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


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


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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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Why Beckstrom's got a point, even if it's for the wrong reasons
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/14/beckstrom-right-for-wrong-reasons

ICANN?s Departing CEO: Burning Down the House
http://crookedtimber.org/2012/03/13/icanns-departing-ceo-burning-down-the-house/

What's In A (Domain) Name? The Ontario Court Of Appeal Rules That A Domain Name Is Intangible Property
http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/168562/Trademark/What39s+In+A+Domain+Name+The+Ontario+Court+Of+Appeal

New top-level domains to trump .com in Google search results by Adrian Kinderis
http://www.marketingmag.com.au/blogs/new-top-level-domains-to-trump-com-in-google-search-results-11823/

State won't buy .adelaide domain name citing costs
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/state-wont-buy-adelaide-domain-name/story-e6fredel-1226295830539

See no evil: two registrars issue half of world's 'rogue' drug domains
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/03/see-no-evil-2-regisrars-issue-half-of-worlds-rogue-online-drug-domains.ars

Two Domain Name Registrars Behind Most Rogue Pharma Sites, Says Study [IDG]
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/251684/two_domain_name_registrars_behind_most_rogue_pharma_sites_says_study.html


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?- ICANN
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ICANN Board Conflicts of Interest Review - Revised Conflicts of Interest Policy and Related Governance Documents
ICANN is opening this public comment forum to receive comment on revisions to the Board Conflicts of Interest Policy, Code of Conduct and Expected Standards of Behavior as well as a proposed Corporate Governance Guidelines prepared as part of ICANN's ongoing review of its Conflicts of Interest and Ethics practices.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-11mar12-en.htm

Letter from the ICANN Board of Directors to the GNSO Registries Stakeholder Group
Re: Response to Inquiry on Outstanding Communications ? Vertical Integration
http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/icann-board-to-rysg-11mar12-en.pdf

ICANN Signs Accountability Framework with ccTLD Manager for Curacao (.CW)
ICANN announced today that it signed an Accountability Framework with the ccTLD manager for .CW (Curacao), Universiteit van de Nederlandse Antillen (UNA), on 12 March 2012.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-13mar12-en.htm

Global Policy Proposal Recovered IPv4 Address Space
Purpose (Brief): A Global Policy Proposal has been received for ratification by the ICANN Board. Comments are invited to inform the ICANN Board prior to the its decision.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-14mar12-en.htm

L-Root in your Pocket
... Our conclusion is that a model to make Root Servers, and L-Root especically, more accessible to everybody is to move closer to end users, no matter where the end users happen to be. Fortunately, there?s a good, simple and effective mechanism to make this happen, and it?s called anycast.
http://blog.icann.org/2012/03/l-root-in-your-pocket/

DOC Rejects ICANN Bid for IANA Function Oversight, Cancels RFP and Extends Current Agreement for Short 6-Month Period
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the division of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) that oversees operation of the IANA, has rejected ICANN's bid to continue overseeing the IANA functions of the Internet, instead extending ICANN's current contract for a short six-month period.
http://www.ana.net/content/show/id/23070

Commerce Rejects Internet Management Bids
The U.S. Commerce Department has rejected bids to manage the Internet's address and domain systems, instead extending the contract for six months and saying it would try again.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/commerce-rejects-internet-management-bids-20120312

ICANN to issue update on IANA contract
This weekend?s shock news that ICANN?s bid to renew its IANA contract with the US government failed is still without an official, detailed explanation, but ICANN may soon reveal more specifics.
http://domainincite.com/icann-to-issue-update-on-iana-contract/

US Govt Cancels RFP For ICANN's IANA Contract
The US Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration has cancelled the Request For Proposal into the role of the IANA, that being the key technical functions supporting the Domain Name System, because they received no proposals that met the requirements requested by the global community.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17198
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7899
http://www.domainnews.com/en/us-govt-cancels-rfp-for-icanns-iana-contract.html

Internet Name Wars US Tries To Take Control
ICANN is fighting to keep its control over the Net after an agency of the US Department of Commerce knocked back its proposal for a new contract. It has been given six months to come up with a better proposition.
http://www.channelnews.com.au/Communication/Industry/H8E6X6G2

ICANN's Contract Not Enforceable on WHOIS Accuracy by Garth Bruen
This may or may not come as a shock to some of you, but ICANN's contract with the Domain Name Registrars, in terms of WHOIS inaccuracy is not enforceable. Bear with me. The ability of ICANN to enforce against a Registrar who fails to correct or delete a domain with false WHOIS does not exist.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120312_icanns_contract_not_enforceable_on_whois_accuracy/

ICANN: We?re moving forward with vertical integration
ICANN just posted an update to the issue of ?vertical integration? between registries and registrars.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/13/icann-were-moving-forward-with-vertical-integration/

Legal questions hover over Red Cross / Olympic special protections [subscription]
ICANN's two most powerful bodies, the GNSO and GAC, are due to approve extraordinary special protections for the Red Cross and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the Internet. But is the decision based on shaky legal advice?
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/14/red-cross-ioc-protections-under-question

So, where did ICANN fail the IANA RFP? [subscription]
Updated The most significant Internet governance news this week has been the US government canceling the rebidding process for the crucial IANA contract because no one had met its contract criteria.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/13/where-icann-failed-iana-rfp

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?- ICANN 43 - Costa Rica
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Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla Says The Internet is a Source of Hope, Not a Threat [ICANN news release]
Addressing the ICANN Public Meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica's 49th President, Laura Chinchilla said, "The Internet is the hope of an integrated world without frontiers, a common world without controlling owners, a world of opportunities and equality. This is a utopia that we have been dreaming about and is a world in which each and every one of us are protagonists of a destiny that we have in our hands."
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17211
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7906

Why Beckstrom's got a point, even if it's for the wrong reasons
No one can accuse Rod Beckstrom of not speaking his mind. Although ICANN would probably be much happier if he didn't.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/14/beckstrom-right-for-wrong-reasons

ICANN?s Departing CEO: Burning Down the House
In the long tradition of tenants trashing the gaffe as they?re finally evicted, ICANN?s outgoing CEO seems determined to burn down the house he?s been renting for the past three years. ICANN?s Costa Rica meeting was addressed this morning by Rod Beckstrom, who?s in his last couple of months on the job. In an effort to salvage his tattered reputation, Beckstrom seems to be following his standard m.o. of shifting attention to the suddenly glaring failings of the organization that?s decided to terminate his employment.
http://crookedtimber.org/2012/03/13/icanns-departing-ceo-burning-down-the-house/

Internet Overseer Icann Needs to Tighten Board Conflict Rules, CEO Says
The organization that manages the Internet?s address system should strengthen conflict-of-interest rules for its board of directors, the group?s chief executive officer said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-12/internet-overseer-needs-to-tighten-conflict-rules-ceo-says.html

Beckstrom slams his own board over conflicts
ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom today offered a scathing criticism of his own board of directors, saying the current batch looks like it is too conflicted to act in the public interest.
http://domainincite.com/beckstrom-slams-his-own-board-over-conflicts/

ICANN CEO Emphasizes Rules to Ensure Fair Rollout of New Top Level Domains
The CEO and president of ICANN has called on the organization to enforce stronger safeguards to prevent any conflicts of interest regarding the rollout of the new TLDs.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/icann-ceo-emphasizes-rules-to-ensure-fair-rollout-of-new-top-level-domains

ICANN CEO Burns Down The House As He Prepares To Leave
Maybe he is trying to say ICANN is not good enough for him, but as he is about to "leave" ICANN after three turbulent years as CEO and President, Rod Beckstrom delivered a few grenades regarding its performance at the ICANN meeting currently underway in Costa Rica.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17199
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7903
http://www.domainnews.com/en/icann-ceo-burns-down-the-house-as-he-prepares-to-leave.html

ICANN's 43rd Public Meeting Opens In Costa Rica With a Warning from Outgoing CEO Rod Beckstrom
The 43rd ICANN public meeting got underway today in San Jose, Costa Rica where it will continue through Friday (March 16, 2012). The meeting opened with outgoing President and CEO Rod Beckstrom (who will leave the post July 1) warning the Board of Directors that they needed to make some major changes if the organization wants to maintain its role as administrator of the domain name system.
http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2012/dailyposts/20120312.htm

ICANN has no plans to extend new gTLD window
The March 29 and April 12 deadlines to register for and submit new gTLD applications are currently not open to negotiation, according to ICANN chair Steve Crocker.
http://domainincite.com/icann-has-no-plans-to-extend-new-gtld-window/

Costa Rica, ICANN, and Nonviolent Governance by Steve DelBianco, Executive Director at NetChoice
There's a peaceful feeling in the air at ICANN's meeting this week, and I think it has something to do with being here in Costa Rica.
http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2012/march/13/costarica12031306.htm
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120312_costa_rica_icann_and_nonviolent_governance/

President Chinchilla opens ICANN meeting
During the welcoming ceremony for ICANN's 43rd public meeting, held this year in San Jos?, President Laura Chinchilla told the audience ?the Internet should not be viewed as a threat, but as hope, a world of hope.?
http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/News-Briefs/President-Chinchilla-opens-ICANN-meeting_Monday-March-12-2012

ICANN Appoints IID's Rod Rasmussen to Its Security and Stability Advisory Committee
ICANN has appointed IID President and CTO Rod Rasmussen to its Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC).
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120313_icann_appointsrasmussen_to_security_stability_advisory_committee/

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?- ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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What's In A (Domain) Name? The Ontario Court Of Appeal Rules That A Domain Name Is Intangible Property
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently ruled that a domain name is a form of intangible property in Tucows.com Co. v. Lojas Renner S.A. 2011 ONCA 548.
http://www.hofferadler.com/assets/WhatsInAName-LorraineFleck-Nov2011.pdf
http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/168562/Trademark/What39s+In+A+Domain+Name+The+Ontario+Court+Of+Appeal

.CO Internet is a company cool enough for Brooklyn hipsters
Suddenly, the outfit behind the .co domain is everywhere, even if many people barely notice. It's all part of Juan Diego Calle's shrewd strategy.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-32973_3-57395781-296/.co-internet-is-a-company-cool-enough-for-brooklyn-hipsters/

Hot girls land CZ.nic in hot water
Czech domain name registry CZ.nic has been told off by the ICANN Ombudsman for a sexist display at its booth here at the ICANN 43 meeting in Costa Rica.
http://domainincite.com/hot-girls-land-cz-nic-in-hot-water/

The state of .tel in 2012
.Tel has been quiet, at least in the domainer community, for quite some time. There are a couple good reasons for this: you can?t park .tel domains and no one is getting rich trying to resell them for a profit.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/13/the-state-of-tel-in-2012/

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?- NEW TLDS
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New top-level domains to trump .com in Google search results by Adrian Kinderis
The introduction of new website suffixes such as .ibm, .afl, .law, and .shop is set to cause a shake-up in search engine land. Websites ending in .com, which currently dominate the internet real estate market, are about to get some new competition on the block and face possible relegation down the rankings.
http://www.marketingmag.com.au/blogs/new-top-level-domains-to-trump-com-in-google-search-results-11823/

Big Content issues gTLD lock-down demands
Twenty members of the movie, music and games businesses have asked ICANN to impose strict anti-piracy rules on new TLDs related to their industries.
http://domainincite.com/big-content-issues-gtld-lock-down-demands/

au: State won't buy .adelaide domain name
THE State Government and Adelaide City Council are being criticised for rejecting an opportunity to boost their online presence.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/state-wont-buy-adelaide-domain-name/story-e6fredel-1226295830539

Dot sport domain name framework gets underway in Lausanne
The SportAccord policy advistory board met for the first time in Lausanne 7 March to help the group create a framework for the use of the .sport domaine name extension. The new board includes representatives from the International Olympic Committee and 24 representatives of international sports federations, several of them based in Lausanne.
http://genevalunch.com/blog/2012/03/12/dot-sport-domain-name-framework-gets-underway-in-lausanne/

More Cybersquatting on the Horizon with Launch of New gTLDs
On January 12, 2012, ... ICANN, began accepting applications for new gTLDs. Until March 29, 2011, entrepreneurs, businesses, governments and communities around the world can apply to introduce and operate a gTLD of their own choosing.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2012/03/12/more-cybersquatting-on-the-horizon-with-launch-of-new-gtlds/id=22714/

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?- DNS SECURITY
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See no evil: two registrars issue half of world's 'rogue' drug domains
Half of all online pharmacy domains are registered by just two of the world's registrars. That's according to a report concluding the non-profit agency that governs the issuance of Internet addresses may not be doing enough to enforce its own regulations.
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/03/see-no-evil-2-regisrars-issue-half-of-worlds-rogue-online-drug-domains.ars

Report: Internet.bs Supporting Pharma Cybercrime, Bogus Prescription Drug Trade
Here?s a riddle: How can a Registrar with only 0.2% global domain name market share have become the Registrar for between 33% and 44% of all non-spam rogue online pharmacies? That?s the question that our report on Internet.bs sought to answer.
http://legitscriptblog.com/2012/03/report-documents-internet-bs-support-of-drug-related-cybercrime-bogus-prescription-drug-trade/

Two Domain Name Registrars Behind Most Rogue Pharma Sites, Says Study [IDG]
Research done by LegitScript, a company that maintains a database with legitimate online pharmacies, suggests that two domain name registrars are responsible for more than half of all rogue pharmacy sites in the world.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/251684/two_domain_name_registrars_behind_most_rogue_pharma_sites_says_study.html
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=66507

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?- DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Pirate Bay Investigation Confirmed By Domain Registrar
A domain registrar has confirmed rumours and statements from The Pirate bay (TPB) blog that a new investigation is underway against the founders of the infamous torrent search site.
http://www.itproportal.com/2012/03/14/pirate-bay-investigation-confirmed-by-domain-registrar/

Domain Registrar Confirms New Pirate Bay Investigation
Suspicions that the police have started a new criminal investigation into The Pirate Bay were confirmed by the Swedish hosting company Binero today. Police have requested the company to reveal the personal details of the customer who registered The Pirate Bay domain name. Sources say that the new investigation is a renewed attempt to shut the popular BitTorrent site down.
http://torrentfreak.com/domain-registrar-confirms-new-pirate-bay-investigation-120314/

UDRP panelist decides case despite pending legal action
Earlier today I wrote about Nominet?s Dispute Resolution Service for .uk domain names, and how the registry wants it to be the ?final say? on domain disputes for .uk domain names.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/09/brikman-udrp/

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?- WEBHOSTING
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European Trade Show WorldHostingDays Expects to Break Last Year?s Attendance Record
Web hosting trade show WorldHostingDays announced on Tuesday that it will have more than 4,000 attendees at its event at Europa Park in Rust, Germany next week. Held from March 20-23, the number of registered attendees has already broken the attendance records of last year?s trade show which attracted 3,500 visitors.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/european-trade-show-worldhostingdays-expects-to-break-last-years-attendance-record

What to do When You Get Shut Off ? How Web Hosts Can Avoid Internet Outages
When web hosting providers have to deal with internet outages, particularly those outside of their internal network, it can be difficult to convey to customers what is happening without appearing unwilling to take responsibility. Like security-related breaches, getting cut off by an upstream provider can cause extended internet outages for web hosting customers.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/what-to-do-when-you-get-shut-off-how-web-hosts-can-avoid-internet-outages

SXSW 2012 Trade Show Sees Growth in Hosting Presence
The web hosting industry will have a significant presence at this year?s South by Southwest 2012 in Austin, Texas, with many hosting providers exhibiting at the interactive portion of the annual conference and trade show, held March 9 to 13.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/sxsw-2012-trade-show-sees-growth-in-hosting-presence

Know Your Web Hosting Niche: Sports League Websites
Targeting a specific web hosting niche can be an excellent way for a hosting service provider to gain a competitive advantage. With this Know Your Web Hosting Niche feature, we look at a LeagueUSA, a company succeeding by providing hosting and software for sports league websites.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/know-your-web-hosting-niche-sports-league-websites

Australian Web Host Anchor Sets Up United States-Based Hosting
Australian web hosting provider Anchor announced on Monday it has launched its US-based service following the installation and configuration of its web server equipment in a Los Angeles data center.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/australian-web-host-anchor-sets-up-united-states-based-hosting

Aussie start-up launches US Web hosting operation
Independent Australian web hosting provider, Anchor has opened a new US-based hosting service for fast-growing Australian businesses with US customers.
http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/market/53322-aussie-start-up-launches-us-web-hosting-operation

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?- MISCELLANEOUS
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OK, so maybe American Airlines hasn?t decided who to merge with, registers Delta and United domains
Sunday evening I posted about how American Airlines or U.S. Airways registered a bunch of domain names related to a merger with U.S. Airways.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/13/amr-merger/

American Airlines merger with U.S. Airways is a go, suggest domain registrations
U.S. Airways has been rumored as a potential acquirer of American Airlines since the latter went into bankruptcy protection. Over two dozen recent domain registrations suggest that the acquisition is very likely, if not a done deal.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/11/american-airlines-merger-with-u-s-airways-is-a-go-suggest-domain-registrations/

15 Steps to Strong Keywords
"What's in a name?" When it comes success on the Internet -- A LOT. That's why domain names comprise such hot Internet real estate.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-ostrofsky/15-steps-to-strong-keywor_b_1337859.html

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?- DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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IDNX Index Shows Aftermarket Domain Prices Increased 4.8 Percent in February
An announcement on Monday by domain marketplace Sedo suggests that the prices of domains are on their way to recovery after the prices nosedived in 2008 along with the world economy. February was the fourth month of consecutive growth with an increase of 4.8 percent, according to figures by domain name price index IDNX.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/idnx-index-shows-aftermarket-domain-prices-increased-4-8-percent-in-february

Retargeted ads will boost domain parking revenue
Over the past 6-12 months I?ve notice a sharp increase in the number of Google Adsense ads I see that are retargeted. Instead of being related to the topic of the page I?m viewing, the ads are for a site I previously visited.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/14/retargeted-ads-will-boost-domain-parking-revenue/

Why you should categorize your domains and an easy way to do it
Domain sales sites suggest that you categorize the domain names you list on their web sites.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/14/domain-name-categories/

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INTERNET USE
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After 244 Years, Encyclopaedia Britannica Stops the Presses
After 244 years, the Encyclopaedia Britannica is going out of print. Those coolly authoritative, gold-lettered reference books that were once sold door-to-door by a fleet of traveling salesmen and displayed as proud fixtures in American homes will be discontinued, company executives said.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/after-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses/

Encyclopaedia Britannica ends its famous print edition
After 244 years reference book firm Encyclopaedia Britannica has decided to stop publishing its famous and weighty 32-volume print edition. It will now focus on digital expansion amid rising competition from websites such as Wikipedia.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17362698

Encyclopaedia Britannica to stop publishing print editions, will continue digital versions [AP]
Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. said Tuesday that it will stop publishing print editions of its flagship encyclopedia for the first time since the sets were originally published more than 200 years ago.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/encyclopaedia-britannica-to-stop-publishing-print-editions-will-continue-digital-versions/2012/03/13/gIQAtKSRAS_story.html

Books Women Read When No One Can See the Cover
If that woman next to you on the train seems unusually engrossed in her e-reader, there may be a good reason. Electronic readers, and the reading privacy they provide, are fueling a boom in sales of sexy romance novels, or "romantica," as the genre is called in the book industry.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577279622389208292.html

News paywalls 'gaining acceptance'
After two decades of free access, consumers are starting to accept the reality of paywalls and paid content just as they now accept paying for premium television channels.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/news-paywalls-gaining-acceptance/story-e6frg996-1226299755307

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SOCIAL NETWORKING
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Study: Liberals More Likely To Block Online Friends Over Political Disagreements
People with liberal views are almost twice as likely as conservatives to unfriend someone on social media over political disagreements, according to a new Pew Research survey.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/03/study-liberals-more-likely-to.php

Social networking sites and politics
Overview: It turns out that birds of a feather don?t always flock together on social networking sites when it comes to politics. There is evidence in a new survey by the Pew Research Center?s Internet & American Life Project that on social networking sites (SNS):
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Social-networking-and-politics.aspx

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NEW TECHNOLOGIES
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Arm's latest processors aim to stretch internet's reach
Arm Holdings has unveiled what it describes as the "world's most energy-efficient microprocessor" design. The firm says that microcontrollers based on the "Flycatcher" architecture will pave the way for the "internet of things" - the spread of the net to a wider range of devices.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17345934

New Arm chips herald ?Internet of things?
New processors from Arm Holdings use so little power they could allow a new generation of connected devices, from credit cards to light bulbs.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9141299/New-Arm-chips-herald-Internet-of-things.html

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
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au: Paedophiles are watching abuse of children live online, say police
Federal police have detected an increase in paedophiles using online video streaming to watch child abuse as it occurs.
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/paedophiles-are-watching-abuse-of-children-live-online-say-police-20120311-1uskh.html
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/paedophiles-are-watching-abuse-of-children-live-online-say-police-20120311-1uskh.html

au: Attorney-General representative to attend R18+ classification hearing
A REPRESENTATIVE from the Attorney-General's department will tomorrow attend a short public hearing to answer questions on plans to introduce an adult game classification.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/government/attorney-general-representative-to-attend-r18-classification-hearing/story-fn4htb9o-1226299543203

Pondering cyberbullying legislation in Singapore
The announcement that Singapore possibly could have cyberbullying legislation has got commentators all hot and bothered.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/blogs/pondering-cyberbullying-legislation-in-singapore-62304153.htm

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ONLINE TV & MUSIC
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RIAA chief: ISPs to start policing copyright by July 12
The country's largest Internet service providers haven't given up on the idea of becoming copyright cops.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-57397452-261/riaa-chief-isps-to-start-policing-copyright-by-july-12/

Intel eyes Internet-based TV service - report
Chipmaker Intel Corp is developing an Internet-based TV service for consumers and has been promoting it with media companies, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the effort.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/oukin-uk-intel-tv-idUKBRE82B1E820120313

IAC Chairman Diller Sees Aereo TV Service in Up to 100 US Cities Within Year
Barry Diller, the billionaire chairman of IAC/InteractiveCorp., expects his Aereo Inc. Web- based television service to be in 75 to 100 cities within a year after making its debut this week in New York.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-11/diller-sees-aereo-tv-service-in-up-to-100-cities-within-year.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/broadcast-tv-on-mobile-phones-could-be-coming-sooner-than-you-think/2012/03/11/gIQAPjWJ7R_story.html

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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Apple Said to Be Subpoenaed by U.S. FTC as Part of Google Antitrust Probe
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission subpoenaed Apple Inc. as part of its antitrust probe of Google Inc., seeking information on how the computer maker incorporates the search engine on the iPhone and iPad, two people familiar with the matter said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/apple-said-to-be-subpoenaed-by-u-s-regulators-on-google-s-mobile-search.html

Apple subpoenaed by FTC over Google's search deal on iPhone and iPad
A US antitrust investigation into Google has subpoenaed Apple to find out more information about the deal by which the search giant provides services for the iPhone and iPad, according to Bloomberg, citing sources inside the Federal Trade Commission which is carrying out the probe.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/14/apple-ftc-google-iphone-ipad

Apple subpoenaed in FTC?s Google case, report says
Apple is one of several handset makers that have reportedly been subpoenaed as part of the Federal Trade Commission?s antitrust probe into Google.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/apple-subpoenaed-in-ftcs-google-case-report-says/2012/03/14/gIQAsQfqBS_story.html

FTC seeks Apple testimony in Google antitrust probe
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has reportedly taken an interest in the mobile side of a business relationship between Apple and Google, and wants it on the record.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-57396523-248/ftc-seeks-apple-testimony-in-google-antitrust-probe/

Wi-Fi is drawing power from the mobile phone mast
From Norwich to New York, hotspots are pulsing on every street. A messy urban patchwork of Wi-Fi signals is being gradually woven into a blanket of coverage which may soon be equal to the signals pumped out by mobile phone masts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/13/wifi-mobile-4g

Will 4G LTE devices ever roam internationally?
The widespread acceptance of 4G LTE was supposed to unite wireless operators around the globe. But the worldwide spectrum crunch is making international roaming a tough problem to solve.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-57395687-266/will-4g-lte-devices-ever-roam-internationally/

uk: Virgin Media wins London Underground wi-fi contract
Virgin Media has won the contract to provide wi-fi to the London Underground.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17373523

Virgin Media wins tube Wi-Fi contract
Virgin Media has been awarded the contract to provide Wi-Fi access on London Underground platforms, with mobile internet services set to be available in time for the London Olympics.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/14/virgin-media-wins-tube-wi-fi-contract

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SPAM
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Security Firm eleven Reports Spam Trends a Year Following Rustock Botnet Takedown
In a report released on Wednesday, German email security firm eleven released its observations almost year after the Rustock botnet was shut down on March 16, 2011. According to the report, spam levels in February 2012 were 61.2 percent below the value from February 2011, right before the Rustock shutdown.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/security-firm-eleven-reports-spam-trends-a-year-following-rustock-botnet-takedown

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ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
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Yahoo sues Facebook over 10 disputed patents in the US
Yahoo has filed an intellectual property lawsuit against Facebook. Yahoo claims the social network has infringed 10 of its patents including systems and methods for advertising on the web. Facebook denies the allegation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17345935

Yahoo IP lawsuit: We patented "Facebook's entire social network model"
By now you've heard that Yahoo has sued Facebook, alleging patent infringement. But just which pieces of intellectual property is Yahoo claiming Facebook ripped off?
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/03/yahoo-patent-lawsuit-we-invented-facebooks-entire-social-network-model.ars

Yahoo files lawsuit against Facebook
Yahoo is filing a lawsuit against Facebook claiming infringement of patents covering advertising, privacy controls and social networking, following through on a threat it made last month.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/12/yahoo-files-patent-lawsuit-facebook

Yahoo Sues Facebook Over Patents
Yahoo stepped up its new feud with Facebook on Monday, suing the social-networking giant and accusing it of infringing on 10 patents tied to an array of Web technologies.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/yahoo-sues-facebook-over-patents/

Yahoo! Accuses Facebook in Suit of Infringing Advertising-Related Patents
Yahoo! Inc. accused Facebook Inc. in a federal court lawsuit of infringing patents related to Internet advertising and information sharing.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-12/yahoo-sues-facebook-for-patent-infringement-in-california-federal-court.html

Yahoo Sues Facebook for Patent Infringement, Which Social Network Calls "Puzzling" (Including Filing)
In what is either the boldest gamble of its history or the most boneheaded, Yahoo has filed a massive patent infringement lawsuit against Facebook.
http://allthingsd.com/20120312/breaking-yahoo-sues-facebook-for-patent-infringement/

Cyber-attack on BBC leads to suspicion of Iran's involvement
A "sophisticated cyber-attack" on the BBC has been linked to Iran's efforts to disrupt the BBC Persian Service.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17365416

au: CSIRO set to win key WiFi royalties case against the top three carriers in the US
The CSIRO's legal bid to keep royalties flowing from its WiFi patent by taking on the top three carriers in the US appears set to succeed.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/csiro-set-to-win-key-wifi-royalties-case-against-the-top-three-carriers-in-the-us/story-e6frgakx-1226297492379

au: CSIRO to settle over Wi-Fi dispute: report
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is reportedly in negotiations with US carriers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, which could see a dispute over the use of its coveted Wi-Fi patent settled out of court before it goes to trial.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/csiro-to-settle-over-wi-fi-dispute-report-339333652.htm

Facebook, Google to Stand Trial in India
Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. are set to begin trial here Tuesday to face charges that they didn't censor objectionable content from their sites, putting on stark display the legal risks for Internet companies chasing growth in India.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304537904577277263704300998.html

Symantec says hackers released Norton source code
Hackers have published the blueprints to a 2006 version of Symantec Corp's widely used Norton Antivirus software on the Internet, according to the software maker.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/09/oukin-uk-symantec-hackers-idUKBRE8281DJ20120309

Source code of Symantec Antivirus posted on the net
As expected, hackers have released the source code of Norton Antivirus 2006 on the net. According to the page on The Pirate Bay where the 1.1GB file has been posted as a torrent, the hackers go by the name of AntiSec and sympathise with the Anonymous hacker group. The posting is dedicated to a number of arrested LulzSec contributors whose release is called for by the hackers.
http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Source-code-of-Symantec-Antivirus-posted-on-the-net-1468974.html

au: Cyber thieves eye super funds: AFP
Older Australians are being targeted for their superannuation funds by criminals using stolen identity information to gain access to personal accounts, the Australian Federal Police have warned.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/government/cyber-thieves-eye-super-funds-afp/story-fn4htb9o-1226299854828

us: Judge strips 'copyright troll' of disputed copyrights
Notorious "copyright troll" Righthaven has been hit with another in what has been lengthening string of legal defeats as a federal judge on Monday ordered that all intellectual property related to the company's failed copyright lawsuit against blogger Wayne Hoehn be taken away from it and assigned to a receiver.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/031412-copyright-troll-257274.html
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/418527/judge_strips_copyright_troll_disputed_copyrights/

nz: Megaupload criminal copyright case is 'fundamental shift'
The legal, business and political implications of the Megaupload case were examined at a breakfast panel discussion held by the New Zealand Computer Society in Auckland recently.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/megaupload-criminal-copyright-case-represents-fundamental-shift

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SECURITY
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New Interest in Hacking as Threat to Security
During the five-month period between October and February, there were 86 reported attacks on computer systems in the United States that control critical infrastructure, factories and databases, according to the Department of Homeland Security, compared with 11 over the same period a year ago.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/us/new-interest-in-hacking-as-threat-to-us-security.html

DARPA chief leaves Pentagon for Google job
Google, in a coup, has hired Regina Dugan, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), for a senior executive position.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225156/DARPA_chief_leaves_Pentagon_for_Google_job
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/031312-darpa-chief-leaves-pentagon-for-257248.html

au: Standards for cyber security testing to be introduced [news release]
Australian businesses will have clear and agreed standards for cyber security testing with today?s announcement that an Australian branch of the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) has been established.
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Media-releases/Pages/2012/First%20Quarter/9-March-2012---Standards-for-cyber-security-testing-to-be-introduced-.aspx

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PRIVACY
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U.S. trade regulator casts doubts on 'Do Not Track' on Web
Consumers hoping for a one-click option to bar advertisers from tracking them across the Web will have to wait a bit longer, according to a Federal Trade Commission official.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/oukin-uk-internet-privacy-tracking-idUKBRE82C1BD20120313

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CENSORSHIP
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Beset by online surveillance and content filtering, netizens fight on [news release]
The last report, released in March 2011 at the climax of the Arab Spring, highlighted the fact that the Internet and social networks have been conclusively established as tools for protest, campaigning and circulating information, and as vehicles for freedom. In the months that followed, repressive regimes responded with tougher measures to what they regarded as unacceptable attempts to ?destabilize? their authority. In 2011, netizens were at the heart of the political changes in the Arab world and elsewhere. They tried to resist the imposition of a news and information blackout but paid a high price.
http://en.rsf.org/beset-by-online-surveillance-and-12-03-2012,42061.html

Bahrain added to web censorship blacklist
Reporters Without Borders has updated its 2012 "Enemies of the Internet" list to include Bahrain and Belarus.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/03/20123136140551889.html

Bahrain and Belarus named 'enemies of the internet'
Bahrain and Belarus have been added to Reporters Without Borders' annual list of "enemies of the internet".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17350225

New enemies of the internet
Reporters Without Borders has added Bahrain and Belarus to its list of "Enemies of the Internet", saying their citizens are beset by online surveillance and control and other repressive measures.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/new-enemies-of-the-internet/story-e6frg996-1226298412286

Enemy of the internet: Australia under surveillance for violating online freedoms
Australia has been listed as a potential "enemy of the internet". Reporters Without Borders has released its annual ?Enemies of the Internet? list - and although Australia is not an official list, we are on their radar.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/internet-filter/enemy-of-the-internet-australia-under-surveillance-for-violating-online-freedoms/story-fn5j66db-1226298203269
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/australia-enemy-of-the-internet/story-e6frf7lf-1226297986751

'Internet Background Radiation' Reveals Disasters and Censorship
There is something satisfying about finding something useful to do with garbage. Researchers at UC San Diego, California, have apparently found a way of using the data traffic generated by malware and and malicious scanning to detect Internet outages that may be caused by natural disasters or censorship.
http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2012/03/12/internet-background-radiation-reveals-disasters-and-censorship/

Analysis of Country-wide Internet Outages Caused by Censorship
In the first months of 2011, Internet communications were disrupted in several North African countries in response to civilian protests and threats of civil war. In this paper we analyze episodes of these disruptions in two countries: Egypt and Libya. Our analysis relies on multiple sources of large-scale data already available to academic researchers: BGP interdomain routing control plane data; unsolicited data plane traffic to unassigned address space; active macroscopic traceroute measurements; RIR delegation files; and MaxMind's geolocation database.
http://www.caida.org/publications/papers/2011/outages_censorship/

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
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Germany Trying to Cut Publishers In on Web Profits
In a move aimed at helping newspapers generate new revenue from struggling online operations, the German government intends to require search engines and other Internet companies to pay publishers whose content they highlight.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/business/global/germany-trying-to-cut-publishers-in-on-web-profits.html

Kiwis try to open dialogue on TPPA
New Zealand representatives in ICT and the internet are pleased at the attention and ?positive feedback? they gained from negotiators formulating the intellectual property (IP) chapter of the Trans-Pacific partnership free trade agreement.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/kiwis-try-to-open-dialogue-on-tppa

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS
**********************
Brussels probes possible telecoms collusion
Europe?s biggest telecoms companies are facing the threat of a European Commission probe focusing on whether meetings between their top executives led to possible collusion.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e293251a-6d31-11e1-ab1a-00144feab49a.html

Telecoms face EU ?war of attrition?
The relationship between European Union regulators and the region?s largest telecoms groups was already strained, but tension reached new levels this week with the top competition body admitting it is concerned that meetings between the five powerful operators could lead to collusion.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/28ebab8a-6df1-11e1-b98d-00144feab49a.html

European antitrust regulator questions telecoms
The European competition watchdog is questioning five of Europe's biggest telecoms companies to see if a series of meetings they held since 2010 on strategy and technical co-operation constituted collusion.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/14/eu-telco-idUSL5E8EE0ZM20120314

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(c) David Goldstein 2012



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David Goldstein

email: goldstein_david at 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 Flannery
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