Don't forget to check out my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. Plus an online archive for at least the last 3 months is available from http://auda.org.au/domain-news/. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** The Future of the Internet: A Political View by Geoff Huston http://www.circleid.com/posts/86241_future_of_internet_political_view/ How Global Should the Internet Be? http://businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2008/gb20080623_136988.htm Debate Over New Top-level Domains Drags on [IDG] http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/147512/debate_over_new_toplevel_domains_drags_on.html 'Shake-up' for internet proposed http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7468855.stm ICANN to vote on relaxing rules for top-level domain names http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9102940 Net redirection insecure, admits ICANN [IDG] http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsID=102001 $1B market for meddling with DNS poses security problem [IDG] http://www.itworld.com/news/53289/1b-market-meddling-dns-poses-security-problem au: Govt assist Links Our Partners New Products http://smartcompany.com.au/Free-Articles/The-Briefing/20080624-Domain-name-shake-up-.html au: Domain Name Change Set To Trigger Web Explosion http://smarthouse.com.au/Home_Office/Broadband_And_Web_Hosting/P7P4R9P4 Google to Offer a Tool To Measure Web Hits http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121425232721997689.html New Google public Web tracking tool shrouds its own sites http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1313452054 ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** The Future of the Internet: A Political View by Geoff Huston On June 17th and 18th the OECD hosted a Ministerial Meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy, attended by Ministers for communications from the 30 OECD member nations and some 15 other nations, all to talk about the future of the Internet Economy. http://www.circleid.com/posts/86241_future_of_internet_political_view/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN IN PARIS ********************** French Minister Besson Addresses 32nd International Public Meeting in Paris Over 1,550 delegates have gathered in Paris to discuss some of most important issues facing the evolution of the Internet, as ICANN opened its 32nd International Public Meeting here yesterday. French Minister of State Eric Besson opened ICANN's Paris meeting. The Minister of State is responsible for Forward Planning, Assessment of Public Policies and Development of the Digital Economy. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-25jun08-en.htm How Global Should the Internet Be? Lest you think a U.N. meeting to discuss the future of the Internet would be a ponderous, low-key affair, consider this remarkable tale. Back in 2003, when the U.N. held just such an event in Geneva, the delegates unexpectedly decided to close the meeting to nongovernmental officials and to eject a handful of attendees. One of them was Paul Twomey?president of ICANN, a private, nonprofit company that oversees technical aspects of the Internet's address system?who was escorted by guards to the exit. http://businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2008/gb20080623_136988.htm http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1447812/how_global_should_the_internet_be/ Debate Over New Top-level Domains Drags on [IDG] Seven years after dot-biz opened as a competitor to dot-com, ICANN is getting ready to simplify the creation of more generic top-level domains -- perhaps thousands of them. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/147512/debate_over_new_toplevel_domains_drags_on.html http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/06/24/debate-over-new-top-level-domains-drags http://www.itworld.com/news/53295/debate-over-new-top-level-domains-drags Rewiring the web It could be the biggest shake-up to hit the Internet in decades. ICANN, the group tasked with regulating the web, will vote Thursday on whether it should open the gates to millions of new potential web addresses. http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2008/06/23/rewiring-the-web/ 'Shake-up' for internet proposed The net could see its biggest transformation in decades if plans to open up the address system are passed. The net's regulators will vote on Thursday to decide if the strict rules on so-called top level domain names, such as .com or .uk, can be relaxed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7468855.stm http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=607&cat=8 ICANN to vote on relaxing rules for top-level domain names ICANN will vote at its meeting in Paris on Thursday on whether to open up the rules for top-level domain names. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9102940 http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/06/24/icann-vote-relaxing-rules-top-level-domain-names http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;2061762617 Internet faces radical overhaul with rule changes The internet will change beyond recognition by as early as next year in what is being billed as one of the most radical shake-ups over how net addresses work, if a vote to relax domain name rules is approved today. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/internet-faces-radical-overhaul-with-rule-changes-854129.html Extreme Makeover, Internet Edition: ICANN to Vote on Major Revamp Want your own top level domain on the Internet? The organization regulating naming conventions for Web sites might make that dream possible for anyone willing to fork over $30,000 to $50,000. Large corporations will no doubt jump at the chance, and ".com" will soon become as outmoded as Flooz. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/63545.html ICANN considers relaxing Internet naming rules The group controlling Internet domain names may soon decide whether to relax naming rules and potentially open up a virtual domain name gold rush. http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/25/domain.names/ ICANN to vote on new Internet domain names ICANN is getting ready to vote later this week to open up the Internet naming convention to allow more options. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9975757-7.html Net redirection insecure, admits ICANN [IDG] The interception of Net traffic to snoop on phone calls or track surfers' behaviour is a hot topic but what's keeping members of ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee up at night is the interception of traffic to and from sites that don't even exist. http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsID=102001 http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/06/24/Meddling_with_DNS_poses_security_problem_1.html http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/06/24/1b-market-meddling-dns-poses-security-problem http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/062408-1b-market-for-meddling-with.html http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/147473/1b_market_for_meddling_with_dns_poses_security_problem.html Brandowners Warn Against Cybersquatting, User Confusion From New Internet Domains Some think ICANN should have moved much faster to introduce new names in the internet to join the likes of .com and .org. Others moan about the widespread trademark infringement they expect to occur when the private internet governance body introduces several long-awaited new top-level domains. But the prospect of news about the next round in extending the global domain name space has brought them all to ICANN?s Paris meeting that might emerge as the largest in the organisation?s history. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1110 Internet administrators in dispute over data protection for domain owners New studies of the use and misuse of Whois data about the owners of internet domains are essential. This at least is the thinking of ICANN?s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC). At a meeting shortly before the private network administration officially went into session, a US government representative, Suzanne Sene, said the GAC wanted ICANN to organize these studies and pay for them. http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/109882 http://www.heise-online.co.uk/news/Internet-administrators-in-dispute-over-data-protection-for-domain-owners--/110983 Extreme Makeover, Internet Edition: ICANN to Vote on Major Revamp ICANN will vote this week in Paris on a plan to radically open up the procedure for assigning top-level domain names. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/63545.html Internet set for domain name big bang [AFP] The internet looks set for one of the biggest shake-ups in its brief history if the web's regulator votes this week, as expected, to allow new domain names such as .love or .paris. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/24/1214073188092.html http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1867234 http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iSectionId=2891&iArticleId=4471027 http://technology.iafrica.com/news/technology/900964.htm http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23913047-38200,00.html http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080624-144382/Internet-set-for-domain-name-big-bang--ICANN New domains - .love, .hate - coming soon [AFP] INTERNET users should soon be able to use new domain names such as .love, .paris or .bank if one of the world wide web's biggest shakeups is approved this week as expected by the web regulator ICANN. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,,23915541-5013040,00.html http://www.todayonline.com/articles/261207.asp http://www.physorg.com/news133444669.html http://news.theage.com.au/world/new-internet-domain-names-in-2009-icann-20080624-2vol.html Panel to consider big changes to URL rules [AP] The Internet's key oversight agency is considering the first sweeping changes in the network's addressing system since its creation 25 years ago. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25376745/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/25/financial/f134114D00.DTL http://www.theage.com.au/world/internet-body-considers-big-domain-overhaul-20080626-2x2c.html http://www.thestate.com/technology-wire/story/443681.html ICANN to vote on internationalised domain names The organisation that manages the world's most important web address extensions ? what goes after the dot in a URL ? is to hold a vote on Thursday that could see an entire new generation of URLs made possible.see an entire new generation of URLs made possible. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39437739,00.htm http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,62043028,00.htm Internet regulators set to shake up domain name system The internet could see its most radical shake-up in years if plans to open up the current web address system are passed. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/06/25/231218/internet-regulators-set-to-shake-up-domain-name-system.htm Domain name system set for expansion At its meeting in Paris starting today, ICANN will discuss the New gTLD Program, which was started in 2006. If, as is expected, the plans are approved then any organization would be able to apply to launch a new gTLD, provided it meets the relevant criteria. http://www.managingip.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=1960915&LS=EMS187951 http://www.managingip.com/Popups/PrintArticle.http://www.biosmagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=6006aspx?ArticleID=1960915&issueID=&categoryID= Bulgaria moves to register Cyrillic Internet domain Bulgaria applied on Monday to register an Internet domain name in Cyrillic script as part of efforts to boost national pride amid a growing influence of English. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL2360195920080623 http://in.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idINL2360195920080623 http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1320238/1866701 http://internet.itbusinessnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=431303 ICANN Paris Meeting, New TLDS Likely More top level domains are likely to be approved following this week?s ICANN meeting in Paris. With suggestions ranging from a couple of dozen to thousands of TLDs that could be approved, this would be a significant opening up of the number of TLDs, up from the six that were available back in 1985 when the domain name system began. http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=5309 http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/icann-paris-meeting-new-tlds-likely.html Bulgaria requests addresses in Cyrillic letters [SAPA/AP] Officials say Bulgaria has become the first country to request Internet addresses registered in Cyrillic script. The government agency for information technologies and communications said on Monday it has made an official application to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN. http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iSectionId=2891&iArticleId=4471026 ICANN Coming to Mexico ICANN will confirm tomorrow (Thursday) Paris time the meeting from March 1-5, 2009, to be held in the Latin America region will be held in Mexico. The choices from talk at the ICANN meeting underway in Paris is the options are Cancun and Mexico City, with the latter to be a slight favourite. However we will have to wait for the ICANN meeting to see which way the board votes. http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/06/25/icann-coming-to-mexico/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/icann-coming-to-mexico.html Internet gets naming overhaul THE INTERWIBBLE could get its biggest domain name shake up ever on Thursday if the net's regulators, Icann, votes to relax strict rules on naming. http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/06/23/internet-gets-naming-overhaul $1B market for meddling with DNS poses security problem [IDG] The interception of Internet traffic to snoop on phone calls or track surfers' behavior is a hot topic, but what's keeping members of ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee up at night is the interception of traffic to and from sites that don't even exist. They explained why in a session at ICANN's public meeting here yesterday. http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=internet_business&articleId=9102778 ICANN proposes greater top-level domain name flexibility ICANN is proposing to relax the rules on top-level domain names in a move that could drastically change the Internet. http://itnews.com.au/News/NewsStory.aspx?story=79038 http://www.crn.com.au/News/79038,icann-proposes-greater-toplevel-domain-name-flexibility.aspx Govt assist Links Our Partners New Products Businesses may soon be able to register their brands as domain names depending on the outcome of a vote to be held by the world?s key online regulator tomorrow in Paris. http://smartcompany.com.au/Free-Articles/The-Briefing/20080624-Domain-name-shake-up-.html Domain Name Change Set To Trigger Web Explosion According to a number of overseas reports, internet users worldwide should soon be able to use new domain names such as .love, .sydney or .bank if one of the world wide web's biggest shakeups is approved this week as expected by the global web regulator ICANN. http://smarthouse.com.au/Home_Office/Broadband_And_Web_Hosting/P7P4R9P4 Which regulations would apply for .SEX or .APPLE registrations? ANY ?!?! Let's say the Apple Computer company registered .apple -- does that mean that Apple Computer could approve or deny the registration of an applicant who is an apple farmer? Would apple farmers perhaps have to buy Apple computers to register a .apple domain name? http://www.zdnet.co.uk/talkback/0,1000001161,39437739-39001105c-20095108o,00.htm ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN: Comment Period Closed; Updated Draft Final Report IDNC WG on Fast Track Process for IDN ccTLDs Now Available The IDNC WG has produced its draft final report [PDF, 97K] for discussion by the GAC and the ccNSO pursuant to the charter of the IDNC WG. Please note this document has not been signed off by the IDNC Working Group. The public comment period on the draft officially closed on 23 June 2008. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-24jun08-en.htm ICANN Formalizes Relationship with Costa Rica ccTLD Manager ICANN is another step closer to formalized relationships with all Latin American ccTLDs with the signing of its ninth accountability framework in the region, this one with the the country code top level domain (ccTLD) manager for .cr, delegated to the National Academy of Sciences of Costa Rica in 1990. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-25jun08-en.htm GNSO Council Opens Public Comment Forum for Top Level GNSO Improvements Implementation Plan Background: At its 25 June 2008 meeting in Paris, France the GNSO Council voted to invite public comments on the 21 June 2008 version of the GNSO Improvements - Top Level Plan prepared by the GNSO Improvements Planning Team. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-25jun08-en.htm Domain Name Registry As Judge, Jury and Executioner In a recent memorandum to ICANN, .info domain name registry provider Afilias has proposed that the company be responsible for all decisions regarding .info domain name abuses. The proposed Abusive Use Policy has its root in the good intention of comabting the use of domain names for phishing, spamming or other malcious use, however the proposal provides a greater amount of control to the registry and leaves the door open for the registry to make important decisions on what is and is not to be considered abusive use of a domain name. http://www.domainnamenews.com/featured/domain-name-registry-as-judge-jury-and-executioner/1674 ICANN Asked To Shut Down "Worst" Chinese Registrar ... Anti-spam service Knujon has released reports highlighting how certain registrars in the US and abroad have consistently failed to live up to certain WHOIS-related obligations under ICANN's Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) ? specifically, the requirement that people or company registering domains provide valid contact information. http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/23/0248248 ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** NeuStar Announces Registration of Two Millionth .BIZ Domain Name NeuStar announced that two million domain names have been officially registered within the .BIZ Internet domain. NeuStar is the operator and administrator of the .BIZ top-level domain (TLD) registry, and was awarded the contract by ICANN. http://neustar.biz/pressroom/announcements/press_release.cfm?press_id=1507 CO.NL Opens a New Horizon for the Dutch Internet [news release] Launched today at ICANN Paris, a new extension for Internet domain names that will open a brand new horizon for Dutch and international enterprises. From September 2008, companies and other interested parties will be able to give a Dutch "flavor" to their Internet presence by using the "co.nl" ending. http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/co.nl-opens-a-new-horizon-for-the-dutch-internet.html New co.nl domain unveiled THE GOOD PEOPLE down at ICANN, today announced that anyone with the urge to do so could set themselves up a Dutch styled "co.nl" ending website. http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/06/25/nl-domain-unveiled .TEL Domain Names Coming March 09 Telnic intends that .tel will be a one-stop shop where individuals and organisations will be able to provide a range of contact information. According to Telnic it will allow anyone to publish and control, in real time, how they can be reached. It will enable people to reach a business from any Internet enabled device (computer or mobile) simply by typing, for example, 'Hertz.tel'. http://www.webhostdir.com/news/articles/shownews.asp?id=26400 Telnic sets launch date for .tel domains Telnic, the organisation behind the new .tel 'one-stop-contact' top level domain name, says it will start accepting applications from trademark holders from December in preparation for a launch in March 2009. http://www.itwire.com/content/view/18913/53/ ru: The Russian Language in Ukraine--Resurrecting the Past The Kremlin has once again raised the hoary issue of the rights of Russian language speakers in Ukraine, apparently as part of its campaign to make Russian the official lingua franca of the CIS and to apply more pressure on its neighbor during a time of strained relations. http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2373171 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** $1B market for meddling with DNS poses security problem [IDG] The interception of Internet traffic to snoop on phone calls or track surfers' behavior is a hot topic -- but what's keeping members of ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee up at night is the interception of traffic to and from sites that don't even exist. They explained why in a session at ICANN's public meeting in Paris on Monday. http://www.itworld.com/news/53289/1b-market-meddling-dns-poses-security-problem Marshall Islands email paralysed by 'zombie' attack [AFP] Email communication in the Marshall Islands was paralysed Tuesday after hackers launched a "zombie" computer attack on the western Pacific nation's only Internet service provider, officials said. http://www.todayonline.com/articles/261353.asp http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080624/tc_afp/marshallsinternet_080624104236 Does cyber-terrorism exist? Global security experts gathered in Malaysia last month to help ramp up the world?s defenses against cyber-terrorism http://www.crn.com.au/Feature/4652,does-cyberterrorism-exist.aspx Still a role for virus blockers SECURITY software maker McAfee has been tracking almost 10 million websites in 265 countries, and says Hong Kong, China, The Philippines, Romania and Russia are the most dangerous domains, with between 6 and 7 per cent of all sites rated as risky. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23908323-24169,00.html Almost half of malicious sites tied to 10 networks Almost half the websites pushing malware are hosted by just 10 networks, according to a new report that adds new support to the growing argument that a relatively few number of actors are responsible for most of the net-based threats. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/24/stopbadware_report/ The Internet needs more redundancy A couple of weeks ago my website went down. Nine thousand other Web servers also died when The Planet, a large hosting service, experienced an electrical explosion and fire in one of its facilities. Because it was an electrical fire, the local fire department refused to let the company activate their backup generators for fear of further damage. http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php/id;165626241 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** au: Fast justice: simplifying domain name disputes This week?s World Intellectual Property Organization?s (WIPO) arbitration decision to hand over the facebook.com.au domain to global social networking phenomenon Facebook has shown just how efficient and timely the domain name dispute system has become. http://au.legalbusinessonline.com/news/breaking-news/25292/details.aspx Battling domain idea theft The Over-the-Rhine-based advertising firm metaphor went to buy an Internet domain name last winter after a preliminary search found it to be available, but before they could buy it, the name was snatched away by an outfit based in the Bahamas with links to China. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/BIZ01/806230317 Shutting Down a GMAT Cheat Sheet A court order against a Web site that gave away test questions could land some B-school students in hot water ... On June 20, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted the test's publisher, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a $2.3 million judgment against the operator of the site, Scoretop.com. GMAC has seized the site's domain name and shut down the site, and is analyzing a hard drive containing payment information. http://businessweek.com/bschools/content/jun2008/bs20080623_153722.htm BerryHill Gets Reverse Domain Name Hijacking Charge Against Italian Company Domain name lawyer John Berryhill has successfully defended famed domainer Gregory Rick?s Decal.com domain name, as well as getting a charge of reverse domain name hijacking against Italian company Decal (Depositi Costieri Calliope). http://domainnamewire.com/2008/06/24/berryhill-gets-reverse-domain-name-hijacking-charge-against-italian-company/ Bakers fails to follow its own advice in Narnia saga Baker & McKenzie, the firm suing an Edinburgh dad on behalf of the CS Lewis estate after he purchased the ?narnia.mobi? domain name has not ?managed to protect its own .mobi domain name. http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=133422&d=415&h=417&f=416 Toronto firm taking legal action against Liberal party use of "green shift" [Canadian Press] An environmental consulting and supply company in Toronto is firing off a legal "cease and desist" order to stop the Liberal party from using the firm's trademark name - Green Shift - for its new carbon-tax plan. ... A Liberal spokesman discounted the company's protests that the Liberals mimicked Green Shift's web domain name, by adding the article "the" before Greenshift.ca. http://www.cjfw.ca/node/742867 http://www.610cktb.com/news/14/742843 http://www.cjad.com/news/14/742843 http://www.am1150.ca/news/14/742843 Your money or your domain name! Way back in the mists of time - January this year to be exact - in my Backspin column I wrote about Network Solutions Inc. (NSI) and its practice of "front running." Allow me to quote myself to explain front running: http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/web/2008/062308web1.html Recent National Arbitration Forum Domain Name Decisions Involve YouTube, Canadian Television and American Girl [news release] The National Arbitration Forum issued decisions on the rights to YouTube.net, CTV.com, and AmericanGirl.net. Conflicts over domain names are on the rise. The dispute resolution provider handled 1,658 domain disputes in 2006, a 21 percent increase from the prior year, and 1,805 disputes in 2007. http://domains.adrforum.com/newsroom.aspx?itemID=1411 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Web Host Go Daddy Hits 30 Million Domain Milestone Global Web hosting provider and domain registrar says: Go Daddy is registering, renewing and transferring names used for Web site addresses to the tune of about one every second of every day http://www.tophosts.com/articles/007522.html GoDaddy Group Registers 30 Millionth Domain Name RulesofSaving.com, registered by a Connecticut man yesterday, pushes company over milestone. http://domainnamewire.com/2008/06/25/godaddy-group-registers-30-millionth-domain-name/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Google to Offer a Tool To Measure Web Hits As soon as Tuesday, Google plans to unveil a new service that measures Internet use, according to advertising executives who have been briefed on it. The tool is intended to help advertisers identify the best places to buy online ads by telling them which Web sites their target audiences visit. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121425232721997689.html Google plans new Internet measurement tool Google is expected to unveil on Tuesday a tool that measures Internet use to help advertisers identify the best places to buy ads that will reach their target audiences, according to a Wall Street Journal report. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9975792-7.html New Google public Web tracking tool shrouds its own sites Google on Friday launched a new tool that measures and compares public Web site traffic across geographies and related Web sites and searches. The new Google Trend for Websites tool was quickly browbeaten by some early reviewers because it doesn't allow traffic on many of the company's own properties, including Google.com, YouTube, Blogger and Picasa, to be measured. http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1313452054 Sedo Sales of the week up to June 23rd Selected Sedo sales of the week till June 23rd after the jump. http://www.domainnamenews.com/domain-sales/sedo-sales-of-the-week-up-to-june-23rd/1676 MyID domain auction: 7 domains have reached their reserve MyID is currently running their .CA domain auction. Bids have to be place by June 26th, 2008. The list of domains that have reached their reserve after the break. http://www.domainnamenews.com/domain-auction/myid-domain-auction-7-domains-have-reached-their-reserve/1675 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** At Google, Slow Growth in News Site Six years after its start, Google News is far from achieving the kind of dominant position in news that the company has in other areas. http://nytimes.com/2008/06/24/technology/24google.html http://iht.com/articles/2008/06/23/business/google.php Chrysler will offer wireless Internet access in 2009 models The struggling automaker's announcement comes shortly before California enacts a law that requires hands-free cellphone use while driving. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wificar25-2008jun25,0,1676276.story Al-Qaeda's Growing Online Offensive ... The exchange was part of the latest propaganda coup orchestrated by al-Qaeda: an online chat between Zawahiri -- one of the world's most wanted fugitives -- and hundreds of curious people around the globe. After announcing in a Web forum in December that he would entertain questions on virtually any topic, Zawahiri received 1,888 written queries from journalists and the public. He patiently answered about one-fifth of them, even hostile postings that condemned al-Qaeda for harming innocents and perverting Islam. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062302135.html Japanese telco institutes upload caps... of 30GB... daily Japanese broadband operator NTT Communications plans to begin implementing a new upload limit in August. If you've got to have caps, 30GB per day is probably doable. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080625-japanese-isp-institutes-upload-caps-of-30gb-daily.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook is "educational", says US uni Social networks like Facebook and MySpace have reputations as tools for procrastination but a new study from the University of Minnesota, US says contests this. http://networks.silicon.com/webwatch/0,39024667,39250348,00.htm ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Company scores plummet in Greenpeace Greener Electronics Guide [news release] With expanded and tougher criteria on toxic chemicals, electronic waste and new criteria on climate change only Sony and Sony Ericsson score more than 5/10 in our latest Guide to Greener Electronics. Nintendo and Microsoft remain rooted to the bottom of the Guide. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/guide-greener-electronics-8-edition-250608 Nintendo 'least green tech firm' Games firm Nintendo has come bottom of a ranking of the world's most eco-friendly electronics firms. The quarterly Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics ranks 18 electronics firms by how green their production processes and products are. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7473366.stm Greenpeace updates tech rankings Greenpeace has released the latest edition of its Green Technology rankings. Sony starred in the new rankings; the company itself placed second overall, while its joint venture with Ericsson was number one of the list. Greenpeace credited Sony Ericsson with an almost perfect score in reduction of hazardous chemicals, but noted that the company's recycling program was 'pitiful.' http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220064/greenpeace-updates-tech PC population reaches one billion The total number of PCs in use today has broken the one billion mark, according to new figures from Gartner. The analyst house has calculated that the installed base of PCs grows by around 12 per cent a year. If this continues the number of systems will reach two billion by 2014. http://www.computeractive.co.uk/vnunet/news/2219840/pc-population-reaches-billion http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2219846/pc-population-hits-billion http://www.itnews.com.au/News/NewsStory.aspx?story=79016 Gartner expects 2 billion PCs will be in use by 2014 As the number of PCs in use around the world passed the 1 billion mark, a research firm is estimating that the total will double in just another six years. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9102438 Gartner Says More than 1 Billion PCs In Use Worldwide and Headed to 2 Billion Units by 2014 [news release] The number of installed PCs worldwide has surpassed 1 billion units, according to Gartner, Inc. Gartner analysts estimate the worldwide installed base of PCs is growing just under 12 percent annually. At that pace, it will surpass 2 billion units by early 2014. http://gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=703807 ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** Internet for Everyone campaign aims to bridge digital divide An all-star panel of Internet academics, activists, and entrepreneurs gathered at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York today to launch Internet for Everyone, a campaign calling for a national broadband policy to bridge the "digital divide." The group?the members on hand today included such luminaries as Vint Cerf, Lawrence Lessig, Jonathan Zittrain, and Tim Wu?is urging political action to provide universal, affordable high-speed broadband in the United States. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080624-internet-for-everyone-campaign-aims-to-bridge-digital-divide.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Judge asks Google: what does obscene mean? A defendant in Florida will use data about searches on Google to argue that material he sold on the web was not obscene http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4204237.ece ************************** PRIVACY ************************** US Internet Provider Halts Plan to Track, Sell Users' Surfing Data Charter Communications, the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, announced yesterday that it has backed off a plan to monitor customers' Internet transmissions. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401033.html ISP backs off behavioral ad plan [IDG] Charter Communications Inc., one of the largest providers of cable-based broadband service in the U.S., has backed off a plan to insert advertisements onto Web pages based on its users' Web-surfing habits. Privacy advocates had called the program an "attack on users." http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9103358 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** The Pirate Bay moves to counter Swedish wiretapping law [IDG] The Pirate Bay is adding encryption to its Web site in order to counter a new Swedish law that allows wiretapping of Internet and phone traffic. The site is one of the most widely used BitTorrent trackers for music, movies and software. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9102598 http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/147471/the_pirate_bay_moves_to_counter_swedish_wiretapping_law.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** What?s Obscene? Google Could Have an Answer In a Florida trial, Google data will be used to argue that explicit material doesn?t violate community values. Judges and jurors who must decide whether sexually explicit material is obscene are asked to use a local yardstick: does the material violate community standards? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/technology/24obscene.html http://iht.com/articles/2008/06/24/technology/24obscene.php Belarus Cracks Down on Internet News [AP] Belarussian lawmakers gave final approval on Tuesday to a crackdown on Internet journalism. The new measures require that all Internet sites originating in the country be registered with the government. http://nytimes.com/2008/06/25/world/europe/25belarus.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ au: Leopard claws into kids' mobile use Parents can control their children's Optus mobile phone usage completely - including what websites they can visit, who they can contact and when they can use the built-in camera - using new Australian software. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/24/1214073201833.html http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/06/24/1214073201833.html http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/4595403a28.html nz: Online games used for sexual abuse grooming Online games are making it easier for sex offenders to groom children over the internet, says the Customs Service http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200806260920/3bd9750 http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200806260843/bd973c uk: Plan to protect children online unveiled The government has unveiled an action plan to make the internet safer for children with a ?9m ad campaign promoting "e-safety" and setting up a council on child internet safety. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/24/digitalmedia.children se: Children concerned over parent?s internet habits The annual report from Barnens R?tt i Samh?llet (BRIS), which runs a children?s helpline in Sweden, has revealed growing numbers of children are worried by their parents use of the internet. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220066/children-concerned-parent-internet-abuse uk: Traders caught selling violent games to children, online and off Thirty-eight online traders and three high street shops have been caught selling 18-rated video games to children in a series of undercover investigations. Such sales are illegal and businesses can be punished by prison sentences and fines. http://out-law.com/page-9202 eu: EDPS Opinion on safer Internet for children: data protection is an essential prerequisite to the safety of children online Today, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an Opinion on the proposed multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies, which was presented by the European Commission in February 2008. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=EDPS/08/7 http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=EDPS/08/7 Summer Vacation Spent on the Internet? The school year is ending and kids are getting ready for weeks of sun, relaxation, camps and hanging out - online. From Club Penguin to MySpace, YouTube and the latest next big thing, Ning.com, children will be spending more time online than ever before. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 94 percent of teens go online with nearly 60 percent keeping their online profiles on sites such as Facebook up to date. So where in the online world are your kids going to be this summer? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-balkam/summer-vacation-spent-on_b_108940.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Sarkozy lays out plan for Internet tax [AP] France will ban prime-time advertising on public television as of Jan. 1 and plans to tax Internet, phone and commercial broadcasting companies to replace the lost funding, President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday. http://iht.com/articles/2008/06/25/business/nettax.php ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** nz: Fibre policies to offset NZ isolation problem - Tuanz The fibre optic policies of both National and Labour will offset this country's isolation problem, a Telecommunications Summit in Auckland was told today. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501833&objectid=10518103 Fibre optic can offset NZ's isolation [NZPA] The fibre optic policies of both National and Labour will offset this country's isolation problem, a Telecommunications Summit in Auckland was told. http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/4595332a28.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10518095 ISPs urged to sell the 'content experience' ISPs should be doing deals with content sites to share network revenue and provide service level agreements (SLAs) for consumers based on "content experience", according to Juniper Networks. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2219914/isps-should-write-slas-consumers ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN ********************************** au: 'Child porn' officer blamed sons The wife of a senior NSW police officer accused of possessing child pornography has denied using the images to her own advantage. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/24/1214073208955.html http://au.news.yahoo.com/080624/2/17ezd. http://www.theage.com.au/national/child-porn-officer-blamed-sons-20080624-2vwo.html au: Officer 'kept child porn on a disc' The former wife of a senior police officer has told a Sydney court she found an image of child pornography in a box of his personal assets. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/24/2284158.htm au: Qld man bailed in child porn sting [ABC] A north Queensland man arrested in an international internet child pornography sting has been ordered to appear in court again in September. http://au.news.yahoo.com/080624/21/17ezn.html nz: NZ girl in kiddie porn Parents are being warned to show more interest in their children's online activity. http://nz.news.yahoo.com/080625/2/6cu2.html uk: Nazi supporter guilty of terror plans and possessing child porn A Nazi sympathiser, described by police as extremely dangerous, has been found guilty of planning acts of terrorism and of possessing child pornography after investigators found homemade bombs and indecent images of children at his home. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jun/25/uksecurity.thefarright ca: Quebec police say baby was victim of porn ring that netted 27 arrests [Canadian Press] Quebec provincial police allege a baby only a few months old was one of the victims of an international child pornography ring that operated over the internet. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/06/25/qc-pornring0625.html 27 Quebec men arrested on child-pornography charges Twenty-seven men from various parts of the province face child pornography charges after police discovered a group were secretly using a website based in Germany to exchange computer files. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=afa98d7b-7949-47fd-9dc6-8dde38aec2b1 Spain makes internet porn arrests Spanish police have arrested 41 people accused of possessing or sharing child internet pornography. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7473244.stm +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2008 --------- David Goldstein address: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA email: Goldstein_David §yahoo.com.au phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (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 Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address. www.yahoo7.com.au/mailReceived on Wed Jun 25 2008 - 20:02:38 UTC
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