[DNS] domain name news - 20 July

[DNS] domain name news - 20 July

From: David Goldstein <goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:19:06 -0700 (PDT)
Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news.


And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings.


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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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Lead Networks Loses Accreditation
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-17jul09-en.htm

The Web's Big Dot Change
http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/16/icann-web-address-leadership-cmo-network-dotbrand.html

Dot organisation
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/30a0bf26-71a2-11de-a821-00144feabdc0.html

Will new top-level domains promote cybersquatting?
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071609-icann-meetings-on-new-tlds.html

ICANN Road Show Opens on Broadway to Mixed Reviews
http://www.internetcommerce.org/node/199

The Domain Name Business: Sedo's Jeremiah Johnston explains how entrepreneurs can acquire, improve, and sell domain names
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jul2009/sb20090717_925271.htm


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RESEARCH PAPERS
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The Protection of Internet Domain Names in Israel and Palestine by Moe Alramahi [International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation]
Abstract: Rights over Domain Names (DNs) arise from the contract that governs the relationship of the DN registrant with the registrar (the entity that undertakes DNs registration on the internet). Additionally, rights may also be established under Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) created and governed by the statute concerned. This paper provides a comparative analysis of DNs protection in the field of intellectual property law. Focus its centred upon the study of the Israeli and Palestinian law. The purpose of this study is to find out the similarities and differences between the two legally recognised rights in a case of infringement and simultaneously between those two rights in the Israeli and Palestinian jurisdictions. In order to achieve such a purpose, the DN?s legal status and dispute treatment will be underlined. A comparison of the instrument and means of protection will follow. The research will deal with the various aspects of
 infringement, paying particular attention to the problems of the adequacy of trademarks law to internet DNs and the difficulties encountered in both jurisdictions.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1433712

The Legal Nature of Domain Name Rights by Moe Alramahi
Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to clarify the legal status of domain names from both a contractual and a property right perspective, and to consider whether domain names are to be considered as a new form of property, in particular as virtual property. Design/methodology/approach - The paper approaches the topic from contractual perspective. It then examines the concept and various property law theories. This is followed by an analysis to the intangibility of domain names and the appropriate category of protection. Findings - Domain names are creatures of contract and contract law will provide some form of protection. According to the bundle of rights theory, domain names are intangible property with limitations. Some names are very valuable but nevertheless attract no protection beyond contractual rights. These names should be clothed with property rights protection. The relevant form of property rights is still contentious issue.
 Originality/value - The nature of rights over domain names is a key emerging issue in the area of information technology law, with little to guide lawyers and judges. There is currently no consensus on what the legal status of a domain name is and opinions vary about the nature of these rights. The paper offers an insight to the nature of rights in an attempt to further the protection and recognition of rights over domain names.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1433783

ICANN at a Crossroads: A Proposal for Better Governance and Performance by Thomas M. Lenard & Lawrence J. White
Abstract: ICANN - the non-profit company that is at the center of the Internet - has operated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) since 1998. The MOU was replaced in September 2006 by the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) between ICANN and the DOC, which expires in August 2009. At that time, a decision needs to be made about ICANN?s future. Should the JPA tie with the U.S. Government be retained? Or should the link be wholly severed, as ICANN advocates? And, in either case, what governance structure would best promote Internet efficiency and innovation? This paper evaluates the structure and governance of ICANN to help inform the upcoming decision. In particular, it reviews ICANN?s structure and functions, and also the structures of a number of other organizations that perform a roughly comparable range of private-sector and quasi-governmental coordination and standard-setting functions, to explore what
 might be applicable to ICANN.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1434482

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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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Expressions of Interest Sought for Bulk Transfer of Registrations
As the result of the recent de-accreditation of registrar Lead Networks Domains Pvt. Ltd. ("Lead Networks"), ICANN is seeking expressions of interest from ICANN-accredited registrars that might wish to assume sponsorship of the gTLD names that were previously managed by Lead Networks.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-17jul09-en.htm

Lead Networks Loses Accreditation
The Registrar Accreditation Agreement ("RAA") between ICANN and registrar Lead Networks Domains Pvt. Ltd. ("Lead Networks") has expired without renewal because Lead Networks failed to comply with the requirements of that RAA.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-17jul09-en.htm

Bulk Transfer of Maxim Internet Domains to NameScout
As a result of the de-accreditation of registrar Maxim Internet, Inc., ICANN initiated a process to identify a gaining registrar to receive Maxim Internet's gTLD names.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-15jul09-en.htm

Sydney Fellowship Program Reached Successful Conclusion
Chosen from a field of 97 applicants, there were 29 Fellows from 21 countries participating in the 35th ICANN International Public Meeting held in Sydney last month. T hese individuals represented various sectors of the ICANN community including 8 from the ccTLD community, 7 from Government, 5 each from Civil Society and the private sector, and 4 from Academia.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-16jul09-en.htm

Who spoke what at Sydney?
What the devil is that?, you are asking. Well it is a graphical representation of the different languages spoken by attendees to the Sydney meeting last month. At registration, we asked all attendees to select which of six languages they spoke. It?s not going to be perfect - we didn?t capture all attendees; not all attendees responded to the question; and some probably didn?t realise what the question was asking - but it is a pretty good indication of who came to the Sydney meeting (an English speaking country but one in Asia-Pacific).
http://blog.icann.org/2009/07/who-spoke-what-at-sydney/

The Web's Big Dot Change
The dot-com era is nearing its end. Soon to emerge: the world of dot-brand. ICANN is overhauling domain rules later this year, ditching the ".com," ".net," and ".gov" organization of the Web in favor of allowing a system in which any of the Web's 1.3 billion users--including individuals, businesses, states and organizations--will be able to create unique domains.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/16/icann-web-address-leadership-cmo-network-dotbrand.html

Dot organisation
A couple of weeks ago, Sarah Deutsch got a typical call. The associate general counsel at Verizon spoke to a lawyer friend who informed her that someone was selling the internet address Verizonwirelessstorm.com on eBay for $1m. For Ms Deutsch and her team of five trademark lawyers, it triggered another weary process of trying to track down the seller and reclaim the web name.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/30a0bf26-71a2-11de-a821-00144feabdc0.html

ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom Talks about Domainers
In an article about new top level domains and trademarks in today?s Financial Times, ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom is quoted saying: ?You can look at domainers in many ways. Some see them as cybersquatters, some look at them as entrepreneurs. I think there is a rich and healthy debate to be had.?
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/16/icann-ceo-rod-beckstrom-talks-about-domainers/

Will new top-level domains promote cybersquatting?
ICANN is hosting two meetings this week ? one in New York City and the other in London ? to discuss the trademark and cybersecurity issues surrounding its plan to introduce hundreds of new top-level domains into the Internet.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071609-icann-meetings-on-new-tlds.html
http://computerworld.com.au/article/311496/
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/C1751085506D8DA1CC2575F5006FC622
http://www.cio.de/news/cio_worldnews/892140/
http://www.itworld.com/business/71584/will-new-top-level-domains-promote-cybersquatting
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/311496/
http://www.techworld.com.au/article/311496/
http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/311496/
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/will-new-top-level-domains-promote-cybersquatting-655
http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/07/16/will-new-top-level-domains-promote-cybersquatting
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135609/Will_new_top_level_domains_promote_cybersquatting_?taxonomyId=152

ICANN's New Internet Domains Hit Trademark Issues
Trademark-owners and Internet users are scared, but ICANN wants to press ahead with a move to allow an unlimited number of Internet domains
http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/knowledge/icann-s-new-internet-domains-hit-trademark-issues--1398

Under pressure from trademark interests, ICANN undoes the GNSO reforms by Milton Mueller
A little-noticed outcome of the Sydney ICANN meeting (overshadowed by the excitement surrounding the selection of its new CEO) was a shockingly flagrant display of how arbitrary and unfair ICANN can be. A year ago a Board Governance Committee recommended, and the full Board adopted, a proposal to give civil society and commercial user interests the same number of votes (6) on the GNSO Council.
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/7/13/4253458.html

ICANN Road Show Opens on Broadway to Mixed Reviews
On Monday, July 13th, ICANN opened its global consultation summer road show on Broadway in the ornate Hudson Theatre in the Millennium Hotel. The show was very low in entertainment value and, while the orchestra seating was fairly well filled, the balconies sat empty. It closed after a single run and is now on its way for a July 15th opening, and closing, in London.
http://www.internetcommerce.org/node/199

ICANN Has Little Power On ccTLD?s & UDRP?s Rarely Apply
Over the last week, I have talked about the .cm extension on several occasion (here, here, and here) and in the comments to the post it appears there is a lot of confusion in the domainer community as to ICANN?s role in ccTLD?s. The short answer is, they don?t have much.
http://www.thedomains.com/2009/07/19/icann-has-little-power-on-cctlds/

WIPO Conference: 10 Years UDRP - What's Next? WIPO, Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, October 12, 2009
Overview: On Monday, October 12, 2009, the World Intellectual Property Organization?s Arbitration and Mediation Center ? internationally recognized as the leading institution in the resolution of domain name disputes ? will host a Conference in Geneva, Switzerland to mark the tenth anniversary of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). Adopted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) at the initiative of, and with drafting and implementation assistance from WIPO, this quick and cost effective dispute resolution procedure has met with great demand. Since December 1999, the WIPO Center has administered over 30,000 proceedings, of which over 15,000 under the UDRP or UDRP-related policies.
http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/events/workshops/2009/10yrs-udrp/index.html

A Plan To Upend The Domain-Name System Runs Into Opposition
ICANN, the non-profit group that regulates domain names, wants to vastly expand the number of ?top level domain names? beyond the 21 that currently exist, such as .com, .net, and .mobi. But the proposal, which is expected to go into effect next year, is running into lots of opposition.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-icann-plan-to-upend-domain-name-system-runs-into-opposition/

Conroy opens broadband network to tenders
Tenders are being called to build the first stage of the national broadband network (NBN) in Tasmania. ... For the past decade Australian-born Paul Twomey has effectively been the internet's chief regulator, heading the US-based ICANN. Last week Dr Twomey officially left the organisation he helped establish, after he finished up as chief of the Australian Government's National Office of the Information Economy.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/16/2628083.htm

NBN board has temporary pilot, ISP doubts still remain
We are told repeatedly that the $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) will be the single largest nation-building infrastructure project in Australia's history and support thousands of jobs, but its management team is yet to be determined. ... ?In the past, I guess I would have defaulted to saying it should be an 'industry person'. There will need to be people with relevant experience on the board of the NBN company, but for what my opinion is worth I think a non-Telco like [Terria chairman Michael] Egan or [ex-ICANN chief Paul] Twomey would be extremely effective.?
http://www.cio.com.au/article/311385/
http://www.techworld.com.au/article/311385/

Lead Networks Lose ICANN Accreditation
Lead Networks, who I mentioned a few weeks ago, have lost their ICANN accreditation. The ICANN announcement includes some of the details and ICANN are currently seeking expressions of interest from other registrars to take over the portfolio of domains (approximately 70 - 80 thousand names according to ICANN).
http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2009/07/17/lead-networks-lose-icann-accreditation/

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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aero: Airports codes released
On 1 December 2008, SITA released the three-letter airport codes (location identifiers) - reserved exclusively for airport use since 2002 - for registration by eligible members of the aviation community, on a first-come-first-served basis.
http://information.aero/news/2009-07-01-07

fr: Response from AFNIC to the public consultation on "the Internet of the Future"
On 13 July 2009, AFNIC submitted its contribution to the public consultation on "the Internet of the Future" set up by the French Secretary of State for Forward Planning and Development of the Digital Economy (secr?tariat d??tat charg? de la Prospective et du D?veloppement de l??conomie num?rique).
http://www.afnic.fr/actu/nouvelles/225/response-from-afnic-to-the-public-consultation-on-the-internet-of-the-future

.lv goes liberal - Liberalised domain name registration rules come into force 1st July 2009
1 July 2009 is the day when new domain name registration rules liberalising domain name registation procedure under ccTLD .lv come into force. The main changes affect the way domain name applications are being handled: now the Registry will not perform manual checks to ensure that the registered domain name does not violate rights of a third party. Domain names will be registered on the 'first come first served' basis.
http://www.nic.lv/resource/show/115

50% off on all .my domain names
.my DOMAIN REGISTRY the sole administrator for web addresses that ends with .my in Malaysia will be having a 50% off promotion* on all .my domain name registrations and renewal in conjunction with National ICT Month (NIM) co-organised by PIKOM and MOSTI and also in conjunction with The Merdeka Day celebration. Promotion starts from 20 July ? 4 September 2009. Contact your respective reseller for promotion eligibility.
http://domainregistry.my/readnews.php?id=79

Transition of ?.pk? domain completed
The transition of country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) ?.pk? to Pakistan has been successfully completed marking it as the most significant and noteworthy landmark in the internet history of the country.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\07\18\story_18-7-2009_pg5_7
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=188543

NASK 2nd Quarter Report of 2009
The 2nd Quarter Report of 2009 prepared by the DNS Division of NASK (.pl) is published. The second quarter of 2009 was the third best quarter in the history of the .pl domain name.
http://dns.pl/NASK_Q2_REPORT.pdf

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Web's Anonymity Makes Cyberattack Hard to Trace
It is an axiom that ?on the Internet nobody knows that you are a dog.? By the same token, it is all but impossible to know whether you are from North Korea or South Korea.
http://nytimes.com/2009/07/17/technology/17cyber.html

Threats at the speed of light [IDG]
It seems everything online moves at warp speed. Just as easy as it is to spread a viral campaign to hundreds of thousands of web users in a matter of minutes, it is just as easy for companies or individuals to lose control--lose control of their identities, trademarks or brands simply because they don't know how big and integrated the World Wide Web really is, to people who are 'on the inside'. A domain expert for the Web could be an 18-year old who thinks it might pay off to register website addresses for big local brands that are primarily still brick-and-mortar. The company itself may not realize it until a loyal customer brings it to their attention or unless they're slapped with a lawsuit, which brings us to another point.
http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=800B1A89-1A64-67EA-E4CF16C3B77D7731

U.S. Dept. of Energy Builds Attack Defense Network
The U.S. Department of Energy is starting to deploy what it describes as a network neighborhood crime watch that pools attack data from intrusion detection systems at disparate DoE sites to facilitate faster response times.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071609-argonne-security.html
http://www.cio.com/article/497422/U.S._Dept._of_Energy_Builds_Attack_Defense_Network

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Nominet in Spat Over Nominet.name
UK registry operator Nominet, which oversees the .uk country code, has filed for arbitration to get the domain name Nominet.name.
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/17/nominet-in-spat-over-nominetname/

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 - IPv4/IPv6
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IPv6 the Next Big Step for Internet in Asia
Leading Internet experts from around the world are gathered in Kuala Lumpur to address one of the most important Internet developments currently underway in the region.
http://www.itnewsonline.com/showbwstory.php?storyid=919

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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CENTR comment on the continuation of the IGF
CENTR, the Council of European National Top Level Domain Registries, has published a comment on the continuation of the IGF. 
https://www.centr.org/main/news/5172-CTR.html

Domain Registrar eNom Sued. Here?s My Take.
One of the costs of doing business as a domain registrar is the inevitable lawsuits. Most of these are trademark suits where the plaintiff includes the registrar of a domain name as an defendant. But some of them are more interesting, such as a suit against eNom for allegedly failing to implement appropriate domain transfer safeguards.
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/15/domain-registrar-enom-sued-heres-my-take/

GoDaddy Delivers a Blow to Dark Blue Sea
It?s been a rough year for Dark Blue Sea, parent company of Fabulous. Its profits are down by three quarters, it has cut half its staff, and one of its biggest shareholders is trying to oust its Chairman. But the news got worse yesterday, as reported by Domain Name News: GoDaddy terminated its sales agreement with the company.
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/17/godaddy-delivers-a-blow-to-dark-blue-sea/

GoDaddy Cancels Domain Distribution Agreement with Dark Blue Sea
According to a filing with the Australian Stock Exchange, Dark Blue Sea (the parent company of Fabulous.com and the Domain Distribution Network, domain registrar GoDaddy has canceled their distribution agreement.
http://www.domainnamenews.com/news/godaddy-cancels-domain-distribution-agreement-dark-blue-sea/5541

GoDaddy Releases New Fast Domain Registration Option
One of the complaints you hear over and over about GoDaddy are the pages and pages of cross-sells you encounter when trying to register a domain name. In fact, some people used the company?s mobile web site to register domain names because it had a shorter and easier process. In response, the company has added an option to its home page called ?Express Buy?:
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/17/godaddy-releases-new-fast-domain-registration-option/

England Woman Changes her Name to a Web Domain
A Manchester woman has changed her name to a "Princess-Rainbow.com" ? making what could be the first person to change her name to a web domain.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20090717/england-woman-changes-her-name-toweb-domain.htm

Fluent Spanish Speakers with Tech Savvy Needed at GoDaddy.com [news release]
Open jobs can be difficult to find in the current economic climate. If you are tech savvy, speak Spanish and are looking to make a difference by helping customers, look no further. GoDaddy.com, the world?s largest domain name registrar and Web hosting company, is hiring technically skilled Spanish speakers to better serve its global customers right now.
https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/news/release_view.asp?news_item_id=257&se=%2B&app_hdr=

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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The Domain Name Business: Sedo's Jeremiah Johnston explains how entrepreneurs can acquire, improve, and sell domain names
During the early years of the Internet, there was furious competition for Web site domain names, accompanied by lawsuits and huge sums paid for well-known names. Last year the buying and selling of Web site domains amounted to a $77 million enterprise, says a recent study by Sedo.com, an international company that offers domain transfer and escrow services. At any given time, Sedo lists 12 million to 15 million domains for sale, says Chief Operating Officer Jeremiah Johnston, who runs the firm's Boston office. He spoke recently to Smart Answers columnist Karen E. Klein about the domain market and how entrepreneurs can acquire, improve, and sell domains. Edited excerpts of their conversation follow.
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jul2009/sb20090717_925271.htm

78K Deal at the AfternicDLS and a Wave of Completed Aftermarket.com Auction Sales Dominate This Week's Chart
The AfternicDLS takes the lead position on our new weekly Top 20 doman sales chart after handling the $78,088 sale of Rosary.com. That is the third highest sale of the year for the Afternic DLS, trailing only LAInsurance.com ($100,000) and Claim.com ($80,000), a pair of names they sold in March.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/07-15-09.htm

What Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Would Mean to Domainers
The on-again, off-again relationship between Yahoo and Microsoft may be on again. When news of a potential merger between the two companies first broke early last year, I wondered what it would mean for domainers. At the time I was conflicted. But then the potential Yahoo and Google hookup scared the crap out of me, which put things in perspective. I think it?s safe to say that a Yahoo-Microsoft hookup for online advertising will be good for domain owners.
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/07/17/what-microsoft-yahoo-deal-would-mean-to-domainers/

White Paper release on how generic keyword domains help boost search engine rankings
Edwin Hayward has just released another interesting white paper at his MemorableDomains.co.uk site. This one clearly demonstrates how generic keyword domains help boost rankings in the three major search engines; Google, Yahoo and Bing.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2009/dailyposts/20090716.htm

SnapNames Commences First Themed Auction
SnapNames has commenced their first themed auction event as part of their monthly showcase auctions. This month?s theme is a ?Summer Stimulus Auction? that started on July 16 and finishes on 21 July.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/07/17/snapnames-commences-first-themed-auction/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/snapnames-commences-inaugural-themed-auction.html

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RESEARCH PAPERS
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Pornography, Censorship and the Internet by Lilian Edwards {Law and the Internet]
Abstract: Over a decade since the Internet became an acknowledged mainstream commercial medium, it still retains its less than savoury reputation as a happy hunting ground for pornography and other types of distasteful content. ... The chapter observes a dangerous international trend towards non transparent and non accountable censorship online, not only in non democratic countries like China but increasingly in Europe and elsewhere. The author proposes a "speech impact assessment" process be put in place before new systems of top-down state-endorsed Intenet filtering are implemented.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1435093

Five Online Safety Task Forces Agree: Education, Empowerment & Self-Regulation are the Answer by Adam D. Thierer [Progress & Freedom Foundation Progress on Point Paper]
Abstract: Public policy debates about online child safety have raged since the earliest days of the Internet. Concerns about underage access to objectionable content (specifically pornography) drove early "Web 1.0" efforts to regulate the Internet, and it continues to be the topic of much discussion today. With the rise of the more interactive "Web 2.0" environment, however, objectionable contact and communications (harassment, cyberbullying, predation, etc.) have become a more significant concern and is now driving many regulatory proposals.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1433504

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INTERNET USE
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China's Internet users outnumber U.S. population [IDG]
China's Internet users have surpassed the U.S. population in number, and more Chinese than ever are using e-commerce and accessing the Web through mobile phones, according to official statistics. China had 338 million Internet users at the end of last month, the most in any country, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) said late Thursday.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071709-chinas-internet-users-outnumber-us.html
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135616/China_s_Internet_users_outnumber_U.S._population
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/168596/.html

Why Bing Is Gaining On Google
If Microsoft's Bing is successful in gaining ground against Google, then the folks in Redmond will owe their good fortune to the manner in which they have closely hewed to the two ironclad rules for business success. First, diligently study your opponent's success so that you can align your strategy perfectly with what's being practiced by the competition. Second, ignore everything your competitor is doing and make up new marketplace rules as you see fit. A third rule is that only has-beens and also-rans worry about rules contradicting themselves.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0803/breakthroughs-search-why-bing-gaining-on-google.html

Kill IE6, for the sake of the web: expert
A US web expert has called for web users to abandon Internet Explorer 6 for the greater good of the internet.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/17/2629029.htm

Financial Times editor says most news websites will charge within a year
The Financial Times editor, Lionel Barber, has predicted that "almost all" news organisations will be charging for online content within a year. Barber said building online platforms that could charge readers on an article-by-article or subscription basis was one of the key challenges facing news organisations.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/16/financial-times-lionel-barber

Google to newspapers: Put up or shut up
Is Google stealing our content? That, anyway, seemed to be the suggestion when a European publishing group announced last week that it had garnered a number of supporters for its Hamburg Declaration, which calls for "urgent improvements in the protection of intellectual property on the Internet." This week, Google had a reply, which basically boils down to: Put up or shut up.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/07/google-newspapers.html

Britain's Teletext to be shut down after 35 years
At a time when the internet was nothing but a distant dream and pressing the red button just turned the television off, Teletext was the king of instant information. But yesterday, 35 years after the service first flickered into life, it was announced that the news and information provider, one of the last technological bastions of the pre-internet age, will be closed prematurely.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article6717192.ece

Internet Addiction? Shocking.
How often do you tell your kids they don't know how lucky they are? Do you say things like, "When I was young we didn't have no dang fool Intertubes and online games?" and then force them to go outside and do something? Could it be that your kids have Internet Addiction Disorder?
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135611/Internet_Addiction_Shocking.

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CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION
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au: Content filtering way behind schedule [sub req'd]
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has admitted controversial trials of content-filtering technology that could force internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to websites that host illegal material are running months behind schedule.
http://www.afr.com/home/viewer.aspx?EDP://20090720000031360929&section=information&title=Content+filtering+way+behind+schedule

NZ internet users take issue with child-porn filter
Internet service providers will soon begin blocking access to hundreds of websites that are on a secret blacklist compiled by the Department of Internal Affairs, but critics say the system lacks transparency.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10584982

Net filtering scheme to block child porn websites [The Dominion Post]
Internet service providers will soon be able to block customers from accessing child pornography websites using "filtering" software bought by Internal Affairs.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2601365/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/features/technology/2601365/

Controversial new weapon in the war on child abuse announced
A controversial filtering system to block websites that host child sexual abuse images will be available voluntarily to New Zealand internet service providers (ISPs) within a couple of months, Internal Affairs Deputy Secretary, Keith Manch, said yesterday.
http://www.netguide.co.nz/200907161081/new-weapon-in-the-war-on-child-abuse.php

New Zealand moves forward with child porn filtering system
ISPs in New Zealand are planning to implement the Department of Internal Affairs' child porn filtering system in the coming months. The 7,000-strong blacklist will remain a government secret, which critics say is proof that the system is not transparent enough.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/new-zealand-moves-forward-with-child-porn-filtering-system.ars

Orcon refuses to install govt?s filtering software
Among the big ISPs, some are saying yes to the Department of Internal Affairs? new Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System, and some no. Others are still considering the site-blocking software, which will be rolled out over the next couple of months.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/orcon-refuses-install-govt-s-filtering-software-105827

Web filter will focus solely on child sex abuse images
A filtering system to block websites that host child sexual abuse images will be available voluntarily to New Zealand internet service providers (ISPs) within a couple of months, Internal Affairs Deputy Secretary, Keith Manch, said today.
http://www.dia.govt.nz/press.nsf/d77da9b523f12931cc256ac5000d19b6/26bc0621775bbe47cc2575f50010a894

Internet filtering service to block child porn questioned [NZPA]
Internet service providers will soon begin blocking access to hundreds of websites that are on a secret blacklist compiled by the Department of Internal Affairs, but critics say the system lacks transparency.
http://www.3news.co.nz/News/National/Internet-filtering-service-to-block-child-porn-questioned/tabid/423/articleID/112941/Default.aspx?ArticleID=112941
http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/internet-filtering-system-questioned-2850797
http://www.3news.co.nz/ScienceTech/Story/tabid/412/articleID/112859/cat/73/Default.aspx

Do you approve of the Government blocking access to some internet sites?
Internet service providers will soon begin blocking access to hundreds of websites that are on a secret blacklist compiled by the Department of Internal Affairs, but critics say the system lacks transparency.
http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/your-views/2009/7/16/do-you-approve-government-blocking-access-some-interent-sites/

Questions asked over InternetNZ's censorship stance
Questions are being asked what lobby organisation InternetNZ?s stance really is on the new internet filtering system that the Department of Internal Affairs will make available on a voluntary basis to ISPs within a few months.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/82AB8B0113168519CC2575F50070ACE5

ACMA launches Cybersmart safety website, but will kids use it?
Senator Stephen Conroy has launched the ACMA?s new CyberSmart website aimed at helping children stay safe online. Coming only days after releasing the Click and Connect report on Australian children online, CyberSmart is billed as a first in ?cybersafety? education and a single access point for Australians to access online safety advice.
http://www.digital-media.net.au/article/ACMA-launches-Cybersmart-safety-website-but-will-kids-use-it/490692.aspx

Helping keep Australian children safe online [news release]
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today launched a new website, www.cybersmart.gov.au. Senator Conroy said the new website, provided by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), was aimed at keeping Australian children safer online and providing teachers with cyber-safety education resources, and would be an important part of the Australian Government?s Cybersmart education program.
http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/062

Symantec's Novel Approach to Online Safety [review]
Any parents concerned about children's safety is going to keep an eye on what their kids do online?be it to protect them from predators, keep them from visiting inappropriate Web sites, prevent downloading of harmful software, or some combination of all three. 
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2009/tc20090715_838233.htm

**********************
ONLINE TV & MUSIC
**********************
New Pirate Bay to be based on give-and-take models [AP]
One of the world's largest filesharing Web sites, The Pirate Bay, is going legal through a series of give-and-take payment models that in some cases may even earn its users a bundle of cash, the new owners said Saturday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/18/AR2009071800940.html
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/new-pirate-bay-to-be-based-on-giveandtake-models-20090719-dp3y.html
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/new-pirate-bay-to-be-based-on-giveandtake-models-20090719-dp3y.html

Pay to use Pirate Bay? Will it fly?
After announcing they're planning to purchase The Pirate Bay, Global Gaming Factory didn't give much away about how they'd make it all work. Now they've announced they're going to make sharing files on the new Pirate Bay a pay to use proposition, with users charged a monthly fee.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10585558

Spotify to take online jukebox to the States
The online music streaming service Spotify, which has more than two million users in Europe, is recruiting staff for an imminent assault on the US music scene despite admitting that it is struggling to hit its target of making a profit by the end of the year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/19/spotify-launching-in-us

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
**********************
EU battles industry plans to restrict Skype on mobile phones 
The European Commission is threatening to brandish the new roaming regulation or antitrust rules in order to block plans by major EU telecoms operators to restrict the use of Internet calling services like Skype via their mobile networks.
http://euractiv.com/en/infosociety/eu-battles-industry-plans-restrict-skype-mobile-phones/article-184142

Nokia warns against growth expectations for handsets
Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, has warned that it will not increase its share of the handset market this year because of fierce competition. The Finnish technology company also said its profit margins will continue to come under pressure as it battles the impact of the global recession.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/16/nokia-market-share-squeezed

Nokia reports sharp fall in sales but says worst is over
Nokia called the bottom of the mobile handset market yesterday, providing a faint glimmer of hope as it disclosed a 66 per cent fall in second-quarter profits, compared with the same period the previous year, and cut its targets for market share and profitability.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article6717150.ece

**********************
SPAM
**********************
Experts link flood of 'Canadian Pharmacy' spam to Russian botnet criminals [IDG]
The world's currently most voluminous spam generator, "Canadian Pharmacy," is clogging networks with come-ons for male-enhancement drugs and painkillers - and there?s growing belief it has a link to Russian cybercrime groups selling counterfeit medicines.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071609-canadian-pharmacy-spam.html
http://www.cio.com/article/497423/Experts_Link_Flood_of_Canadian_Pharmacy_Spam_to_Russian_Botnet_Criminals
http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=882C8A37-1A64-6A71-CEADA2B39A6AA0D7

Microsoft Sues Mobile Ringtone Company for Phishing, Spam [IDG]
Microsoft has sued a Hong Kong seller of mobile ringtones, saying the company used phishing techniques to flood Microsoft Live Messenger users with spam messages.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/168574/.html

Microsoft sues over IM spam, phishing
Microsoft has filed a lawsuit accusing two companies of launching instant-messaging spam and phishing attacks that targeted users on its Live Messenger network.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39686022,00.htm

Microsoft Lawsuit Aims to Block Spam Over IM
Microsoft this week accused mobile ringtone and entertainment firm Funmobile for resorting to spamming Windows Live Messenger users to hawk its wares.
http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3830521

ACCC cracks down on premium mobile services
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have joined forces to produce a new fact sheet ? Mobile premium services ? Information for consumers ? to prevent consumers being ripped off by mobile premium SMS services.
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/311541/

**********************
DIGITAL DIVIDE
**********************
Broadband service aims at developing nations
Sanjiv Ahuja, former head of France Telecom?s Orange mobile phone businesses, has established a new company to supply broadband internet access in developing countries. Augere is planning to launch its first consumer-focused broadband operations in Asia in October and then expand to Africa early next year.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/458e79a6-7494-11de-8ad5-00144feabdc0.html

**************************
ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL
**************************
Kiwi man wins legal battle with mormon church over a family affair
An Auckland man has seen off a legal challenge from the giant mormon church over the trademark for his family location internet service, with the Court of Appeal today ruling against the religious organisation.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/kiwi-man-wins-legal-battle-with-mormon-church-over-a-family-affair-105723

Kiwi wins web case against Mormons [NZPA]
An Auckland man helping people reunite divided families has won a legal war over words with the massive Mormon church. Robert Sintes, director of the website familytracing.co.nz, said his court cases with the third-largest church in the world were "by and large" sorted, after the Court of Appeal found in his favour over his using the words "family search".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2602535/

Google is not liable for defamatory snippets in search results, rules UK High Court
Google is not the publisher of defamatory words that appear in its search results, the High Court ruled yesterday. Even when Google had been told that its results contained libellous words, it was not liable as a publisher, said Mr Justice Eady.
http://out-law.com/page-10181

PC Infections Often Spread to Web Sites
Most people are familiar with the notion that a computer virus can be passed from PC to PC, but many folks would probably be surprised to learn that a sick PC can often pass its infection on to Web sites, too.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/07/pc_infections_often_spread_to.html

Wikipedia painting row with Britain's National Portrait Gallery escalates
The battle over Wikipedia's use of images from a British art gallery's website has intensified. The online encyclopaedia has accused the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) of betraying its public service mission.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8156268.stm

Gallery in Wikipedia legal threat
The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is threatening legal action after 3,300 images from its website were uploaded to online encyclopaedia Wikipedia. A contributor to the popular site, Derrick Coetzee, breached English copyright laws by posting images from the gallery's collection, the NPG said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8151989.stm

**************************
PRIVACY
**************************
Facebook 'violates' Canada's privacy law
The popular social networking site Facebook is not doing enough to protect the personal information it gets from subscribers, and it gives users confusing and incomplete information about privacy matters, Canada's privacy commissioner said on Thursday.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/facebook/5846719/Facebook-violates-privacy-law.html

Privacy Commissioner Finds Facebook Violating Canadian Privacy Law by Michael Geist
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has released its long-awaited finding (media release, finding, backgrounder) in the complaint against Facebook on a variety of privacy grounds. The complaint was launched by CIPPIC in May 2008 (note that I am an advisor to CIPPIC but had no involvement in this complaint). The case marks an important step in assessing how Canadian privacy law addresses social media with the Commissioner identifying some significant concerns. Moreover, as the case potentially heads to court, it will be closely watched to see whether the findings can be enforced against a global social media power like Facebook.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090716_facebook_violating_canadian_privacy_law/

Facebook needs to improve privacy practices, investigation finds
In order to comply with Canadian privacy law, Facebook must take greater responsibility for the personal information in its care, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said today in announcing the results of an investigation into the popular social networking site?s privacy policies and practices.
http://www.priv.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2009/nr-c_090716_e.cfm

Facebook 'breaches Canadian law'
Popular social networking site Facebook is breaching Canadian law by holding on to users' personal information indefinitely, a report has concluded.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8155367.stm

Facebook has privacy gaps: Canadian watchdog
The popular social networking site Facebook is not doing enough to protect the personal information it gets from subscribers, and it gives users confusing and incomplete information about privacy matters, Canada's privacy commissioner said on Thursday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE56F4GW20090716
http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-41095820090716

Facebook slapped by privacy watchdog [AP]
Canada's privacy commissioner said that online social networking site Facebook breaches the law by keeping users' personal information indefinitely after members close their accounts.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10585076
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/canada-facebook-violates-privacy-law-20090717-dn4k.html
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/canada-facebook-violates-privacy-law-20090717-dn4k.html

**********************
CENSORSHIP
**********************
kz: Call for revision of repressive Internet law as it goes into effect
Reporters Without Borders regrets that a bill regulating online communications and content was signed into law by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on 13 July because it gives blogs, chat rooms and other websites such as online retail outlets the same legal status as the Kazakh news media and thereby exposes them to the possibility of criminal prosecution.
http://www.rsf.org/Call-for-revision-of-repressive.html

pk: Intensified fight against cyber-crime threatens free expression
Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the impact on free expression of an interior ministry announcement on 12 July that sending ?indecent, provocative and ill-motivated? stories and messages by email or SMS will be regarded as an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Cyber Crime Act (CCA).
http://www.rsf.org/Intensified-fight-against-cyber.html

**************************
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
Online gambling in Europe: A stacked deck - Recalcitrant European governments refuse to open their gambling markets
Professional poker players say that if you have been playing for a while and cannot figure out who the patsy is, it?s you. This dictum also applies to those involved in a high-stakes game between the European Commission, online-gambling firms and several European countries opposed to internet betting. The European Union?s supposed single market, which the commission polices, is fractured over the issue. A study for the European Parliament last year found that seven of the union?s 27 members outlaw online gambling. Of the other 20, only 13 have liberalised their markets. The rest limit online gambling to monopolies owned or licensed by the state.
http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14041688

NZ Labour floats copyright levy [The Dominion Post]
Labour communications spokeswoman Clare Curran says a charge on internet accounts should be considered to recompense copyright holders for downloaded material. Ms Curran says the idea received support at workshops she has been holding to formulate Labour policy. But the Federation Against Copyright Theft (NZFact) says it is not a solution its movie studio members are looking at.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2607632/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/features/technology/2607632/

Curran suggests ISP levy for copyright
Shadow minister for ICT Clare Curran says a licence fee attached to internet connections should be considered to break New Zealand's copyright law impasse. In a blog post this morning, Curran suggests any future regime should enable people to access the information or material they seek.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/F71FEC47FB46976FCC2575F800727B2B

Fighting copyright pirates hand to hand [The Dominion Post]
OPINION: Section 92a is back and the Government is again threatening to cut off copyright pirates' access to the internet, so why isn't the hawkish Recording Industry Association celebrating? The original section 92a of the Copyright Act that sparked the "Blackout" protests earlier this year would have given the music and movie studios an automatic weapon with which to gun down pirates.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2607637/

nz: So far, plain sailing for new-look S92
Lobbyists on both sides have offered only guarded criticism of Simon Power?s reworked version of the controversial anti-pirate clause. Some say due process isn't enough, and want account termination taken off the table altogether. Copyright holders are lobbying for it to stay. But in constrast to the highly-charged tone of arguments over the original clause, the renewed debate is mostly moderate, and constructive. An emotive stand-off has been defused.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/so-far-plain-sailing-new-look-s92-105761

NZ Government copyright proposals a mixed bag - InternetNZ [news release]
InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) describes the Government?s proposals to fix Section 92a of the Copyright Act as a mixed bag that tries to combine the benefits of a notice and notice approach with the toxic remains of a termination regime. Also, issues of ISP definition and safe harbour do not appear to have been addressed.
http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/government-copyright-proposals-a-mixed-bag-internetnz

Download law back on agenda
There is no doubting that many people in New Zealand illegally download movies, music, computer games and other software every day.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/opinion/2603113/

Nouvelle-Z?lande : pr?sentation de sa nouvelle riposte gradu?e ?
? l'instar de la France, la Nouvelle-Z?lande compte bien trouver une solution pour lutter contre le t?l?chargement ill?gal, apr?s l'?chec de l'adoption de leur riposte gradu?e en d?but d'ann?e.
http://www.pcinpact.com/actu/news/51989-nouvelle-zelande-riposte-graduee-section-92a.htm

*********************************
MISCELLANEOUS
*********************************
Apple hands Palm a problem and gets slapped by Microsoft
It's a dog-eat-dog world in the technology jungle. For the best part of two years, Apple's iPhone has had the top end of the smartphone market to itself. But then along came the Palm Pre, which has had a very favourable reception from the geek crowd, and is a much more polished product than early versions of the Android (aka Google) phones. Personally I thought it unlikely that the Pre would seriously challenge the Apple product, but it seems that Steve Jobs & Co are taking no chances.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/19/apple-palm-pre-microsoft-retail

Yahoo-Microsoft tie-up may challenge Google
The activist investor Carl Icahn this weekend turned up the heat on Yahoo as the internet company closes in on an advertising alliance with Microsoft. Talks have resumed between the pair over a deal that would help them to compete with Google, the world?s biggest search engine.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article6719055.ece

Microsoft and Yahoo rumoured to be closing in on deal
After almost 18 months of increasingly bitter negotiations, Microsoft is said to be closing in on a deal buy technology rival Yahoo's web search business.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/17/microsoft-yahoo

Report: Yahoo, Microsoft finally near deal
It's unclear whether they brought the requested "boatloads of money," but several top Microsoft executives are in Silicon Valley to try to finalize a search deal with Yahoo, according to an All Things Digital report late on Thursday.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10289209-56.html

Reports: Microsoft and Yahoo close to search ad deal [IDG]
In less than a week, Microsoft could reach an alliance with Yahoo that could compete better with Google in online search advertising, according to media reports.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/071709-reports-microsoft-and-yahoo-close.html

Google says online ad revenue stabilising
Google executives on Thursday said that they had seen a return to stability in the online advertising market as the internet company reported quarterly earnings ahead of Wall Street forecasts.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d2b34e8-7249-11de-ba94-00144feabdc0.html

Google says YouTube on track for first profit
YouTube is finally on track to turn its first profit for parent Google, thanks mostly to two forms of online advertising that the popular online video site once largely scorned, according to executives at the internet search group.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b4d81bde-72f8-11de-ad98-00144feabdc0.html

Google Growth Slows Again; Sales Rise 2.9%
Google Inc.'s growth continued to slow in the second quarter, signaling the online ad market remains in a slump.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124777490680353421.html

Google profits rocket despite recession
Internet giant Google continued to shrug off the worst effects of the recession, announcing today that it had seen an 18% increase in profits for its last financial quarter.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/16/google-q2-results

Intel goes from black sheep to the white hope of technology
On Tuesday night, Intel was the toast of Wall Street. With the financial world growing fearful that the economic green shoots were shrivelling, the technology firm gave the markets their favourite fertiliser ? a dose of forecast-beating results.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/15/intel-is-white-hope-of-technology

The Internet Is Dead (As An Investment)
I can live all day inside the Internet. I can talk to my friends, listen to music, watch TV, trade stocks, play games, do work - all on the Internet. From 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day I can spend on the Internet and it would be a day well spent. But run for the hills when it comes to advising clients to invest in the Internet.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124784696163158721.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(c) David Goldstein 2009


 ---------


David Goldstein


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