*************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Chehad? Announces Intention to End His Tenure as ICANN President & CEO in March 2016 < <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-05-21-en> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-05-21-en> One Week To Go For Your Say: Should .AU Allow Second Level Registrations < <http://www.domainpulse.com/2015/05/25/your-say-au-second-level-registration s/> http://www.domainpulse.com/2015/05/25/your-say-au-second-level-registrations /> ICANN says ?no impact? from TMCH downtime < <http://domainincite.com/18575-icann-says-no-impact-from-tmch-downtime> http://domainincite.com/18575-icann-says-no-impact-from-tmch-downtime> How are the German Based Geographic gTLDs Fairing? < <https://international.eco.de/2015/news/how-are-the-german-based-geographic- gtlds-fairing.html> https://international.eco.de/2015/news/how-are-the-german-based-geographic-g tlds-fairing.html> Pirate Bay Loses New Domain Name, Hydra Lives On < <http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-loses-new-domain-name-hydra-lives-on-150 522/> http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-loses-new-domain-name-hydra-lives-on-1505 22/> UK sells off unused net addresses < <http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32826353> http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32826353> ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Internet Society CEO Reinforces Commitment to IANA Transition for the Wellbeing of the Global Internet In a statement distributed to the Internet Society?s global community today, Internet Society President and CEO, Kathryn C. Brown has stressed the organization?s continued commitment to the stewardship transition of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions to the global Internet community, highlighting that this process is key to maintaining long-term value in the collaborative, multistakeholder model of Internet governance. < <http://www.internetsociety.org/news/internet-society-ceo-reinforces-commitm ent-iana-transition-wellbeing-global-internet> http://www.internetsociety.org/news/internet-society-ceo-reinforces-commitme nt-iana-transition-wellbeing-global-internet> U.S. Government Does Not Control Internet or Privacy As the Senate debates the USA Freedom Act of 2015, passed by the House of Representatives on DATE, it is well to consider how little our government actually controls the Internet, and how incapable we are to assert our will over the Internet. It is not merely that United States may soon be losing accountability over ICANN. < <http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldfurchtgottroth/2015/05/21/u-s-government- does-not-control-internet-or-privacy/> http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldfurchtgottroth/2015/05/21/u-s-government-d oes-not-control-internet-or-privacy/> Stakeholders Support IANA Transition Model; Subsidiary Board, Reviews Need Fleshing Out The second draft of the primary plan for transitioning U.S. oversight of key domain name system functions to the global multistakeholder community has much wider support than the first draft ever garnered, although concerns about the relationship between a new entity created to house the functions and the ICANN remain. < <http://www.bna.com/stakeholders-support-iana-n17179927012/> http://www.bna.com/stakeholders-support-iana-n17179927012/> Why the Post-Transition IANA should be a nonprofit public benefit corporation by Brenden Kuerbis The comment period for the names proposal developed by the Cross-community Working Group (CWG) on IANA stewardship transition will conclude in a few days. The CWG has resolved the internal-external debate with a middle ground, a Post-Transition IANA (PTI) that is a legally separate affiliate of ICANN that would manage the DNS root and the numbers and protocols registries. < <http://www.internetgovernance.org/2015/05/18/why-the-post-transition-iana-s hould-be-a-nonprofit-public-benefit-corporation/> http://www.internetgovernance.org/2015/05/18/why-the-post-transition-iana-sh ould-be-a-nonprofit-public-benefit-corporation/> CSTD 18th Session: one step closer to deciding what WSIS will look like for the next 10 years by Samantha Dickinson The Commission for Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is a United Nations (UN) agency unlike some of the other key UN agencies involved in the Word Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process. ITU, UNESCO, and UNCTAD all contain a membership of all UN-recognised Member States. < <https://centr.org/article/cstd-18th-session-one-step-closer-deciding-what-w sis-will-look-next-10-years> https://centr.org/article/cstd-18th-session-one-step-closer-deciding-what-ws is-will-look-next-10-years> Internet's future: Why does Team Obama want to give control of Web to "global multi-stakeholder community"? Later this year, our own government plans to give away control of the Internet to ?the global multi-stakeholder community.? It would be hard to conceive of a plan more pointless and potentially harmful. < <http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/05/21/internets-future-why-does-team-ob ama-want-to-give-control-web-to-global-multi-stakeholder-community.html> http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/05/21/internets-future-why-does-team-oba ma-want-to-give-control-web-to-global-multi-stakeholder-community.html> ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Chehad? Announces Intention to End His Tenure as ICANN President & CEO in March 2016 ICANN today announced that President and CEO Fadi Chehad? has informed the Board he will be concluding his tenure in March 2016 to move into a new career in the private sector (outside the Domain Name Industry). < <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-05-21-en> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-05-21-en> Statement of Assistant Secretary Strickling on ICANN CEO Chehade Statement of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade?s announcement that he plans to leave the organization next year: < <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2015/statement-assistant-secretary-st rickling-icann-ceo-chehade> http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2015/statement-assistant-secretary-str ickling-icann-ceo-chehade> IANA Stewardship Transition & Enhancing ICANN Accountability: Why does it matter for Africa? In a recent discussion with an African Diplomat accredited to the UN in New York, he had this question for me: "why does the IANA stewardship thing matter at all for Africa?" < <https://www.icann.org/news/blog/iana-stewardship-transition-enhancing-icann -accountability-why-does-it-matter-for-africa> https://www.icann.org/news/blog/iana-stewardship-transition-enhancing-icann- accountability-why-does-it-matter-for-africa> Call for RSVPs | GNSO Working Group Newcomer Open House Session | 4 June 2015 at 20:00 UTC The GNSO Working Group Newcomer Open House Session returns on 4 June 2015 at 20:00 UTC and we are pleased to invite you to participate. These informal sessions provide an ideal opportunity for participants to ask questions about the GNSO Policy Development Process and the specifics of taking part in a Working Group < <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-05-22-en> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-05-22-en> 21 May 2015 ? Additional CPE Results Released ICANN has published the Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) Results for 1 application, and updated application and contention set statuses accordingly. < <http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/cpe> http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/cpe> Letter from Rakesh Nigam, Chief Executive Officer | Indian Performing Right Society Limited, to ICANN and Economist Intelligence Unit New gTLD application for .MUSIC < <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/nigam-to-icann-21may15 -en.pdf> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/nigam-to-icann-21may15- en.pdf> Letter from Jed Hilly, Executive Director | Americana Music Association, to ICANN and Economist Intelligence Unit New gTLD application for .MUSIC < <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/hilly-to-icann-20may15 -en.pdf> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/hilly-to-icann-20may15- en.pdf> Letter from Jo Dipple, CEO | UK Music, to Steve Crocker and Fadi Chehad? New gTLD application for .MUSIC < <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/dipple-to-crocker-19ma y15-en.pdf> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/dipple-to-crocker-19may 15-en.pdf> Letter from Suresh Srinivasan, Chief Operations Officer | Phonograpic Performance Limited, to ICANN and Economist Intelligence Unit New gTLD application for .MUSIC < <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/srinivasan-to-icann-19 may15-en.pdf> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/srinivasan-to-icann-19m ay15-en.pdf> Letter from Frances Moore, Chief Executive Officer | International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, to Steve Crocker and Fadi Chehad? New gTLD application for .MUSIC < <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/moore-to-crocker-18may 15-en.pdf> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/moore-to-crocker-18may1 5-en.pdf> CEO Who Pushed Icann Independence Is Leaving in 2016 The chief executive who sought greater autonomy for the ICANN ? the agency that manages the technical operations of the Internet ? has announced he is leaving early next year. < <http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/05/21/ceo-who-has-pushed-icann-independenc e-leaving-in-2016/> http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/05/21/ceo-who-has-pushed-icann-independence -leaving-in-2016/> Chehade quits as ICANN CEO ICANN president and CEO Fadi Chehade will step down from the post March 2016, he said in the last hour. < <http://domainincite.com/18566-chehade-quits-as-icann-ceo> http://domainincite.com/18566-chehade-quits-as-icann-ceo> 404 Boss not found, ICANN CEO suddenly quits ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade has surprised the internet community by announcing he will step down from the job after just three years in the post. < <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/21/icann_ceo_quits/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/21/icann_ceo_quits/> NameVault terminated by ICANN NameVault, a registrar that once had over 75,000 domains under management, has been terminated by ICANN over multiple alleged contract breaches. < <http://domainincite.com/18578-namevault-terminated-by-icann> http://domainincite.com/18578-namevault-terminated-by-icann> ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** One Week To Go For Your Say: Should .AU Allow Second Level Registrations There is only one week to go for submissions and comments on whether, among other issues, second level .au registrations should be allowed. < <http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=23834> http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=23834> < <http://www.domainpulse.com/2015/05/25/your-say-au-second-level-registration s/> http://www.domainpulse.com/2015/05/25/your-say-au-second-level-registrations /> < <http://www.domainnews.com/one-week-au-second-level-registrations.html> http://www.domainnews.com/one-week-au-second-level-registrations.html> auDA seeks public comment on allowing domain name registrations directly under ?.au? [registration] In a move that reflects a growing trend towards opening up new internet real estate in a booming market, a Names Policy Panel was recently constituted by the Australian domain name registry, auDA, and has released a first Issues Paper considering and seeking public comment on the idea of allowing domain name registrations directly under the second-level ?.au? TLD. < <http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=3403a473-4605-4151- a9b7-a51b6226432d> http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=3403a473-4605-4151-a 9b7-a51b6226432d> The domain portal ".es" is improving its security by updating its SSL certificate Next 28th May, the domain portal ".es" will replace the current SSL certificate for a new one, with a key length of 2048 bits and SHA-256 algorithm. With this update, Red.es will improve its portal protection and increase the security of established connections with the website. < <http://www.dominios.es/dominios/en/actualidad-y-noticias/comunicados/domain -portal-es-improving-its-security-updating-its-ssl> http://www.dominios.es/dominios/en/actualidad-y-noticias/comunicados/domain- portal-es-improving-its-security-updating-its-ssl> fr: The domain name market: 2017, year of consolidation? The May 2015 edition of the Afnic Industry Report on Domain Names sets out a projection of the domain name market development for the next five years. < <http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/9063/show/the-domain-n ame-market-2017-year-of-consolidation.html> http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/9063/show/the-domain-na me-market-2017-year-of-consolidation.html> CA licence for .ke Registrars Following the new licensing requirements from Communication Authority Of Kenya, which became operation last year, all .KE Registrars are required to get licensed by C.A and KeNIC. < <http://www.kenic.or.ke/kenic-latest-news/ca-licence-for-ke-registrars> http://www.kenic.or.ke/kenic-latest-news/ca-licence-for-ke-registrars> ky: Secondhand market sells Cayman domain names Around 4,000 people and businesses have paid to register Cayman domain names since regulators announced new rules which will ultimately see .ky Internet addresses sold worldwide. < <http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2015/05/21/Secondhand-market-sells- Cayman-domain-names/> http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2015/05/21/Secondhand-market-sells-C ayman-domain-names/> Norway joins the world elite of domain name system security Nearly half of all Norwegian domain names are now secured with the DNSSEC thechnology. With this, Norway is in the European top spot using this security mechanism. < <https://www.norid.no/nytt/pressemelding20150520.en.html> https://www.norid.no/nytt/pressemelding20150520.en.html> DNS.pt supports the General Regulatory Authority of Sao Tome and Principe in the re-delegation of .ST Was signed today, in Lisbon, a cooperation protocol between the DNS.pt and the General Regulatory Authority of Sao Tome e Principe - AGER, which aims the re-delegation with the IANA, transfer, implementation of registration, maintenance and management of the ccTLD .ST. The event was attended by the Minister for Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment of Sao Tome e Principe, Carlos Vila Nova. < <http://www.dns.pt/en/news/dns-pt-supports-the-general-regulatory-authority- of-sao-tome-and-principe-in-the-re-delegation-of-st/> http://www.dns.pt/en/news/dns-pt-supports-the-general-regulatory-authority-o f-sao-tome-and-principe-in-the-re-delegation-of-st/> Act Now ? Just Say ?No!? to URS at .Travel ? Or It Will Travel to .Com On May 12th ICANN posted the ?Proposed Renewal of .TRAVEL Sponsored TLD Registry Agreement? for a period of public comment ending June 21st. < <http://www.internetcommerce.org/no-urs-at-dot-travel/> http://www.internetcommerce.org/no-urs-at-dot-travel/> Comment Period Open on Kids.us Suspension The usTLD Stakeholder Council is seeking comments on its recommendation to continue the suspension of the kids.us namespace through the end of the current .US contract term. < <http://www.neustar.us/comment-period-open-on-kids-us-suspension/> http://www.neustar.us/comment-period-open-on-kids-us-suspension/> ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** ICANN says ?no impact? from TMCH downtime The 10-hour outage in the Trademark Clearinghouse?s key database had no impact on domain registrations, ICANN says. < <http://domainincite.com/18575-icann-says-no-impact-from-tmch-downtime> http://domainincite.com/18575-icann-says-no-impact-from-tmch-downtime> How are the German Based Geographic gTLDs Fairing? Now that the New gTLD Program has been active for over a year, there have been 45 Geographic gTLDs delegated in the root by ICANN. 34 of these are ?City? designated gTLDs with nine more classified as ?Regions?. DotBERLIN leads the way in total second-level domain (SLD) names according to the zonefile with over 150.000 registrations. < <https://international.eco.de/2015/news/how-are-the-german-based-geographic- gtlds-fairing.html> https://international.eco.de/2015/news/how-are-the-german-based-geographic-g tlds-fairing.html> New TLD leaderboard dominated by dirt cheap domain names New TLD operators that want to be recognized as one of the biggest, here?s a simple tip: offer your domains for free or close to it. < <http://domainnamewire.com/2015/05/21/new-tld-leaderboard-dominated-by-dirt- cheap-domain-names/> http://domainnamewire.com/2015/05/21/new-tld-leaderboard-dominated-by-dirt-c heap-domain-names/> ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Cyber-Attack Warning: Could Hackers Bring Down a Plane? For years, hackers have been warning that passenger jets are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Airlines and plane manufacturers have largely ignored the risks, but recent events are leading German authorities and pilots to take the threats extremely seriously. < <http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/hackers-warn-passenger-planes- vulnerable-to-cyber-attacks-a-1035172.html> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/hackers-warn-passenger-planes-v ulnerable-to-cyber-attacks-a-1035172.html> Adult online dating site reports data security breach of member information An online dating site for adults seeking sexual trysts has been hacked, potentially compromising the personal information of some of its 64 million members, the company said on Friday. < <http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/23/us-usa-california-data-idUKM1KBN0O 72D820150523> http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/23/us-usa-california-data-idUKM1KBN0O7 2D820150523> < <http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/22/usa-california-data-idINKBN0O72D62 0150522> http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/22/usa-california-data-idINKBN0O72D620 150522> Bank-heist malware's servers phone home to Russian spookhaus Trend Micro researcher Maxim Goncharov says one of the world's most sophisticated and dangerous bank-robbing trojans is now pointing to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). < <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/25/bankplundering_malware_now_fingers_ ruskie_fsb/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/25/bankplundering_malware_now_fingers_r uskie_fsb/> ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES & SEIZURES ********************** Pirate Domain Seizures Are Easy in the United States It's taken more than two years for Swedish authorities to seize two key Pirate Bay domains but over in the United States the process is dramatically quicker. A TV company has just achieved similar aims against 11 'pirate' streaming domains after being granted a comprehensive ex parte restraining order by a Florida court. < <http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-domain-seizures-are-easy-in-the-united-state s-150521/> http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-domain-seizures-are-easy-in-the-united-states -150521/> Pirate Bay Loses New Domain Name, Hydra Lives On The Pirate Bay has lost one of its new domain names after an intervention from South Georgia's .GS registry. While the domain suspension wasn't unexpected and the proverbial Hydra has now lost one head, TPB says that it can easily grow some more. < <http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-loses-new-domain-name-hydra-lives-on-150 522/> http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-loses-new-domain-name-hydra-lives-on-1505 22/> Defensive domain name registrations: should brands be sucked in? Mobile apps are changing consumers? relationships with domain names, which could reduce the need for brands to register gTLDs defensively, say Antony Gold and Lauren Somers of patent and trademark attorney firm HGF. < <http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/article/defensive-domain-name-regi strations-should-brands-be-sucked-in> http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/article/defensive-domain-name-regis trations-should-brands-be-sucked-in> au: Tom Stoddart Pty Ltd. v. Roband Australia Pty Ltd - Case No. DAU2015-0015 1. The Parties: The Complainant is Tom Stoddart Pty Ltd. of Sunnybank, Australia, represented by Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Australia. The Respondent is Roband Australia Pty Ltd (formerly known as Woodson (Australia) Pty Limited), of Dee Why, Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <woodson.com.au> (the ?Disputed Domain Name?) is registered with Melbourne IT Ltd. < <http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2015-0015> http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2015-0015> ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** UK sells off unused net addresses The UK government has started selling off internet addresses that it no longer uses. < <http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32826353> http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32826353> Considering an IPv4 transfer? Avoid the potential routing pitfalls Dyn?s chief scientist, Jim Cowie, gave an interesting presentation last week at RIPE 70 around some of the potential routing issues that can emerge from IPv4 address transfers. Given the steady increase in IPv4 transfers in the APNIC region, I thought it was a presentation worth sharing. < <http://blog.apnic.net/2015/05/18/considering-an-ipv4-transfer-avoid-the-pot ential-routing-pitfalls/> http://blog.apnic.net/2015/05/18/considering-an-ipv4-transfer-avoid-the-pote ntial-routing-pitfalls/> ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Domain definitions: whois privacy vs. whois proxy With talk in Washington and policy circles about whois privacy, I think it would be good to define both whois privacy and whois proxy, and discussed how the terms are usually used. < <http://domainnamewire.com/2015/05/21/domain-definitions-whois-privacy-vs-wh ois-proxy/> http://domainnamewire.com/2015/05/21/domain-definitions-whois-privacy-vs-who is-proxy/> ********************** SOCIAL MEDIA ********************** What Facebook?s ?It?s Not Our Fault? Study Really Means Yesterday in the journal Science, members of the Facebook data science team released a provocative study about adult Facebook users in the US ?who volunteer their ideological affiliation in their profile.? The study ?quantified the extent to which individuals encounter comparatively more or less diverse? hard news ?while interacting via Facebook?s algorithmically ranked News Feed.? < <http://www.wired.com/2015/05/facebook-not-fault-study/> http://www.wired.com/2015/05/facebook-not-fault-study/> Facebook, If You're Serious About Privacy Controls, Let Me Control Them Facebook wants people to stop getting frustrated with the company?s privacy settings. Well, good luck with that. < <http://readwrite.com/2014/04/11/facebook-privacy-controls-hand-them-over> http://readwrite.com/2014/04/11/facebook-privacy-controls-hand-them-over> ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Google a step closer to developing machines with human-like intelligence Computers will have developed ?common sense? within a decade and we could be counting them among our friends not long afterwards, one of the world?s leading AI scientists has predicted. < <http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/21/google-a-step-closer-to-deve loping-machines-with-human-like-intelligence> http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/21/google-a-step-closer-to-devel oping-machines-with-human-like-intelligence> Google patents 'creepy' internet toys to run the home Google's R&D team has looked into making internet-connected toys that control smart home appliances. The firm has published a patent that describes devices that would turn their heads towards users and listen to what they were saying, before sending commands to remote computer servers. < <http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32843518> http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32843518> ********************** ONLINE TV, MUSIC & PIRACY ********************** YouTube's 1st decade shows sharing free content pays off [AP] YouTube's legacy extends beyond its pioneering role in the Internet's video revolution. < <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11454 172> http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=114541 72> < <http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/68823584/ten-years-of-yout ube-shows-content-sharing-works> http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/68823584/ten-years-of-youtu be-shows-content-sharing-works> ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Behind the Downfall at BlackBerry Ever since Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis stepped down as co-chairmen and co-chief executives of BlackBerry, neither has spoken much in public about the once-dominant smartphone maker?s fall into near market obscurity. The two and many others have opened up, however, to two reporters from The Globe and Mail in Toronto: Jacquie McNish, a senior business writer and author of several books and Sean Silcoff, who reports about the company. The resulting book, ?Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry,? which will be published in the United States on Tuesday, fills in some details of the early history of BlackBerry. And its later chapters offer gripping details about the emotional and business turmoil surrounding its near collapse. < <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/behind-the-downfall-at-blackberry/ > http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/behind-the-downfall-at-blackberry/> ********************** PRIVACY & SURVEILLANCE ********************** Lawmakers Want To Know Who?s Tracking You Online, And Where The Info Goes Everything you do online ? on your phone, on your computer, with anything ? leaves a digital wake. Put those trails together and you?ve got one massive big data industry that can (and does) track it all and sell it to the highest bidder. After decades of digital detritus building up, regulators and Congress both are contemplating some steps that would help protect consumers? info. < <http://consumerist.com/2015/03/06/lawmakers-want-to-know-whos-tracking-you- online-and-where-the-info-goes/> http://consumerist.com/2015/03/06/lawmakers-want-to-know-whos-tracking-you-o nline-and-where-the-info-goes/> ************************** GOVERNMENT & POLICY ************************** au: Labor, Greens and crossbenchers concerned at Trans-Pacific Partnership Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers have formed a new group to raise concerns about the highly secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership deal as political opposition builds ahead of its signing. < <http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/22/labor-greens-and-cros sbenchers-concerned-at-trans-pacific-partnership> http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/22/labor-greens-and-cross benchers-concerned-at-trans-pacific-partnership> Trade and Trust by Paul Krugman One of the Obama administration?s underrated virtues is its intellectual honesty. Yes, Republicans see deception and sinister ulterior motives everywhere, but they?re just projecting. The truth is that, in the policy areas I follow, this White House has been remarkably clear and straightforward about what it?s doing and why. < <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/22/opinion/paul-krugman-trade-and-trust.html > http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/22/opinion/paul-krugman-trade-and-trust.html> Hundreds of Tech Companies to Congress: TPP and Fast Track Harms Digital Innovation and Users? Rights In a joint letter to Congress released today, more than 250 technology companies and user rights organizations say that the extreme level of secrecy surrounding trade negotiations have led to provisions in agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that threaten digital innovation, free speech, and access to knowledge online, and the letter calls on Congress to come out against the Fast Track, also known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), bill for legitimizing this secretive process. Its signatories include AVG Technologies, DreamHost, Namecheap, Mediafire, Imgur, Internet Archive, BoingBoing, Piwik, Private Internet Access, and many others. < <https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/hundreds-tech-companies-congress-tpp- and-fast-track-harms-digital-innovation-and> https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/hundreds-tech-companies-congress-tpp-a nd-fast-track-harms-digital-innovation-and> ITU marks 150th anniversary with global celebrations ITU celebrated its 150th anniversary on 17 May, marking a long and illustrious history at the cutting edge of communication technologies. < <http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2015/13.aspx> http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2015/13.aspx> ************************** BRAND PROTECTION & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ************************** Intellectual property issues viewed as last TPP hurdle Trade negotiators for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in Guam are now focusing on intellectual property issues, which appear likely to be the last hurdle to concluding the talks. < <http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/24/business/intellectual-property- issues-viewed-as-last-tpp-hurdle/> http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/24/business/intellectual-property-i ssues-viewed-as-last-tpp-hurdle/> ********************** MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Bitcoin really is useful. Just not in the way you think When the banking system went into meltdown in 2008, an intriguing glimpse of an alternative future appeared. On 31 October, an unknown cryptographer who went by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto launched what he described as ?a new electronic cash system that?s fully peer to peer, with no trusted third party?. The name he assigned to this new currency was bitcoin. < <http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/23/bitcoin-really-useful- not-in-way-you-think> http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/23/bitcoin-really-useful-n ot-in-way-you-think> ------ David Goldstein email: <mailto:david at goldsteinreport.com> david at goldsteinreport.com web: <http://goldsteinreport.com/> http://goldsteinreport.com/ Twitter: <https://twitter.com/goldsteinreport> https://twitter.com/goldsteinreport phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9663 3430 - 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.cynosure.com.au/mailman/private/dns/attachments/20150525/c7916f3e/attachment-0001.html>Received on Mon May 25 2015 - 04:20:36 UTC
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