_roaming_proposals_face_flack_from_all_sides
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/122211-eu-mobile-roaming-proposals-face-254356.html

French govt raises ?2.6bln in 4G auction
France sold off a second batch of higher-quality fourth-generation mobile frequencies for ?2.64 billion in an auction that will shape the competitive landscape of the market for years to come.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/12/22/france-telecom-idINDEE7BL0ER20111222

us: New Commerce Department Report Shows Broadband Adoption Rises but Digital Divide Persists [news release]
The Department of Commerce's Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today released a report, ?Exploring the Digital Nation,? that analyzes broadband Internet adoption in the United States. Overall, approximately seven out of ten households in the United States subscribe to broadband service. The report finds a strong correlation between broadband adoption and socio-economic factors, such as income and education, but says these differences do not explain the entire broadband adoption gap that exists along racial, ethnic, and geographic lines. Even after accounting for socio-economic differences, certain minority and rural households still lag in broadband adoption.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2011/new-commerce-department-report-shows-broadband-adoption-rises-digital-divide-pers

Get The Answers: Ultra-fast broadband will help with competitive edge
Easy access to fibre will smash the barriers of distance, writes Scott Bartlett. Ultra-fast broadband is going to be revolutionary for all NZ businesses as it makes fibre, which is a robust and stable platform, more affordable.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10773955

Goverment Report out of touch with NZ's broadband reality
New Zealand's Commerce Commission has published a report benchmarking the country's telecommunications services against those overseas, but its findings on the price of broadband Internet services are at odds with reality.
http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/home-it/51885-goverment-report-out-of-touch-with-nzs-broadband-reality

nz: No room for strangers on radio spectrum
The "digital dividend" radio spectrum freed up by the closure of analogue television broadcasts is even more likely to be carved up among Vodafone, Telecom and 2degrees after the Commerce Commission told the Economic Development Ministry there is little chance of a fourth mobile telephone network operator breaking into the market.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6164187/No-room-for-strangers-on-radio-spectrum

nz: Half of SMEs think rewiring premises is barrier to faster internet
Consumers and SMEs are reluctant to upgrade to faster internet connections due to percieved costs of rewiring homes and premises, says a Commerce Commission paper released today.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/half-of-smes-think-rewiring-premises-is-barrier-to-broadband

AT&T Ends $39 Billion Bid for T-Mobile
AT&T on Monday ended its effort to buy T-Mobile USA, acknowledging that it could not overcome stiff opposition by the Obama administration to form the nation?s biggest cellphone service provider.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/att-withdraws-39-bid-for-t-mobile/

Few Options for Lagging T-Mobile
T-Mobile USA, the weaker partner in the now-collapsed proposed merger with AT&T, has few good options to thrive in the competitive wireless market in the United States.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/technology/few-options-for-a-lagging-t-mobile.html

As Deutsche Telekom Ponders Options, a New Deal Is Expected
Deutsche Telekom could move quickly to seal a new alliance with another American telecommunications operator for its T-Mobile USA subsidiary following the collapse of its planned sale to AT&T, analysts said on Tuesday.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/as-deutsche-telekom-ponders-options-a-new-deal-is-expected/

Microsoft, Nokia Flirted With RIM
Microsoft Corp. and Nokia Corp. in recent months flirted with the idea of making a joint bid for Research In Motion Ltd., according to people familiar with the matter.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204879004577111030686209566.html

The right way to gain spectrum?
Finally getting the hint from the feds, AT&T announced Monday that it was dropping its $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile. That leaves AT&T stuck with the status quo, which in some major cities means a frustrating amount of congestion and dropped calls. Meanwhile, rival Verizon Wireless has been gobbling up the wireless frequencies leased but not developed by the major U.S. cable TV operators. Those airwaves should provide the company plenty of room to expand capacity as smartphone users multiply and traffic booms.
http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/12/technology-the-right-way-to-gain-spectrum.html

Dutch telecom KPN under regulator's watch
The Dutch telecoms regulator has put KPN, the country's telecoms market leader, under close supervision with immediate effect, saying it may have broken the law to the detriment of consumers and competitors.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/21/kpn-idUSL6E7NL0XN20111221

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ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION
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nz: Child-porn viewer made 'cry for help'
A judge has ensured a man will have a chance to get treatment after his "cry for help" when he viewed child pornography.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6170744/Child-porn-viewer-made-cry-for-help

NZ's worst child porn offender nabbed
New Zealand's worst child pornographer has been caught reoffending while on parole in a sting by American police.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/6179802/NZs-worst-child-pornographer-reoffends-while-on-parole

Child porn trader reoffends on parole [AAP]
American authorities, posing online as paedophiles, have again caught out New Zealand's worst child pornographer - trading pictures of children and babies being raped.
http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8394093/child-porn-trader-reoffends-on-parole

nz: Child pornographer convicted again
A recidivist child pornographer has been convicted again. Stephen Laing was arrested by the Customs Service and faced 24 charges of exporting child sexual abuse imagery in Waitakere District Court on Thursday.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/94546/child-pornographer-convicted-again


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(c) David Goldstein 2011


---------
David Goldstein

email: goldstein_david at 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 Flannery