Don't forget to check out www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news.


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


***************************************************

The domain name news is supported by auDA

***************************************************


Big Tech Companies Back Global Plan to Shield Online Speech
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/28/technology/internet/28privacy.html

International Telecommunication Union criticised for its role in internet snooping
http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/117985

Expressions of Interest Sought for Bulk Transfer of Registrations
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-28oct08-en.htm

Public Comment: The Role Of Individual Internet Users in the GNSO
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-28oct08-en.htm

EstDomains Update: Notice of Termination Stayed
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-29oct08-en.htm

For Public Comment: Additional Explanatory Memorandum on Morality and Public Order Objection Considerations in New gTLDs
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-29oct08-en.htm

ICANN releases draft gTLD guidebook [IDG]
http://nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/10/28/28idg-ICANN-proposes.html

ICANN proposes new way to buy TLDs [IDG]
http://reseller.co.nz/reseller.nsf/inews/7F88D34366EC5DEFCC2574F100037CBB

ICANN De-Accredits EstDomains for CEO's Fraud Convictions
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/10/icann_de-accredits_estdomains.html?nav=rss_blog

Dispute over .africa domain
http://www.heise-online.co.uk/networks/Dispute-over-africa-domain--/news/111809

New 2nd Level .br Domain to make Internet Banking Safe in Brazil
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/new-2nd-level-.br-domain-to-make-internet-banking-safe-in-brazil.html

One Million .mobi Registered Names Help Drive Evolution of Mobile Web [news release]
http://mtld.mobi/node/1220

Mandelson's dept mulls UK internet power grab
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/berr_nominet/

Virtual workshop unites countries to sharpen cyber defenses
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081029_6874.php

Domain Registrars Make Strides to Protect Internet from Phishing [news release]
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6365

Election '08: What's in a domain name [IDG]
http://nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/10/27/27idg-Election-08-W.html

TRAFFIC Down Under: Your Trip Down Under Just Got Cheaper
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/10/29/traffic-down-under-your-trip-down-under-just-got-cheaper/


**********************
GOVERNANCE
**********************
Big Tech Companies Back Global Plan to Shield Online Speech
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo and a group of human rights and public interest organizations plan to introduce Wednesday a global code of conduct that they say will better protect online free speech and privacy against government intrusion.
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/28/technology/internet/28privacy.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/28/technology/28privacy.php

Tech giants agree on free speech principals
Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc are expected to announce on Tuesday, that they have agreed to a common set of principals on how to do business in nations that restrict free speech and expression, the Wall Street Journal reported.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49R13620081028
http://in.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49R13620081028

China's Baidu Commits To Lofty Internet Ideals By Joining United Nations Global Compact
Chinese search engine Baidu (BIDU) officially announced that it has committed to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact to boost its daily management on corporate social responsibility.
http://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/10/29/7857-chinas-baidu-commits-to-lofty-internet-ideals-by-joining-united-nations-global-compact/

International Telecommunication Union criticised for its role in internet snooping
At EuroDIG, the first European Dialogue on Internet Governance, the scientists and experts of the Council of Europe have sharply criticised the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for acting behind closed doors in its initiatives towards cybersecurity standardization.
http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/117985
http://www.heise-online.co.uk/networks/International-Telecommunication-Union-criticised-for-its-role-in-internet-snooping--/news/111789

**********************
DOMAIN NAMES
**********************

**********************
 - ICANN
**********************
Expressions of Interest Sought for Bulk Transfer of Registrations
Request For Information: ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest from Registrars to Receive Bulk Transfer of Names from De-Accredited Registrar EstDomains
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-28oct08-en.htm

Public Comment: The Role Of Individual Internet Users in the GNSO
The ICANN Board has asked for additional community input on the appropriate role and representation of individual commercial and non-commercial Internet users in the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO). Faced with a number of different recommendations stemming from various independent reviews and GNSO and user-community group efforts, the Board continues to consider this issue and believes that comments from the community, especially stakeholders in the GNSO, ALAC and At-Large groups, and any relevant applicants for new constituencies, would be particularly helpful.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-28oct08-en.htm

EstDomains Update: Notice of Termination Stayed
On 28 October 2008, ICANN sent a notice of termination to EstDomains. Based on an Estonian Court record, ICANN has reason to believe that the president of EstDomains, Vladimir Tsastsin, was convicted of credit card fraud, money laundering and document forgery on 6 February 2008.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-29oct08-en.htm

For Public Comment: Additional Explanatory Memorandum on Morality and Public Order Objection Considerations in New gTLDs
An additional explanatory memorandum is being posted today for public comments to assist with the understanding of the implementation work related to morality and public order objections in New gTLDs. The memorandum is also available for download at the New gTLD Program webpage.
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-29oct08-en.htm

ICANN backs anti-tasting plan, sets bespoke domain price at $185,000
The body that governs internet addresses has adopted a plan to battle domain tasting, a practice which businesses claim allows unscrupulous operators to earn millions trading on familiar brand names.
http://out-law.com/page-9536

TLD change could see Aussie businesses splash US$500k on Net egos
Proposed changes by ICANN to the domain name system could see Australian firms paying anywhere between US$185,000 to US$500,000 for the prestige of owning their own TLD.
http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;98022543
http://techworld.com.au/article/265241/tld_change_could_see_aussie_businesses_splash_us_500k_net_egos

Will ICANN changes create a tug-of-war for domains?
A new rule by ICANN, the Internet oversight body, to expand the field of TLDs, will make it much harder for companies to protect their trademarks, attorneys say. They expect confusion and increased litigation as corporations seek to prevent cybersquatters and fraudsters from registering domain names that infringe on their trademarks.
http://www.wislawjournal.com/article.cfm/2008/10/27/Will-ICANN-changes-create-a-tugofwar-for-domains

Prices soar for TLD names
The global TLD debate is set to ignite with the release over the weekend of the draft new global TLDs program guidebook.
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Free-Articles/The-Briefing/20081028-Prices-soar-for-top-level-domain-names.html

ICANN releases draft gTLD guidebook [IDG]
New gTLD names will change the face of the Internet, according to a newly released draft 'Applicant Guidebook' by domain name regulator ICANN.
http://nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/10/28/28idg-ICANN-proposes.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/152959/.html
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/87634,icann-releases-draft-gtld-guidebook.aspx

ICANN proposes new way to buy TLDs [IDG]
ICANN is seeking comments on a proposal that would open up the market for gTLDs on the Internet, basically allowing anyone with US$185,000 to buy a new TLD.
http://itworld.com/internet/56886/icann-proposes-new-way-buy-top-level-domains
http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9118361
http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;424767525
http://reseller.co.nz/reseller.nsf/inews/7F88D34366EC5DEFCC2574F100037CBB

ICANN to allow new TLDs ? warning to brand owners
ICANN is responsible for the allocation of all TLD names. There are presently only a limited number of TLDs (e.g. .com, .net, .org etc) but ICANN has announced it intends to open the market for any person to create new TLDs of their choosing.
http://www.law-now.com/dmemails/icannoct08.htm

Expansion of TLDs: Why Current Brand Protection Procedures Will Be Impractical by Margie Milam
As ICANN introduces new gTLDs and separates itself from US oversight, it has the opportunity to distance itself from the taint of cybersquatting, brand abuse, and criminal activity involving domains. Establishing a new norm for disputing and resolving disputes would demonstrate leadership and ICANN's ability to regulate itself on behalf of the greater good.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081029_tld_expansion_brand_protection/

Rules for New Domain Extensions Announced (gTLD?s)
Last week at the ICANN meeting in Cairo, a rule book for the new extensions, hundreds or maybe thousands of them was published.
http://www.thedomains.com/2008/10/28/rules-for-new-domain-extensions-announced-gtlds/

ICANN Offers gTLD Applicant Guide
ICANN announced on Monday it has released the "Applicant Guidebook" for new gTLDs, which the organization hopes will help reinforce its anti-domain tasting position.
http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/102908_ICANN_Offers_gTLD_Applicant_Guide.cfm

New Life for .XXX ? but Hurdles Remain
Poor .xxx. The TLD that never was to be. On again, off again. With the new TLD process getting into high gear and ICANN expecting 500 applications, you can be assured that some of them will be for .xxx, .sex, or .porn. But will they be approved? The morality police are on the prowl.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/10/29/new-life-for-xxx-but-hurdles-remain/

Trademark Holders Shouldn?t Rush to Get New TLDs
One of the examples the mass media has given for the potential of new TLDs is .ebay . ?Imagine eBay being able to create cars.ebay and electronics.ebay?, is the general line of thought.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/10/29/trademark-holders-shouldnt-rush-to-get-new-tlds/

ICANN Sends Termination Notice to Registrar by Gadi Evron
ICANN has sent EstDomains a termination notice: "Dear Mr. Tsastsin: Be advised that ICANN Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) for EstDomains, Inc. (customer No. 919, IANA No. 943) is terminated..."
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081029_icann_termination_notice_registrar/

ICANN De-Accredits EstDomains for CEO's Fraud Convictions
The entity responsible for overseeing the Internet's domain name system said Tuesday that it was revoking the right of registrar EstDomains.com to process new domain names, citing the company CEO's recent conviction on cyber crime charges.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/10/icann_de-accredits_estdomains.html?nav=rss_blog

Notorious registrar gets deactivation notice for president's sin
EstDomains, a domain name registrar with a reputation for catering to cyber criminals, suffered another blow after the organization that oversees the net's address system said it would revoke the company's right to sell domain names because of a recent fraud conviction in Estonia of its president.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/estdomains_gets_deaccredited/

EstDomains Loses Accreditation, 280k Domains up for Grabs
Domain registrar EstDomains, Inc has lost its ICANN accreditation.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/10/29/estdomains-loses-accreditation-280k-domains-up-for-grabs/

EstDomains fighting for life
A domain registrar infamous amongst the security world is being faced with shutdown. EstDomains was notified by ICANN that it would be stripped of its accreditation due to the legal troubles of its chief executive. Vladimir Tsastsin was convicted in February of credit card fraud, forgery and money laundering in Estonia.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2229394/estdomains-fighting-life
http://www.whatpc.co.uk/vnunet/news/2229394/estdomains-fighting-life
http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2229394/estdomains-fighting-life
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/87889,estdomains-fighting-for-life.aspx

Cybercrime friendly EstDomains loses ICANN registrar accreditation
EstDomains AbuseDespite EstDomains persistent press releases during the last couple of days, next to the domain registrar?s delayed response to the security community, on Thursday the ICANN has sent a notice of termination of their registrar accreditation agreement with EstDomains, following obtained court records stating that EstDomains president Vladimir Tsastsin has been convicted of credit card fraud, money laundering and document forgery on 6 February 2008. The end of EstDomains? Could be, but their malicious customers are not going offline anytime soon.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2089

ICANN drops EstDomains over CEO?s fraud convictions
ICANN has dropped the accreditation for EstDomains, essentially ending their ability to process new domain orders for any TLD.
http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200844/2349/ICANN-drops-EstDomains-over-CEO-s-fraud-convictions

One criminal Internet registrar down...
EstDomains has finally lost its Internet Registrar accreditation due to the criminal activity of its CEO. Well, he *was* already in jail...
http://weblog.infoworld.com/stratdev/archives/2008/10/one_criminal_in.html

ICANN steps up and yanks EstDomains? accreditation
In a move that could signal a shift in ICANN policy the organization which controls the TLDs has pulled the accreditation of EstDomains. The European hosting provider has been under fire recently from the security community for allegedly providing a safe haven for the likes of spammers, malware authors and assorted other bad types.
http://www.inquisitr.com/6658/icann-steps-up-and-yanks-estdomains-accreditation/

**********************
 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
**********************
Dispute over .africa domain
IP address registry AfriNIC has had to postpone its planned November meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa due to disagreement over the future location of a .africa address zone. According to AfriNIC, the hosts, the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation, have cancelled the ninth meeting of the African address registry at short notice. The organisation has thus found itself forced to divert to Mauritius. The reason for the Ethiopian cancellation appears to be wrangling over the operation of the planned .africa TLD.
http://www.heise-online.co.uk/networks/Dispute-over-africa-domain--/news/111809

New 2nd Level .br Domain to make Internet Banking Safe in Brazil
Internet banking in Brazil has become much safer with the launch of the new second level domain "B.br".
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/10/29/new-2nd-level-br-domain-to-make-internet-banking-safe-in-brazil/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/new-2nd-level-.br-domain-to-make-internet-banking-safe-in-brazil.html

Finnish regulator extends .fi domain names validity periods [sub req'd]
Users will be able to apply for, renew or transfer a domain name to another holder either for one or three years, for a price of EUR 15.
http://telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=642812
http://telecom.paper.nl/news/article.aspx?id=236084

One Million .mobi Registered Names Help Drive Evolution of Mobile Web [news release]
dotMobi, the company behind the .mobi Internet domain designed to help consumers find content that works on mobile phones, today announced that more than one million .mobi domains have been registered since its launch two years ago.
http://mtld.mobi/node/1220

.tel Gaining Momentum
Over 100 registrars will sell the .tel domain name according to Telnic Limited. While it is too soon to know how successful .tel will be as a TLD name, I am optimistic that it will make communicating easier.
http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-tehrani/ip-communications/tel-gaining-momentum.html

.tel Domain Booked by 100 Registrars
Telnic Limited, the Registry Operator for the new .tel TLD has announced that even before it has launched, the .tel domain name has become extremely popular among ICANN-accredited registrars.
http://internetcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-mobile/articles/43920-tel-doma-booked-100-registrars.htm

Dot.tel means staying connected with ease
Asking a prospective date for a phone number is so last century. Starting soon, it'll be "what's your dot.tel?"
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/bustech/story.html?id=d9110bb3-8307-4d50-bffc-a757e8cd24c4

.Tel TLD Gains Momentum
Yet another TLD is emerging on the scene and gains momentum. The new .Tel TLD, created by a London-based company called Telnic, will allow individuals, companies and organizations to store all their contact information in a virtual phone book for life. In essence, it will be a global online contact directory.
http://www.domaininformer.com/news/editors/081027TelTLDGainsMomentum.html

Mandelson's dept mulls UK internet power grab
Ministers led by Peter Mandelson are considering a power grab at the independent company at the centre of UK's internet infrastructure, The Register can reveal. Mandelson's Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has asked Nominet, which is in charge of the .co.uk registry, to justify its independence from Whitehall.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/berr_nominet/

**********************
 - DNS SECURITY
**********************
Virtual workshop unites countries to sharpen cyber defenses
Recent incidents of cyberwarfare showcase the need for nation states to work together to better defend their computer systems and networks from attacks, a Defense Department official involved in an international readiness exercise said on Wednesday. The United States is one of 16 countries participating in the virtual workshop to test the global defense community's ability to fend off calculated attacks on computer systems and networks.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081029_6874.php

Domain Registrars Make Strides to Protect Internet from Phishing [news release]
The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), in consultation with the ICANN Registrar Constituency and several domain name registrars, has published a "best practices" advisory for registrars to help them implement mechanisms to make it more difficult to register and use domains for illicit uses such as phishing, a confidence scheme used to dupe consumers out of personal financial information.
http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=6365
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/10/29/domain-registrars-make-strides-to-protect-internet-from-phishing/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/domain-registrars-make-strides-to-protect-internet-from-phishing.html

Phishing Registrar Accounts: eNom is First Target by Gadi Evron
Criminals are now looking to use established domain names, via phishing targeted at domain registrars. This is possibly related to ICANN finally moving to stop the black hat registrars of the world.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081029_phishing_registrar_accounts_enom/

Industry Safety Group Announces Formation to Improve Internet Security [news release]
The Registry Internet Safety Group, ("RISG"), is a global group of responsible Internet related companies whose mission is to work collaboratively to combat Internet identity theft; even though RISG is uniquely Registry focused, it includes both gTLD and ccTLD members. RISG is intended to complement and not duplicate existing Internet security efforts.
http://pir.org/index.php?db=content/News&tbl=Press&id=12

WARNING: Enom Phishing Scam
We have received several reports of phishing scam emails that at first glance appear to be coming from domain name registrar Enom.com. The emails warn of a complaint for invalid whois information and ask the user to login. Of course the link that the email directs you to is not a valid Enom domain name. The site is likely harvesting user names and passwords to access legitimate Enom accounts.
http://www.domainnamenews.com/news/warning-enom-phishing-scam/3002

Economic Crisis May Be Boon For Cybercriminals, Experts Say
One industry sector is actually happy about the current state of the global economy: cybercriminals.
http://www.darkreading.com/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=211601123

us: DHS cybersecurity boss fights back against critics
The man in charge of running the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity efforts has defended its efforts in the face of congressional criticism.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/dhs_cybersecurity/

Don't Be Dragooned Into the Botnet Army
The malware armies are growing, with a sharp rise in the number of computers corralled into botnets--far-flung networks of infected PCs that digital crooks use to steal financial account data, relay spam, and launch crippling Internet attacks. Now that popular Web sites can invisibly and unwillingly spread malicious software, the days of staying safe just by being careful where you surf are sadly long gone. But you can take steps to protect yourself and your PC from these threats.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/152965/dont_be_dragooned_into_the_botnet_army.html
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/10/29/How_to_combat_the_botnet_army_1.html

**********************
 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
**********************
au: Family has hope of regaining Britt's website
THE parents of backpacker Britt Lapthorne can use the internet to help regain ownership of the domain name using her moniker, according to a Deakin University computer ethics expert.
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/10/28/26881_news.html

us: Man fights Realtors over a Web address but they say it is theirs
Despite filing a federal lawsuit against the Sarasota Association of Realtors to prevent them from seizing ownership of his Web site, local real estate agent Marc Rasmussen appears to no longer have control of the domain name he established in 2003.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081027/ARTICLE/810270310/2058/NEWS

Texas Domainer Wins Case Against California Agency
Texas attorney, lobbyist, and domain investor Ramiro Canales has successfully defended an attack on one of his company?s domain names, CapitolCorridor.com.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/10/29/texas-domainer-wins-case-against-california-agency/

MarkMonitor helps firms combat online brand abuse
Online brand protection firm MarkMonitor is now offering TLD Advisory Services to help companies keep up with the changes in the online domain world.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2229270/markmonitor-helps-businesses
http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2229270/markmonitor-helps-businesses

Three Judge Panel in Kentucky Case to Meet November 18th
Poker News Daily has learned that the three judge Appeals Court panel in the case involving the seizure and forfeiture of 141 internet gambling domain names will convene for the first time on November 18th, according to Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) attorneys. It comes as the IGC and Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) have each filed writs to the Kentucky Court of Appeals to intervene in the matter.
http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/three-judge-panel-in-kentucky-case-to-meet-november-18th-612/

Kentucky officials still want to make money out of domain debacle
Further disclosures in the attempt by the state of Kentucky to seize international domain names became public this week following moves by the Interactive Gaming Council and the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association to challenge county court Judge Thomas Wingate's findings.
http://www.online-casinos.com/news/news7791.asp

India: Reiterating Bad Faith And Similarity In The Use Of Domain Names [reg req'd]
Viking Range Corporation, established under the laws of Mississippi, USA and located therein, moved to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre, with regard to its grievance in relation to its rights in the mark and name VIKING and VIKING COOKING SCHOOL, being the owner of the trademark VIKING and holder of registrations in respect of the same in the USA. The matter posing itself forth the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center Administrative Panel Decision as Viking Range Corporation v. Domains By Proxy [2008 (37) PTC 624 (WIPO)]
http://mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=68578

**********************
 - IPv4/IPv6
**********************
Enterprises urged to make IPv6 migration
The business case for internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) has not been felt keenly by the industry, but the issue will come to a head in two years, according to networking experts, who say companies should begin preparing now.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39532426,00.htm

IPv6: Zeno's Paradox and Invisible Brick Walls by Yves Poppe
As we continue our ride toward the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, Regional Internet Registries public discussion groups such as the ARIN PPML mailing list remain filled with endless discussions on how large swaths of allocated IPv4 addresses are unused, should be reclaimed or recycled one way or another, maybe be put on the free market and sold to the highest bidder or parsed out in more egalitarian controlled ways.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081029_ipv6_zeno_invisible_brick_walls/

IPv6 is the lifeline for internet growth, say tech experts
Failure to adopt new generation internet protocol could have a bearing on business innovation: Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) holds the key as IP addresses become critical Internet infrastructure lifeblood for the region, said experts at Ripe 57, the first IP networking event for the Middle East that got underway in Dubai on October 26.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=&section=business&xfile=data/business/2008/October/business_October1122.xml

**********************
 - MISCELLANEOUS
**********************
Election '08: What's in a domain name [IDG]
The tale told by other Internet traffic trends (see Internet traffic tracking favors Obama), also rings true when taking domain registration into account. Using DomainTools to query for domains, we saw 2,357 domains for Obama and 1,431 domains for McCain.
http://nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/10/27/27idg-Election-08-W.html
http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1720804501
http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php/id;1720804501

The Great Russian Firewall?
RUSSOFT, a trade association of the largest software companies in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus, has come forward with a new proposal to separate the Russian internet from the rest of the world.
http://www.theotherrussia.org/2008/10/27/the-great-russian-firewall/

Alternate DNS root server system to close
The Open Root Server Network (ORSN) is shutting down. After nearly six years of operation, it will close at midnight on the last day of 2008, said one of its coordinators, Paul Vixie.
http://www.heise-online.co.uk/networks/Alternate-DNS-root-server-system-to-close--/news/111802
http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/118053

AE to offer domain names in Arabic
The UAE is seeking become the first country to offer complete internet domain names in a language other than English by late next year, reported Gulf News.
http://www.ameinfo.com/173270.html
http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Technology/10254469.html

ENUM: Its time is now
Worldwide revenue from VoIP services jumped 52% to $24 billion in 2007, following a 66% percent surge, according to Infonetics Research. And, if the company?s projections are on the mark, strong double-digit growth will continue through at least 2011.
http://www.telecomasia.net/article.php?type=article&id_article=11055

**********************
 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
**********************
TRAFFIC Down Under: Your Trip Down Under Just Got Cheaper
TRAFFIC Down Under is fast approaching and the organisers want potential visitors to note there has been a collapse in the value of the Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar. As well the Aussie dollar has fared badly against the Euro and Pound. So that trip down under has just got cheaper, especially if you haven?t paid for your accommodation yet.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/10/29/traffic-down-under-your-trip-down-under-just-got-cheaper/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/traffic-down-under-your-trip-down-under-just-got-cheaper.html

Financial Crash Proves a Hit for Sedo Sale of the Week
Sedo's weekly list of their top sales has just been released, with a very topical name given the financial crisis being their number one seller last week. The domain name, MoneyWatch.com sold for US$125,000 and was more than double the second biggest .com seller (faire-part.com - ?46,501/~US$58,100).
http://www.domainpulse.com/2008/10/29/financial-crash-proves-a-hit-for-sedo-sale-of-the-week/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/financial-crash-proves-a-hit-for-sedo-sale-of-the-week.html

Domain Industry Growth amidst the Recession
Surprising as it may seem, the domain industry seems to be unfazed by the recent economic turmoil that has been plaguing the world. Proof of this can be seen in the increase of industry blogs related to domaining. More and more domainers, it seems, are finding the need to communicate their ?secrets? to the world.
http://www.domainersmagazine.com/20080917134/domainer-s-magazine-news/domain-industry-growth-amidst-the-recession.html

Are one third of all domain names owned by speculators?
The domain name market is often likened to the real estate market, and a significant share of all domain names out there have been bought by people hoping to later sell them on for a greater price than what they paid for them.
http://www.domaininformer.com/guides/General_Information/articles/081029Areonethirdofalldomainnamesownedbyspeculators.html

Domainer Mardi Gras to Focus on Risk Management
Modern Domainer Magazine?s Domainer Mardi Gras will take place in New Orleans February 19-21, 2009. The event is produced by Modern Domainer with support from Parked.com and other sponsors.
http://domainnamewire.com/2008/10/29/domainer-mardi-gras-to-focus-on-risk-management/

Live Current Media Retains Leading Investment Bank Arbor Advisors to Sell Six Non-Core Domain Names
Live Current Media Inc., a media company built around content and commerce destinations, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Palo Alto-based Arbor Advisors, LLC to sell six of its non-core but highly valuable dot-com domain names from the Company?s portfolio of more than 800 domains.
http://livecurrent.com/live-current-media-retains-399.html

Sedo Marketplace Survey-Take part for the Chance to Win! [news release]
Our Sedo team would like you to join our brainstorming process by participating in this quick and painless (we hope) survey. By collecting your thoughts on Sedo?s search options, fixed pricing, and overall marketplace, we can gain a better understanding of our strengths and which areas we need to improve upon.
http://www.sedo.com/links/showhtml.php3?Id=2207


**********************
INTERNET USE
**********************
Andrew Keen: Will life on planet Google be a nightmare or a dream?
Is Google good or is it evil? Is the company an all-knowing behemoth that is hubristically "transforming our lives", Big Brother-style, with its intrusive technology? Or is it a plucky, selfless Silicon Valley start-up that is "audaciously" organising all the world's information for all of our benefit? Is Google Orwell or is it Disney?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/andrew-keen-will-life-on-planet-google-be-a-nightmare-or-a-dream-974277.html

Is surfing the Internet altering your brain?
The Internet is not just changing the way people live but altering the way our brains work with a neuroscientist arguing this is an evolutionary change which will put the tech-savvy at the top of the new social order.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49Q30A20081027
http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-36173920081027

Microsoft Introduces Windows 7, Ending Vista Brand
Microsoft introduced what it said would be a slimmer and more responsive version of its Windows operating system on Tuesday, while unceremoniously dropping the brand name Vista for the new product.
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/29/technology/business-computing/29soft.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/29/technology/20soft.php

Microsoft breaks free from Vista with Windows 7
Microsoft today unveiled Windows 7 and announced ambitious plans to have it on the shelves in little more than a year. The new software will replace the unloved Vista operating system, which was launched just two years ago and has endured fierce criticism from casual users and technology experts alike.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5031833.ece

Microsoft to battle in the clouds
Microsoft has unveiled a cloud computing service, in which data and applications will not be stored on individuals' computers. The new platform, dubbed Windows Azure, was announced at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7693993.stm

Microsoft Unveils ?Cloud? Operating System
The company said it would begin offering a new ?cloud? operating system that would manage the relationship between software inside the computer and on the Web.
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/28/technology/28soft.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/27/technology/28soft.php

Oops! Microsoft forgets to trademark 'Windows Azure'
Although Microsoft Corp. registered the Web site for its new Windows Azure more than 14 years ago, it has not trademarked the name of its new cloud-based operating system, Windows Azure, Internet searches revealed today.
http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9118188

Breakthrough US deal by Google to sell book content online
It took a multimillion dollar lawsuit, two years of tense negotiations, and an awful lot of scanning. But yesterday the publishing world stood on the threshold of a digital era after a US deal paved the way to transform publishing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/oct/29/google-books-publishing-online-royalties

Google settles suit over book-scanning project
Google said Tuesday that it had agreed to pay $125 million to settle two copyright lawsuits brought by book authors and publishers over the company's plan to digitize and show snippets of in-copyright books and to share digital copies with libraries without the explicit permission.
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/29/technology/internet/29google.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/28/technology/29google.php

Google reaches $125m copyright settlement
Google has agreed to pay $125 million to settle claims from publishers and writers over the internet company's plans to scan millions of books.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article5033697.ece

Google Settles Publishers' Lawsuit Over Book Offerings
Search engine giant Google yesterday announced that it had settled a pair of lawsuits that accused the company of copyright infringement, signaling a new chapter in how books could be read and purchased online.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/28/AR2008102803611.html

Mourning old media's decline
The news that Google settled two longstanding suits with book authors and publishers over its plans to digitize the world's great libraries suggests that some level of d?tente could be reached between old media and new. If true, it can't come soon enough for the news business.
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/29/business/29carr.php

Christian Science Monitor to publish online only
After a century of continuous publication, The Christian Science Monitor will abandon its weekday print edition and appear online only, its publisher announced Tuesday. The cost-cutting measure makes The Monitor the first national newspaper to essentially give up on print.
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/29/business/media/29paper.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/28/business/29paper.php

Economic slump will hit gamers
The global economic slowdown will hurt the mobile gaming market this year and next after it already suffered an unexpected slump last year, the head of gaming at Nokia said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4744178a28.html

**********************
SOCIAL NETWORKING
**********************
'Facebook generation' too lax with data, warns UK information watchdog
A ?Facebook generation? of workers are risking data breaches because they are careless with technology and personal information held on databases, the Britain?s information watchdog warned yesterday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5033644.ece

Bosses 'should embrace Facebook'
Companies should not dismiss staff who use social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo at work as merely time-wasters, a Demos study suggests. Attempts to control employees' use of such software could damage firms in the long run by limiting the way staff communicate, the think tank said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7695716.stm

Don't fire Facebook addicts, bosses told
Rather than seeing their staffers wasting time messaging, poking and sending virtual cocktails to their mates across the room via Facebook, bosses should encourage social networking among employees.
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=106254
http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9118438

Social networking sites "good for businesses"
Good news for workers addicted to Facebook, Bebo and MySpace -- a British think-tank says bosses should not stop their staff using social networking sites because they could actually benefit their firms.
http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-36207020081029
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49S3GD20081029

Facebook users warned after Bono bikini party leak
Geo-networked Facebook users are being warned to check their privacy settings after photos of U2 frontman Bono and a couple of bikini-clad girls were made available to the entire New York network.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10540179

LinkedIn benefits from job jitters
LinkedIn, the social networking website for the business community, has seen a 25% increase in the rate of sign-ups since the economic crisis hit in September as concerned professionals look to keep their contacts up to date.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/28/socialnetworking-web20

**********************
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
**********************
Gartner: Power efficiency not enough for green data centers [Network World]
Increased power efficiency alone won't be sufficient to turn data centers truly "green," Gartner said Wednesday in advance of a major data center conference.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/102908-green.html
http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;126136614
http://pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;126136614

**********************
DIGITAL DIVIDE
**********************
ng: Suburban Addresses Internet Problem in Country
West Africa's premier Next Generation Carrier, Suburban, last week said it has taken major steps to address the supply of internet bandwidth, which is the primary bottleneck affecting the penetration of internet services in Nigeria.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200810290664.html

**************************
ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL
**************************
Twitter for terrorists: U.S. Army report lays out terror scenarios
A U.S. military intelligence report has determined that the Twitter microblogging tool could be used by terrorists to coordinate their movements, activities and attacks.
http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9118161
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/152880/us_army_imagines_terrorists_using_twitter.html

US Army warns of Twitter danger
US intelligence agencies are worried that terrorists might start to use new communication technologies like the blogging site Twitter to plan and organise attacks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_7693000/7693050.stm

Virtual workshop unites countries to sharpen cyber defenses
Recent incidents of cyberwarfare showcase the need for nation states to work together to better defend their computer systems and networks from attacks, a Defense Department official involved in an international readiness exercise said on Wednesday. The United States is one of 16 countries participating in the virtual workshop to test the global defense community's ability to fend off calculated attacks on computer systems and networks.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081029_6874.php

Search engine cache does not infringe copyright, rules US court
A court has ruled that Yahoo! and Microsoft had an implied licence to copy and display pages from a website because the operator of that site knew how the search engines' opt-out procedures worked but chose to ignore them.
http://out-law.com/page-9541

Cybercrime wave sweeping Britain
Cybercrime in the UK rose by more than 9% in 2007, according to a new report. Online identity firm Garlik's cybercrime report claims that more than 3.5 million online crimes were committed in the UK last year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7697704.stm

Alarm raised on teenage hackers
Increasing numbers of teenagers are starting to dabble in hi-tech crime, say experts. Computer security professionals say many net forums are populated by teenagers swapping credit card numbers, phishing kits and hacking tips.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7690126.stm

Economic Crisis May Be Boon For Cybercriminals, Experts Say
One industry sector is actually happy about the current state of the global economy: cybercriminals.
http://www.darkreading.com/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=211601123

Antiviral ?Scareware? Just One More Intruder
How much money can criminals make scaring na?ve computer users? Try $5 million a year. That is how much a marketing associate of one Russian operation appears to be earning from its sales of fake antivirus software through an elaborate scheme that relies on e-mail spam and indirectly controlling thousands of unprotected PCs, according to internal company files posted online by a Russian hacker.
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/30/technology/internet/30virus.html

Belgian ISP wins reprieve in copyright infringement filtering case
A Belgian internet service provider that had been ordered by the courts to filter out copyright-infringing material from its network has won a court reprieve. It will not have to pay the ?750,000 in fines that have built up over the past year.
http://out-law.com/page-9537

Linking to defamatory material is not the same as publishing it, says Canadian court
The publisher of a link to defamatory material does not have any liability for that defamation, a Canadian court has ruled. Liability could only exist if the link publisher made any statement relating to the defamatory material itself, the court said.
http://out-law.com/page-9538

Egypt arrests online 'spouse-swapping' couple
Egyptian authorities have detained a couple accused of soliciting other married couples over the Internet for ?spouse-swapping? parties in their home, Daily News Egypt reports.
http://menassat.com/?q=en/alerts/5004-egypt-arrests-online-spouse-swapping-couple

us: DHS cybersecurity boss fights back against critics
The man in charge of running the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity efforts has defended its efforts in the face of congressional criticism.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/dhs_cybersecurity/

The cyberstalker's handbook: How stalkers operate, and what you can do to protect yourself
It's tempting to feel that you're anonymous online, protected from potential cyberstalkers by cryptic user names and website privacy settings. But is that really true? How easy is it for a malicious person to track someone down, based solely on personal information they've made available? [TechRadar UK] launched an investigation to find out.
http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/how-cyberstalkers-can-follow-your-every-move-480425

**************************
PRIVACY
**************************
uk: Tories pledge to curb abuse of surveillance powers
An incoming Conservative government would curb the abuse of powers granted under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, according to a Tory peer.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39534290,00.htm

**********************
ONLINE TV & MUSIC
**********************
Kazaa foes join up to fight pirates and porn
Two former adversaries who squared off in a bitter legal battle over Kazaa have joined forces to invent new technology that they say will eliminate the illegal sharing of pirated content and child porn over peer-to-peer networks.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/10/28/1224956013205.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/28/1224956013205.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4743050a28.html

uk: Games firms 'catching' non-gamers
Games firms are accusing innocent people of file-sharing as they crack down on pirates, a Which? Computing investigation has claimed. The magazine was contacted by Gill and Ken Murdoch, from Scotland, who had been accused of sharing the game Race07 by makers Atari.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7697898.stm

au: Free uni wi-fi swamped with illegal downloads
The University of NSW has threatened to axe its free wireless internet service because students are bringing in their laptops and using them to download pirated music, movies and games.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/10/27/1224955931738.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/27/1224955931738.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4741885a28.html

Ex-Kazaaer wants to turn pirates into paying customers
Former KaZaA heavyweight Kevin Bermeister has allied with his former music-business enemy and plans to launch a new service that would present would-be pirates with legal alternatives when they attempt to download content. The software is ready for trial deployment, but no word yet on whether it can navigate the minefield of Big Content licensing.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081028-new-service-aims-to-turn-pirates-into-purchasers.html

us: P2P legislation forcing university IT to get tough on piracy
New legislation is putting pressure on U.S. colleges and universities to do a better job combating illegal file-sharing -- and it's taking a toll on campus IT departments, according to research published this week.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/102308-p2p-college-legislation.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/152790/new_law_clamps_down_on_filesharing_on_campus.html

Sweden one step closer to anti-filesharing law
Sweden?s Council on Legislation (Lagr?det) has indicated it has no significant reservations over a law which would make it easier to hunt individuals suspected of illegal filesharing over the internet.
http://www.thelocal.se/15156/20081023/

**********************
CENSORSHIP
**********************
Big Tech Companies Back Global Plan to Shield Online Speech
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo and a group of human rights and public interest organizations plan to introduce Wednesday a global code of conduct that they say will better protect online free speech and privacy against government intrusion.
http://nytimes.com/2008/10/28/technology/internet/28privacy.html
http://iht.com/articles/2008/10/28/technology/28privacy.php

Tech giants agree on free speech principals
Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc are expected to announce on Tuesday, that they have agreed to a common set of principals on how to do business in nations that restrict free speech and expression, the Wall Street Journal reported.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49R13620081028
http://in.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE49R13620081028

Internet companies embrace human rights guidelines [AP]
Leading Internet companies, long criticized by human rights groups for their business dealings in China, are agreeing to new guidelines that seek to limit what data they should share with authorities worldwide and when they should do so.
http://news.theage.com.au/technology/internet-companies-embrace-human-rights-guidelines-20081028-5a8d.html
http://news.smh.com.au/technology/internet-companies-embrace-human-rights-guidelines-20081028-5a8d.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/28/AR2008102800859.html

Technology titans to adopt human rights code of conduct [AFP]
An Internet industry code of ethics intended to safeguard online freedom of speech around the world is to be adopted this week by technology titans including Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.
http://news.smh.com.au/technology/technology-titans-to-adopt-human-rights-code-of-conduct-20081028-5a2t.html
http://news.theage.com.au/technology/technology-titans-to-adopt-human-rights-code-of-conduct-20081028-5a2t.html

China's Baidu Commits To Lofty Internet Ideals By Joining United Nations Global Compact
Chinese search engine Baidu (BIDU) officially announced that it has committed to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact to boost its daily management on corporate social responsibility.
http://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/10/29/7857-chinas-baidu-commits-to-lofty-internet-ideals-by-joining-united-nations-global-compact/

China Regulator Shuts Video Web Sites, Warns Others [IDG]
China's Internet regulator on Monday ordered 10 online video sites to shut down and warned another 17, resuming an aggressive policy on such sites that had been relaxed during the summer.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/152917/china_regulator_shuts_video_web_sites_warns_others.html

The Day Video Died: SARFT Suspends Chinese Internet Video Websites
China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television has released a report on an audit of the Internet audio-visual services in China and it has ordered ten websites to suspend their online video and Internet music operations.
http://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/10/28/7847-the-day-video-died-sarft-suspends-chinese-internet-video-websites/

Thais block anti-royal websites
The Thai government says it is planning to build an internet firewall to block websites deemed insulting to the country's hugely popular royal family.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7696101.stm

Thailand plans to block websites insulting royals: minister [AFP]
The Thai government is considering spending up to 14 million US dollars on technology to block websites it deems insulting to the country's monarchy, the communications minister said Tuesday.
http://news.smh.com.au/technology/thailand-plans-to-block-websites-insulting-royals-minister-20081029-5ao5.html
http://news.theage.com.au/technology/thailand-plans-to-block-websites-insulting-royals-minister-20081029-5ao5.html

EGYPT: Crackdown against bloggers and Internet activists
The Egyptian security apparatus is conducting an aggressive campaign against bloggers and Internet activists in many cities around Cairo, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) reports.
http://menassat.com/?q=alerts/4975-egypt-crackdown-against-bloggers-and-internet-activists

au: Censoring the censorship debate
The introduction of an R18+ rating for computer games has been delayed indefinitely after South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson withdrew his support for a discussion paper and public consultation process.
http://blogs.smh.com.au/screenplay/archives//020433.html

************************************************
CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION
************************************************
Children 'want adult supervision on internet'
Almost half of all children want adults to supervise them when they use the internet, a report by Ofsted, the school inspectors, indicates.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article5023180.ece

Australia's compulsory internet filtering 'costly, ineffective'
The Federal Government is planning to make internet censorship compulsory for all Australians and could ban controversial websites on euthanasia or anorexia.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24571118-15306,00.html

Internet 'Clean Feed' met with stern opposition
The government's plan to clean up the internet is drawing criticism from activists who say it's on par with the censorship regimes of countries like China and North Korea. The so called "Clean Feed" Internet plan is aimed at protecting children from offensive material. But there are fears the software may curtail the online activities of adults too, with filters on websites deemed controversial or inappropriate, like euthanasia.
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2404848.htm [transcript]
rtsp://media1.abc.net.au/reallibrary/audio/pm/200810/20081029-pm08-censorship.rm [Real Audio]
mms://media4.abc.net.au/winlibrary/audio/pm/200810/20081029-pm08-censorship.wma [Windows Media Player]

Filter to cause World Wide Wait
Internet speeds could slow by 30 per cent under the Government's proposed web filtering scheme, even though it will do little to block illegal content.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24575125-15306,00.html

Internet screening move hits hurdle
A headline-grabbing election promise to crack down on internet nasties looks to be in trouble as Senate opposition grows.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/10/30/1224956188036.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/10/30/1224956188036.html

Here comes the filternet
Opposition is stirring in the gay community over the Rudd Government?s plan to compulsorily filter material deemed ?inappropriate? from the internet.
http://mcv.e-p.net.au/features/here-comes-the-filternet-4364.html

Internet censorship fears
The Federal Government?s promised ?clean feed? internet content filter has caused a panic among queer activists who fear overzealous blocking of same-sex support and lobby websites.
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2008/10/29/internet-censorship-fears/2434

au: Maccas to provide 'clean' net service
MCDONALD'S plans to launch "family friendly" free WiFi services in a multimillion-dollar three-year deal with a local firm.
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24566301-15306,00.html

Filters to keep free McWi-Fi clean
Fast food chain McDonalds has closed a multi-million dollar three-year deal with local security company earthwave to keep its Telstra-supplied free restaurant Wi-Fi free of net nasties and pornography.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Filters-to-keep-free-McWi-Fi-clean/0,130061744,339292894,00.htm

In Conroy?s muddy waters you'll never know what?s being filtered 28/10/2008 09:30:00
Critics of Conroy's Internet filtering say Australians will not be able to find out what the government censors online, and ask: who watches the watchmen?
http://computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;355409327
http://pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;355409327
http://techworld.com.au/article/265114/conroy_muddy_waters_ll_never_know_what_being_filtered
http://linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;355409327

New internet filter imposed on all web surfers
AUSTRALIAN internet users will be subjected to the new nationwide World Wide Web filter, whether they want to participate in the scheme or not.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,24564687-8362,00.html

Conroy filter gag sparks sysadmin rage
An Australian systems administrators' professional group has criticised Communications Minister Stephen Conroy for alleged attempts by his office to silence a vocal network engineer expressing an opinion about the planned government internet filtering scheme.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Conroy-filter-gag-sparks-sysadmin-rage/0,130061744,339292861,00.htm

Australia's Internet filter: could legal content be banned, too?
Australia's government-mandated Internet filtering system won't allow users to opt out of a filtering tier that targets "illegal" material. But a conservative party is already suggesting that legal material be added to the mandatory tier.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081028-australias-internet-filter-could-legal-content-be-banned-too.html

In Australia's muddy Internet waters, you don't know what's being filtered
There's an uproar in Australia over the government's proposed mandatory Internet content filtering law. An opposition senator says a government claim that it's scheme is similar to one in Canada and other countries isn't true
http://www.itworldcanada.com/a/News/f34c1a8b-4bdf-483d-9d21-b14f7f3fa6fb.html

Australian push to block porn and gambling sites
An Australian senator is seeking to have hardcore pornography and fetish material blocked under the Australian Government's controversial plans to filter the Internet, sparking fears the censorship could be expanded well beyond 'illegal material'.
http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20081029074218263

Govt's internet censorship plan sparks controversy [sub req'd]
http://telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=642696
http://telecom.paper.nl/news/article.aspx?id=235979

SAGE-AU defends right to criticise content filtering
The System Administrators Guild of Australia has called on the federal government to embrace open discussion of its proposed Internet filtering regime, after allegations of attempted censorship of critics surfaced last week.
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/87626,sageau-defends-right-to-criticise-content-filtering.aspx

Who censures the censor?
Recently, a senior member of staff at Internode, Mark Newton, has been the subject of a rather fascinating set of media articles regarding his personal opinions on the government's internet censorship policy.
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Who-censures-the-censor-KT757

uk: Games ratings row gets colourful
The video games consortium Elspa has proposed a solution to the ongoing games ratings controversy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7692966.stm

**************************
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
au: New sex-crime laws
The NSW Government says it will introduce tough new sex-crime laws, and may strip artists of a defence against child-porn allegations, in line with recommendations of a NSW Sentencing Council report. NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos today said the Government would introduce a raft of changes recommended by the council, including doubling the penalty for possessing child pornography from five to ten years.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/10/26/1224955838300.html

**********************
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
**********************
European Union Turns Down Plan For 'Super' Regulator
The European Union won't get a single "super" telecommunications regulator like the FCC in the U.S., according to current EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/telecom/regulation/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=211600881

nz/au: Credit crunch may force Pipe Networks to revisit cable plans
The chief executive of Pipe Networks, Kordia's partner in a planned trans-Tasman telecommunications cable build, says the company may have to consider partners for its make-or-break project to lay an under-sea fibre between Australia, the US and Asia, if bridging finance fails to materialise.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/D638D7B4916041B8CC2574F0000CB609

Game-changing week ahead for US telecom industry
The FCC will tackle several key issues in the telecom industry next week, including the unlicensed use of television white spaces, Verizon's acquisition of Alltel and the merger of Clearwire with Sprint's WiMAX division.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/102908-telecom.html

**********************
MOBILE/WIRELESS
**********************
Full review: The T-Mobile G1 Google phone
As the first 'Google phone' goes on sale, our Technology Reporter shares the results of a rigorous ? and clammy-handed ? test: My first impression when the G1 was released was that it was not going to be a iPhone killer, and further use of the first ever ?Google phone? confirmed my suspicions. Still, it is clearly a smartphone in the same class as Apple?s iconic product. Despite a few niggles, it is quite impressive.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5040593.ece

NZ police want prepay mobiles registered
Police are calling for prepaid cellphone customers to be registered on a national database to stop criminals using the phones.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10539719

Police call to register prepaid phone customers
Police are calling for prepaid cellphone customers to be registered on a national database to stop criminals using the phones.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Police-call-to-register-prepaid-phone-customers/tabid/423/articleID/77454/cat/64/Default.aspx

Getting more from prepaid mobile services [free reg req'd]
As the industry matures, mobile operators won?t be able to count on a flood of new customers to fuel growth, so they must create more value from those they already have?including prepaid ones.
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Telecommunications/Getting_more_from_prepaid_mobile_services_2108

McDonalds's NZ not following Australia with wi-fi service
New Zealand two years behind Australia in 're-imaging' programme
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/90D9A239FE3E9040CC2574F20000E883

**********************************
ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN
**********************************
au: Former teacher Philip Alan Reid jailed for 'extreme' child porn [AAP]
A FORMER music teacher whose child porn collection was described by a judge as 'extreme' filth has been jailed for three years.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24545689-661,00.html


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

(c) David Goldstein 2008


 ---------


David Goldstein
address: 4/3 Abbott Street
COOGEE NSW 2034
AUSTRALIA
email: Goldstein_David §yahoo.com.au
phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (home)


"Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery



      Search 1000's of available singles in your area at the new Yahoo!7 Dating. Get Started http://au.dating.yahoo.com/?cid=53151&pid=1011