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. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** The U.N. Threat to Internet Freedom: The FCC's move to treat broadband providers like phone company monopolies could spur international efforts to regulate the Web http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704684604575381571670766774.html Public Comment: Initial Report on Vertical Integration Between Registrars and Registries http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-23jul10-en.htm ICANN's Economic Study - It Depends by Antony Van Couvering http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/07/icanns-economic-study-it-depends/ IP Justice Comments on ICANN Plans for New Top-Level Domains: Keep the Core Neutral - ICANN Should Avoid Expanding Scope of Mission to Include Enforcing ?Morality? and Fighting ?Terrorism? http://ipjustice.org/wp/2010/07/21/ip-justice-comments-on-icann-plans-for-new-top-level-domains-icann-should-avoid-expanding-scope-of-mission-to-include-enforcing-morality-and-fighting-terrorism/ Brand Protection Domain Registrations: There Are More Than You Think by John McCormac http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100723_brand_protection_domain_registrations_more_than_you_think/ Anthony Doesburg: Chinese-script domain names a web milestone http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10660681 au: Bolton loses his battle for Bottle http://www.businessday.com.au/business/bolton-loses-his-battle-for-bottle-20100723-10ozh.html Google approves .co domain for international use http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359704/google-approves-co-domain-for-international-use IBM Likely to Apply for .IBM Top-Level Domain http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/07/ibm-likely-to-apply-for-ibm-top-level-domain/ .NZ Launches IDNs Next Week http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/07/23/nz-launches-idns-next-week/ UNICEF to Apply for .UNICEF http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/07/unicef-to-apply-for-unicef/ .uk turns 25 http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=7740 us: Ninth Circuit Applies Nominative Use Defense to Domain Names [reg req'd] http://mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=105948 Gambling is Big Money as OnlineCasino.dk Sold for $580,000 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/07/23/gambling-is-big-money-as-onlinecasinodk-sold-for-580000/ ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** The U.N. Threat to Internet Freedom: The FCC's move to treat broadband providers like phone company monopolies could spur international efforts to regulate the Web In 1988, delegates from 114 countries gathered in Melbourne, Australia, to negotiate an international treaty for the future of telecommunications regulation. Since then, representatives from nations as diverse as Ghana, China and the U.S. have reunited and agreed that the Internet?that amazing global network of networks?was different from traditional phone service, and was best kept free from international phone regulation. That could change soon. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704684604575381571670766774.html ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Public Comment: Initial Report on Vertical Integration Between Registrars and Registries The GNSO Vertical Integration Working Group is seeking comments on its Initial Report on Vertical Integration Between Registrars and Registries. This Initial Report [PDF, 731 KB] is posted for public comment as a required step in the GNSO?s Policy Development Process on Vertical Integration between Registrars and Registries. The Initial Report describes various proposed solutions for restrictions on vertical integration between registrars and registries for adoption in the New gTLD Program. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-23jul10-en.htm Location Recommendations Now Being Accepted for ICANN?s 2011 Meeting in North America The modified selection process for ICANN Meeting locations announced last month is now in effect beginning with the 40th meeting to be held 13-18 March 2011 in North America. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-5-22jul10-en.htm Location Recommendations Now Being Accepted for ICANN?s 2011 Meeting in Asia Pacific The modified selection process for ICANN Meeting locations announced last month is now in effect for the 41st meeting to be held 19-24 June 2011 in Asia Pacific. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-4-22jul10-en.htm Location Recommendations Now Being Accepted for ICANN?s 2011 Meeting in Africa The modified selection process for ICANN Meeting locations announced last month is now in effect for the 42nd meeting to be held 23-28 October 2011 in Africa. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-22jul10-en.htm Application Round Opens for Cartagena Meeting Fellowships ICANN has launched the 11th round of the Fellowship program applications for its 39th International Public Meeting to be held Cartagena, Columbia on 5-10 December 2010. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-22jul10-en.htm Proposed Global Policy for Autonomous System Numbers - Final Call for Comments and Background Report On 22 July 2010, the Chair of the Address Supporting Organization Address Council (ASO AC) forwarded a Proposed Global Policy for Autonomous System Numbers, ASNs, for ratification by the ICANN Board. This policy proposal modifies the existing Global Policy for Autonomous System Numbers, ASNs, by extending the period during which the RIRs can operate two separate pools of numbers until 31 December 2010. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-23jul10-en.htm ccNSO Review ? Public Comment Period Extended to 15 September In November 2009, ICANN appointed ITEMS International to carry out the external review of its country code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO). http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-22jul10-en.htm Letter from Rod Beckstrom to Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid Issues related to the creation of .ARAB gTLD http://icann.org/correspondence/beckstrom-to-al-morshid-06jul10-en.pdf The At-Large Community Seeks Statements of Interests for Candidates for Post of ICANN Board Seat A Call for Statements of Interest (SOIs) is now open through August 21. This Call for SOIs is part of the new process through which the user community within ICANN will appoint one voting member of the ICANN Board. While acting in a personal capacity as a member of the ICANN Board, this member must be able to reflect the users' point of view and interests in the debate and decision making undertaken within the ICANN framework. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-23jul10-en.htm ICANN's Economic Study - It Depends by Antony Van Couvering Economists aren't very good at predicting things, as any one with money in the stock market can attest. The most powerful economist in the United States, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, is on record predicting a continuing climb in housing prices?just prior to their precipitous decline. And yet their crystal balls still hold some allure for those who need to present "evidence" about the future. Such is the case with ICANN and the new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) program. http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/07/icanns-economic-study-it-depends/ IP Justice Comments on ICANN Plans for New Top-Level Domains: Keep the Core Neutral - ICANN Should Avoid Expanding Scope of Mission to Include Enforcing ?Morality? and Fighting ?Terrorism? IP Justice submitted brief comments today to ICANN regarding its plan for introducing new Top-Level Domains (TLDs). Specifically, IP Justice raised concerns about policy proposals that threaten freedom of expression on the Internet and seek to expand ICANN's mission to include ensuring "Morality and Public Order" (MAPO) and preventing "terrorism" through personal background checks. IP Justice believes both of these ICANN proposals are mis-guided and will harm the healthy development of the Internet and the global public interest. http://ipjustice.org/wp/2010/07/21/ip-justice-comments-on-icann-plans-for-new-top-level-domains-icann-should-avoid-expanding-scope-of-mission-to-include-enforcing-morality-and-fighting-terrorism/ Brand Protection Domain Registrations: There Are More Than You Think by John McCormac One of the major problems for brand owners is protecting the brand in new TLDs. Most new Top-Level Domain (TLD) registries will depend on brand protection registrations for a major part of their registration volume and some may become almost completely dependent on these registrations if the new TLD fails to capture the public's imagination. Short of comparing the registrant data for each individual domain, there is no 100% accurate method of measuring the level of brand protection registrations in a TLD. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100723_brand_protection_domain_registrations_more_than_you_think/ Isn?t it about time for ICANN Las Vegas? ICANN is now almost 12 years old, it?s held almost 40 public meetings in diverse cities all over the planet, and it?s never been to Vegas. Not once. http://domainincite.com/isnt-it-about-time-for-icann-las-vegas/ ICANN Calls for Applications for 2011 Meetings - Is Vegas An Option? ICANN has called for applications for upcoming meetings to be held in North America, Asia Pacific and Africa in 2011. http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/07/23/icann-calls-for-applications-for-2011-meetings-but-what-about-vegas/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/icann-calls-for-applications-for-2011-meetings-is-vegas-an-option.html Calendar for ICANN ATRT meetings ICANN is currently being reviewed by an independent Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT). Their meetings are open, but I have only been stumbling on them by accident. http://kierenmccarthy.com/2010/07/23/calendar-for-icann-atrt-meetings/ DAGv4 separation rules lack support The comment period for the 4th version of ICANN's Draft Applicant Guidebook for the new gTLD program closed yesterday (July 21). http://www.stephanevangelder.com/archives/334-DAGv4-separation-rules-lack-support.html New domains? No thanks This week?s launch of the .co domain brings to mind the possibility that retailers could before long be faced with deciding how to deal with many more top-level domains in addition to the ones we all know, such as .com, .gov, .edu and .org. That?s because ICANN, the organization that oversees the Internet?s addressing system, has been considering?for a few years now?a proposal to dramatically increase the number of top-level domains. Advocates think it would be great if cities could have domains like .nyc or .london, enthusiasts could navigate to .music or loyal customers of retailers could shop at web sites that end with .amazon or .bestbuy. http://www.internetretailer.com/commentary/2010/07/23/new-domains-no-thanks Brand owners drop hints about .brand TLD plans The flood of negative comments to ICANN yesterday almost obscured the fact that a few companies have hinted that they will apply for their own ?.brand? top-level domains. http://domainincite.com/brand-owners-drop-hints-about-brand-tld-plans/ Will new TLDs be delayed by the trademark owner outcry? Yesterday?s flood of criticism from big trademark holders has put another question mark next to ICANN?s plan to finalize the new top-level domain application process this year. http://domainincite.com/will-new-tlds-be-delayed-by-the-trademark-owner-outcry/ Round-up of the ICANN new TLDs comment period Today is the deadline to file comments on version four of ICANN?s Draft Applicant Guidebook for prospective new top-level domain registries. http://domainincite.com/round-up-of-the-icann-new-tlds-comment-period/ Anthony Doesburg: Chinese-script domain names a web milestone When New Zealander Peter Dengate Thrush announced a month ago that an obstacle to registering .xxx websites had been removed, he created a distraction from an even more important internet milestone. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10660681 ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** au: Bolton loses his battle for Bottle CORPORATE raider Nicholas Bolton has lost his legal battle with internet domain-name regulator auDA over a security breach at his domain-name business. http://www.businessday.com.au/business/bolton-loses-his-battle-for-bottle-20100723-10ozh.html http://www.watoday.com.au/business/bolton-loses-his-battle-for-bottle-20100723-10ozh.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/bolton-loses-his-battle-for-bottle-20100723-10ozh.html http://www.smh.com.au/business/bolton-loses-his-battle-for-bottle-20100723-10ozh.html http://www.theage.com.au/business/bolton-loses-his-battle-for-bottle-20100723-10ozh.html SWITCH takes tougher action in the battle against Internet crime With immediate effect SWITCH will be blocking Internet addresses that are misused for phishing, or which disseminate malware, and removing them from the network, thus taking tougher action in the battle against Internet crime. http://www.switch.ch/cms/about/news/2010/malware2010.html Google approves .co domain for international use Google has clarified its stance on the .co domain, days after it was released for sale globally. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359704/google-approves-co-domain-for-international-use .CO Domain Names Now Available to the Public .CO Internet S.A.S. today announced the general availability of the new .CO top-level domain (TLD), which will enable individuals, businesses and organizations to acquire global, credible and easily recognizable domain names that fit their online business or branding needs. .CO domains are now available through leading accredited domain registrars, such as GoDaddy.com, Register.com and Network Solutions, and a multitude of resellers. http://www.cointernet.co/media/press-releases/co-domain-names-now-available-public HKIRC Announces the First ?.hk? Website Survey Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) today announced the results of the first ?.hk? website survey at the ?2010 Digital Marketplace ? Business Success for SMEs on the Net? seminar, which reveals primitive use of ?.hk? websites that strongly calls for more education and support for the business community in order to make better use of their websites to leverage on e-commerce and the digital lifestyle of Hong Kong. https://www2.hkirc.hk/company_info/pressrelease.jsp?item=204 IBM Likely to Apply for .IBM Top-Level Domain IBM?s submission to ICANN?s comment forum on the fourth version of the Draft Applicant Guidebook ? the set of rules for getting a new top-level domain, implies very heavily that they will be applying for .IBM. Furthermore (no surprise) it looks as if they will use it for internal purposes, and not to sell any .IBM names to the public. http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/07/ibm-likely-to-apply-for-ibm-top-level-domain/ Domain Name Dispute Resolution In India Domain name disputes are increasing day by days these days. This is primarily attributable to cyber squatting episodes. The growing cyber squatting incidences require strong domain name protection and effective domain name dispute resolution mechanism. http://cjnews.noads.biz/?p=262 JPRS released idnkit-2.0 On July 15th, 2010, JPRS released Internationalized Domain Name Toolkit 2.0 (idnkit-2.0). http://jprs.co.jp/en/topics/2010/100720.html Macrons available in .nz domain names [NZPA] Macrons will be available in New Zealand internet domain names for the first time from next week, enabling Te Reo Maori to be correctly used in domain names, in time for Maori Language Week. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/macrons-available-in-nz-domain-names-3666743 http://www.3news.co.nz/Macrons-available-for-New-Zealand-domain-names/tabid/412/articleID/166943/Default.aspx http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10660631 .NZ Launches IDNs Next Week Internationalised domain names are coming to the .NZ name space next week with domain names using the macronised vowels ?, ?, ?, ? and ? becoming available as of 10.30 on Monday 26 July 2010. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/07/23/nz-launches-idns-next-week/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/nz-launches-idns-next-week.html .nz domain names with macrons to launch next week The beginning of next week marks an exciting new phase for the .nz domain name space. From 10.30am on Monday 26 July 2010, people will be able to register .nz domain names using the macronised vowels ?, ?, ?, ? and ?. http://internetnz.net.nz/news/media-releases/2010/nz-domain-names-macrons-launch-next-week nz: Diana Clement: Why do we put up with these rip-offs? ... Of my "dirty dozen" rip-offs in New Zealand in 2005, at least nine still stand. That includes bank fees, fund charges, share dealing, books and magazines, consumer imports and domain names. All of these cost much more here than overseas. For example: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10660816 UNICEF to Apply for .UNICEF UNICEF logoIt looks as if the new gTLD applicants are finally coming out of the woodwork. Today, thanks to a tip on the Vertical Integration Working Group list, I learned of another new gTLD in the offing: .UNICEF. http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/07/unicef-to-apply-for-unicef/ UNICEF looking for a .brand TLD partner The UN-backed charity UNICEF has become the second organization, after Canon, to confirm publicly it is planning to apply for a .brand top-level domain. http://domainincite.com/unicef-looking-for-a-brand-tld-partner/ .uk turns 25 On Saturday 24 July we will celebrate 25 years since the first .uk web addresses were registered. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=7740 .uk is 25 Nominet celebrates 25th Anniversary of .uk. Strong growth and trust in .uk domain characterise the first 25 years. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/releases/?contentId=7739 UK domain name .uk turns 25 The .uk domain name turns 25 on Saturday. With more than 8.5 million domain names registered, Nominet, the national registry, is the world's fourth biggest. http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2010/07/23/242077/uk-domain-name-.uk-turns-25.htm ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Go Daddy, Dyndns.com and NamesBeyond Support DNSSEC-Signed .ORG Domain Names .ORG, The Public Interest Registry (PIR) today announced that three leading registrars - Go Daddy, DynDNS.com and NamesBeyond ? now support Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) for .ORG domain names, adding an extra layer of security of all .ORG domain name holders. The news comes on the heels of .ORG?s announcement at ICANN Brussels on June 23 that the world?s third largest generic top-level domain (gTLD) is now offering full DNSSEC deployment. http://pir.org/news/pr/2010/registrarsdnssec ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** us: Ninth Circuit Applies Nominative Use Defense to Domain Names [reg req'd] In a decision that will likely help define the boundaries of trademark owners' rights in domain names, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed and remanded a district court's broad injunction prohibiting any use of the trademark LEXUS in domain names used by an independent auto broker legally helping to sell LEXUS automobiles. In Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. v. Farzad Tabari, et al., No. 07-55344 (9th Cir. July 8, 2010), a unanimous panel robustly applied the doctrine of nominative fair use to domain names. The decision was authored by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, who invented the nominative use defense in the New Kids on the Block case1 18 years ago. http://mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=105948 Court Ruling on Baidu v. Register.com Has Implications for Domain Registrars Domain name registrars, take note: you can?t just claim no responsibility for your actions in your terms of service and expect a court to uphold it. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/07/22/court-ruling-on-baidu-v-register-com-has-implications-for-domain-registrars/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Less Than 1 Year Until The Internet Runs Out of Addresses [ReadWriteWeb] The Internet will run out of Internet addresses in about 1 year's time, we were told today by John Curran, President and CEO of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). The same thing was also stated recently by Vint Cerf, Google's Chief Internet Evangelist. http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/07/22/22readwriteweb-less-than-1-year-until-the-internet-runs-ou-78907.html Four Ways IPv6 Will Save the Internet The world is almost out of IP addresses--or at least it's almost out of the IPv4 addresses that IT admins and users are most familiar with. Fortunately, IPv6 has been developed to exponentially expand the pool of available IP addresses while also providing a few other benefits. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/201813/.html IPv4 addresses to run out in 12 months or less According to the chief executive of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) the remaining IPv4 addresses available to the industry will run out in less than a year. http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2267015/ipv4-addresses-run-months India Gears for IPv4 to IPv6 Switch As the Internet is running out of addresses, India is geared to shift its domain name address policy from the existing IPv4 to IPv6 protocol by March 2012. http://www.pcworld.in/news/india-gears-ipv4-ipv6-switch-30412010 nl: Nominations invited for the IPv6 Awards 2010 On Thursday 25 November, the second annual IPv6 Awards will be presented to the best Dutch implementations of the new Internet Protocol. And the IPv6 Task Force, which organises the award scheme, is inviting internet service providers, government bodies, educational establishments and private individuals to put themselves forward for one of this year?s prizes. So, if you have implemented an IPv6 application, why not make a claim? Nominations need to be in before 1 November to qualify for one of the attractive prizes. https://www.sidn.nl/en/news/news/article/schrijf-u-nu-in-voor-de-ipv6-awards-2010-1/ ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Baidu to Pursue Claims Against U.S. Domain Registry [IDG] Baidu plans to press its claims against a U.S. domain registry for allowing hackers to take over the search engine company's website, following a judge's ruling clearing the way for a lawsuit. http://www.pcworld.com/article/201742/.html ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Gambling is Big Money as OnlineCasino.dk Sold for $580,000 Online gambling is big business. This year the domain name slots.com has been the biggest sale to date, sold for $5.5 million to Bodog Antigua. Other big gambling-related domain name sales were poker.org selling for $1 million and poker.ca for $400,000. Now OnlineCasino.dk has sold $580,000 making it the ninth biggest reported sale to date for 2010. http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/07/23/gambling-is-big-money-as-onlinecasinodk-sold-for-580000/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/gambling-s-big-money-as-onlinecasino.dk-sold-for-$580000.html F Words Fetch $183,000 to Take the Top Two Spots on This Week's Domain Sales Chart F words took the top two positions on this week's DN Journal Top 20 Domain Sales Chart, but no need to cover your eyes - fortunately these F words are G-rated. Sedo.com reached the summit on the elite list with a $93,000 sale of FreeMarket.com while a private sale of Fiction.com, facilitated by Moniker's brokerage service, was right behind at $90,000. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2010/20100721.htm Country Code Alchemist: How .CA Devotee Rick Silver Is Turning Canadian Websites Into Gold ... It should come as no surprise that Canada's Rick Silver spent much of his boyhood as a magician. As an adult, after spending the past decade buying and developing domain names, Silver now rules an online empire built on his nation's relatively unheralded country code extension - .ca - an extension that most others routinely overlooked. http://dnjournal.com/cover/2010/june-july.htm ********************** REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** The Internet and Copyright Protection: Are We Producing a Global Generation of Copyright Criminals? by Fredrick Oduol Oduor [Deakin University] Abstract: The advent of the internet posed and continues to pose fundamental changes in social norms, politics and economics in society. The belief in cyber anarchy - ?do not touch the internet? mantra, has fundamentally altered the understanding of copyright laws amongst the present generation. Subsequently an aversion for property rights as understood by well established copyright laws has developed, manifesting itself mainly through piracy. The evolution of technology in tandem with the internet has further exacerbated the situation as a whole generation that enjoys entertainment finds it much easier to infringe on a litany of copyright laws. Taking into account the established norms of property-copyright protection, is it not clear, with growing copyright malcontents and malfeasance that we are simply producing a global generation of copyright criminals. This discourse explores the veracity of this statement taking into account the nature of the internet, the emergence of digital copying and sharing, alongside the fluid perceptions of copyright protection. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1640253 The Evolution of Internet Defamation Law: Will Dow Jones v. Gutnick Survive the International Legal Schisms and Legislative Onslaught? by Fredrick Oduol Oduor [Deakin University] Abstract: The internet is currently the most versatile medium of communication. It remains true to its heritage having been designed by the US military to withstand a nuclear attack. At conception it was designed to route around censorship and controls. It however, now functions in the civilian world in which laws and regulation are the norm. The Australian High Court attempted to put in place regulations and principles on on-line Defamation in Dow Jones v Gutnick (Gutnick). However the borderless nature of the internet has brought to the fore, the complexities involved in developing internet legal principles. This is in a world still fraught with inherently different legal systems, with one foot placed on globalisation and the other clinging on to sovereignty. A clash between free speech and reputation was the result of Gutnick and a renewed offensive is in the offing. The pertinent question explored in this discourse is whether the defamation principles reiterated and established by the High Court of Australia in Gutnick will survive. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1646168 Victims of Phishing and Challenges of Internet Regulation by Dr. Tabrez Ahmad [Third International and Seventh Biennial Conference of the Indian Society of Victimology, 2010] Abstract: Growing use of Internet for E-commerce and E-governance provides innovative opportunities for more efficient and convenient ways of committing traditional crimes. Phishing has become one of the common forms of cyber crime that perpetrators currently manage to commit in low risk environment, leading to potentially enormous increase in victimization. Phishing has become a complicated cyber crime with respect to detection, investigation, and prosecution. Issues of jurisdiction and non cooperation among the countries of the world complicate the ability of a particular country to protect the netizens against phishing. The main object of this paper is to analyse the challenge of internet regulation to combat phishing. The paper analyses the concept and prevalence of phishing victimization issues and the role of internet. The paper suggests a multilevel action plan to help and empower the victims of phishing. The paper also analyses the plan in international cyber forensic scenario to determine the challenge of phishing in internet regulation. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1645709 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Times loses almost 90% of online readership The Times has lost almost 90% of its online readership compared to February since making registration mandatory in June, calculations by the Guardian show. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/20/times-paywall-readership The paywall won't be built in a day An awful lot of British journalists were hoping that the Times and Sunday Times's paywalls would be an overnight success. At this point, we can probably assume that they aren't. News International's executives have every incentive to boast ? more papers going behind paywalls would help the Times, and these things take so long to do well that NI would be likely to maintain its head start. So far, they are not boasting. They are leaving the field to Michael Wolff, Hitwise and Dan Sabbagh's secret squirrels, whose figures get less encouraging the more you look at them. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/jul/20/paywalls-rupert-murdoch Apple?s Web Browser Allows Sites to Collect Personal Information A security researcher uncovered a flaw in Apple?s Safari Web browser that allows Internet sites to harvest personal information from visitors. The flaw, which exploits the Web browser?s ?auto-fill? capabilities, allows Web sites to scrape information like the name, e-mail, address, phone number and place of work of the person who uses the computer, which many Macintosh users store in their digital address books. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/apples-web-browser-allows-sites-to-collect-personal-information/ Independent voices gain ground in EU blogosphere Independent bloggers writing about EU policy are nipping at the heels of their big media rivals, according to a survey on the EU's English-language blogosphere. http://euractiv.com/en/pa/independent-voices-gain-ground-eu-blogosphere-news-496350 Quarter of Kiwis use phones or hotspots to surf the net At home and away, New Zealanders are unplugging, a newly released Department of Statistics finds. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/quarter-kiwis-use-phones-or-hotspots-surf-net-126630 us: FCC Finds 14 to 24 Million Americans Lack Access to Broadband In response to a Congressional directive to inquire whether broadband ?is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion,? the FCC concluded in its Sixth Broadband Deployment Report that between 14 and 24 million Americans still lack access to broadband, and the immediate prospects for deployment to them are bleak. This report underscores the need for comprehensive reform of the Universal Service Fund, innovative approaches to unleashing new spectrum, and removal of barriers to infrastructure investment. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-299989A1.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-299989A1.pdf Neurons to power future computers The way neurons communicate could inspire the next generation of computers. Researchers are developing novel computers by mimicking the way that neurons are built and how they talk to each other. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10685138 U.S. looks to improve disabled access to Internet The Obama administration on Friday proposed trying to enhance access for people with disabilities to websites for hotels, retail stores and other public sites as well as improve access to movie theaters. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50364620100723 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66M5JS20100723 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** How I became a Foursquare cyberstalker It's the coolest social networking tool in the world. But is the geo-location app Foursquare a stalker's dream? Just how easy it is to uncover the intimate details of a complete stranger's life? http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jul/23/foursquare The night I was cyberstalked on Foursquare I was sitting in a restaurant with friends, when I was told by the manager that there was a phone call for me . . . http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jul/23/cyberstalked-foursquare Facebook's test: Building on ad revenue Facebook may be growing like gangbusters, but the question clouding the storybook rise of Silicon Valley's latest phenomenon is whether it can figure out how to make money at the same pace. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/23/AR2010072305160.html Opinion: When Arabs Tweet For young Arabs, new media are more of a stress reliever than a mechanism for political change http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/opinion/23iht-edkhouri.html Facebook now has 500 million users Facebook has reached another milestone, notching 500 million users, which means that one in every 13 people on Earth is signed up to the site. ... "A lot of employers are doing quick searches in social networks to get an idea who it is they're potentially going to employ," said Martin Cocker of Netsafe. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/facebook-now-has-500-million-users-3667750 US security chiefs tricked in social networking experiment Anna Chapman need never have bothered with moving to Manhattan to become a sleeper agent for the Russian intelligence service. The experience of another femme fatale, Robin Sage, suggests the 28-year-old spy, who posted raunchy photos on her Facebook profile, should instead have honed her social networking skills. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/24/social-networking-spy-robin-sage ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** India unveils 'laptop' costing $35 India has come up with the world's cheapest "laptop", a touchscreen computing device that costs $35 (?23). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/23/india-unveils-cheapest-laptop India unveils prototype of $35 tablet computer [AP] It looks like an iPad, only it's 1/14th the cost: India has unveiled the prototype of a $35 basic touchscreen tablet aimed at students, which it hopes to bring into production by 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/23/AR2010072301495.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/india-develops-35dollar-laptop-for-schools-20100723-10p32.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/india-develops-35dollar-laptop-for-schools-20100723-10p32.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ au: No Minister: 90% of web snoop document censored to stop 'premature unnecessary debate' The federal government has censored approximately 90 per cent of a secret document outlining its controversial plans to snoop on Australians' web surfing, obtained under freedom of information (FoI) laws, out of fear the document could cause "premature unnecessary debate". http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/no-minister-90-of-web-snoop-document-censored-to-stop--premature-unnecessary-debate-20100722-10mxo.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/no-minister-90-of-web-snoop-document-censored-to-stop--premature-unnecessary-debate-20100722-10mxo.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3952137/Aussie-govt-censors-web-censor-plans ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Most BitTorrent files illegal: study If it were possible to scoop up an armful of files shared on BitTorrent, the overwhelming majority of it would be illegally copied or pornographic. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/bittorrent-home-to-illegal-software-study/story-e6frgakx-1225896185591 Only 0.3% of files on BitTorrent confirmed to be legal The large majority of content found on BitTorrent is illegal, a new study out of the University of Ballarat in Australia has confirmed. Researchers from the university's Internet Commerce Security Laboratory scraped torrents from 23 trackers and looked up the content to determine whether the file was confirmed to be copyrighted. They found that 89 percent of the files they sampled were confirmed to be illegally shared, and most of the remaining ambiguous 11 percent was likely to be infringing. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/07/only-03-of-files-on-bit-torrent-confirmed-to-be-legal.ars NZ behind, so we download more [NZPA] A lack of timely and legal access to movies and music is encouraging New Zealanders to illegally download them, says a New Zealand entrepreneur. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/3947137/NZ-behind-so-we-download-more nz: Cutting off net pirates 'could be fatal' Disconnecting internet pirates would take away one of their basic freedoms and could even result in death, an expert says. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3948913/Cutting-off-net-pirates-could-be-fatal ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Demand for mobile data boosts Vodafone revenues Strong demand for mobile data has helped Vodafone increase its service revenues for the first time in 18 months, as its key markets recovered from recession. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/23/demand-mobile-data-vodafone-revenues BlackBerry poses social, security risks, UAE warns The BlackBerry, made by Canada's Research In Motion, is open to misuse that poses security risks to the United Arab Emirates, which said on Sunday it would seek to safeguard its consumers and laws. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50381220100725 Real-world Testing: IPhone 4 vs. HTC EVO 4G I've been using an iPhone for three years now, first the original iPhone then the 3G. I like the iPhone a lot -- but I'm not married to it. When I began hearing great things about the Sprint's Android phone, the HTC EVO 4G, I thought hard about switching. And although I eventually decided to upgrade to the iPhone 4, I was curious what I was missing. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/201676/.html ********************** SPAM ********************** Spam attacks to rise 30 per cent in 2010 Spam attacks will rise by a whopping 30 per cent in 2010 compared with 2009, presenting a continued threat to the security of enterprise networks and corporate information, according to Cisco's 2010 Midyear Security Report. http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2266935/spam-attacks-rise-whopping-per ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Websites biggest terror threat, says UK watchdog David Cameron should abandon his threat to ban the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir and turn his attention instead to websites that openly advocate violence, Lord Carlile, the terrorism watchdog, urged yesterday. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/websites-biggest-terror-threat-says-watchdog-2033453.html Chinese army to target cyber war threat The People's Liberation Army has unveiled its first department dedicated to tackling cyber war threats and protecting information security, Chinese media reported today. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/22/chinese-army-cyber-war-department US recruiting cyber security warriors Cyber security experts in the United States say the country is extremely vulnerable to attacks because it does not have enough experts to protect America's vast computer networks. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/22/2961755.htm uk: Consumer regulator outlines plans to protect online shoppers UK consumers still need to be educated about online shopping to prevent them falling victim to scams and problems, consumer protection regulator the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said. http://out-law.com/page-11243 Scam artists target victims of Gulf oil spill An e-mail scam featuring someome purporting to be BP Plc's Chief Executive Tony Hayward is targeting victims of the company's massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Florida's attorney general said on Thursday. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50329420100722 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66L3Y420100722 uk: Woman describes internet date rape trauma A woman who was raped by a man she met on the internet has spoken to the BBC after her attacker, a taxi driver from Peterborough, was jailed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10734214 Firm scrambles to patch vBulletin software flaw A serious flaw in software widely used to power online discussion sites could allow hackers to harvest reams of personal data, the BBC has learned. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10714192 nz: Man jailed for texting blackmail Police have welcomed a jail sentence handed down to a Nelson man who attempted to extort money from another man through threatening text messages. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10660786 Sentence reflects text-threat harm [Marlborough Express] Sending a Nelson man to jail for making threats via text messages is a sign of the justice system recognising the damage cyber communication can do, police and cyber watchdog Netsafe say. http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/3950293/Sentence-reflects-text-threat-harm http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3951362/Sentence-reflects-text-threat-harm http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/national-news/3951362/Sentence-reflects-text-threat-harm http://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-newspapers/west-coast-6013/news-6662/3951362/Jail-for-text-threats http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/national-news/3951362/Sentence-reflects-text-threat-harm nz: Burglars using social networking to plan break-ins Twitter and Facebook users be warned - detailing your day-to-day lives online could be a blatant invite to a burglar to come to your vacant home. http://www.3news.co.nz/Burglars-using-social-networking-to-plan-break-ins/tabid/412/articleID/167340/Default.aspx?ArticleID=167340 http://www.3news.co.nz/Burglars-using-social-networking-to-plan-break-ins/tabid/412/articleID/167340/Default.aspx nz: Police called over pizza hack The personal details of several Kiwi celebrities have been released by hackers as proof they have cracked Hell Pizza's customer database. ... Executive director Martin Cocker from NetSafe said if Hell Pizza has been breached it was embarrassing for them not to know. However, he said it was good Hell Pizza had warned customers as there was no legal obligation to do so. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10661073 ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Google pressed on wi-fi snooping in US Google is being pressed to name the engineers who wrote code that captured personal data from unsecured wi-fi networks. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10724464 EFF Urges Court to Block Dragnet Subpoenas Targeting Online Commenters: Privacy and Anonymity at Risk in New York Conspiracy Suit The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) this week served a motion to quash dragnet subpoenas that put privacy and anonymity at risk for the operators of dozens of Internet blogs and potentially hundreds of commenters. http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/07/13 ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Google's Gatekeepers In 2006, Thailand announced it was blocking access to YouTube for anyone with a Thai I.P address, and then identified 20 offensive videos for Google to remove as a condition of unblocking the site. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/magazine/30google-t.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** The U.N. Threat to Internet Freedom: The FCC's move to treat broadband providers like phone company monopolies could spur international efforts to regulate the Web In 1988, delegates from 114 countries gathered in Melbourne, Australia, to negotiate an international treaty for the future of telecommunications regulation. Since then, representatives from nations as diverse as Ghana, China and the U.S. have reunited and agreed that the Internet?that amazing global network of networks?was different from traditional phone service, and was best kept free from international phone regulation. That could change soon. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704684604575381571670766774.html ISPs battle against three-strikes rule throughout EU [IDG] Irish ISP UPC said Friday that it will continue to vigorously defend itself against liability proceedings taken against it in the country's courts by music companies. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/072310-isps-battle-against-three-strikes-rule.html http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/201767/.html CDT Statement on Release of Draft Consumer Privacy Bill: the Best Practices Act The Center for Democracy & Technology today released the following statement on the release of a draft federal consumer privacy bill, the Best Practices Act, by Rep. Bobby Rush, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection: http://cdt.org/pr_statement/cdt-statement-release-draft-consumer-privacy-bill-best-practices-act U.S. Caves on Anti-Circumvention Rules in ACTA One of the biggest stories coming out of the latest ACTA leak is how the U.S. has gradually caved on its digital lock demands. While the U.S. initially proposed an aggressive draft chapter it hoped would export U.S. law to all ACTA partners, it has now caved on many key issues with the European language carrying the day. http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5210/125/ ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* If Apple wants to be a major player it needs to start behaving like one Over the past two months, Apple's market capitalisation (ie its value as measured by the stock market) averaged out at $229.8bn. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jul/25/apple-worth-more-than-microsoft Even With All Its Profits, Microsoft Has a Popularity Problem by Randall Stross is an author based in Silicon Valley and a professor of business at San Jose State University Measured by profits, Microsoft trounces Apple and Google. In the most recent three months, Microsoft earned $4.52 billion, versus Apple?s $3.25 billion and Google?s $1.8 billion. But, dear investors, where is the love for this beaten-down company? http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/business/25digi.html Microsoft posts record quarterly revenues of $16bn Microsoft added to the growing sense of recovery in the technology sector last night by reporting record quarterly revenues, driven by strong sales. The software giant pipped Apple, one of its greatest rivals, with a 22% jump in revenues to $16bn (?10.5bn) in the three months to the end of June. Operating profits jumped 49% to $5.9bn during the quarter. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/23/microsoft-posts-record-revenues Windows Upgrade Helps Microsoft to a Record Quarter Microsoft rumbled to record sales in its last quarter with its Windows and Office franchises performing like faithful old friends. About 175 million licenses of Window 7 have been sold since the product was released last year, making it the fastest selling version of Windows. In addition, both consumers and corporations have increased their purchases of Microsoft?s software, reflecting that a significant PC upgrade cycle has taken hold. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/technology/23soft.html ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** au: Balance of power will guarantee NBN: Greens The Australian Greens say the rollout of fast broadband services can only be guaranteed if they hold the balance of power in the Senate. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/23/2961821.htm Motorola Sues Huawei for Theft of Trade Secrets [Reuters] U.S. mobile phone maker Motorola Inc has sued China's Huawei Technologies Co for alleged theft of trade secrets, highlighting the fast-growing Chinese firm's difficulty in shaking the nation's reputation for piracy. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/07/22/business/business-us-motorola-huawei.html S'pore to auction remaining 3G spectrum The country may see a fourth 3G telco in the market by the end of the year, following the government's decision to auction unused 3G spectrum. http://www.zdnetasia.com/s-pore-to-auction-remaining-3g-spectrum-62201511.htm LTE ? when will it arrive in New Zealand? Long Term Evolution (LTE) really is the Holy Grail of the mobile industry. It is said HSPA+ can?t match LTE in terms of speed. Telstra, currently trialling LTE over 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz, has already achieved 100 Mbit/s. In theory LTE could achieve around 300 Mbit/s with a 20 MHz carrier in ideal conditions. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/technology/lte-when-will-it-arrive-in-new-zealand ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** uk: Child porn charges send James Bulger's killer back to jail Jon Venables, one of the young killers of James Bulger, has been jailed for downloading and distributing child pornography, as it emerged he had been arrested twice for fighting and drug possession before he was recalled to prison earlier this year. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/23/james-bulger-killer-jon-venables +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2010 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim FlanneryReceived on Sun Jul 25 2010 - 14:43:27 UTC
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