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Registrar Stakeholder Group Negotiating Team (Registrar NT) statement regarding RAA negotiations
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/03/09/registrar-stakeholder-group-statement-re-raa-negotiations/>

Mishandling the Registrar Contract Negotiations by St?phane Van Gelder
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130308_mishandling_the_registrar_contract_negotiations/>

Chehade commits to grow the number of domain registrars in Africa
<http://domainincite.com/12181-chehade-commits-to-grow-the-number-of-domain-registrars-in-africa>

Freedom to innovate and new top level domains by Milton Mueller
<http://www.internetgovernance.org/2013/03/06/freedom-to-innovate-and-new-top-level-domains/>

Amazon's Bid to Gain Web Names Is Opposed
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324096404578352532206088970.html>

Google Bows To Pressure On Closed Generics
<http://www.internetnews.me/2013/03/08/google-bows-to-pressure-on-closed-generics/>

If It Gets Them, Google May Open .Search, .App, .Blog And .Cloud gTLDs To The Public
<http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/09/if-it-gets-them-google-may-open-search-app-blog-and-cloud-gtlds-to-the-public/>

Go Daddy cozies up new gTLD players, drops its own .home and .casa bids
<http://domainincite.com/12177-go-daddy-cozies-up-new-gtld-players-drops-its-own-home-and-casa-bids>

GoDaddy predicts first batch of new web site names will go on sale by June
<http://paidcontent.org/2013/03/07/godaddy-predicts-first-batch-of-new-web-site-names-will-go-on-sale-by-june/>

au: Cyber-attackers penetrate Reserve Bank networks
<http://www.afr.com/p/national/cyber_attackers_penetrate_reserve_FEdCLOI50owRMgI0urEYnK>

Australian Central Bank Hacked by China Malware, AFR Says
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-10/australian-central-bank-hacked-by-china-malware-afr-says.html>

Cyber cold war puts Australia in tough spot
<http://www.afr.com/f/free/national/cyber_cold_war_puts_australia_in_LRUbdLtLCpyZsMsC0s73xN>


**********************
GOVERNANCE
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Not All UN Bodies Are Trying to 'Take Over' the Internet: Multistakeholder Governance Shines at UNESCO by Leslie Harris, President and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology
Last December's World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), hosted by the ITU in Dubai, revealed a broad spectrum of views about the future of the Internet. Many commentators have focused on the binary outcome: more than 50 countries, including the U.S. and the EU nations, did not sign the treaty, while Russia and China were vocal proponents of more centralized, government-led control of the Internet. But that's nothing new, and the reality is that most nations, whether they signed the treaty or not, fall somewhere in between.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leslie-harris/internet-governance-forum_b_2830488.html>

TRA Hosts Arab Internet Governance Forum
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is hosting the Arab Internet Governance Forum (AIGF) under the slogan "We are all Partners," which will be held from 3 to 5 March 2013 at the Radisson Royal, Dubai and in cooperation with the Internet
<http://tra.gov.ae/news_TRA_Hosts_Arab_Internet_Governance_Forum-490-1.php>

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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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Proposed 2013 RAA Posted for Comment
Purpose (Brief): ICANN is seeking public comments on a Proposed 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA), particularly on areas where ICANN and the Registrar Negotiating Team have not been able to reach agreement in principle. This represents the first time in the nearly 18 months of negotiations that community comment is formally sought on this document.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/proposed-raa-07mar13-en.htm>

ICANN's FY 14 Security, Stability and Resiliency Framework
In advance of the Beijing meeting, ICANN is publishing the Security, Stability and Resiliency Framework for the 2014 Fiscal Year. This is an annual document, referenced in the Affirmation of Commitments. Community input is welcomed on ICANN's role in the ecosystem and priorities for the upcoming FY 14 in promoting a healthy, stable and resilient unique identifier system.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-06mar13-en.htm>

Proposed Modification of GNSO PDP Manual to Address the Suspension of a PDP
Purpose (Brief): The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Standing Committee on Improvements Implementation (SCI) is recommending a modification of the GNSO Policy Development Process (PDP) Manual, which is an integral part of the GNSO Operating Procedures, to address the possible termination or suspension of a PDP.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/pdp-suspension-07mar13-en.htm>

Apply to Become an Approved New gTLD Data Escrow Agent
Per the New gTLD Applicant Guidebook Specification 2, Part B.1, Applicants must use the data escrow services of an ICANN-approved data escrow agent.
<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-07mar13-en>

ICANN Ombudsman Blog
It is not unusual for me to receive complaints about intemperate or rude comments made within the ICANN community. Some years ago Frank Fowlie produced a most useful paper on the subject. There are of course other policies within ICANN which consider similar issues. It is quite understandable when people are passionate about their ideas and policies, that they will occasionally step over the line and send an email or make a post, which often they will subsequently regret. Sadly the nature of the Internet is that sometimes these comments become embedded and impossible to remove because they have been repeated.
<https://www.myicann.org/news/topics/13126/page/1/articles/24747>

FY14 Community Travel Support Guidelines
Purpose (Brief): Purpose is to give community members an opportunity to comment on or ask questions about community travel support process and guidelines.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/travel-support-07mar13-en.htm>

Consultation on Root Zone KSK Rollover
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Functions contract (SA1301-?12-?CN-?0035) between ICANN and the United States Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to perform services related to certain interdependent Internet technical management functions calls for a public consultation from all interested and affected parties to help satisfy the following objective:
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/root-zone-consultation-08mar13-en.htm>

Arab Multi-stakeholder Internet Governance Meeting Wraps Up in Dubai
Last week, the Arab Internet community came together to discuss Internet governance issues and priorities related to the region. The Arab Multi-stakeholder Internet Governance meeting took place in Dubai as part of the Arab IGF open consultations. The meeting, hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the United Arab Emirates brought together over 100 participants representing different stakeholders, including high-level participation by heads of telecom regulators, CEO?s of telecom operators, ISPs, ccTLD operators, ICANN accredited registrars, ISOC Chapters, as well we leaders of Internet organizations.
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/03/arab-multi-stakeholder-internet-governance-meeting-wraps-up-in-dubai/>
<https://www.myicann.org/news/topics/13126/page/1/articles/24829>

Registrar Stakeholder Group Negotiating Team (Registrar NT) statement regarding RAA negotiations
After nearly 18 months of negotiations with ICANN over a new Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA), formal negotiations have concluded. The posting of a ?proposed? 2013 RAA by ICANN for public comment signals that ICANN staff believes that negotiations have concluded and the remaining issues will not be resolved.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/03/09/registrar-stakeholder-group-statement-re-raa-negotiations/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/registrar-stakeholder-group-negotiating-team-registrar-nt-statement-regarding-raa-negotiations.html>

Registrar Negotiating Team Issues Statement On RAA
Last night ICANN published a version of the RAA and related documents for public comment. While the Registrar Stakeholder Group?s negotiating team (RrSG NT) have been in talks on and off with ICANN staff for the last 18 months the publication of the documents at this time is felt to be premature by the RrSG NT.
<http://www.internetnews.me/2013/03/08/registrar-negotiating-team-issues-statement-on-raa/>

Chehade commits to grow the number of domain registrars in Africa
ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade has told African policymakers that he wants to make it easier for companies on the continent to become accredited registrars, saying he wants to grow the number five-fold in a year.
<http://domainincite.com/12181-chehade-commits-to-grow-the-number-of-domain-registrars-in-africa>

Mishandling the Registrar Contract Negotiations by St?phane Van Gelder
By publishing a draft Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) for public comment before it has been agreed on by both parties, has ICANN dealt the bottom-up multi-stakeholder model a blow? ICANN Staff and the registrars have been negotiating a new version of the RAA for the past 18 months following requests by Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) such as Interpol for greater consumer protection. With both ICANN and registrars working hard, by early this year agreement had been reached on 11.5 of the 12 LEA "asks". A deal looked close.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130308_mishandling_the_registrar_contract_negotiations/>

Registrars and ICANN hit impasse on new RAA
ICANN and its accredited domain name registrars have hit a brick wall in their long-running contract negotiations, after ICANN demanded the right to unilaterally amend the deal in future.
<http://domainincite.com/12182-registrars-and-icann-hit-impasse-on-new-raa>

Registrars miffed about new accreditation agreement. Will it delay new TLDs?
The team of registrars negotiating with ICANN for the new Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) issued a stern statement today saying ICANN is making some unreasonable requests and is trying to hold new TLDs hostage to a new agreement.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/03/08/registrars-miffed-about-new-accreditation-agreement-will-it-delay-new-tlds/>

Chehade commits to grow the number of domain registrars in Africa
ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade has told African policymakers that he wants to make it easier for companies on the continent to become accredited registrars, saying he wants to grow the number five-fold in a year.
<http://domainincite.com/12181-chehade-commits-to-grow-the-number-of-domain-registrars-in-africa>

ICANN begins implementing Africa strategy
ICANN's CEO and President Fadi Chehad? was at the group's Multistakeholder Internet Governance meeting in Africa this week with the message that it is a new season at ICANN and Africa has a big role to play.
<http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/internet/3434206/icann-begins-implementing-africa-strategy/>
<http://www.itworld.com/internet/347545/icann-begins-implementing-africa-strategy>

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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Innovation and inspiration in new issue of .eu Identity
... In this issue: Digital strategist, William Deckers, reveals five unique advantages that Internet businesses have over their brick-and-mortar counterparts. And content expert, Anna Borsboom, gives us insights into Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and how you can use it to increase your website?s visibility. We take a look behind the scenes of TEDxBrussels to see what goes into organising this annual ideas-exchange event, which brings together thought-leaders from a variety of industries to share, inspire, innovate and effect change.
<http://www.eurid.eu/en/news/mar-2013/innovation-and-inspiration-new-issue-eu-identity>

Network Solutions & Register.com, Web.com brands, become the 100th and 101st Accredited Registrars for .PW
Network Solutions and Register.com, Web.com brands, 2 of the world?s top 10 registrars became .PW Registry?s 100th and 101st accredited partners respectively today.
<http://registry.pw/100-accredited-registrars-for-pw/>

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 - NEW TLDS
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Freedom to innovate and new top level domains by Milton Mueller
There are hundreds of applications for generic words in ICANN?s new TLD program. They include .BOOK, .MUSIC, .CLOUD, .ACCOUNTANT, .ARAB and .ART. Some of the applicants for these domains have chosen to make direct use of the name space under the TLD for their own sites rather than offering them for broad general use. Amazon, for example, would probably make .BOOK an extension of its online bookstore rather than part of a large-scale domain name registration business; Google would probably make .CLOUD an extension of its own cloud computing enterprises.
<http://www.internetgovernance.org/2013/03/06/freedom-to-innovate-and-new-top-level-domains/>

Amazon's Bid to Gain Web Names Is Opposed
Large and small companies are vying for control of an array of new Internet domain names, but Amazon.com Inc.'s plans are coming under particular scrutiny.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324096404578352532206088970.html>

Did Warren Buffett shut down Heinz' gTLD program?
Heinz has shelved its two new gTLD applications just three weeks after the company agreed to be bought out for $28 billion by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.
<http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/03/05/did-warren-buffett-shut-down-h>

New York gTLD conference this time next week
This time next week will be the first conference covering new gTLDs for some time - and it should be a good one.
<http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/03/04/new-york-gtld-conference-time>

Google Bows To Pressure On Closed Generics
The debate surrounding ?closed generics?, which we?ve covered several times in the past, has attracted a lot of attention in recent weeks. At the centre of the debate were a number of new TLD applications from large companies including Google, Amazon and others.
<http://www.internetnews.me/2013/03/08/google-bows-to-pressure-on-closed-generics/>

Community concern prompts Google U-turn over four gTLD applications [registration]
Yesterday WTR reported on concern over plans to run a number of gTLDs on a closed basis, with ?.cloud? the subject of multiple submissions to ICANN?s comment period on ?closed, generic? applications. Responding to community concern, Google has revealed that the string will be one of four that it now wants to make more open.
<http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=87b58c48-5aba-4580-9935-84b2c83bf3a9>

If It Gets Them, Google May Open .Search, .App, .Blog And .Cloud gTLDs To The Public
If Google is awarded the right to manage the domain registrations for .search, .app, .blog and .cloud, there is now a good chance that it won?t just use them for its own services and will open them up for non-Google properties, too. Last year, when ICANN opened up the first phase of the registration process for new gTLDs, Google accounted for about 100 of the over 1,900 applications ICANN received. Among those were some that referenced Google brands and products like .google, .chrome, .android and .gmail, but Google and many of the other applicants also applied for the right to manage TLDs with very generic terms like .blog, .show, .earth, .book and .car.
<http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/09/if-it-gets-them-google-may-open-search-app-blog-and-cloud-gtlds-to-the-public/>

Google says it will make .app, .blog, .cloud, and .search TLDs ?open?
Google plans to update four of its new TLD applications to make the domains more open to registration outside of Google.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/03/07/google-says-it-will-make-app-blog-cloud-and-search-tlds-open/>

Go Daddy cozies up new gTLD players, drops its own .home and .casa bids
Go Daddy has changed tack in its new gTLD strategy, dropping its own applications and positioning itself strongly as a registry-neutral channel to market.
<http://domainincite.com/12177-go-daddy-cozies-up-new-gtld-players-drops-its-own-home-and-casa-bids>

GoDaddy predicts first batch of new web site names will go on sale by June
As the process to roll out hundreds of new TLDs, which will join familiar ones like ?.org? and ?.com,? grinds forward, the head of the largest domain registrar predicted the public will be able to buy them by June.
<http://paidcontent.org/2013/03/07/godaddy-predicts-first-batch-of-new-web-site-names-will-go-on-sale-by-june/>

Closed generics debate rages on by St?phane Van Gelder
The new gTLD program continues to throw up last-minute debates on what is acceptable as a TLDs and what is not. The latest such verbal joust centers around closed generics. These are generic terms being applied for by applicants whom, should they be successful, will not open the TLD up to everyone on an equal access basis.
<http://www.netnames.com/blog/2013/03/closed-generics-debate-rages-on/>

Trademark Clearinghouse: five questions for brand owners
Confused by the coming Internet storm? Then you are not alone. Stuart Fuller from NetNames considers five questions every brand owner should know the answers to.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/trademark-clearinghouse-five-questions-for-brand-owners>

.mii becomes the first new gTLD to face rejection
The applied-for new gTLD .mii is too similar to the US military gTLD .mil and will therefore be rejected by ICANN.
<http://domainincite.com/12172-mii-becomes-the-first-new-gtld-to-face-rejection>

Olympus joins brand TLD exodus
Camera maker Olympus has become the latest household name to withdraw from the new gTLD process, pulling its only application for dot-olympus.
<http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/03/08/olympus-joins-brand-tld-exodus>

Another Brand New gTLD Drops Out as .Olympus Withdraws it Application
Olympus Corporation has become the latest company to withdraw it new gTLD application for its .brand application .Olympus which had a Prioritization number of 1,861.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/03/08/another-brand-new-gtld-drops-out-as-olympus-withdraws-it-application/>

WhatBox? chooses auctioneer for dot-menu domains
WhatBox? has announced it will use a joint collaboration of NameJet and Afternic to auction domain names under its dot-menu gTLD.
<http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/03/04/whatbox-chooses-auctioneer-dot>

Thinking Carefully About New gTLD Objections: Legal Rights (4 of 4) by Don Moody
This last article on the four new gTLD objections will look at the Legal Rights Objection ("LRO"). While other articles in this series have touched on trademark concepts at certain points, issues from that area of the law predominate in LRO. Here we review the pertinent LRO-related trademark concepts, with which many readers likely will have some familiarity from working with domains and the UDRP. Still, the theme of the first three articles applies here: Potential objections are more involved and complicated than they may seem, and require careful thought if they are to be made.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130308_thinking_carefully_about_new_gtld_objections_legal_rights_4_of_4/>

Introducing .MENU to Market!
After months of waiting, the time is almost here for the first launch of a new English language TLD. Thanks to a favorable prioritization number at the ICANN draw, WhatBox? is beginning to prepare for the introduction of their new TLD, .MENU!
<http://www.afternic.com/blog/introducing-menu-to-market/>

Institutional Investment Opportunities in Domain Names ? With Frank Michlick
The new TLDs that will launch beginning in 2013 create a unique investment opportunity. Indeed, private equity and venture capital firms are evaluating investment in new TLDs and domain name registrars.
<http://www.domainsherpa.com/frank-michlick-domaincocoon-interview/>

Told you so? Four new gTLDs given geographic surprise, others given a pass
Four new gTLD applications have been told by ICANN the strings they wanted are geographic and will require government backing if they want to be approved.
<http://domainincite.com/12166-told-you-so-four-new-gtlds-given-geographic-surprise-others-given-a-pass>

Soon, the web will have .Bharat in local languages
The World Wide Web will soon allow addresses with domain names such as .Bharat or its equivalent in Indian languages. Sanskrit and Malayalam addresses can have the domain name of ?.Bharatam?. Tamil websites can use ?.India? and Urdu, ?.Hindostan?.
<http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/soon-the-web-will-have-bharat-in-local-languages/article4485576.ece>

ie: Generic top-level domains will divide the internet, warns IIA CEO
The advent of gTLDs like .blog or .hair will only facilitate the division of the internet into territories, the Irish Internet Association has warned and has written to ICANN voicing its objection.
<http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/31793-generic-top-level-domains-w/>

Technology Policy Institute Letter to ICANN on whether Operators Should Determine "Open" or "Closed" gTLDs
Dear Dr. Crocker, Mr. Chehad? , Mr. Chalaby and Ms. Lentz: This letter is in response to ICANN?s February 5th request for comments on the subject of ?closed? generic TLDs and whether ICANN should determine the circumstances under which a g TLD operator is permitted to adopt ?open? or ?closed? registration policies. As I explain below, allowing gTLD operators to make these determinations will promote innovation on the Internet to the benefit of consumers.
<http://techpolicyinstitute.org/news/show/23397.html>

gTLDs as source-identifying marks? The closed generics debate rumbles on [registration]
This week, Heinz became the latest brand owner to pulls its gTLD applications, withdrawing its bids for ?.heinz? and ?.ketchup?. Meanwhile, the public comment period over closed generic strings ends today. While opposition voices are loud and many, closed generics have their supporters ? with one calling for USPTO protection for such TLDs.
<http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=2306d528-88c5-402c-97d0-e4ebfce992ea>

Competitive Advantage vs. Anti-Competitive and the closed TLD debate
This morning I read Technology Policy Institute?s opinion on ?closed? TLDs. A closed domain is one in which the applicant doesn?t plan to offer 2LDs to the public, including its competitors.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/03/07/competitive-advantage-vs-anti-competitive-and-the-closed-tld-debate/>

"Open" or "Closed" Generic TLDs: Let the Operators Decide by Tom Lenard
On February 5th, ICANN solicited comments on whether ICANN should determine the circumstances under which a generic TLD operator is permitted to adopt "open" or "closed" registration policies. Allowing gTLD operators to make these determinations, as opposed to ICANN, will promote innovation on the Internet to the benefit of consumers.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130307_open_or_closed_generic_tlds_let_the_operators_decide/>

Go Daddy Scores Some Brownie Points With Aspiring New gTLD Registry Operators at Arizona Confab
You've got to hand it to Go Daddy. They didn't become the world's biggest domain registrar by leaving a lot of stones unturned. Go Daddy knows that the operators of the hundreds of new gTLDs that ICANN plans to start launching this year will desperately need shelf space and promotion from the top registrars - and no one dominates the top like they do (almost 55 million domains are registered at Go Daddy, more than the next ten biggest registrars combined).
<http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2013/dailyposts/20130306.htm>

Competitive Advantage vs. Anti-Competitive and the closed TLD debate
This morning I read Technology Policy Institute?s opinion on ?closed? TLDs.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/03/07/competitive-advantage-vs-anti-competitive-and-the-closed-tld-debate/>

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Size, Funding of Bank DDoS Attacks Grow in Third Phase
The resumption this week of distributed denial of service attacks against major U.S. banks brought not only more cost and disruption to financial institutions trying keep online services available, but it also raised new questions about the funding and true motives behind the attacks.
<http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/size-funding-bank-ddos-attacks-grow-third-phase-030813>

U.S. Cybersecurity Status Weak, Reports Charge
The Department of Defense is "not prepared" to defend against sophisticated international cyber attacks, and government-wide, agencies have failed to meet some White House cybersecurity targets, according to two new reports.
<http://www.informationweek.co.uk/government/security/us-cybersecurity-status-weak-reports-cha/240150168>

au: Cyber-attackers penetrate Reserve Bank networks
The Reserve Bank of Australia?s computer networks have been repeatedly and successfully hacked in a series of cyber-attacks to infiltrate sensitive internal information, including by ?Chinese-developed malicious software.
<http://www.afr.com/p/national/cyber_attackers_penetrate_reserve_FEdCLOI50owRMgI0urEYnK>

Australian Central Bank Hacked by China Malware, AFR Says
The Reserve Bank of Australia was repeatedly and successfully hacked in a series of cyber-attacks with malicious software developed in China, the Australian Financial Review reported.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-10/australian-central-bank-hacked-by-china-malware-afr-says.html>

Cyber cold war puts Australia in tough spot
The hacking of the Reserve Bank of Australia by state and non-state actors is a manifestation of our increasingly polarised world.
<http://www.afr.com/f/free/national/cyber_cold_war_puts_australia_in_LRUbdLtLCpyZsMsC0s73xN>

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Decisions: The Wonderful World of UDRP
Disney filed a UDRP complaint with the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) against Greg Beinstock over 13 domain names related to a number of its titles, including Mickey Mouse, Tangled, and Aladdin. The proceedings were mostly standard for a complaint against an alleged squatter using marks for PPC sites, save for a notable exception.
<http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2013/03/04/decisions-wonderful-world-udrp>

ICANN Board Follows ICA Suggestion, Defers Action on ACDR?s UDRP Proposal
Domain registrants won?t be receiving UDRP notices from Amman, Jordan for at least a while. Last week ICA sent a letter to ICANN?s Board asking that it defer action on the pending proposal of the Arab Center for Dispute Resolution (ACDR) to be accredited as a UDRP arbitration provider and put its revised proposal out for public comment. On Thursday, February 28th the Board held a telephonic meeting ? and did what ICA had requested.
<http://internetcommerce.org/ACDR-UDRP_Board_Deferral>

Arab provider seeks fifth UDRP spot
Public comments have opened on a revised bid by an Arabic dispute-resolution provider to act as the fifth Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy operator.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/arab-provider-seek-fifth-udrp-spot>

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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Developing the DNS market in the Arab region
On Monday 4 March 2013, Adrian Kinderis was invited by ICANN to deliver a keynote speech on developing regional DNS markets at an event held in Dubai titled: 'Multi-stakeholder Internet Governance in the Arab world'.
<http://www.ariservices.com/news-developing_the_dns_market_in_the_arab_region.php>

Arabic Web key to greater regional participation
The next time you're driving down the D89 Airport Road to Dubai International Airport, take a moment to look at the advertising billboards. In particular, look at the domain names used in the call to action.
<http://www.itp.net/592454-arabic-web-key-to-greater-regional-participation#.UTuh6ldXB30>

Domain Pulse 2013: Convincing Registrars To Give New gTLDs "Shelf Space" Likely To Be Difficult
But not a lot appears to be thought of when it comes to how applicants that will rely on registrations for their bread and butter will get registrants interested.
<http://www.ebrandservices.com/convincing-registrars-to-give-new.html>

Going on Offensive Against Fake Pharma, Irish registrar announces partnership with LegitScript
... But there?s also a ?dark side? and ugly ?underbelly?. There?s a very large part of the internet that is nasty and evil. It?s a space populated with websites set up to steal user?s credentials, their money or, in some cases, their very lives. When it comes to the sale of prescription medicines we?ve decided to take a firm stance. We won?t just ?sit on the fence?. But we?re not ?experts? and we don?t want to put ourselves in the position of having to judge what constitutes a ?legitimate? online pharmacy and what constitutes a ?rogue? pharmacy.
<http://blog.blacknight.com/blacknight-goes-on-offensive-against-fake-pharma-irish-registrar-announces-partnership-with-legitscript.html>

Irish Registrar Goes On Offensive Against Fake Pharma
Fake pharmaceutical products online not only take profits from large drug companies, they also often put the health of users at risk through dangerous or ineffective drugs or people self-diagnosing with drugs they don?t know about the effects and side-effects.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/03/07/irish-registrar-offensive-fake-pharma/>

Kapil Sibal launches National Internet Registry
Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology launched the portal of National Internet Registry (NIR) here today. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Sibal pointed out that unless this platform is inclusive, we will not be able to empower the people. He underlined that the internet is an exceptionally powerful tool and nothing in this country should be done to emasculate the medium.
<http://www.igovernment.in/node/44548>

Indian Govt Launches National Internet Registry; IP Addresses To Become Cheaper
The Indian government has officially launched the National Internet Registry (NIR) which will oversee the allocation of Internet Protocol addresses to Internet service providers in the country.
<http://www.medianama.com/2013/03/223-indian-government-national-internet-registry/>

India launches local registry for IP addresses
The Indian government has launched the National Internet Registry (NIR), a move that will make purchases of Internet protocol (IP) addresses faster and cheaper for locals.
<http://www.zdnet.com/in/india-launches-local-registry-for-ip-addresses-7000012301/>

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
**********************
In Upgrade, Google Adds to Model for Mobile Marketing
GOOGLE executives, declaring themselves pleased with the results of an unusual advertising initiative last year, are bringing out a Version 2.0, again teaming with agencies and marketers to try demonstrating that technology is not incompatible with traditional Madison Avenue sales strategies like emotional storytelling.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/business/media/google-upgrades-campaign-for-mobile-marketing.html>

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INTERNET USE
**********************
Unreported Side Effects of Drugs Are Found Using Internet Search Data, Study Finds
Using data drawn from queries entered into Google, Microsoft and Yahoo search engines, scientists at Microsoft, Stanford and Columbia University have for the first time been able to detect evidence of unreported prescription drug side effects before they were found by the Food and Drug Administration?s warning system.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/science/unreported-side-effects-of-drugs-found-using-internet-data-study-finds.html>

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SOCIAL MEDIA
**********************
Facebook vs. Twitter: How Do You Like Your Social News Feed, Filtered or Unfiltered?
New York Times writer Nick Bilton?s complaints this week about how little engagement his content gets on Facebook sparked a debate about whether the network is deliberately hiding certain types of content to promote its paid-reach services?but it also highlighted how much Facebook controls the feed users see, often in ways they don?t understand or may not even be aware of.
<http://gigaom.com/2013/03/07/facebook-vs-twitter-how-do-you-like-your-social-news-feed-filtered-or-unfiltered/>
<http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-08/facebook-vs-dot-twitter-want-your-feed-filtered-or-unfiltered>

Facebook news feed revamp learns lessons from mobile
Facebook has revamped its design, making its website look more like its Android and iOS mobile apps.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-21698765>

Facebook overhauls news feed to give more space to music, games and ads
Facebook has overhauled its news feed for hundreds of millions of users, devoting more space to music, games and advertising in a bid to boost revenues.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/07/facebook-overhauls-news-feed-ads>

Facebook Shows Off New Home Page Design, Including Bigger Pictures
Facebook announced on Thursday a substantial redesign of its News Feed, the front page that users see when they access the service.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/technology/facebook-shows-off-redesign.html>

Microsoft unveils ViralSearch, a Twitter search tool for finding viral content
One of the many undying questions from web publishers, marketers, and regular web users is ?what makes something go viral?? which, coincidentally, is also something Microsoft is working on.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/microsoft-unveils-viralsearch-a-twitter-search-tool-for-finding-viral-content/2013/03/06/bfd9b928-85ac-11e2-a80b-3edc779b676f_story.html>

**********************
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
**********************
Microsoft Is Talking About the Future, a Lot
There are technology companies that won?t say anything about the futuristic inventions they?re tinkering with in their labs ? Apple, for instance. Then there are the companies that won?t stop talking about them. Think Google and its driverless cars and Google Glass. Microsoft is firmly in the latter camp.
<http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/microsoft-is-talking-about-the-future-a-lot/>

Two good infrastructure considerations for the internet of things from SXSW
We may accept that the internet of things will become commonplace in the next few years, but how do we build out the network and processing required to support it?
<http://gigaom.com/2013/03/10/two-good-infrastructure-considerations-for-the-internet-of-things-from-sxsw/>

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
*********************************
What Teens Get About the Internet That Parents Don't
Parents more often than not have a negative view of the role of the Internet in learning, and young people almost always have a positive one.
<http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/what-teens-get-about-the-internet-that-parents-dont/273852/>

nz: Workplace cyber-bullying fueled by online gossip, photos
Embarrassing photos from work events and online gossip posted on the internet are contributing to a hike in workplace cyber-bullying, a new survey has found.
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870063>

nz: Online stirrer up on assault charge
... Barker has hundreds of thousands of teenage "fans" who read his rants on Facebook and Twitter. Netsafe executive director Martin Cocker said he believed Barker's actions were "inciting acts of hatred".
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870274>

nz: Here be trolls: Hunting down online haters
"It's just exposing the nasty. It's not bullying you; it's exposing you for what you are." So said Charlotte Dawson to her Twitter trolls when confronting them on Australian television.
<http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/8405629/Hunting-down-internet-haters>

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ONLINE TV, MUSIC & PIRACY
**********************
Movie Sales Increased With Shutdown of Piracy Sites
Shutting major piracy websites can increase online revenue for movie studios, a new study has found.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324034804578344551047272218.html>

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
**********************
us: Cellphones shouldn't be able to work in moving cars, experts say
Thousands of people die in car crashes each year because drivers were too distracted by their cellphones to pay attention to the road. A pair of researchers from West Virginia University have a radical proposal for reducing that death toll ? equip cars with devices that make it impossible to send a text message, check your favorite traffic app or dial home while the car is in motion.
<http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-distracted-driving-cell-phone-text-ban-20130306,0,2151936.story>

Don't be ugly: The web giant wants to be known for beauty as well as brains
This time last year investors were salivating over Apple?s stock. Now they are rushing to get their hands on Google?s. On March 5th the internet firm?s share price, which has risen by almost a fifth since the start of the year, leapt past $800 for the first time. Google?s market capitalisation, which hit $274 billion on March 6th, is now around two-thirds of Apple?s, up from around one-third six months ago.
<http://www.economist.com/news/business/21573160-web-giant-wants-be-known-beauty-well-brains-dont-be-ugly>

Frozen Android phones give up data secrets
Freezing an Android phone can help reveal its confidential contents, German security researchers have found.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21697704>

Samsung loses patent fight against Apple in the UK
South Korean phone-maker Samsung has lost another patent fight against rival Apple, in the UK High Court.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21704946>

NZ mobile data traffic to increase eight-fold by 2017
Mobile just one aspect of the ?data deluge? IT managers have to prepare for, according to speakers at the Cisco Live conference in Melbourne
<http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/nz-mobile-data-traffic-to-increase-eight-fold-by-2017>

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SECURITY
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 Size, Funding of Bank DDoS Attacks Grow in Third Phase
The resumption this week of distributed denial of service attacks against major U.S. banks brought not only more cost and disruption to financial institutions trying keep online services available, but it also raised new questions about the funding and true motives behind the attacks.
<http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/size-funding-bank-ddos-attacks-grow-third-phase-030813>

U.S. Cybersecurity Status Weak, Reports Charge
The Department of Defense is "not prepared" to defend against sophisticated international cyber attacks, and government-wide, agencies have failed to meet some White House cybersecurity targets, according to two new reports.
<http://www.informationweek.co.uk/government/security/us-cybersecurity-status-weak-reports-cha/240150168>

au: Cyber-attackers penetrate Reserve Bank networks
The Reserve Bank of Australia?s computer networks have been repeatedly and successfully hacked in a series of cyber-attacks to infiltrate sensitive internal information, including by ?Chinese-developed malicious software.
<http://www.afr.com/p/national/cyber_attackers_penetrate_reserve_FEdCLOI50owRMgI0urEYnK>

Australian Central Bank Hacked by China Malware, AFR Says
The Reserve Bank of Australia was repeatedly and successfully hacked in a series of cyber-attacks with malicious software developed in China, the Australian Financial Review reported.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-10/australian-central-bank-hacked-by-china-malware-afr-says.html>

Cyber cold war puts Australia in tough spot
The hacking of the Reserve Bank of Australia by state and non-state actors is a manifestation of our increasingly polarised world.
<http://www.afr.com/f/free/national/cyber_cold_war_puts_australia_in_LRUbdLtLCpyZsMsC0s73xN>

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PRIVACY
**********************
Google to Pay $7M to Settle Wi-Spy Case With More Than 30 U.S. Attorneys General
Google will soon settle with the attorneys general representing more than 30 U.S. states over its Street View cars collecting data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks, multiple sources said.
<http://allthingsd.com/20130308/google-to-pay-7m-to-settle-wispy-case-with-more-than-30-u-s-attorneys-general/>

Google nears $7 mln settlement with U.S. states over Wifi incident - source
Google Inc is nearing a $7 million settlement with some 30 U.S. states over a 2010 incident in which its Street View mapping cars collected passwords and other personal data from home wireless networks, according to a person familiar with the matter.
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/03/08/google-settlement-idINDEE9270G020130308>
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/08/uk-google-settlement-idUKBRE92719920130308>

Google to pay $7m to US states over Street View data collection
Google is close to reaching a settlement with more than 30 US states that had accused the search giant of using its Street View cars to collect data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks. The company is to pay about $7m in total, according to sources familiar with the case.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/08/google-street-view-settlement-wifi>

Google Said to Near Accord With States Over Street View
Google Inc. is close to an agreement to pay about $7 million to settle allegations that the company improperly collected personal data for its Street View product, a person familiar with the matter said.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-08/google-said-to-near-accord-with-states-over-street-view.html>

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CENSORSHIP
**********************
China, Russia seek greater control of Internet, U.S. says
China and Russia are buying increasingly powerful surveillance technologies to intercept communications and try to take control of the Internet, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/03/07/internet-usa-idINDEE9260HU20130307>
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/07/uk-internet-usa-idUKBRE92616X20130307>

Iran cuts off 'illegal' VPN workaround to Internet filters
Iran has stepped up its efforts to deny its citizens unfettered access to the Internet, blocking a popular tool used to get around government blocks.
<http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57573487-93/iran-cuts-off-illegal-vpn-workaround-to-internet-filters/>

Iran blocks use of tool to get around Internet filter
Iranian authorities have blocked the use of most "virtual private networks", a tool that many Iranians use to get around an extensive government Internet filter, Iranian media quoted an official as saying on Sunday.
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/10/uk-iran-internet-idUKBRE9290CX20130310>
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/03/10/iran-internet-idINDEE92907J20130310>

'Attempt to ban porn' discovered in EU report
Eagle-eyed campaigners for freedom of speech claim to have spotted an attempt to slip a call for a Europe-wide ban on pornography into an otherwise-innocuous piece of EU paperwork.
<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/attempt-to-ban-porn-discovered-in-eu-report-8527202.html>

EU to vote on porn ban, calls for Internet enforcement
The European Parliament will vote Tuesday on a proposal that could lead to a blanket ban on pornography in any forms of media with potentially wide-ranging implications for freedom and expression in the 27-member state bloc.
<http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57572947-93/eu-to-vote-on-porn-ban-calls-for-internet-enforcement/>

How Skype monitors and censors its Chinese users
It's no secret that the Chinese government is spying on its own citizens, and censoring what they see and access online. But for major players in the technology industry, such as Microsoft, a foothold in the lucrative Chinese market is worth bowing down to certain ethical considerations that would not ordinarily pass in the Western world.
<http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57573243-83/how-skype-monitors-and-censors-its-chinese-users/>

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
European Regulators Fine Microsoft, Then Promise to Do Better
The European Union fined Microsoft $732 million on Wednesday for failing to respect an antitrust settlement with regulators. But in a highly unusual mea culpa, the European Union?s top antitrust regulator said that his department bore some of the responsibility for Microsoft?s failure to respect a settlement that caused the fine.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/technology/eu-fines-microsoft-over-browser.html>

UK joins US in lobbying Brussels over data protection rules
The UK is among nine countries lobbying Brussels to ease proposed rules on data protection ? in a move that will come as a relief to US technology companies including Google and Facebook which have been increasingly concerned about potential effects on their business.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/07/uk-us-eu-data-protection-rules>

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MISCELLANEOUS
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Where did Apple's missing market value go?
Mr Market has slashed Apple?s market value by $260 billion in six months. Meanwhile, the combined worth of a wide group of smartphone and tablet rivals has added less than half that. If investors think Apple is fading, the competing Android complex could be worth far more - to someone
<http://www.breakingviews.com/where-did-apples-missing-market-value-go?/21072406.article>

---------
David Goldstein

email: david at goldsteinreport.com
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