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 *************************************************** Keep the Internet Open by Vint Cerf http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/opinion/keep-the-internet-open.html The 'ITUnet' Folly: Why The UN Will Never Control The Internet by Scott Cleland http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/05/24/the-itunet-folly-why-the-un-will-never-control-the-internet/ ICANN is about as fast as a pregnant elephant http://domainincite.com/icann-policy-making-is-about-as-fast-as-a-pregnant-elephant/ Ready, Aim, What? Digital Archery, Part 1: Process http://www.gtldstrategy.com/policy-updates/ready-aim-what-digital-archery-part-1-process Ready, Aim, What? Digital Archery, Part 2: Implications http://www.gtldstrategy.com/marketing-strategies/ready-aim-what-digital-archery-part-2-implications Sales of unused IPv4 addresses gathering steam http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/052412-ipv4-resales-259588.html ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Keep the Internet Open by Vint Cerf The Internet stands at a crossroads. Built from the bottom up, powered by the people, it has become a powerful economic engine and a positive social force. But its success has generated a worrying backlash. Around the world, repressive regimes are putting in place or proposing measures that restrict free expression and affect fundamental rights. The number of governments that censor Internet content has grown to 40 today from about four in 2002. And this number is still growing, threatening to take away the Internet as you and I have known it. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/opinion/keep-the-internet-open.html The 'ITUnet' Folly: Why The UN Will Never Control The Internet by Scott Cleland United Nations regulators imagine they could improve upon the Internet if only they were put in charge of it. A move is afoot, led by Russia and China, to get the International Telecommunications Union to assert intergovernmental control over the Internet by amending a 1988 communications treaty at an ITU conference in Dubai this December. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/05/24/the-itunet-folly-why-the-un-will-never-control-the-internet/ Does the Internet Need a Global Regulator? by Adam Thierer 2012 has already witnessed historic Internet policy debates in the United States over digital copyright, online privacy, and cybersecurity. These issues have bitterly divided many organizations, academics, companies, and policymakers. http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamthierer/2012/05/06/does-the-internet-need-a-global-regulator/ Threat Analysis of ITU?s WCIT (Part 1): Historical context by Milton Mueller The relevance of the International Telecommunication Union?s World Conference of International Telecommunications (WCIT) to Internet governance is a hotly debated topic. There is an organized campaign to raise concern about it, with the latest entry being the scheduling of a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives. What this means is that 20 years after the opening of the Internet to the public, 13 years after the creation of ICANN, 7 years after the conclusion of WSIS, we are still having an intense debate about the relationship between nation-states and the governance of the Internet. http://www.internetgovernance.org/2012/05/24/threat-analysis-of-itus-wcit-part-1-historical-context/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Fellowship Application Round Opens for ICANN International Public Meeting 45 in Toronto, Canada ICANN is now accepting online applications for the 17th round of the Fellowship program. http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-23may12-en.htm ICANN Receives Arab World Award On a recent trip to Kuwait to receive one of the top awards in information technology in the Arab world, ICANN President and CEO Rod Beckstrom, with Vice President of Europe Nigel Hickson, and Regional Manager of the Middle East Baher Esmat, met with His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait. ... This year, ICANN was the recipient of the prestigious Badge of Honor of H.H. Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award, a leading initiative to foster information technology development in the Arab world. http://blog.icann.org/2012/05/icann-receives-arab-world-award/ ICA Urges That $175,000 URS Summits ?Slush Fund? Be Struck from ICANN?s FY 2013 Budget Domain registrant fees are the source of the vast majority of ICANN operating funds, so in a sense registrants are the taxpayers of the ICANN system. To the extent that ICA members own or manage a significant percentage of existing domains we want to make sure that our ?tax dollars? are spent wisely, that registrants? viewpoints are reflected in ICANN decision-making processes, and that registrant rights are duly respected. http://internetcommerce.org/No_URS_Summits_Slush_Fund ICANN is about as fast as a pregnant elephant Making a binding policy at ICANN takes about the same amount of time as gestating a human fetus, but only when the organization and community are working at their absolute fastest. http://domainincite.com/icann-policy-making-is-about-as-fast-as-a-pregnant-elephant/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Head of Estonian Internet Foundation to resign Marek-Andres Kauts, chairman of the board of the Estonian Internet Foundation that manages the country's domain names, has announced his resignation effective from end of July under criticism from the Internet Community lobby group. http://balticbusinessnews.com/article/2012/5/24/head-of-estonian-internet-foundation-to-resign EUrid: Being green pays off in increased competitiveness It is not by making new regulations that policy-makers will force ICT companies to reduce their carbon footprint, but rather pushing member states to implement existing rules and convincing companies that they gain in competitiveness, argues Marc Van Wesemael, EURid CEO, in an interview with EurActiv. http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/eurid-green-pays-increased-competitiveness-interview-512941 FICORA's annual report published online In FICORA's annual report, the authority's activities and achievements during 2011 are examined in the light of the new strategy whose objective is to provide more versatile communications services, improve the availability of basic communications services and improve the functionality and safety of communications networks and services. ... Over the years, FICORA has become a rigorous monitor and promoter of communications markets and services. The year 2012 also included celebrating the fi-domain name unit and CERT-FI unit. The year saw the 25th anniversary of the fi-domain name. And, ten years ago, FICORA became responsible for preventing, detecting, notifying about and informing about information security threats. http://www.ficora.fi/en/index/viestintavirasto/uutiset/2012/P_25.html fr: Launch of the second edition of AFNIC?s "Technology Backdrop" survey Launched as part of its R&D work, the "Technology Backdrop" survey ? which went online for the first time in 2008 ? was designed by AFNIC with the support of its Scientific Council and the INIT Company. The purpose of the survey is to produce a common overview of current technological trends. http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/5980/show/launch-of-the-second-edition-of-afnic-s-technology-backdrop-survey.html hk: The Tenth Annual General Meeting of Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited The Tenth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) was held successfully today. A Director was re-elected by the Demand Class at the AGM. https://www2.hkirc.hk/company_info/pressrelease.jsp?item=453 .nz DNSSEC Deployment DNSSEC has been developed to provide authentication and integrity to the Domain Name System (DNS). The introduction of DNSSEC to .nz will improve the security posture of New Zealand by providing Registrants with an effective tool to combat attacks such as website phishing. http://dnc.org.nz/story/dnssec Domain .?? is 2 years old! Today on May 12, 2012 Russian Cyrillic ccTLD .?? celebrates its second birthday. Two years ago domain .?? became one of the first IDN-domains in the world on May 12, 2012 registers of root server of global domain addresses received an entry about Cyrillic domain .?? and on November 11, 2010 domain started an open registration of domain names. http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=3760 rs: RNIDS organised the DNSSEC implementation workshop Register of National Internet Domain Names of Serbia (RNIDS) organised the DNSSEC implementation workshop on 16 and 17 May at hotel ?Moskva? in Belgrade with Patrik Wallstr?m and Rickard Bellgrim from the Swedish national registry as lecturers. http://rnids.rs/en/what-s-new/rnids-organised-the-dnssec-implementation-workshop/id/3775 Number of co.za domain names revealed There are currently around 780,000 .co.za domain names, with between 100,000 and 140,000 net additions annually. http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/50485-number-of-co-za-domain-names-revealed.html ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** Icann addresses new gTLD questions Icann will publish details on Tuesday of the new gTLD schedule, including the digital archery program and the reveal date for applications http://www.managingip.com/Article/3036483/Managing-Internet-IP-Archive/Icann-addresses-new-gTLD-questions.html New gTLD seminar in Brussels Managing IP is supporting a seminar on new gTLDs, to be held in Brussels on June 22, immediately before the Icann meeting in Prague. http://www.managingip.com/Article/3036492/News-In-Brief-Internet-IP/New-gTLD-seminar-in-Brussels.html Ready, Aim, What? Digital Archery, Part 1: Process It?s been more than two months since ICANN first announced its plans for how to deal with the ?batching? issue ? how it will order new gTLD applications for evaluation ? and yet there still seems to be rampant confusion around the basics of the process and its implications. http://www.gtldstrategy.com/policy-updates/ready-aim-what-digital-archery-part-1-process Ready, Aim, What? Digital Archery, Part 2: Implications So now we know how ICANN?s Digital Archery process will work, and have a very rough idea of when that process will take place. On the surface, it may seem like having the process start befICore Reveal Day is not a big deal ? perhaps ICANN is even trying to make up for some time lost during the month-long TAS delay. http://www.gtldstrategy.com/marketing-strategies/ready-aim-what-digital-archery-part-2-implications New gTLD reveal day is probably June 13 ICANN is set to reveal its list of new gTLD applications on or around June 13, according to several sources. http://domainincite.com/new-gtld-reveal-day-is-probably-june-13/ ICANN Teases Applicants with Hints of new gTLD Dates Would it hurt ICANN to be specific about their dates? Apparently it?s highly painful, to judge from a recent ICANN Twitter chat. As usual, nothing definitive was announced, but little hints were dropped. This is getting worse than trying to understand Soviet politics based on the size of the generals? hats at the May Day parade. http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2012/05/icann-teases-applicants-with-hints-of-new-gtld-dates/ New gTLD Informational Webinar on May 31 We?ll be hosting a webinar on 5/31 entitled ?New gTLDS: Are You Ready for the Big Reveal?? The webinar will begin at 10:00 AM PDT and you can register here. https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/new-gtld-informational-webinar-on-may-31/ London June .NXT Conference Postponed The London .NXT conference to be held from 20-22 June has been postponed indefinitely ?due to ongoing uncertainty over ICANN?s application process for new gTLDs?. http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/05/24/london-nxt-postponed/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Hackers Target European Web Host 123-reg in DDoS Attack Web host 123-reg announced via its status blog that it was hit by a large scale DDoS attack on Wednesday morning. This news comes a day after web hosting control panel WHMCS was hit by a DDoS and social engineering attack. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/hackers-target-european-web-host-123-reg-in-ddos-attack Now 50 Million Daily Users Strong, OpenDNS Wants to Be ?the Akamai for Security? OpenDNS isn?t a company you think about much. And that?s by design ? its products quietly block users on a network from botnets, malware and phishing. But between consumer users and large customers like H&R Block and Deloitte, OpenDNS now has 50 million daily active users. http://allthingsd.com/20120525/opendns-now-has-50-million-daily-users/ ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Case Dismissed ... For Now. Prometheus Global Media, LLC, the parent company of Billboard and the Hot 100, filed for UDRP arbitration over two domain names, BillboardRadioOnline.com and TheHot100Radio.com. According to the UDRP rules, a Complainant can only bring a complaint relating to more than one domain name if the domains are registered by the same entity. In this case, the Complainant argued that both domains had in fact been registered by the same individual, a ?Shawn Lloyd,? despite the fact that the WHOIS records list ?Billie Druer? as the registrant of BillboardRadioOnline.com and ?Webstarts? as the registrant of TheHot100Radio.com. http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2012/05/22/case-dismissed-now Lawsuit over using googl.ru and gugl.ru domain names to be heard on May 30 The Moscow Commercial Court has declared a recess until May 30 in its hearing of Google's lawsuit to ban Weblink from using the "googl.ru" and "gugl.ru" domain names, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Thursday. http://www.rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20120524/263255189.html Canadian Domain Name Decisions & Stats This month marks the 25th year of operations for the .CA domain, Canada?s ccTLD. It was originally allocated to John Demco, an employee of UBC, who operated the domain on a volunteer basis between 1987 and 2000, when it was formally transferred to CIRA (the Canadian Internet Registration Authority). http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=96c3ad3b-d8b0-42de-822f-78e76fc2ce8d The little known defence in the fight against the misuse of brands online Brand owners have long struggled to protect their brands online. First there came domain name pirates, then online parodies through You Tube and the like, social media bandits and now the ongoing battle against the misuse of brands as adwords. http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/178618/ us: Olympic Committee sues guy it won UDRP against The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has filed a lawsuit against Alan Bachand, an individual with whom the organization has a history when it comes to domain names. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/05/25/olympic-committee-sues-guy-it-won-udrp-against/ Someone stole my website: a potentially cheaper and faster alternative to recover website domain names If someone is using a website domain name that contains the name of your business or your trademark, you may be able to obtain the domain, or have it shut down, for relatively little cost and in less than two months. http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d361c212-0198-4b21-b304-83cf31d25844 Red Frog Events, LLC v. Maximum Adventure Pty Ltd - Case No. DAU2012-0002 1. The Parties: The Complainant is Red Frog Events, LLC of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, represented by Fisher Adams Kelly, Patent and Trademark Attorneys, Australia. The Respondent is Maximum Adventure Pty Ltd. of Telopea, New South Wales, Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <warriordash.com.au> is registered with TPP Domains Pty Ltd. dba TPP. Internet. ... 7. Decision: For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with Paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the disputed domain name <warriordash.com.au> be transferred to the Complainant. http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2012-0002 ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** RIPE NCC Returns Legacy Address Space to IANA On 6 May 2012, the ICANN Board ratified GPP-IPv4-2011, "Global Policy for Post Exhaustion IPv4 Allocation Mechanisms" by IANA. http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/announcements/ripe-ncc-returns-legacy-address-space-to-iana Sales of unused IPv4 addresses gathering steam Some IPv4 address sales - or transfers as Internet policymakers prefer to call them - are being recorded through official channels such as the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), which allocates IPv4 and IPv6 address space to North American ISPs and other network operators. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/052412-ipv4-resales-259588.html http://www.infoworld.com/d/networking/sales-of-unused-ipv4-addresses-gathering-steam-194042 http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/256200/sales_of_unused_ipv4_addresses_gathering_steam.html Running DNSBLs in an IPv6 world by John Levine DNS blacklists for IPv4 addresses are now nearly 15 years old, and DNSBL operators have gathered a great deal of expertise running them. Over the next decade or two mail will probably move to IPv6. How will running IPv6 DNSBLs differ from IPv4? http://jl.ly/Email/v6blsrv.html With IPv6 being turned on, is keeping IPv4 a bad idea? The Internet Society is promoting the World IPv6 Launch on June 6, when Internet service providers, hardware manufacturers and Web-based companies will permanently enable the next generation of Internet Protocols on their products and services. http://gcn.com/articles/2012/05/25/cybereye-world-ipv6-launch-day-keep-or-dump-ipv4.aspx Slowly but surely the Web warms up to new protocol A number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), hardware makers and websites, including a few from India, will start running IPv6, a new generation Internet protocol, permanently from June 6. It is part of a global effort to move away from the IPv4 regime that now rules the cyberspace. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/internet/article3463131.ece ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** TRAFFIC sets dates for Las Vegas show For a while there were too many domainer-targeted domain conferences. Then the pendulum swung the other way. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/05/25/traffic-sets-dates-for-las-vegas-show/ Get bidding in Sedo?s .me auction! body.me, ecard.me, karaoke.me and more! The next .me auction event has just begun, and this time we have great names available such as body.me, ecard.me, karaoke.me and more! https://sedo.com/us/news/3041/Get-bidding-in-Sedos-.me-auction/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** A Dive Into the Digital Deep: A Look At The Undersea Cables That Connect Us When next winter's storms subside, a specialized ship will begin a slow crossing, lowering a skinny cable into its wake along a precisely prescribed path: the shortest distance between New York and London. Owned by Summit, N.J.-based Hibernia Atlantic, the $300 million wire will bring the two financial capitals 5.2 milliseconds closer together?a boon to high-speed electronic traders. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304840904577422370903409342.html Going Beyond Search, Into Fetch You whippersnappers might not remember, but libraries used to have something called card catalogs. Each book?s index card told you which shelf housed the corresponding volume. You had to go fetch it on foot. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/technology/personaltech/google-and-microsoft-feature-do-it-all-search-pages-state-of-the-art.html Buffett Says Free News Unsustainable, May Add More Papers Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway struck a deal this month to acquire 63 newspapers, says he may buy more publications as the industry rethinks whether to offer free content on the internet. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-24/buffett-says-free-news-unsustainable-may-add-more-papers.html http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/free-news-is-unsustainable-buffett-20120525-1z944.html Yahoo launches Axis browser Yahoo has launched a new browser for Apple?s mobile devices called Axis. The browser, which is also available on desktops through plug-ins for the four major browsers, is designed to let you move between your devices and look at the same searches. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/yahoo-launches-axis-browser/2012/05/24/gJQAq1o1mU_story.html Amid Turmoil, Yahoo Jumps Into Browser Wars Yahoo Inc. has a few things going on lately: A new chief executive is in place after a scandal felled his predecessor, the company's share of the display ad market is shrinking, and gaining ground on Google Inc. in search is still proving elusive. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304840904577424701302454024.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** California Senate OKs ban to keep employers from social media passwords California's Senate doesn't think your employer should have access to your Facebook account, and now, it's passed a bill reflecting that attitude. http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-senate-social-media-password-ban-20120525,0,7588090.story ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Technology Reaches Remote Tibetan Corners, Fanning Unrest The young Buddhist monk, his voice hushed and nervous, was discussing the self-immolations and protests that have swept Tibetan regions of China when the insistent rap of knuckle on wood sounded behind him. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/world/asia/technology-reaches-remote-tibetan-corners-fanning-unrest.html ********************************* CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY ********************************* nz: School becomes safer place as victims confront bullies Standing down students from college has practically become a thing of the past at Wanganui Girls College, according to assistant principal/guidance counsellor Nita Pond. http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/school-becomes-safer-place-as-victims-confront-bul/1394959/ nz: Social media sites 'spur teens to commit suicide' [ANI] Text messaging and social media sites like Bebo have contributed to the spread of suicide in a spate of teen deaths, a new study has claimed. http://in.news.yahoo.com/social-media-sites-spur-teens-commit-suicide-082812156.html nz: Facebook fraud fools Kahui fans More than 20,000 people, including sick children, were taken in by a fake Richard Kahui Facebook page before the person behind it admitted to their online lies ? but authorities are warning it is only a matter of time before Facebook frauds face prosecution. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/6991630/Facebook-fraud-fools-Kahui-fans Statement by Vice-Presidents Viviane Reding and Neelie Kroes on International Missing Children's Day [news release] European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner said: "The International Day of Missing Children is essential to draw attention to the plight of all missing children and their loved ones. As every year, the European Commission is supporting the International Day to make sure we remember children who have gone missing, today and on every other day of the year. As families and children travel more and more within the European Union, we need phone numbers that are known by everyone and are the same whether you are calling from your home in Austria or your holiday destination in Spain." http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/378 us: New York's anonymity ban: Why should the Web be any different? Summary: New York wants to outlaw anonymous comments to prevent cyberbullying and other online abuse. This criminologist examines why this plan, despite its controversy, may not be such a bad thing. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/new-yorks-anonymity-ban-why-should-the-web-be-any-different/78170 The horrors of Hailey: Jessica punished for killer idea to fight bullying A US teenager suspended from school for creating a fictional character who committed suicide to lift awareness of bullying should have been commended. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/the-horrors-of-hailey-jessica-punished-for-killer-idea-to-fight-bullying-20120524-1z708.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/the-horrors-of-hailey-jessica-punished-for-killer-idea-to-fight-bullying-20120524-1z708.html ch: SWITCH honours the web creativity of school classes [news release] At the sixth Junior Web Award, SWITCH is today choosing the ten Swiss school classes that are the best web talents. And, for the very first time, a first prize is going to each of the Italian, French and German-speaking regions of Switzerland. http://www.switch.ch/about/news/2012/jwa2012.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Film company Gaumont says Hadopi eradicated illegal downloads of French films In a statement of bravado that bordered on delusion, the president of French film and production company Gaumont announced that, "between the 15th of May and the 15th of December 2011, not a single French film was downloaded on the Web," due to France's strict anti-piracy law Hadopi. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/05/film-company-gaumont-says-hadopi-eradicated-illegal-downloads-of-french-films/ ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Mobile Phones Offer Indian Women a Better Life In the months after Garima Gupta?s wedding, she cherished one of her presents above all ? the mobile phone given to her by an older brother. ... In India, researchers are just beginning to study the effects that the explosive growth in the mobile phone market has had on women?s lives. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/world/asia/23iht-letter23.html Mobile Devices Now Make Up About 20 Percent of U.S. Web Traffic Mobile Web browsing continues to take off, with smartphones and tablets accounting for 20 percent of Web traffic in the U.S. and Canada, according to a new report. http://allthingsd.com/20120525/mobile-devices-now-make-up-about-20-percent-of-u-s-web-traffic/ Google Cleared of Infringing on Oracle?s Java Patents Google did not infringe on any Oracle patents when it used Java software in the Android operating system, a federal jury said on Wednesday. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/google-cleared-of-java-patent-violation/ Microsoft wins injunction against Motorola Android devices in Germany Microsoft confirmed that it won an injunction today in a German court against Motorola Mobility Android devices that infringe a patent covering the sending of long text messages. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/05/microsoft-wins-injunction-against-motorola-android-devices-in-germany/ WiFi poised to make waves in M2M With new auto-connect hotspot standards, low-cost M2M modules and increasingly pervasive coverage, WiFi looks viable as a wireless M2M alternative to cell. http://www.broadband-europe.eu/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?ItemID=1034 ********************** SPAM ********************** Russian spam mastermind jailed for creating botnet A cybercrime mastermind who hijacked the PCs of more than 30 million people has been jailed for four years. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18189987 ********************** ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL ********************** Google's copyright complaints flag up piracy of Microsoft Microsoft has asked Google to remove more than 500,000 links from its index in the last month, figures show. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18204411 Google names names on copyright takedowns; Microsoft is #1 Who complains loudest about Google linking to infringing content in its search results? The movie and music industries, of course, who absolutely delight in taking whacks at the search engine. But thanks to a huge new trove of data released today by Google, we know that the worldwide top takedown requestor?by far?is actually Microsoft. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/05/google-names-names-on-copyright-takedowns-microsoft-is-1/ Microsoft Copyright Violations Dominate Google's Takedown Requests [AP] Google's Internet search engine receives more complaints about websites believed to be infringing on Microsoft's copyrights than it does about material produced by entertainment companies pushing for tougher laws against online piracy. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/24/microsoft-copyright-google_n_1543584.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/new-google-data-show-microsofts-piracy-problems-20120525-1z8b9.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/new-google-data-show-microsofts-piracy-problems-20120525-1z8b9.html Google Removes 1 Million Infringing Links Monthly Each month, Google removes more than 1 million links to infringing content such as movies, video games, music and software from its search results ? with about half of those requests for removal last month coming from Microsoft. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/05/google-infringing-link-removal/ Transparency for copyright removals in search We believe that openness is crucial for the future of the Internet. When something gets in the way of the free flow of information, we believe there should be transparency around what that block might be. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/transparency-for-copyright-removals-in.html ********************** SECURITY ********************** Now 50 Million Daily Users Strong, OpenDNS Wants to Be ?the Akamai for Security? OpenDNS isn?t a company you think about much. And that?s by design ? its products quietly block users on a network from botnets, malware and phishing. But between consumer users and large customers like H&R Block and Deloitte, OpenDNS now has 50 million daily active users. http://allthingsd.com/20120525/opendns-now-has-50-million-daily-users/ ********************** PRIVACY ********************** eu: Cookie law set to come into force Thousands of UK websites are expected to be in breach of a law that dictates what they can log about visitors. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18206810 EU internet ?cookies? rules cause confusion Developments in web browsing technology have in recent years largely consigned the irritating pop-up advertisement to internet history. But European rules aimed at protecting the UK?s internet users from intrusive advertising have in the last week led to a new crop of pop-ups appearing on websites based in the UK. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5fed6ac4-a811-11e1-b8a9-00144feabdc0.html uk: Cookie law: websites must seek consent from this weekend Friday marks the last working day for UK businesses to prepare their websites for a new law governing the use of cookies. From Sunday, sites must obtain "informed consent" from visitors before saving cookies on a machine. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18194235 ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** us: Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Surveillance Case The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a case concerning the government?s use of electronic surveillance to monitor the international communications of people suspected of having ties to terrorist groups. The court also issued three decisions, including one denying Social Security benefits to children who were conceived through artificial insemination after their father?s death. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/us/justices-agree-to-hear-surveillance-challenge.html State Department Report Highlights Limits Of Technology Last year technology helped more people exercise their rights, but in 2011 more countries restricted access to the Internet or used technology to repress, according to the State Department's annual human rights report released on Thursday. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/05/state-department-human-rights.php ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Google's tiny tax bill in Australia alarms Turnbull Google has refused to explain why it paid just $74,176 in Australian tax last year, despite making an estimated $1 billion in revenue from the Australian market. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/googles-tiny-tax-bill-in-australia-alarms-turnbull-20120525-1za51.html Google NZ posts another loss - and makes another tiny NZ tax contribution In a now familiar ritual, Google New Zealand has posted another loss, all but avoiding a local tax contribution. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/google-nz-posts-another-loss-and-another-tiny-nz-tax-contribution-ck-119234 Google and antitrust: The European Commission puts the ball into Google?s court Joaqu?n Almunia has been in no rush. It is more than two years since Google?s competitors started complaining to him about the giant online-search company. Eighteen months ago Mr Almunia, the European Union?s competition commissioner, began a formal investigation. Several times a decision has seemed imminent. On May 21st Mr Almunia said he wanted to get a move on. ?I believe?, he said, ?that these fast-moving markets would particularly benefit from a quick resolution.? http://www.economist.com/node/21555910 ********************** MISCELLANEOUS ********************** nz: Parents suffering iGuilt over smartphones They call it iGuilt. It's become an increasingly common sight at Saturday morning sport as parents tap away at their phones, missing little Jimmy's goal. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10808609 nz: Making Jimmy Wales right by Vikram Kumar About a month ago I was at the Global INET conference in Geneva. One of the keynote speakers was Jimmy Wales, best known for building Wikipedia. The bit from his keynote that got the most Twitter and mainstream media coverage was towards the end- the prediction that ?Hollywood will be mostly dead and no one will care.? http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/making-jimmy-wales-right-ck-119739 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** ca: CRTC studying telecom technology for people with disabilities The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is taking further steps to improve telecommunications services for Canadians with hearing and speech disabilities. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/crtc-studying-telecom-technology-for-people-with-disabilities/article2443763/ Telcos told to differentiate on service, not on speed In Singapore 83 percent of buildings have fibre to the home, but only eight percent of customers have adopted it ? why? According to Frost and Sullivan vice president of ICT research Andrew Milroy the problem lies with they way the services are sold. He told an Amdocs Insights Forum in Sydney earlier this month that: ?My view is that the marketing message isn?t right.? http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/telcos-told-to-differentiate-on-service-not-on-speed No buyer if National Broadband Network abandoned, says CEO Mike Quigley NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley last night warned that a future Coalition government would be unable to find a buyer for the $36 billion National Broadband Network if it stopped the project on coming to power. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/in-depth/no-buyer-if-national-broadband-network-abandoned-says-ceo-mike-quigley/story-e6frgaif-1226366190779 --------- 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 FlanneryReceived on Mon May 28 2012 - 05:21:09 UTC
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