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


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


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

The domain name news is supported by auDA

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


Noncommercials save ICANN from itself, stop the IOC/RedCross railroad by Milton Mueller
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2012/3/15/5016758.html

ICANN and the NTIA need to come clean about the IANA application by Milton Mueller
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2012/3/11/5014313.html

Outcomes from the auDA Foundation Review
http://blog.auda.org.au/2012/03/13/outcomes-from-the-auda-foundation-review/

Nominet Celebrates 10 Millionth .UK Registration
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7916

.XXX Naming Rights Sponsor for Sydney Sexpo
http://www.icmregistry.com/press/xxx-naming-rights-sponsor-for-sydney-sexpo/

ICM Registry joins EROS Association
http://www.icmregistry.com/press/icm-registry-joins-eros-association/

Will Google Rank New TLDs Better Than .com Domains?
http://www.webpronews.com/will-google-rank-new-tlds-better-than-com-domains-2012-03

Google?s Matt Cutts responds to our opinion piece by Adrian Kinderis
http://www.ariservices.com/blog/google?s-matt-cutts-responds-to-our-opinion-piece/

Almost half of major consumer brands set to apply for a dot Brand Top-Level Domain
http://www.afilias.info/news/2012/03/14/almost-half-major-consumer-brands-set-apply-dot-brand-top-level-domain

au: The 2012 Cyber Defence University Challenge [news release]
http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/028

au: MLA defends purchase of 'animals' domain names
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201203/s3454295.htm


**********************
REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS
**********************
Negotiating a New Governance Hierarchy: An Analysis of the Conflicting Incentives to Secure Internet Routing by Brenden Kuerbis & Milton Mueller [Communications and Strategies]
Abstract:New security technologies are never neutral in their impact; it is known that they can alter power relations and economic dependencies among stakeholders. This article examines the attempt to introduce the Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) to the Internet to help improve routing security, and identifies incentives various actors have towards RPKI implementation.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=2021835

**********************
GOVERNANCE
**********************
The corporate titans take on the Internet: The fight over copyright is not a struggle between capital and labour, but one between different factions of capital by Peter Frase, an editor at Jacobin Magazine and a PhD student in sociology at the CUNY Graduate Centre
American politics is riven by an increasingly contentious debate over the status of intellectual property, especially copyright. On one side are those who argue that tougher enforcement of IP is desperately needed to protect the rights of creators, promote innovation, preserve jobs, and ensure economic growth. Opposing them are those who argue that the draconian enforcement of intellectual property rights will only curtail free speech and stifle economic activity, while entrenching the profits of a small class of digital-age rentiers.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/03/20123121415465844.html

**********************
DOMAIN NAMES
**********************
**********************
 - ICANN
**********************
Security, Stability & Resiliency of the DNS Review Team (SSR RT) - Draft Report
Purpose (Brief): The SSR Review Team is publishing its Draft Report and Recommendations for public comment to inform the Review Team?s work in producing a Final Report.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-15mar12-en.htm

Board?GAC Working Group Announces Implementation of ATRT Recommendations on GAC Advice and GAC Advice Register
At the ICANN 43 Meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica, the Board-GAC Recommendation Implementation Working Group (BGRI-WG)1 met to review efforts to implement the Accountability and Transparency Review Team?s (ATRT) GAC-related recommendations.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-3-16mar12-en.htm

Notice of Extension of ICANN Comment Period: IDN Variant Issues Project ? Proposed Project Plan
In response to comments made by participants at the ICANN public meeting in Costa Rica, ICANN has extended this public comment period for 21 days until 8 April 2012.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-16mar12-en.htm

Review of the ASO
Purpose (Brief): ITEMS International, a consultancy engaged by the NRO to undertake an independent review of the ASO, has delivered its final report. Comments are sought to inform the NRO as well as ICANN to prepare for further steps in the review process.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-16mar12-en.htm

Letter from Thorbj?rn Jagland, Council of Europe, to Rod Beckstrom
Generic Top-Level Domains Program
http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/jagland-to-beckstrom-13mar12-en.pdf

Noncommercials save ICANN from itself, stop the IOC/RedCross railroad by Milton Mueller
In a dramatic confrontation that generated two hours of debate at the Costa Rica meeting, ICANN?s Noncommercial Stakeholder Group successfully deferred a motion to give the International Red Cross (RC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) special privileges in the new gTLD space. The NCSG chose its target well. The IOC/RC proposal was probably the most egregious example yet of how ICANN?s supposedly open, multi-stakeholder policy making process can be circumvented by a few powerful players on the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and last-minute lobbying pushes on the GAC and the ICANN board by special interests. The NCSG may have saved ICANN?s board and GNSO from themselves.
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2012/3/15/5016758.html

ICANN and the NTIA need to come clean about the IANA application by Milton Mueller
The highly negative blog post written yesterday was fueled by the concern that NTIA was using the IANA contract to push ICANN into policy positions demanded by the GAC and a few powerful interests still trying to undermine or re-write the new TLD program.
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2012/3/11/5014313.html

Update on the Cancellation of the IANA RFP
Since the news broke over the weekend that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) had cancelled the request for proposals (RFP) for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) contract, FairWinds has received many inquiries from brand owners wanting to know how the cancellation of the RFP?and the NTIA's implied rebuff of ICANN?will impact the Internet and brands' digital strategies.
http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2012/03/15/update-cancellation-iana-rfp

**********************
 - ICANN 43 - Costa Rica
**********************
ICANN and LACNIC Agree to Enhance DNS Reliability in Latin America, Caribbean
At the ICANN 43 meeting ongoing this week, the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC) and ICANN signed an agreement pledging to work together to increase the number of L-Root locations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
http://blog.icann.org/2012/03/icann-and-lacnic-agree-to-enhance-dns-reliability-in-latin-america-caribbean/

ICANN Hosts Commonwealth Cybercrime Initiative Workshop
ICANN welcomed members of the Commonwealth Cybercrime Initiative (CCI) Steering Group to Costa Rica as part of its efforts to improve the security, stability and resiliency of the global DNS.
http://blog.icann.org/2012/03/icann-hosts-commonwealth-cybercrime-initiative-workshop/

The View from Costa Rica: Observations About ICANN?s gTLD Registries Stakeholder Group
People sometimes wonder why ICANN hosts three public meetings annually, and in such varied geographical locations (this year?s meetings will start in Costa Rica, move to Prague, and then end in Toronto). While outsiders may regard these meetings as somewhat excessive, the truth is, much of ICANN?s ?work? ? discussing issues, developing policies, and even voting to approve or reject those policies ? takes place at these meetings.
http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/the-view-from-costa-rica-observations-about-icanns-gtld-registries-stakeholder-group-0147107

**********************
 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
**********************
Outcomes from the auDA Foundation Review
auDA has recently completed a review of the auDA Foundation to evaluate the effectiveness and reach of the Foundations? grants and operations.
http://blog.auda.org.au/2012/03/13/outcomes-from-the-auda-foundation-review/

Frenchweb.fr workshop: the challenge of a domain name "Made in France"
At a time when "Made in France" is a hot political issue, AFNIC takes part in a workshop organized by FrenchWeb.fr devoted to the choice of a domain name.
http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/5780/show/frenchweb-fr-workshop-the-challenge-of-a-domain-name-made-in-france.html

.Gov Developer Meet-Up
The Federal Communications Commission will hold a .GOV Developer Meet-Up on Monday, April 16, 2012 in Washington, D.C.
http://www.fcc.gov/events/gov-developer-meet

Registrars? revolt: new group campaigns to transform ?.ie? namespace
A new group consisting Irish domain name providers and web hosting providers plan to campaign against what they believe to be restrictive policies of the .ie Domain Registry (IEDR), Siliconrepublic.com has learned.
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/26257-registrars-revolt-new/

Irish Domain Registrars Call for .ie Policy Changes, Plan Meeting to Discuss Security Issues
Irish domain registrars will meet in late March to discuss changes to the .ie domain registry policies, which the group believes to be restrictive, expensive and insecure, according to a report by Silicon Republic on Thursday.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/irish-domain-registrars-call-for-ie-policy-changes-plan-meeting-to-discuss-security-issues

Nominet Celebrates 10 Millionth .UK Registration
The .UK registry, Nominet, announced they have passed the 10 million active domain names milestone this week with Steven John Northam, founder of SN Technologies Ltd, a Hampshire-based investment firm, registering the ten millionth domain - swarvemagazine.co.uk.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17229
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7916

.uk - fit for the future at 10 million
The .uk registry has now hit over 10 million domains ? maintaining its position as the world?s second largest country code registry. The 10 millionth registration follows on from two years of strong growth in .uk domains.
http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=9144

.uk registry Nominet celebrates 10 million domains
The .uk registry passed a major milestone this week with the registration of its 10 millionth domain name. Steven John Northam, founder of SN Technologies Ltd, a Hampshire-based investment firm, registered the ten millionth domain swarvemagazine.co.uk, for a new venture the company is funding. ".uk domains have served us well through a wide range of entrepreneurial investments.
http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/releases/?contentId=9145

Landmark 10 millionth .uk site registered with Nominet
The 10 millionth web address ending in .uk has been claimed by the founder of Hampshire-based firm, SN Technologies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17393008

.XXX Naming Rights Sponsor for Sydney Sexpo
ICM Registry, the company behind the new .XXX TLD, today announced that it was making its final preparations for this years Sexpo in Sydney Australia, 15-18 March 2012 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.
http://www.icmregistry.com/press/xxx-naming-rights-sponsor-for-sydney-sexpo/

ICM Registry joins EROS Association
ICM Registry, the company behind the new .XXX TLD, today announced that it had joined the EROS Association, Australia?s national adult retail and entertainment association.
http://www.icmregistry.com/press/icm-registry-joins-eros-association/

**********************
 - NEW TLDS
**********************
Will Google Rank New TLDs Better Than .com Domains?
Google?s head of web spam, Matt Cutts, took to Google+ to bust yet another myth (there?s been a lot of Matt Cutts myth busting lately, it seems). He points to an article from Adrian Kinderis, CEO of ARI Registry Services (described as ?a top-level domain specialist?), which claims that the new top-level domains will ?trump .com in Google search results?. Kinderis writes:
http://www.webpronews.com/will-google-rank-new-tlds-better-than-com-domains-2012-03

Matt Cutts
I read a post by someone offering new TLDs. They made this claim: "Will a new TLD web address automatically be favoured by Google over a .com equivalent? Quite simply, yes it will." Sorry, but that's just not true, and as an engineer in the search quality team at Google, I feel the need to debunk this misconception. Google has a lot of experience in returning relevant web pages, regardless of the TLD.
https://plus.google.com/109412257237874861202/posts/4VaWg4TMM5F

Google?s Matt Cutts responds to our opinion piece by Adrian Kinderis
Today, Matt Cutts, an engineer in the search quality team at Google, published a response to my article on the impact new Top-Level Domains might have on the search results produced by Google and other search engines.
http://www.ariservices.com/blog/google?s-matt-cutts-responds-to-our-opinion-piece/

No Google boost for new gTLDs
Companies hoping to reap search engine optimization benefits from applying for keyword gTLDs related to their industries are in for a rude awakening today.
http://domainincite.com/no-google-boost-for-new-gtlds/

Almost half of major consumer brands set to apply for a dot Brand Top-Level Domain
Leading registry services provider Afilias today announced the results of a USA / UK survey, conducted by Vanson Bourne, on dot Brand TLDs. The survey found that 82 percent of major brands are aware of the opportunity to apply for a dotBrand TLD, and 54 percent of those ?aware? companies intend to apply for a dot Brand TLD; that is a total of 44 percent of all companies surveyed who plan to apply.
http://www.afilias.info/news/2012/03/14/almost-half-major-consumer-brands-set-apply-dot-brand-top-level-domain

DNW?s take on SEO and new top level domains
How compatible will new top level domains be with search engine optimization? The issue was thrust into the limelight following ARI Service CEO Adrian Kinderis? article on marketingmag.com.au yesterday.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/15/seo-top-level-domains/

Survey says 44% of brands to apply for gTLDs
Forty-four percent of major consumer brands plan to apply for dot-brand top-level domains, according to a survey carried out on behalf of Afilias.
http://domainincite.com/survey-says-44-of-brands-to-apply-for-gtlds/

Red Cross and Internet Governance with Cause by Jovan Kurbalija
One of many controversies surrounding the introduction of new domain names is the special protection given, though a moratorium, to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (RCRC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC). Although the RCRC and the IOC are discussed together, they are very different.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/red_cross_and_internet_governance_with_cause/

Battle to protect Red Cross and Olympic Committee in new gTLDs not yet over
A vote on proposals to offer the International Red Cross and International Olympic Committee (IOC) increased protection in the new gTLD space was deferred yesterday, a move that one commentator noted would effectively defeat the motion. However, negotiations are underway to keep the issue alive.
http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=30DEEE94-8E3C-4787-A8AA-9857FE304B38

Global Public Interest Appeal for ICANN's New gTLD Program by Tina Dam
Leaving the Public Forum yesterday at the ICANN meeting in Costa Rica I had learned of a couple of decisions which to me goes against serving the global public interest. At an ICANN Board meeting a few months ago which I unfortunately missed the Board resolved matters related to how financial support and batching will take place in the new gTLD Program.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/global_public_interest_appeal_icann_new_gtld_program/

Brussels goes for own domain, Antwerpen doesn't
The Region of Brussels-Capital has commissioned Visit Brussels to apply for the .brussels domain, Le Soir reported.
http://www.telecompaper.com/news/brussels-goes-for-own-domain-antwerpen-doesnt

Infographic: 54% of big brands attend to apply for a dot brand suffix
With less than a month left for companies and brands to apply for a dot brand suffix for their website, registry services provider Afilias has unveiled an infographic, looking at how many companies are planning to apply and their knowledge of the deadline.
http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2012/03/15/infographic-54-big-brands-attend-apply-dot-brand-suffix

**********************
 - DNS SECURITY
**********************
There can't be good without bad
Cryptographer Whitfield Diffie has told the Black Hat Europe conference in Amsterdam that the Internet needs crime. Diffie is the VP of information security and cryptography at ICANN, who laid the foundation for the public key infrastructure which now helps secure the Internet. Diffie said that good guys can't exist without bad guys and the comment explains the rise of cybercriminals and groups such as Anonymous and LulzSec.
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/26364-internet-needs-crime

Agencies way behind in using DNSSEC to secure .gov domains
More than two years after the deadline for deploying the DNS Security Extensions in .gov domains, fewer than 60 percent of agencies have digitally signed their records in the Domain Name System, according to a study by Secure64 Software Corp.
http://gcn.com/articles/2012/03/16/agencies-lag-in-dnssec-security-deployment.aspx

Internet Crime Focus Of Black Hat Europe
Security and cryptography experts at Amsterdam conference consider the enormity of securing a world where everything--from smartphones to power plants to cars--is connected to the Internet.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/management/232602571

OMB: Growth In Federal Cyberattacks Slows
Cyberattacks on the federal government continue to increase, but most were "phishing" attempts and reports of threats largely leveled out in the past year, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/03/omb-growth-in-federal-cyberatt.php

40% of U.S. government Web sites fail security test
Approximately 40% of federal government agencies are out of compliance with a regulation that requires them to deploy an extra layer of authentication on their Web sites to prevent hackers from hijacking Web traffic and redirecting it to bogus sites.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/031512-dnssec-survey-2012-257326.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/251944/40_of_us_government_web_sites_fail_security_test.html

The End of Vulnerabilities? On a global scale, bugs are never going away, but they are declining. Moreover, in specific products, there is early evidence that companies are having success weeding out flaws.
Less than a decade ago, software programs were a landscape full of unintended bounty. Security researchers could analyze portions of programs, quickly find flaws, and readily exploit them.
http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability-management/167901026/security/security-management/232602714/the-end-of-vulnerabilities.html

us: Open Government Groups Oppose Cyber Security FOIA Exemption
Open government organizations have sent a letter to Senator John McCain, opposing specific provisions in a cybersecurity bill he introduced. The SECURE IT Act would create a new Freedom of Information Act exemptions for "cyber threat information" as well as for all information shared with a cybersecurity center.
http://epic.org/2012/03/open-government-groups-oppose-.html

au: The 2012 Cyber Defence University Challenge [news release]
The Gillard Government, in partnership with Telstra and Australian universities, has announced Australia?s first national cyber security competition, the 2012 Cyber Defence University Challenge.
http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/028

**********************
 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
**********************
All Quiet on the Virtual Front: Why Domain Investors' Fear of the Feds is Irrational by Thies Lindenthal
When a sniper ends the life of soldier Paul B?umer in Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front," a laconic situation report from the frontlines recounts an unusually quiet day. In the grand scheme of things, nothing worth reporting has happened. Reading David Kravets' recent article in Wired brought this upsetting ending to mind. U.S. authorities taking down individual domains based on copyright infringement charges is the online equivalent of Remarque's allied snipers: picking off the occasional domain - for better or worse - has little effect on the overall situation.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120315_why_domain_investors_fear_of_the_feds_is_irrational/

Brazilian Company Using UDRP as a Burglary Tool in an Attempted Generic Domain Name Theft?
OK, this reverse domain hijacking trend is getting out of hand. Not that it comes as a surprise. I've said for years that, with the high value of generic .com domain names, more and more people, including over-reaching corporations with no right to generic names, would attempt to steal them through the UDRP process rather than pay for assets that belong to someone else.
http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2012/dailyposts/20120315.htm 

The Brief Case - March 2012: Google Loses WIPO Arbitration over YouTube.com.pe by Chase Marshall :: Sedo.com Legal Staff
On February 20, 2012, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center handed Google Inc. a quick and decisive defeat in a domain name dispute they filed. The domain in dispute? Youtube.com.pe, registered in Peru.
https://sedo.com/us/news/2993/The-Brief-Case---March-2012/

au: MLA defends purchase of 'animals' domain names
A vocal animal welfare organisation has raised concerns this week about Meat and Livestock Australia buying internet domain names.
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201203/s3454295.htm

**********************
 - IPv4/IPv6
**********************
RIPE: Returned Legacy Space
In preparation for the ratification of "Global Policy for Post Exhaustion IPv4 Allocation Mechanisms by the IANA" (GPP-IPv4-2011) by the ICANN Board of Directors, we will remove from the available pool of IPv4 address space the IPv4 legacy space that has been returned to the RIPE NCC by various members.
http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/announcements/returned-legacy-space

**********************
 - MISCELLANEOUS
**********************
nz: Have a .com web address? Know the legal risks
Impossible. Nuts. Unbelievable. Those are some of the more polite reactions when I tell people that having a .com domain name for their website is sufficient for them to be subject to US jurisdiction - which allows for nasty stuff like the US government seizing their website or extradition to USA to stand trial over there based on allegations alone.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/have-com-web-address-know-legal-risks-ck-113355

Latin American Web access could double in a decade [AFP]
Latin America is the world's fastest-growing market for Internet access, and could double within a decade, the group that oversees Internet-related tasks said Friday.
http://news.yahoo.com/latin-american-access-could-double-decade-135631983.html

RIPE NCC Hosts Law Enforcement Meeting
On Wednesday, 14 March 2012, the RIPE NCC, working with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the UK, organised a meeting for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in London.
http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/about-ripe-ncc-and-ripe/ripe-ncc-hosts-law-enforcement-meeting

**********************
 - WEBHOSTING
**********************
Netcraft March 2012 Web Server Survey
In the March 2012 survey we received responses from 644,275,754 sites, giving a rise of 31.4M hostnames (5.1%) since last month.
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2012/03/05/march-2012-web-server-survey.html

**********************
 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
**********************
All Quiet on the Virtual Front: Why Domain Investors' Fear of the Feds is Irrational by Thies Lindenthal
When a sniper ends the life of soldier Paul B?umer in Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front," a laconic situation report from the frontlines recounts an unusually quiet day. In the grand scheme of things, nothing worth reporting has happened. Reading David Kravets' recent article in Wired brought this upsetting ending to mind. U.S. authorities taking down individual domains based on copyright infringement charges is the online equivalent of Remarque's allied snipers: picking off the occasional domain - for better or worse - has little effect on the overall situation.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120315_why_domain_investors_fear_of_the_feds_is_irrational/

March Feature: Meet Tobias Flaitz, Sedo's New CEO
We sit down with Tobias for a quick Q&A On February 1, 2012, Tobias Flaitz (previously of Hubert Burda Media in Munich, Germany) became the new CEO of Sedo Holding AG (including Sedo and its sister company, Affili.net). We sat down with Tobias to welcome him to the company and discuss his views on the domain industry and his new role at Sedo.
https://sedo.com/us/news/2992/March-Feature-Meet-Tobias-Flaitz-Sedos-New-CEO/

Domain name price index IDNX indicates financial crisis may be over
Growth in February was at a high, reaching +4.8%. This change brings the current domain market prices close to their all-time high of summer 2011, and indicates a revitalized domain market, with the potential for higher figures as we move further into the year. This parallels the economy at large: in the US alone, 227,000 jobs were added in February 2012, and both stock market and advertising revenues reached new highs during the same time.
https://sedo.com/presse/presse.php?tracked=&partnerid=&language=us&id=446

Network Solutions pitches AfternicDLS domains to registrants of similar domains
If you have domains on AfternicDLS at the Premium level, your domains might be getting a bit more attention in a promotion right now.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/15/network-solutions-pitches-afternicdls-domains-to-registrants-of-similar-domains/

One of the Year's Three Biggest ccTLD Sales Tops Another Strong Week for the Domain Aftermarket
.Coms dominated this week's all extension Top 20 Domain Sales Chart, sweeping 18 of the 20 positions, but all of those trailed the German ccTLD that sits on top of the elite list. That is OnlineCasinos.de, a domain that changed hands for ?65,000 ($85,150) at Sedo.com. That is the year's third highest country code sale, trailing only Saturn.pl ($189,930) and Flights.ca ($120,000).
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2012/20120314.htm

**********************
REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS
**********************
China?s Proposed Personal Information Protection Act by Graham Greenleaf [Privacy Laws & Business International Newsletter]
Abstract: From 2005-7 a group of experts led by Professor Zhou Hanhua, the director of the Institute of Law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, were commissioned by the Peoples Republic of China government to draft a national data protection law to be considered by the Informatics Committee of the State Council. However, by 2008 the draft had still not progressed through any of the various Chinese legislative channels.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=2023065

**********************
INTERNET USE
**********************
Online newspapers: To survive online, newspapers are seeking a worldwide audience
In January the New York Times lost its top spot in comScore?s ranking of the world?s biggest newspaper websites to Britain?s Daily Mail. The Times sniffed at the accuracy of comScore?s figures, which exaggerate the Mail?s online audience by including a personal-finance site that the paper owns. But the battle to be biggest reflects a growing phenomenon: national news publications going global.
http://www.economist.com/node/21550262

Google Gives Search a Refresh
Google Inc. is giving its tried-and-true Web-search formula a makeover as it tries to fix the shortcomings of today's technology and maintain its dominant market share.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304459804577281842851136290.html

**********************
ONLINE TV & MUSIC
**********************
Megaupload's short-lived effort to go legit
Before the feds shut down Megaupload, the file-sharing site accused of criminal copyright infringement, operators of the company were in talks with French technology firm UbicMedia about converting online pirates into legitimate buyers and sellers.
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-megaupload-sought-legal-downloads-20120316,0,530924.story

**********************
MOBILE/WIRELESS
**********************
DoCoMo users hit 60 million, half Japan's population
Though its growth has slowed significantly in recent years, DoCoMo managed to get more than 60 million Japanese to sign up for contracts as of last Sunday.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57397178-1/docomo-users-hit-60-million-half-japans-population/

**********************
ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
**********************
For Apple, Pressure Builds Over App Store Fraud
In a little over an hour, Ryan Matthew Pierson racked up $437.71 in iTunes charges for virtual currency that he could use to buy guns, nightclubs and cars in iMobsters, a popular iPhone game. One problem: Mr. Pierson, a technology writer in Texas, has never played iMobsters.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/technology/pressure-on-apple-builds-over-app-store-fraud.html

us: EFF Backs ISPs in Battle to Quash Copyright Troll Subpoenas
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is backing ISPs in an effort to quash subpoenas issued in a predatory lawsuit over the alleged illegal downloading of adult material.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/eff-backs-isps-battle-quash-copyright-troll-subpoenas

**********************
SECURITY
**********************
Internet Crime Focus Of Black Hat Europe
Security and cryptography experts at Amsterdam conference consider the enormity of securing a world where everything--from smartphones to power plants to cars--is connected to the Internet.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/management/232602571

OMB: Growth In Federal Cyberattacks Slows
Cyberattacks on the federal government continue to increase, but most were "phishing" attempts and reports of threats largely leveled out in the past year, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/03/omb-growth-in-federal-cyberatt.php

40% of U.S. government Web sites fail security test
Approximately 40% of federal government agencies are out of compliance with a regulation that requires them to deploy an extra layer of authentication on their Web sites to prevent hackers from hijacking Web traffic and redirecting it to bogus sites.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/031512-dnssec-survey-2012-257326.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/251944/40_of_us_government_web_sites_fail_security_test.html

The End of Vulnerabilities? On a global scale, bugs are never going away, but they are declining. Moreover, in specific products, there is early evidence that companies are having success weeding out flaws.
Less than a decade ago, software programs were a landscape full of unintended bounty. Security researchers could analyze portions of programs, quickly find flaws, and readily exploit them.
http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability-management/167901026/security/security-management/232602714/the-end-of-vulnerabilities.html

us: Open Government Groups Oppose Cyber Security FOIA Exemption
Open government organizations have sent a letter to Senator John McCain, opposing specific provisions in a cybersecurity bill he introduced. The SECURE IT Act would create a new Freedom of Information Act exemptions for "cyber threat information" as well as for all information shared with a cybersecurity center.
http://epic.org/2012/03/open-government-groups-oppose-.html

au: The 2012 Cyber Defence University Challenge [news release]
The Gillard Government, in partnership with Telstra and Australian universities, has announced Australia?s first national cyber security competition, the 2012 Cyber Defence University Challenge.
http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/028

**********************
CENSORSHIP
**********************
Thailand blocks 5,000 anti-monarch Web pages
Over the last three months, the Thai government has taken down more than 5,000 Web pages with content that offend the monarchy, says report. Watchdog warns that Thailand may soon be among the world?s most repressive countries with regards to Internet rules.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/thailand-blocks-5000-anti-monarch-web-pages-62304189.htm

**************************
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
Google in New Privacy Probes
Regulators in the U.S. and European Union are investigating Google Inc. for bypassing the privacy settings of millions of users of Apple Inc.'s Safari Web browser, according to people familiar with the investigations. Google stopped the practice last month after being contacted by The Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304692804577283821586827892.html

Internet Society Board of Trustees Expresses Concern over Online Copyright Enforcement Strategies
In its first meeting of the year, held 10 - 11 March 2012, the Internet Society Board of Trustees reviewed various initiatives that several countries are considering or implementing in an attempt to increase copyright enforcement.
http://www.internetsociety.org/news/internet-society-board-trustees-expresses-concern-over-online-copyright-enforcement-strategies

nz: Countdown begins for Nethui 2012
InternetNZ has opened registrations for its second NetHui conference, inviting stakeholders from all walks of life to attend and have their say about issues relating to the internet in New Zealand.
http://www.techday.co.nz/telecommunicationsreview/news/countdown-begins-for-nethui-2012/22260/6/

**********************
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
**********************
EU regulators say telecoms block Skype
Mobile telecom companies regularly block voice over IP (VoIP) and prevent services such as Skype from functioning on their networks, the group that represents EU telecom regulators (BEREC) says in the preliminary findings of a much-awaited report on internet neutrality.
http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/eu-regulators-telecoms-block-skype-news-511541

nz: Chorus' copper lines stay for now
Chorus says it will leave customers' copper phone lines in place when it connects homes to the ultrafast broadband network, unless there is a compelling reason to remove them, at least for the next 12 months.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6590068/Chorus-copper-lines-stay-for-now
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/business/6590068/Chorus-copper-lines-stay-for-now


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

(c) David Goldstein 2012

---------
David Goldstein

email: david at goldsteinreport.com
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