***************************************************

The domain name news is supported by auDA

***************************************************


The Value of Assessing Collateral Damage Before Requesting a Domain Seizure by Dave Piscitello
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/01/the-value-of-assessing-collateral-damage-before-requesting-a-domain-seizure/>

It?s official: people hate the domain name industry
<http://domainincite.com/11717-its-official-people-hate-the-domain-name-industry>

The New Dot Context: How to Mitigate Trademark Concerns in ICANN's New gTLD Program by Ben Boroughf, Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago-Kent College of Law
<http://ssrn.com/abstract=2206764>

Chehade: ?Honestly, if it was up to me, I would delay the whole release of new gTLDs by at least a year?? ?... but I?m not going to.?
<http://domainincite.com/11710-chehade-honestly-if-it-was-up-to-me-i-would-delay-the-whole-release-of-new-gtlds-by-at-least-a-year>

Industry man Chehade admits strawman ?mistake?
<http://domainincite.com/11732-industry-man-chehade-admits-strawman-mistake>

ICANN Should Clarify Position On Key Word New TLDs by Michele Neylon
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130125_icann_should_clarify_position_on_key_word_new_tlds/>

Opportunity Missed: Hilton Checks-Out of New Domains Boom by Adrian Kinderis
<http://www.ariservices.com/blog/opportunity-missed-hilton-checks-out-of-new-domains-boom/>

Google suggests a domain industry trade association by St?phane Van Gelder, Registry Relations and Strategy Director for NetNames
<http://www.netnames.com/blog/2013/01/google-suggest-domain-industry-trade-association/>

Trademark Clearinghouse Publishes Fees Structure For Protecting Brands in New gTLDs
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/01/25/trademark-clearinghouse-publishes-fees/>


**********************
GOVERNANCE
**********************
Web inventor says governments stifling net freedom [AFP]
The inventor of the World Wide Web warned on Friday that government control is limiting the possibilities of the Internet, as dozens of countries and businesses signed a cybersecurity deal at the Davos forum.
<http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/technology/story/web-inventor-says-governments-stifling-net-freedom-20130126>

Web founder Berners-Lee: Share info, improve the world
He stopped well short of saying information wants to be free, but Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the World Wide Web, said today the world would be better with some judicious liberation.
<http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57565792-93/web-founder-berners-lee-share-info-improve-the-world/>

**********************
DOMAIN NAMES
**********************
**********************
 - ICANN
**********************
The Value of Assessing Collateral Damage Before Requesting a Domain Seizure by Dave Piscitello
In our Thought Paper on Domain Seizures and Takedowns, we offer guidance to anyone who prepares an order that seeks to seize or take down domain names. By offering this guidance, we do not endorse such actions as a prescriptive measure, nor do we consider seizures or takedowns the appropriate remedy for every misuse or abuse.
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/01/the-value-of-assessing-collateral-damage-before-requesting-a-domain-seizure/>

Update from Amsterdam Registry Registrar Regional Meeting by Karla Valente
We are delighted to see so much interest reflected, with over 240 registrants for the regional Registry Registrar meeting taking place in Amsterdam January 24th and 25th 2013. This is by far the most attended regional meeting since ICANN started the hosting regional meetings in 2005.
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/01/update-from-amsterdam-registry-registrar-regional-meeting/>

Steve Crocker to Heather Dryden
High Level Meeting in Toronto
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/crocker-to-dryden-24jan13-en>

Fadi Chehad? on the DNS Industry CEO Roundtable Event | 18 Jan 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V82WW3Is5dI

It?s official: people hate the domain name industry
I?ve said it many times before: the domain name industry has problems with its reputation. But now the official figures are in that ? apparently ? prove it. According to ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade, the industry is perceived four times worse the IT industry average.
<http://domainincite.com/11717-its-official-people-hate-the-domain-name-industry>

Cheapies.com Gets Another Breach Notice From ICANN
It looks like there?s a pattern emerging. Remember the 10 registrars that got breach notices last week? While some have ?cured? the breach another one of the 10 has been sent a new breach in the last 24 hours. Cheapies.com was sent a new breach notice yesterday.
<http://www.internetnews.me/2013/01/19/cheapies-com-gets-another-breach-notice-from-icann/>

ICANN Publishes ?Thought Paper? On Domain Seizures Without Discussing Protecting Rights
ICANN just issued a ?thought paper?? entitled ?Guidance for Preparing Domain Name Orders, Seizures & Takedowns.? According to ICANN this ?thought paper? offers guidance for anyone who prepares an order that seeks to seize or take down domain names. ?
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/01/24/icann-publishes-thought-paper-on-domain-seizures-without-discussing-protecting-rights/>

**********************
 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
**********************
Azerbaijan to launch a system of online-registration and payment domains in zone *.az in next few months
In the coming months Azerbaijan is to put into operation a system of online-registration and payment of domains in zone *.az.
<http://abc.az/eng/news_25_01_2013_71188.html>

This year Azerbaijan expected a growth rate rise on domain names
To date Azerbaijan has registered 16,622 domain names.
<http://abc.az/eng/news_24_01_2013_71173.html>

ca: Internet Speed Canada: CRTC Should Monitor Claims, Says Group [Canadian Press]
A new report says consumers need better disclosure from Internet providers about speed and performance claims.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/23/internet-speed-canada-claims-isp-rogers_n_2536834.html>

Canadians Need More Data on Internet Speed and Performance Claims
Canadians may use the Internet more than anyone else, but our awareness of actual Internet performance and operational infrastructure is lagging.
<http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/canadians-need-more-data-on-internet-speed-and-performance-claims/1002012612/>

Verisign Reports Revenue Up 13%, .COM & .NET Registrations Up 6.4% In 12 Months
Verisign, who among other things provides registry services for .com and .net domain names, has reported fourth quarter 2012 financial results with reported revenue of $230 million, up 13 percent from the same quarter in 2011.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/01/25/verisign-revenue-com-net-registrations-up/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/verisign-reports-revenue-up-13-com-a-net-registrations-up-64-in-12-months.html>

Verisign Reports 13 Percent Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth in 2012
VeriSign, Inc. ... announced financial results for the fourth quarter of 2012 and year ended Dec. 31, 2012.
<http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/news-events/press-room/articles/index.xhtml?artLink=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLm13bmV3c3Jvb20uY29tL2FydGljbGUvcnNzP2lkPTE2ODAxNDA%3D>

ME Scholarship Rewards Students with a Passion for Technology
The .ME Registry, operator of the .ME domain extension, and Go Daddy, the world?s leading Web hosting and domain name provider, announce the third annual .ME scholarship contest. Ten technology-focused students will win a $10,000 scholarship to offset their college tuition.
<http://www.domain.me/me-scholarship-rewards-students-with-a-passion-for-technology>

.nz Newsletter - January 2013
The January 2013 newsletter is available. It includes .nz domain name statistics as at December 31 2012
<http://dnc.org.nz/story/nz-newsletter-january-2013>

Sun Rises on .PW domains names for the Professional Web
Get your Pre-order in now! - The domain name you've always wanted is now available with .PW domain names! The Professional Web has a new name, .PW! Through February 8th trademark holders can take advantage of the Sunrise period to secure their domain name.
<http://www.name.com/blog/general/domains/2013/01/sun-rises-on-pw-domains-names-for-the-professional-web/>

Dot Award 2013 Contest ? Win fame and fortune with the .re TLD!
Are you a secondary school, high school or university student with a website under the .re TLD? Enter the contest and win a prize of up to ? 750!
<http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/6635/show/dot-award-2013-contest-win-fame-and-fortune-with-the-re-tld.html>

**********************
 - NEW TLDS
**********************
The New Dot Context: How to Mitigate Trademark Concerns in ICANN's New gTLD Program by Ben Boroughf, Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago-Kent College of Law
Abstract: Expanding the Domain Name System without fully addressing the impact on trademark holders is a risk that ICANN has seemed to embrace. With ICANN?s new gTLD program, consumers and companies will soon begin encountering new TLDs that reflect a company?s brand or trademark.
<http://ssrn.com/abstract=2206764>

Chehade: ?Honestly, if it was up to me, I would delay the whole release of new gTLDs by at least a year?? ?... but I?m not going to.?
CEO Fadi Chehade this afternoon delivered a blisteringly frank assessment of ICANN?s new gTLD program, admitting that if it were up to him he would delay the whole thing by a year.
<http://domainincite.com/11710-chehade-honestly-if-it-was-up-to-me-i-would-delay-the-whole-release-of-new-gtlds-by-at-least-a-year>

Industry man Chehade admits strawman ?mistake?
ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade today admitted that he badly handled recent discussions about improving trademark protections in the new gTLD program, saying he made a ?mistake?.
<http://domainincite.com/11732-industry-man-chehade-admits-strawman-mistake>

ICANN Should Clarify Position On Key Word New TLDs by Michele Neylon
Back in September a number of domain name industry leaders wrote to ICANN to express deep-felt concerns about some companies' declared plans for generic domain name extensions. We have sent ICANN another letter this week which is also planned to be distributed in a press release included here in this post.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130125_icann_should_clarify_position_on_key_word_new_tlds/>

Opportunity Missed: Hilton Checks-Out of New Domains Boom by Adrian Kinderis
American author Mark Twain once wrote: "I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one." Last month we learned that Hilton Hotels & Resorts joined six other new TLD applicants in withdrawing their application and exiting the program. I was disappointed when I first heard the news. My initial thoughts were centred on the enormous potential .hilton offered the company and the innovative business opportunities they were now abandoning.
<http://www.ariservices.com/blog/opportunity-missed-hilton-checks-out-of-new-domains-boom/>
<http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=19690>
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/01/27/opportunity-missed/
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/opportunity-missed-hilton-checks-out-of-new-domains-boom-by-adrian-kinderis.html

Google suggests a domain industry trade association by St?phane Van Gelder, Registry Relations and Strategy Director for NetNames
Outside of its thrice-yearly international meetings designed to bring all interested parties together, ICANN also holds smaller regional meetings targeted at the entities it has direct contracts with, the registrars and the registries.
<http://www.netnames.com/blog/2013/01/google-suggest-domain-industry-trade-association/>

Check out our Trademark Clearinghouse Cost Calculator
The forthcoming Trademark Clearinghouse ? which will underpin Sunrise periods in new gTLDs as well as the new Trademark Claims service ? released its price list yesterday.
<http://domainincite.com/11705-check-out-our-trademark-clearinghouse-cost-calculator>

Trademark Clearinghouse Publishes Fees Structure For Protecting Brands in New gTLDs
The Trademark Clearinghouse, the central repository for validated trademarks for protecting brands in ICANN?s new gTLD programme, has published its pricing document. The document outlines the fee structure and relevant fees the Trademark Clearinghouse may charge Trademark Holders and Trademark Agents for providing the Trademark Clearinghouse validation function.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/01/25/trademark-clearinghouse-publishes-fees/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/trademark-clearinghouse-publishes-fees-structure-for-protecting-brands-in-new-gtlds.html>

Google backing new gTLD trade association
New gTLD applicants and others have been meeting in Amsterdam this morning to discuss setting up a new trade association to promote new gTLDs and domain names in general.
<http://domainincite.com/11696-google-backing-new-gtld-trade-assocation>

The Trademark Clearinghouse ? A burglar alarm for the next internet generation by Stuart Fuller, Director of Communication for NetNames
... The impending commencement of the process of delegating up to 1,200 new TLDs will change the way both brands and consumers use the internet forever. This is the World Wide Web on steroids. Today, our use of domain names is largely restricted to half a dozen general TLDs (gTLDs) such as .com, .net, .org and .info. Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs) such as .co.uk, .de and .cn give us some regional flavour, but over 80% of all domain names in existence today sit under ten TLDs.
<http://www.netnames.com/blog/2013/01/the-trademark-clearinghouse-a-burglar-alarm-for-the-next-internet-generation/>

A Look at Some of the Most Controversial nTLDs
If you?ve been following the nTLD application process, there?s no doubt that you?ve heard of the controversies surrounding some of the applications. Since mad dramz are the order of the day, here?s a look at five of the most talked about nTLD controversies of 2012, and what the future looks like for the applicants and nTLDs involved.
<http://www.name.com/blog/ntlds/2013/01/a-look-at-some-of-the-most-controversial-ntlds/>

Putting a Price on Peace of Mind
Though they have not yet announced when the new gTLD Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) will officially open for registrations, providers Deloitte and IBM have published the pricing scheme for those who wish to register their trademarks in the database.
<http://www.gtldstrategy.com/brand-protection-strategies/putting-a-price-on-peace-of-mind>

Blacknight Asks ICANN Whether They Will Allow Non-TM Generic TLDs To Be Closed
Blacknight an ICANN accredited registrar, sent a second letter to ICANN urging the organization to formally clarify its position on Generic Key Word TLDs.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/01/25/blacknight-asks-icann-whether-they-will-allow-non-tm-generic-tlds-to-be-closed/>

New TLD applicant that misspelled string finally fixes it
ICANN has posted 369 updated new TLD applications, but most of the updates so far have been changes to directors, addresses, etc.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/01/25/new-tld-applicant-that-misspelled-string-finally-fixes-it/>

MT Expert: The dawn of a new domain by Roland LaPlante
Are you ready for the new wave of TLDs? Stalwarts like .com, .org, and .info will be joined by .movie and .cocacola. Heres what you need to know - and do - about the changes.
<http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/features/1167739/mt-expert-dawn-new-domain/>

As New gTLDs Launch, is Your Brand Protected?
One of the most talked about developments in nTLDland (yes, nTLDland is an actual, mystical place where everything has a dot right in front of it), is how to best protect your brand as the nTLDs (new gTLDs) launch. With almost 2,000 nTLD applications making their way through the final stages of the process, you may have to rethink the practices you use to keep your brand secure on the Web. The million dollar question seems to be (pun intended): How can you keep your brand safe without bleeding money in the process?
<http://www.name.com/blog/ntlds/2013/01/as-new-gtlds-launch-is-your-brand-protected/>

Donuts Reply to Samoa Early Warning
<http://www.donuts.co/news/files/donuts_reply_to_samoa_early_warning.pdf>

Donuts' Reply to Greece Early Warning
<http://www.donuts.co/news/files/donuts_reply_to_greece_early_warning.pdf>

**********************
 - DNS SECURITY
**********************
Know the 4 denial of service types that can threaten the Domain Name System
With the number of denial of service (DOS) attacks growing overall, a variety of techniques are being used to take advantage of the Domain Name System?s openness to direct attacks against DNS servers and even against targets that do not maintain a DNS server.
<http://gcn.com/articles/2013/01/25/4-denial-of-service-types-threaten-dns.aspx>

U.S. homeland chief: cyber 9/11 could happen "imminently"
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned on Thursday that a major cyber attack is a looming threat and could have the same sort of impact as last year's Superstorm Sandy, which knocked out electricity in a large swathe of the Northeast.
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/us-usa-cyber-threat-idUKBRE90N1A320130124>

Senate Introduces Cybersecurity Bill that Prioritizes Information Sharing
The United States Senate says it will prioritize the passage of a comprehensive cybersecurity bill designed to fortify the nation?s public and private IT systems in this session of Congress.
<http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/senate-introduces-cybersecurity-bill-prioritizes-info-sharing-012413>

Rising cyberthreats set backdrop for latest cybersecurity bill [CSO]
As the Senate prepares to take another stab at passing a comprehensive cybersecurity bill, a new report shows the number of cyberattacks growing dramatically from China.
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/012613-rising-cyberthreats-set-backdrop-for-266168.html>

Top politician slams EU cybersecurity plans [IDG]
The European Commission's promised cybersecurity strategy is "incoherent and lacking in focus," a member of the European Parliament who has read a draft of the proposal charged Thursday.
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/451682/top_politician_slams_eu_cybersecurity_plans/>

Virus Hunters Try to Catch Diplomatic Time Bomb
For five years now, the Red October computer virus has embarked on a new brand of espionage, stealing emails and other encrypted classified documents undetected from diplomats around the world. Though the virus may now be in hibernation, it's designed so that it can strike again at anytime.
<http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/how-russian-virus-hunters-tracked-down-a-global-espionage-network-a-879467.html>

Australian Cyber Security Centre deemed new government hub
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that the new Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) will be established in Canberra and draw on the skills of the nation?s best cyber security experts.
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/451635/australian_cyber_security_centre_deemed_new_government_hub/>

Cyber security increasingly important as life moves online [video]
Sean Kopelke from computer security company Symantec discusses the growing threat of malicious cyber activity as more and more business and personal activity happens online.
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-27/cyber-security-increasingly-important-as-life/4486116>

Europeans charged in US over destructive computer virus
US prosecutors say they have charged three men with creating and distributing a virus that infected more a million computers around the world.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21174685>

uk: Anonymous hacker group: Two jailed for cyber attacks
Two men who carried out cyber attacks for the Anonymous hacking group have been jailed.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21187632>

uk: Anonymous hackers jailed for cyber attacks
A student and a church volunteer have been jailed for carrying out cyber attacks with the hacking group Anonymous, including one online assault that cost the payments giant PayPal at least ?3.5m.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jan/24/anonymous-hackers-jailed-cyber-attacks>

UK Signs Up To Cyber Resilience Initiative In Davos
The UK government has signed up to a global cyber security initiative at the Davos meet up, which will see it commit to a set of principles designed to shore up networks against attacks.
<http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/uk-cyber-resilience-davos-government-william-hague-105467>

ICS-CERT warns of SCADA password cracker
A freely available tool can be used to determine plain text passwords for Siemens industrial control systems
<http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/ICS-CERT-warns-of-SCADA-password-cracker-1790903.html>

Anonymous hits US government site, threatens release of secrets
Hackers working under the name of the Anonymous hacktivist collective hit a U.S. government website on Saturday, replacing its home page with a 1,340 word text detailing its frustrations with the way the American legal system works and a threat to release "secrets" gathered from U.S. government websites.
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236250/Anonymous_hits_US_government_site_threatens_release_of_secrets>

Netcraft removes phishing attacks in less than half the industry average time
Netcraft?s phishing site countermeasures service helps organisations targeted by phishing attacks remove the fraudsters? forms as quickly as possible.
<http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2013/01/24/netcraft-removes-phishing-attacks-in-less-than-half-the-industry-average-time.html>

Prolexic Mitigates DDoS Attacks on Henyep Financial Trading Sites
In a case study released Thursday, distributed denial of service protection services provider Prolexic outlined how it mitigated multiple SYN, GET and ICMP floods directed against different trading websites operated by online trading and financial company Henyep Capital Markets.
<http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/prolexic-mitigates-ddos-attacks-on-henyep-financial-trading-sites>

OWASP Qatar: Advancing the Cyber Security Agenda
OWASP Qatar has been leading a number of cyber security activities in Qatar to raise awareness and build interest on why it?s important to safeguard web and mobile applications and how it?s essential for everyone to adopt security practices. We spoke to Q-CERT about OWASP and its current and future plans.
<http://www.ictqatar.qa/en/news-events/news/owasp-qatar-advancing-cyber-security-agenda>

**********************
 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
**********************
Ally Sues Cybersquatting Enemy
Ah, if only I had a dollar for every time a cybersquatter suggested a business partnership with the brand owner in response to one of my demand letters. Ally Financial, the Detroit-based bank holding company, decided it was fed up with such games and has filed a suit under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) against an Arizona man who attempted to profit off of domain names featuring the Ally name.
<http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2013/01/25/ally-sues-cybersquatting-enemy>

**********************
 - MISCELLANEOUS
**********************
Class Action Lawsuit Targets Revenge Porn Site Texxxan.com, Web Host Go Daddy
A class action lawsuit for women who have been victims of a revenge porn site is targeting the website, Texxxan.com, and its web host Go Daddy , for invasion of privacy, among other charges. Sixteen women signed the lawsuit, filed Friday in Orange County, claiming mental anguish after their private photos were uploaded by exes without their permission
<http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/class-action-lawsuit-targets-revenge-porn-site-texxxan-com-web-host-go-daddy>

Go Daddy revamps Executive Accounts, splits into 2 tiers
GoDaddy.comGo Daddy?s Executive Accounts program is getting a makeover.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/01/24/go-daddy-revamps-executive-accounts-splits-into-2-tiers/>

Back To The Future: Namesco Rebrands Back To Its URL Names.co.uk
Namesco, ?one of the UK?s top domain name, web hosting and website builder providers? has going back to its registered .co.uk roots and rebranded the company using its URL, highlighting to customers the importance of choosing the right domain name from day one.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/01/24/back-to-the-future-namesco-rebrands-back-to-its-url-names-co-uk/>

Meet the money behind Dotcom
Who is the mysterious millionaire, who left school at age 15, who is now listed as the new CEO of Kim Dotcom's latest venture? Geraldine Johns gets a glimpse into the world of the elusive Tony Lentino.
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10861607>

Heads up, competing registries: Verisign might start asserting its patents
Competing domain registries, watch out. Much of yesterday?s Verisign investor conference call was focus on patents and Verisign figuring out how to profit from them.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/01/25/heads-up-competing-registries-verisign-might-start-asserting-its-patents/>

Go Daddy finally offers a CDN, but it?s limited right now
People who host their web sites with Go Daddy will finally get access to an integrated content delivery network (CDN) to speed up their sites.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/01/25/go-daddy-finally-offers-a-cdn-but-its-limited-right-now/>

APNIC: Happy 10th anniversary to SANOG
APNIC proudly supports the South Asian Network Operators' Group (SANOG), and will take part in the 10-year anniversary celebrations at SANOG 21.
<http://www.apnic.net/publications/news/2013/sanog21>

APNIC: Draft documents for review
APNIC requests editorial comments on two draft documents: APNIC-120: Member Fee Schedule & APNIC-122: Non-Member Fees
<http://www.apnic.net/publications/news/2013/fees-draft>

RIPE 66 Registrations Open
The 66th RIPE public meeting is taking place this May in Dublin. Registrations are now open with prices ranging from 125 Euro for a day to 350 Euro for the full meeting. The meeting venue is Dublin?s Burlington hotel which is quite central. Full details on the official meeting site.
<http://www.internetnews.me/2013/01/24/ripe-66-registrations-open/>

ARIN: NRPM 2013.1 ? New Policies Implemented
On 18 December 2012 the ARIN Board of Trustees adopted the following policies:
<https://www.arin.net/announcements/2013/20130116.html>

ARIN Consultation: Changing the Voter Eligibility for ARIN Member Organizations
ARIN is seeking feedback from its membership about changing voting eligibility so that any ARIN web account linked to an Admin and/or Tech POC of a Member organization may cast the ballot for the organization's one vote in ARIN elections.
<https://www.arin.net/announcements/2013/20130115_consultation.html>

Register Now for ARIN Public Policy Consultation &#167; NANOG 57
Registration is now open for ARIN's first Public Policy Consultation (PPC), which will be held during NANOG 57 in Orlando, FL on 5 February 2013 at the Renaissance Orlando at Seaworld.
<https://www.arin.net/announcements/2013/20130115_ppc.html>

Decisions: Good Grief!
As an experienced domain name lawyer will tell you, if some sort of contract exists between the parties to a domain name dispute, there?s a strong chance it?s not going to make for a successful UDRP case. The challenge in a UDRP complaint that pitted two Canadian grief recovery services against one another has only lead to pain and hardship for the parties.
<http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2013/01/22/decisions-good-grief>

**********************
 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
**********************
Tourism group pays ?3m for Ireland.com - made in England
TOURISM Ireland has spent ?3m on a new website that's been made in England -- including ?500,000 for the domain name Ireland.com.
<http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tourism-group-pays-3m-for-irelandcom-made-in-england-3363579.html>

In Case You Missed It
There were a couple of great comments in defense of domain investing the other day, on TheDomains.com, in response to .Gay TLD applicant Alexander Schubert?s call for ?dead domainers?. Here is the original article, for reference, in case you missed it. The focus of that article is not a subject I wish to dwell on here, but one particular comment stood out and I thought was worthy of wider reach. That comment came from Joseph Peterson. ... Joseph has indicated he may be starting his own blog at some time in the future, and I certainly hope he will write on domaining. There are some really good points in his comment below, and without further ado, here it is, re-published in its entirety:
<http://www.domainanimal.com/in-case-you-missed-it/>

Software Company's $375,000 Domain Purchase Tops This Week's Sales Chart
Week 2 of the 2013 domain sales season produced a very substantial six-figure sale. We learned that Booker Software Inc. paid $375,000 to acquire Booker.com in a private transaction, giving the new year its first six-figure sale.
<http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2013/20130123.htm>

Kim Kardashian, Entrepreneur, Online Business Owner, Social Media Icon, and Celebrity To Be Keynote Speaker at Webfest Global Conference
DomainSponsor ... announced today that Kim Kardashian will be the keynote speaker at its Webfest GlobalTM conference to be held February 5-7, 2013 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California. The presentation will be in the form of a fireside chat, with Oversee.net CEO Debra Domeyer asking a series of questions related to Ms. Kardashian?s current and future entrepreneurial endeavors.
<http://oversee.net/news/500>

Should domain marketplaces increase minimum bid requirements?
It seems that Go Daddy?s inclusion of non-priced domains from Sedo set off the latest round of discussions about minimum offer prices, but it?s a discussion that?s been going on for years.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/01/24/should-domain-marketplaces-increase-minimum-bid-requirements/>

Domains sell Faster with Charm Prices Sedo's Number Crunching shows great insights
Pricing domain names is as much an art as it is science. Though opinions differ on the merits of automatic appraisal services (at Sedo, we believe in the benefits of fast, automatic price suggestions), statistics show that one very simple strategy speeds up sales.
<https://sedo.com/us/news/3235/Domains-sell-Faster-with-Charm-Prices/>

Beyond Kim Kardashian Webfest Global Show Agenda is Tabloid Fodder Free
Yesterday's announcement that reality TV star/celebrity entrepreneur Kim Kardashian would be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Webfest Global conference certainly set tongues wagging on social media sites and in the commentary sections of industry blogs. The vast majority of opinions I saw posted were, shall we say, less than enthused with the selection. Most questioned what value Kardashian would bring to the Internet business table.
<http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2013/dailyposts/20130124.htm>

**********************
REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS
**********************
Is the U.S. Government's Internet Policy Broken?: A Review of Captive Audience by Susan Crawford: Review by Robert W. Hahn & Hal J. Singer [Georgetown McDonough School of Business Research Paper]
Abstract: Professor Susan Crawford has just published an exciting new book on the future of high-speed Internet access in America. To hear Crawford tell it in 270 pages (excluding the copious footnotes), Americans should be worried because most of them will not have access to the fastest lane on the information superhighway. Indeed, only the rich will likely purchase high-speed Internet access because it will be too expensive for the rest of us.
<http://ssrn.com/abstract=2207029>

**********************
INTERNET USE
**********************
Having an Internet connection is crucial to everyday life, German federal court says [IDG]
Internet access is as crucial to everyday life as having a phone connection and the loss of connectivity is deserving of financial compensation, the German Federal Court of Justice has ruled.
<http://www.cio.com/article/727459/Having_an_Internet_connection_is_crucial_to_everyday_life_German_federal_court_says>
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/451676/having_an_internet_connection_crucial_everyday_life_german_federal_court_says/>

German court rules internet "essential"
A German court ruled on Thursday that people have the right to claim compensation from service providers if their Internet access is disrupted, because the Internet is an "essential" part of life.
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/germany-internet-idINDEE90N0H820130124>

uk: Addiction soars as online gambling hits ?2bn mark
As the online business business approaches the ?2bn mark and bookies seek to lure in new punters, the number of Britons at risk of becoming addicted is growing rapidly.
<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/addiction-soars-as-online-gambling-hits-2bn-mark-8468376.html>

The Financial Times looks to a glowing online future
Digital First, for newspapers, means prioritising what you put on the web and letting print trail in behind. If you believe in fast-track transition from page to screen, this is probably your road to the future. And now the Financial Times has made digital its first response. Editor Lionel Barber has been to Silicon Valley and seen what must be done: "Our competitors are harnessing technology to revolutionise the news business through aggregation, personalisation and social media. Mobile alone now accounts for 25% of all the FT's traffic. It would be reckless to stand still."
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2013/jan/27/preston-financial-times-online-publishing>

Hong Kong has fastest peak internet speed in world
Want the high definition version of the movie Battleship? It could be yours in about four minutes, at the peak broadband internet speed enjoyed in Hong Kong - the fastest in the world.
<http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1135480/hong-kong-has-fastest-peak-internet-speed-world>

Australian internet speeds fall to 40th place globally
Australian internet speeds have fallen again compared to the rest of the world, says a new survey.
<http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/australian-internet-speeds-fall-to-40th-place-globally-20130125-2dazu.html>

**********************
SOCIAL MEDIA
**********************
In a French Case, a Battle to Unmask Twitter Users
A French court on Thursday told Twitter to identify people who had posted anti-Semitic and racist entries on the social network. Twitter is not sure it will comply. And the case is yet another dust-up in the struggle over speech on the Internet, and which countries? laws prevail.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/technology/twitter-ordered-to-help-reveal-sources-of-anti-semitic-posts.html>

Twitter ordered to identify anti-Semitic tweeters in France
A French court on Thursday ordered Twitter Inc to help identify the authors of anti-Semitic posts or face fines of 1,000 euros per day, as the social network firm comes under renewed pressure to combat racist and extremist messages.
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/france-twitter-idINDEE90N0HE20130124>

French court orders Twitter to identify racist and anti-Semitic tweet authors [AFP]
A French court has ruled that Twitter, which has steadfastly refused calls to police its millions of users, must hand over data to help identify the authors of racist or anti-Semitic tweets.
<http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/french-court-orders-twitter-to-identify-racist-and-anti-semitic-tweet-authors/story-e6frgakx-1226561498884>

Twitter must identify racist, anti-Semitic posters, French court says
For months now, the French-language twittersphere has lit up with a rash of racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic tweets using the hashtags #UnBonJuif (a good Jew), #SiMonFilsEstGay (if my son is gay), and #SiMaFilleRam?neUnNoir (if my daughter brings home a black guy).
<http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/01/french-court-orders-twitter-to-identify-racist-and-anti-semitic-users/>
<http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/24/tech/social-media/twitter-racist-posts-france/index.html>

Twitter ordered to identify racist tweeters in France [IDG]
A French court has ordered Twitter to hand over any data that could help authorities there identify people who posted racist and anti-Semitic tweets on its website.
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236189/Twitter_ordered_to_identify_racist_tweeters_in_France>

Foodstagram: the restaurant trend that?s driving New York chefs crazy
They call it ?foodstagramming?, and it?s the curse of modern dining. Restaurant-goers who were once content to enjoy the flavours of their meals now seem unable to enjoy their evening without taking smartphone photographs of every dish and uploading them onto Facebook or Twitter.
<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/foodstagram-the-restaurant-trend-thats-driving-new-york-chefs-crazy-8467755.html>

Need to clean up your Facebook profile? Get a 'Facewash'
Got a Facebook profile with vulgarities or embarrassing pages you shouldn't have liked? Now there's a way to clean them up. A trio of Kent State University undergrads have put together the "Facewash" app that'll search through a user's Facebook activity and content for items that the user may want to hide or delete. That could include status updates, photo captions, and comments users left or received as well as pages and links that were liked.
<http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-facebook-facewash-20130123,0,6926222.story>

**********************
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
**********************
Only the digital dies: The newest technologies look most likely to vanish; the oldest may always be with us
The ?paperless office? has earned a proud place on lists of technological promises that did not come to pass. Surely, though, the more modest goal of the carbon-paperless office is within the reach of mankind? Carbon paper allows two copies of a document to be made at once. Nowadays, a couple of keystrokes can do the same thing with a lot less fuss.
<http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21570728-newest-technologies-look-most-likely-vanish-oldest-may-always-be-us-only>

New Zealand: The Internet?s Petri Dish
... Last year, for example, LinkedIn wanted to test its Endorsements product, which lets users check a box to recommend each other, on a small audience before rolling it out as a full-fledged service to all of its users. Because of the nature of Endorsements, though, LinkedIn could not simply let 1 percent or 2 percent of its worldwide users try out the product. There would be a small amount of people endorsing their contacts and confusing the rest of LinkedIn?s audience who could not access the new tool. ?So we decided to trial it in New Zealand,? says Kevin Scott, the senior vice president in charge of engineering at LinkedIn.
<http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-24/new-zealand-the-internets-petri-dish>

Smart networks: coming soon to a home near you by Rudolf Van der Berg of the OECD?s Science, Technology and Industry Directorate.
In 2017 a household with two teenagers will have 25 Internet connected devices. In 2022 this will rise to 50, compared with only 10 today. In households in the OECD alone there will be 14 billion connected devices, up from 1.7 billion today and this doesn?t take into account everything outside the household and outside the OECD. All this leads to the smart world discussed in a new OECD publication, Building Blocks of Smart Networks.
<http://oecdinsights.org/2013/01/21/smart-networks-coming-soon-to-a-home-near-you/>

*********************************
CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
*********************************
nz: Parents powerless to stop cyber bullying - research
New research shows teachers and parents can do little to help stop teenagers being bullied online or by text.
<http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/parents-powerless-stop-cyber-bullying-research-5326140>

nz: Anti-porn message spread at Parachute
Parachute is typically all about rock and roll without the sex and drugs, but this year the Christian music festival is adding sex to the line-up. American-based internet church xxxchurch.com is taking on the x-rated movie industry, and is spreading its message at this weekend's festival in Hamilton.
<http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/anti-porn-message-spread-parachute-5326775>

Canada needs cyber-bullying strategy: Senate committee
Canada needs a national strategy to combat cyber-bullying, a Senate committee says, and the federal government must take the lead to correct a hodgepodge of initiatives, definitions and programs that don't effectively address the problem nationwide.
<http://www.canada.com/news/Canada+needs+cyberbullying+strategy+Senate+committee/7691439/story.html>
<http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Canada+needs+cyberbullying+strategy+Senate+committee/7691439/story.html>

uk: ?Block payments to make porn websites protect children? [subscription]
Banks would be banned from processing payments to pornographic websites that fail to verify that all users are adults, under a proposal being considered by the Government.
<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article3669122.ece>

uk: Charities join forces for child sexual abuse study
The Internet Watch Foundation and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation are embarking on a project to understand sex offenders? internet habits when viewing online child sexual abuse material.
<http://www.iwf.org.uk/about-iwf/news/post/339-charities-join-forces-for-child-sexual-abuse-study>

ch: Smartphones and tablets in children's hands
Swiss children and young people are finding it increasingly easy to make their way into the Internet thanks to mobile devices. Smartphones are already part of everyday life in primary schools. And one thing is reassuring: the results of the fourth SWITCH Junior Web Barometer confirm that there is a trend towards an increasingly careful approach to disclosing personal data in the web. For the fourth time running, the online SWITCH Junior Web Barometer study took the pulse of Switzerland's children and young people in matters of Internet consumption and social media.
<http://www.switch.ch/about/news/2013/juniorwebbarometer2012.html>

**********************
ONLINE TV, MUSIC & PIRACY
**********************
Antigua applies for permission to run 'pirate' website
Antigua is seeking permission to run a website that sells music, movies and software - but ignores copyright law.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21193634>

Myspace's newest problem: Credibility
Strapped for cash and fighting for relevance, the relaunched Myspace already has enough problems. But it looks like the company and its music-focused revamp have another, potentially bigger issue: credibility.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/myspaces-newest-problem-credibility/2013/01/23/f241c74a-64c6-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html>

**********************
MOBILE/WIRELESS
**********************
uk: Google faces legal action over alleged secret iPhone tracking
Google is facing a fresh privacy battle in the UK over its alleged secret tracking of the internet habits of millions of iPhone users.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/27/google-legal-action-secret-iphone-tracking>

Kiwi phone hacking fears played down
Fears that Kiwi smartphones could be hacked are purely theoretical, a telecommunications expert says.
<http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/8220834/Kiwi-phone-hacking-fears-played-down>

**********************
SPAM
**********************
Canada?s New Anti-Spam Act Moves Forward
Canada's new "Anti-Spam Act" was passed in December 2010, but has not yet come into force. The greatest impact on Canadian businesses will be that sending electronic messages which encourage participation in a commercial activity will require express or implied consent from the recipient. Commercial electronic messages include e-mail, social networking accounts and text messages.
<http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/217054/>

**********************
ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
**********************
Microsoft's Skype pressured to offer privacy reports
Microsoft is under fresh pressure to disclose information about how confidential its Skype user data is.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21194801>

Microsoft Mum On Skype Surveillance As Privacy Advocates Call For Transparency
Privacy advocates are calling on Microsoft to disclose whether -- and how often -- governments are snooping on Skype users, a move that comes as the software giant integrates the popular video and voice messaging program with its Office productivity suite.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/skype-surveillance-microsoft_n_2545646.html>

us: Ban on social media for sex offenders unconstitutional, court rules [registration]
A federal appeals court has struck down an Indiana law that imposes broad social media restrictions on most registered sex offenders, finding it unconstitutional.
<http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202585480772>

nz: Specific knowledge important in considering legality of Mega website
The new Mega website fronted by Kim Dotcom appears to have been set up to ensure that Mega does not have specific knowledge of the information which is being stored or shared, intellectual property lawyer Clive Elliott says.
<http://www.lawsociety.org.nz/home/for_the_public/for_the_media/latest_news/news/january-2013/specific-knowledge-important-in-considering-legality-of-mega-website>

EFF Urges Court to Protect Transformative Uses and Permit News Search Engine [news release]
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) urged a federal judge today to protect fair use of news coverage and reject the Associated Press' (AP's) dangerously narrow view of what is "transformative" in a copyright court battle over a news-tracking service.
<https://www.eff.org/press/releases/eff-urges-court-protect-transformative-uses-and-permit-news-search-engine>

**********************
PRIVACY
**********************
au: Get ready for Privacy Act changes: Privacy Commissioner
With new Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) coming into law in March 2014, Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim says now is the time for organisations to start preparing by conducting a review of privacy policies.
<http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/security/get-ready-for-privacy-act-changes-privacy-commissioner>

**********************
CENSORSHIP
**********************
Google's 'transparency report' doesn't reveal everything
Google's Transparency Reports, released every six months, are interesting not just for what they reveal about government requests for Internet user data, but also for what they do not reveal.
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236209/What_Google_s_Transparency_Report_doesn_t_tell_us>
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/2026493/googles-transparency-report-doesnt-reveal-everything.html>

**************************
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
us: The strange resurrection of Net neutrality
At the annual meeting of the Congressional Internet Caucus, the only issue that appeared likely to appear soon on lawmakers' agenda was an old one -- Net neutrality.
<http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57565561-38/the-strange-resurrection-of-net-neutrality/>

U.S. firms, officials resisting Europe?s push for stronger digital privacy rules
The push for strict new limits on how Internet companies collect and use consumer data in Europe has hit stiff resistance from U.S. industry groups and the Obama administration, dimming hopes that the effort could lead to expanded privacy safeguards for users worldwide.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-firms-officials-resisting-europes-push-for-stronger-digital-privacy-rules/2013/01/24/1ae712e6-61ab-11e2-b05a-605528f6b712_story.html>

Silicon Valley Companies Lobbying Against Europe?s Privacy Proposals
Silicon Valley technology companies and the United States government are pushing hard against Europe?s effort to enact sweeping privacy protection for digital data.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/technology/eu-privacy-proposal-lays-bare-differences-with-us.html>

eu: Commission issues action call in Davos - with IT sector and telecoms companies - to close digital skills and jobs gap in Europe [news release]
Europe faces up to 700.000 unfilled ICT jobs and declining competitiveness. The number of digital jobs is growing ? by 3% each year during the crisis ? but the number of new ICT graduates and other skilled ICT workers is shrinking. Our youth need actions not words, and companies operating in Europe need the right people or they will move operations elsewhere.
<http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-52_en.htm>

Rise in Australian government requests for data
Google has reported a "steady increase" in government requests to hand over data from internet users in the second half of 2012.
<http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/rise-in-australian-government-requests-for-data-20130125-2dayb.html>

**********************
MISCELLANEOUS
**********************
Why the Facebook and Apple empires are bound to fall
History should teach us that for today's technology industry titans, the only way is down. Just ask Microsoft
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jan/27/facebook-apple-only-way-is-down>

nz: Mega off to racing start
Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom's latest venture has started with a bang - but will Mega burn bright or burn out? ... Lawyer and policy lead at internetNZ, Susan Chalmers, said both sides were going to think their interpretation of the law was correct.
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10861263>

Singapore Joins Hunt for New Zuckerberg With Stanford-Style Dorm
As National University of Singapore students drifted to the college bar for Wednesday?s ?Ladies Night,? Ishan Agrawal sat in his dorm?s common room, working out how to harness the Internet to fight corruption in India.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-24/singapore-joins-hunt-for-new-zuckerberg-with-stanford-style-dorm.html>

Will Amazon?s Kindle Paperwhite Conquer Its Canadian Competition?
Originally launched in the 4th quarter of 2012, Amazon?s Kindle Paperwhite dominated e-reader sales in the U.S. and abroad. Now, the world?s largest online retailer is headed north for an even bigger piece of the digital pie. With the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, CIRA, showing Canadians averaging 45 hours per month online, it was only a matter of time before Amazon would extend its Kindle domination into the country.
<http://www.pabnews.com/26664/will-amazons-kindle-paperwhite-conquer-its-canadian-competition/>

ca: Vancouver Animation School Names Jack Enyart Professor for New Writing for Animation Course [news release]
Vancouver Animation School, the leading Canadian educational institution offering entry level and advanced programs for the animation, film and game industries, today named well-known cartoon writer Jack Enyart the instructor for its newest online course ? Writing for Animation. ... Vancouver Animation School recently was honored with the 1st place by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) CIRA Impact Award for eLearning in 2012. More than 800 businesses and educational institutions were nominated for the award.
<http://news.yahoo.com/vancouver-animation-school-names-jack-enyart-professor-writing-080445675.html>

**********************
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
**********************
nz: Most ISPs offer faster speed in Auckland than elsewhere - Commerce Commission tester
Geography is Destiny Dept: TrueNet, one of two broadband testers on contract to the Commerce Commission, says most ISPs offer faster speeds to their Auckland customers than those elsewhere.
<http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/auckland-fastest-broadband-commerce-commission-tester-ck-134784>

ITU group OKs H.265 video standard to cut bandwidth use in half [IDG]
An ITU group has approved a successor to the H.264 video encoding standard, opening the door to future video transmission using only half the bandwidth that's now required.
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/451997/itu_group_oks_h_265_video_standard_cut_bandwidth_use_half/>
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236232/ITU_group_OKs_H.265_video_standard_to_cut_bandwidth_use_in_half>

New video codec to ease pressure on global networks - Successor to award-winning standard to unleash new innovation [news release]
A new video coding standard building on the PrimeTime Emmy award winning ITU-T H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC was agreed by ITU members today.
<http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/01.aspx>

------
David Goldstein

 email: david at 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 Flannery