[DNS] domain name news - 24 September

From: David Goldstein <david> Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:10:49 +1000 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Sat Sep 09 2017 - 22:00:11 UTC

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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New ICANN chief pours cold water on new gTLD trademark protection demands
http://domainincite.com/10538-new-icann-chief-pours-cold-water-on-new-gtld-trademark-protection-demands

New gTLD Applicants Donuts, Uniregistry & .Green Tells ICANN To Keep Dotless Domains An Option
http://www.thedomains.com/2012/09/23/new-gtld-applicants-donuts-uniregistry-green-tells-icann-to-keep-dotless-domains-an-option/

Call for nominations for election to auDA Board
http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-170912/

Consumer Watchdog Calls On Sen. Rockefeller To Thwart Google and Amazon Plans To Buy Generic Internet Domains
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/consumer-watchdog-calls-sen-rockefeller-thwart-google-and-amazon-plans-buy-generic-inter

Generic top-level domains: Who should own .BOOK? by Milton Mueller
http://www.internetgovernance.org/2012/09/19/generic-top-level-domains-who-should-own-book/

Australian Aftermarket Booms With Hobart.com.au Selling For $65K
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/09/23/australian-aftermarket-booms-with-hobart-com-au-selling-for-65k/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/australian-aftermarket-booms-with-hobartcomau-selling-for-65k.html

au: Domain name trader sells Hobart.com.au for $67,000 after buying for $875 in 2007
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/information-technology/051955-domain-name-trader-sells-hobart-com-au-for-67-000-after-buying-for-875-in-2007.html

au: Domain Bought In 2007 For $875 Sells For $67,000
http://www.thedomains.com/2012/09/20/domain-bought-in-2007-for-875-sells-for-67000/

au: Virtual Australian property boom [subscription maybe required]
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/domain-name-real-estate-cybersquatter-online-prope-pd20120924-YF2EF
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/domain-name-real-estate-cybersquatter-online-prope-pd20120924-YF2EF?OpenDocument&emcontent_spectators%20&src=rot
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/domain-name-real-estate-cybersquatter-online-prope-pd20120924-YF2EF?opendocument&src=rss

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GOVERNANCE
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us: Hill tries to foil plot against the Net
It may sound far-fetched, but Congress suspects other nations of plotting to shackle the free Internet with taxes and censorship. And it's fighting the conspiracy with legislation. The Senate on Saturday adopted a resolution denouncing efforts by foreign nations to give control over key Internet functions to the United Nations-backed International Telecommunications Union. The House adopted a resolution last month.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81552.html

us: Senate panel approves Internet freedom resolution
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution calling on the United States to prevent the United Nations from having a greater role in governing the Internet.
http://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/2012/09/senate-panel-approves-internet-freedom-resolution/58233/

EU telcos defend UN Internet takeover plans
A trade association of 41 European telephone companies responded last week to mounting concerns over its controversial proposal to turn Internet traffic management over to the International Telecommunications Union, a regulatory body of the United Nations.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57518427-38/eu-telcos-defend-un-internet-takeover-plans/

Tech giants form new Internet lobby group
Google, Facebook, Amazon and 11 other technology heavyweights on Wednesday announced that they have formed a lobby group, vowing to strengthen and protect a free and innovative Internet.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2012-09/20/c_131861257.htm

ng: NiRA Holds Internet Governance Forum
The Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA) in collaboration with Ministry of Communication Technology, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is organising a one-day preparatory national stakeholders? forum on Internet Governance.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nira-holds-internet-governance-forum/125473/
http://allafrica.com/stories/201209200238.html

NCC Holds Nigerian Internet Governance Forum
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to hold Nigerian Internet Governance Forum to create avenue for contributions from various stakeholders.
http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/35307/2012/09/20/ncc_holds_nigerian_internet_governance_forum.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201209210416.html

India to set up government group for Web governance
Expected to be formed within weeks, the new inter-ministerial group will allow views of all concerned ministries including the telecoms department to be discussed and for consensus to be reached.
http://www.zdnet.com/in/india-to-set-up-government-group-for-web-governance-7000004543/

India's move to regulate Web faces opposition
Industry players and groups call for the government to stop its bid to create a UN group to regulate the Internet and identify better ways to beef up security.
http://www.zdnet.com/in/indias-move-to-regulate-web-faces-opposition-7000004560/

ITAP and Internet Society Hold Conference on International Telecommunications Regulations
The Internet Society (ISOC) and the Infocomm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP) have organized a conference to discuss the potential changes to the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) and how it can impact users and businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employing Internet-based systems in the Philippines.
http://www.internetsociety.org/news/itap-and-internet-society-hold-conference-international-telecommunications-regulations

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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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Letter from Fadi Ch?hade, President and CEO, ICANN, to Senate and House Judiciary Committee Chairmen Patrick Leahy, Lamar Smith, Charles E. Grassley, John Conyers, Jr.
Re: Concerns About the New gTLD Expansion
http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/chehade-to-leahy-et-al-19sep12-en

Letter from Maguy Serad, Vice President, Contractual Compliance, ICANN, to Alfred Mak, 0101 Internet
Notice of Breach
http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/serad-to-mak-21sep12-en

New ICANN chief pours cold water on new gTLD trademark protection demands
Some of the enhanced trademark protection mechanisms being discussed currently by the IP lobby seem unlikely to be adopted by ICANN any time soon, if a response to Congress from new CEO Fadi Chehad? is any guide.
http://domainincite.com/10538-new-icann-chief-pours-cold-water-on-new-gtld-trademark-protection-demands

New gTLD Applicants Donuts, Uniregistry & .Green Tells ICANN To Keep Dotless Domains An Option
You may have missed the ICANN comment period currently open on the topic of dotless domains.
http://www.thedomains.com/2012/09/23/new-gtld-applicants-donuts-uniregistry-green-tells-icann-to-keep-dotless-domains-an-option/

ICANN's new CEO announces bold restructure
ICANN's new CEO Fadi Chehade has embarked on a bold restructure of the organization's management on his first day in the job.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/09/14/icanns-new-ceo-announces-bold

RIPE NCC Receives Communication from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI)
On 7 September 2012, the RIPE NCC received a fax from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) questioning whether our relationships with Iranian RIPE NCC members are in violation of United Nations (UN) or European Union (EU) sanctions against Iran.
http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/ripe-ncc-receives-communication-from-united-against-nuclear-iran-uani

Unclear on the concept, sanctions edition by John Levine
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is an advocacy group that, among other things, tries to isolate Iran by pressuring businesses and organizations to stop doing business with Iran. This week they turned their attention to ICANN and RIPE to try to cut off Internet access to Iranian organizations. Regardless of one's opinion about the wisdom of isolating Iran (and opinions are far from uniform), this effort was a bad idea in an impressive number of both technical and political ways.
http://jl.ly/Internet/uani.html

REMINDER: ASO AC Call for Nominations for Seat 10 on the ICANN Board
On 17 August 2012, the ASO AC called for nominations for the ASO appointment to Seat 10 on the ICANN Board of Directors.
http://www.nro.net/news/seat10-nomination-reminder-2013

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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(.ae) Domain Adminstration Celebrates 100,000 Registrations Mark
Signifying another milestone for the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, the number of registrations for the .ae Domain Administration (.aeDA) has reached 100,000 under the UAE national TLD. This achievement makes the UAE the leading nation in terms of the number of registrants in the Arab region.
http://aeda.ae/aeda/eng/news.php?id=107
http://tra.gov.ae/news_(.ae)_Domain_Adminstration_Celebrates_100%2C000_Registrations_Mark-445-1.php

Call for nominations for election to auDA Board
The election will take place at auDA's Annual General Meeting, to be held on Monday 12 November 2012 in Sydney.
http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-170912/

be: Wanted: Java developers
The Brussels and Flemish government assigned to DNS.be the public tender for becoming the registry of .brussels and .vlaanderen for a period of at least 10 years. As part of this assignment DNS.be is looking for talented people to develop a new version of the registration system using the most modern technologies
http://dns.be/en//wanted_java_developers

.CA Members to Elect New Board Directors
Members of the .CA community will begin casting their votes today for candidates in the Canadian Internet Registration Authority's (CIRA) 2012 Board of Directors Election. The vote period runs from today at noon (ET) until noon (ET) on September 26, 2012.
http://www.cira.ca/news/announcements/board-elections/

EU Registry Reports Strong Growth And High Renewal Rates
Eurid, the registry for the .eu domain name, has released their quarterly results today.
http://www.internetnews.me/2012/09/18/eu-registry-reports-strong-growth-and-high-renewal-rates/

Problems with DNSSEC on August 31, 2012
During a migration to a new platform, an error occurred concerning the update of the DNSSEC-signature in the nic.dk zone.
https://www.dk-hostmaster.dk/english/news/news-single/artikel/problems-with-dnssec-on-august-31-2012/

IEDR To Offer More Frequent Zone Reloads
IEDR have announced that from Monday September 24th at 1am the .ie zone will be reloaded once every two hours. In other words, name server changes, modifications, registrations and other activity will be faster and move much closer to the model employed by gTLDs, such as .com and most ccTLDs such as .me, .co, .co.uk.
http://www.internetnews.me/2012/09/20/iedr-to-offer-more-frequent-zone-reloads/

T.J. Millers Unique Comedy Style Shines in New .ME Registry Video
The .ME Registry, operator of the .ME domain name extension, today announced the release of a hilarious new video starring standup comedian T.J. Miller.
http://www.domain.me/tj-millers-unique-comedy-style-shines-in-new-me-registry-video

Kiwi power sends .nz domain soaring over half-million mark
New Zealanders have been given a chance to announce their Kiwi pride in the form of a 2LD that has boosted total .nz registrations past the half-million threshold.
http://www.cpaglobal.com/newlegalreview/5313/kiwi_power_sends_nz_domain_soa

 ?Russian domains? added information about domain .SU
The statistical Internet resource ?Russian domains? added information about one more domain zone, serviced by TCI - domain .SU. The users of the resource may receive comprehensive information about the state and dynamics of development of the oldest domain, registered in the territory of Russia and CIS.
http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=4068

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 - NEW TLDS
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Consumer Watchdog Calls On Sen. Rockefeller To Thwart Google and Amazon Plans To Buy Generic Internet Domains
Consumer Watchdog today urged Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D ?W.VA) to block attempts by Google and Amazon to buy control of huge swaths of the Internet by purchasing new gTLDs through ICANN.
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/consumer-watchdog-calls-sen-rockefeller-thwart-google-and-amazon-plans-buy-generic-inter

Consumer Watchdog slams ?outrageous? Google and Amazon keyword gTLD bids
Consumer Watchdog, a California-based consumer rights advocacy group, has attacked Google and Amazon?s new gTLD applications in a letter to an influential senator.
http://domainincite.com/10535-consumer-watchdog-slams-outrageous-google-and-amazon-keyword-gtld-bids

US Consumer Group Slams Google And Amazon gTLD Applications; Says Privatising The Web
Consumer Watchdog have written to US senators urging them to block attempts by Google and Amazon to buy control of huge swaths of the internet through their applications for large numbers of new gTLDs.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=18735
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/09/21/us-consumer-group-slams-google-amazon/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/us-consumer-group-slams-google-and-amazon-gtld-says-applications-privatising-the-web.html

Group asks senator to oppose Google, Amazon gTLD purchases
A consumer group, citing concerns about the creation of a new, private Internet, has asked a senior U.S. senator to help block Google and Amazon.com from buying dozens of gTLDs from ICANN.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/436995/group_asks_senator_oppose_google_amazon_gtld_purchases/
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/group-asks-senator-to-oppose-google-amazon-gtld-purchases

Just to Clarify
If you?re a new gTLD applicant, there is a chance that at some point over the past few weeks, you received a notice from ICANN informing you that your application had been selected to be part of a Clarifying Questions Pilot program.
http://www.gtldstrategy.com/policy-updates/just-to-clarify

Generic top-level domains: Who should own .BOOK? by Milton Mueller
Yet another controversy has struck ICANN?s new TLD program, leading to yet another call to change the rules in the middle of the game. This time, however, the protests do not come from trademark owners but from registrars, who are making misleading appeals to freedom and human rights. This blog explains why their concerns are misguided.
http://www.internetgovernance.org/2012/09/19/generic-top-level-domains-who-should-own-book/

Beauty lies in the ?domain? of the highest bidder by Parminder Jeet Singh
Icann, the global authority dealing with domain names, is hastening the threat of monopolisation on the internet through its new scheme to sell generic words
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/beauty-lies-in-the-domain-of-the-highest-bidder/article3929612.ece

Recommendations Made to Improve Protections at Second-Level in New gTLDs
With new gTLD registries slated to launch starting late next year, there appears to be an increased sense of urgency surrounding the need for improved rights protection mechanisms at the second-level.
https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/recommendations-made-to-improve-protections-at-second-level-in-new-gtlds/

Delaware secretary of state opposes any corporate-themed new gTLDs
The secretary of state for Delaware has come out in opposition to new gTLD applications such as .inc, .corp and .ltd.
http://domainincite.com/10553-delaware-secretary-of-state-opposes-any-corporate-themed-new-gtlds

"Signs of the Times": Market Reality
In "Market Reality", the final full session at the MARQUES Conference today (this afternoon is reserved for Workshops and Athenian adventures, followed by the Gala Dinner), a panel chaired by Caroline Perriard (Soci?t? des Produits Nestl? SA, Switzerland) was asked to review the latest developments concerning domain names, including the status of ICANN's new gTLD program, rights protection mechanisms and fresh opportunities for brand owners.
http://www.marques.org/Class46/article.asp?XID=BHA2975

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Cyberwar on Iran more widespread than first thought, say researchers
The covert cyberwar being waged in the Middle East and north Africa ? particularly against Iran and its allies ? is even more sophisticated and widespread than had previously been understood, according to new research.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/sep/21/cyberwar-iran-more-sophisticated

Iran blamed for cyberattacks on U.S. banks and companies
Iran recently has mounted a series of disruptive computer attacks against major U.S. banks and other companies in apparent retaliation for Western economic sanctions aimed at halting its nuclear program, according to U.S. intelligence and other officials.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/iran-blamed-for-cyberattacks/2012/09/21/afbe2be4-0412-11e2-9b24-ff730c7f6312_story.html

Private U.S. networks vulnerable to cyber attack-Pentagon
Privately-owned U.S. computer networks remain vulnerable to cyber attacks, and many U.S. companies are not doing enough to protect them, Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Wednesday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/pentagon-cyber-idUKL1E8KJ5TN20120919

Eastern European cybercriminals said to trump Asian counterparts in sophistication [IDG]
Despite an increasing number of successful cyberattacks launched by East Asian hackers against companies and government institutions around the world in recent years, Eastern European cybercriminals remain a more sophisticated threat to the global Internet, security researchers say.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/437101/eastern_european_cybercriminals_said_trump_asian_counterparts_sophistication/

Obama Cybersecurity Executive Order Nears Completion as Legislative Saga Continues
The failure of the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 in the Senate marked another bill that bit the dust due to political controversy. Now, the Obama administration appears to be getting closer to issuing an executive order aimed at improving security at critical infrastructure companies as supporters of the Cybersecurity Act continue to push for Congress to act.
http://www.darkreading.com/advanced-threats/167901091/security/news/240007817/obama-cybersecurity-executive-order-nears-completion-as-legislative-saga-continues.html

Cyber espionage campaign targets energy companies
Hackers using a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) named Mirage have been engaged in a systematic cyber espionage campaign against a Canadian energy company, a large oil firm in the Philippines and several other entities since at least this April, Dell's SecureWorks Counter Threat Unit says.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231596/Cyber_espionage_campaign_targets_energy_companies

Phishing Alerts for Certificate Authorities
The internet community has been taught that one of the key steps in protecting their personal information on the internet is to ensure that it is entered only over an encrypted connection, perhaps by looking for the lock symbol in the browser address bar or web addresses beginning with https://. As a result, phishing attacks which make use of SSL certificates are especially dangerous as most users associate the presence of a valid SSL certificate with an increased level of assurance. Such attacks erode the reputation of Certificate Authorities and SSL certificates.
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2012/09/19/phishing-alerts-for-certificate-authorities.html

Lessons Behind the Microsoft 3322.org Takedown by Wout de Natris
The Microsoft action against 3322.org, a Chinese company, started with the news that computers were infected during the production phase. Stepping away from the controversy surrounding the approach, there are important lessons that cyber security officials and upper management, deciding on the level of and budget for cyber security in organisations should learn and take into account. I'm writing this contribution from a premise: China uses the fact that most IT devices are built in China to its advantage. Allow me to start with an account from personal memory to set the stage.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120923_lessons_behind_the_microsoft_3322_org_take_down/

Deutsche Telekom presses charges against hackers
Deutsche Telekom has filed a criminal complaint against hackers who tried to shut down system computers earlier this month, the company said, confirming a magazine report.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/23/uk-deutschetelekom-hackers-idUKBRE88M07W20120923

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Pinterest Packs a Punch
Pinterest, inarguably one of the fastest rising stars of the social media world this year (and the subject of a FairWinds Perspectives study this past spring), filed a comprehensive lawsuit against Chinese cybersquatter Qian Jin, citing a host of violations related to trademark infringement and cyberpiracy. The lawsuit, filed in a San Francisco court, accuses Qian of registering dozens of Pinterest-related domain names, using a number of different ccTLDs and misspellings of the Pinterest brand name, and attempting to trademark some of the names in both the United States and China.
http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2012/09/18/pinterest-packs-punch

Ashley Furniture files cybersquatting lawsuit against owner of 123 domain names
Company says defendant used to work at ad agency that catered to home furnishings companies.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/09/20/ashley-furniture-files-cybersquatting-lawsuit-against-owner-of-123-domain-names/

Another Cybersquatting Judgment in Favor of Plaintiff
Here are the lessons that we've learned as a result of actually getting out in front of a judge and a jury, and trying these ACPA cases. Number one, they are challenging cases because there's so little case law out there to help judges understand cybersquatting law issues. The other thing that is very clear is that so few judges have trademark law experience, let alone cybersquatting law experience that you have to be very careful about educating the judge.
http://tcattorney.typepad.com/anticybersquatting_consum/2012/07/another-cybersquatting-judgment-in-favor-of-plaintiff.html

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 - IPv4/IPv6
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ARIN Enters Phase Two of the IPv4 Countdown Plan
ARIN now has 3 /8s of available space in its inventory and has moved into Phase Two of its IPv4 Countdown Plan.
https://www.arin.net/announcements/2012/20120918.html

IPv4 address transfer markets are forming where we least expected
The distribution of IP addresses has always occurred in a somewhat socialist manner: "to each according to his needs." But those days are drawing to an end now. So far in 2012 within the North American region, no less than a quarter of all IPv4 address blocks obtained by new owners/users have been traded in some way. This is despite the fact that ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers)?the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) that supplies North America with IP addresses?still has at least 40 million IPv4 addresses available by one count. More than 100 million by another.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/09/ipv4-address-transfer-markets-are-forming-where-we-least-expected/

Too many agencies asleep at the wheel as IPv6 deadline looms
With just days to go before the deadline for enabling IPv6 on government public-facing services such as websites, more than half of agencies have made no progress in the transition, according to statistics from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
http://gcn.com/articles/2012/09/20/agencies-to-miss-ipv6-deadline-ipv4-depletion.aspx

bh: TRA Hosts a Workshop on IPv6 (version 6 of the Internet Protocol) 	
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Kingdom of Bahrain has hosted a 3-days technical workshop on the IPv6 protocol.
http://tra.bh/EN/pdf/IPv6WorkshopPressRelease_en.pdf
http://bna.bh/portal/en/news/525757

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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Iran readies domestic Internet system, blocks Google
Iran plans to switch its citizens onto a domestic Internet network in what officials say is a bid to improve cyber security but which many Iranians fear is the latest way to control their access to the web.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/23/net-us-iran-internet-national-idUSBRE88M0AO20120923
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/23/uk-iran-internet-national-idUKBRE88M0AM20120923
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/23/iran-internet-national-idINDEE88M07E20120923

ca: Twitter co-founder Biz Stone shares secrets with Ottawa audience
According to Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, creating a massively successful business is easy. Do what you love and if you do it well enough, success will follow. ... Stone?s advice came in a quirky speech ? rambling at times, uplifting at others ? to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority?s annual meeting.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Twitter+founder+Stone+shares+secrets+with+Ottawa+audience/7281056/story.html
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Tweets+from+Twitter+founder+shares+secrets+with+Ottawa+audience/7281056/story.html
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Tweets+from+Twitter+founder+shares+secrets+with+Ottawa+audience/7284946/story.html
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Twitter+founder+Stone+shares+secrets+with+Ottawa+audience/7284946/story.html

Webfest Returns To Budva
This year?s Webfest is being held in Budva, Montenegro again. The now annual event is the largest of its type in the region and attracts participants from Montenegro as well as the neighboring countries.
http://www.internetnews.me/2012/09/16/webfest-returns-to-budva/

Class action lawsuit filed over Go Daddy downtime
The first federal lawsuit seeking class action status has been filed against GoDaddy for its downtime on September 10. The outage affected GoDaddy.com and many people who used the company?s DNS and web hosting services.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/09/20/class-action-lawsuit-filed-over-go-daddy-downtime/

gTLDs, ccTLDs, and nTLDs: Why do we need to know so many damn acronyms?
Since the advent and worldwide adoption of the Internet, anyone living today has been forced to know way more technical concepts and language than any other generation. At least, that?s how we feel. It?s hard to get figures about this.
http://www.name.com/blog/ntlds/2012/09/gtlds-cctlds-and-ntlds-why-do-we-need-to-know-so-many-damn-acronyms/

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Case Study: Medicare.com domain name leads to million-dollar venture
He knew it would be valuable. He just wasn?t sure when or how. But where he has shown patience, Medicare.com CEO Bill Kimberlin now has a rather large bit of affirmation: The online Medicare information group had 2011 revenue of $2.3 million, representing explosive 892 percent three-year growth that landed Medicare.com as the 416th fastest-growing company in the country, according to Inc.
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/09/21/medicarecom-domain-name-leads-to.html

Sedo Updates Domain Listing Process, and Includes Price Suggestions
Sedo ... announced a redesign and revamp of its domain listing process. Sedo customers adding domain names to their accounts now benefit from a new Wizard that simplifies the process of listing a name for sale.
https://sedo.com/presse/presse.php?tracked=&partnerid=&language=us&id=503

Domain Marketplace Sedo Updates Domain Listing Process
Domain marketplace Sedo launched a redesign of its domain listing process on Thursday. This move comes a few weeks after German wholesale domain registrar InterNetX announced that its resellers could list their domains for sale in the SedoMLS network.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/domain-marketplace-sedo-updates-domain-listing-process

Australian Aftermarket Booms With Hobart.com.au Selling For $65K
The Australian domain name aftermarket continues to grow strongly with the sale last week of Hobart.com.au for A$65,000, which was originally bought for $875 in 2007.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/09/23/australian-aftermarket-booms-with-hobart-com-au-selling-for-65k/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/australian-aftermarket-booms-with-hobartcomau-selling-for-65k.html

au: Domain name trader sells Hobart.com.au for $67,000 after buying for $875 in 2007
An Australian domain name company has sold Hobart.com.au for $67,000 to a website hosting business after purchasing the website for just $875 back in 2007, highlighting the potential riches in buying and selling geographic domains.
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/information-technology/051955-domain-name-trader-sells-hobart-com-au-for-67-000-after-buying-for-875-in-2007.html

au: Domain Bought In 2007 For $875 Sells For $67,000
Smartcompany.com.au, tells the story tonight about an Australian domain name investor which sold the domain sold Hobart.com.au for $67,000 after purchasing the website for just $875 back in 2007.
http://www.thedomains.com/2012/09/20/domain-bought-in-2007-for-875-sells-for-67000/

au: Virtual Australian property boom [subscription maybe required]
The business of reselling domains at a profit has matured dramatically. No longer is it a lawless cybersquatter ridden industry but a growing market for local corporates.
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/domain-name-real-estate-cybersquatter-online-prope-pd20120924-YF2EF
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/domain-name-real-estate-cybersquatter-online-prope-pd20120924-YF2EF?OpenDocument&emcontent_spectators%20&src=rot
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/domain-name-real-estate-cybersquatter-online-prope-pd20120924-YF2EF?opendocument&src=rss

Above.com Integrates Domain Monetization, Registration & Sales in a New Domain Investor Platform
Above.com has undergone a major makeover. The well-known domain services company based in Australia launched a new Domain Investor Platform today that combines a new Domain Name Marketplace, Domain Registrar and Escrow service with their existing Domain Parking Manager service.
http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2012/dailyposts/20120920-2.htm

Webquest's Chad Wright Banks $90,000 for Tracy.com to Top This Week's Domain Sales Chart 
.Coms enjoyed a banner week sweeping all but one entry on our latest all extension Top 20 Sales Chart. Chad Wright of Webquest Inc. led the .com charge with his $90,000 sale of Tracy.com.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2012/20120919.htm

Revamped Domain Listing Process Makes Adding Names - Easier Customers can get price suggestions and & activate SedoMLS Premium
We just launched a revamped version of our domain listing process, making it simpler to add names to your account.
https://sedo.com/us/news/3132/Revamped-Domain-Listing-Process-Makes-Adding-Names-Easier/

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INTERNET USE
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Is the Internet Really Making Us Dumber?
Many scholars and critics warn that TV and the Internet are dumbing us down. But, if that's true, why are children around the world performing better on IQ tests? Are we actually getting smarter, or are we merely thinking in different ways?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/studies-contest-theory-that-internet-is-making-people-dumber-a-855668.html

More Passwords, More Problems
It's easy to remember one username and password. Keeping five or 10 straight is much harder. Password overload has long afflicted techies, but as we all spend more time doing everything from shopping to banking to playing games on the Web, it's become a more widespread problem.
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/429264/more-passwords-more-problems/

The Cloud Factories: Power, Pollution and the Internet
... A yearlong examination by The New York Times has revealed that this foundation of the information industry is sharply at odds with its image of sleek efficiency and environmental friendliness.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/technology/data-centers-waste-vast-amounts-of-energy-belying-industry-image.html

The Economics of Pussy Riot on YouTube
News flash: The jailed Russian punk rock group Pussy Riot ?did not gain international fame through their musicality per se.?
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-21/the-economics-of-pussy-riot-on-youtube

The Guardian?s future: No newspaper is having an easy time, but one faces unique challenges
Last year the Guardian newspaper was riding high, having triumphantly exposed phone-hacking at the News of the World. But good journalism is not the same as a good journalism business. On September 15th the Guardian Media Group closed a voluntary redundancy scheme, which had failed to attract the 100 takers the company had hoped for. A nasty fight with its union could follow.
http://www.economist.com/node/21563334

Emoticon celebrates 30 years :-)
What started out as an inside joke at Carnegie Mellon University has spawned hundreds of faces, emotions, and gestures.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57516475-93/emoticon-celebrates-30-years/

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SOCIAL MEDIA
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How KLM converts Facebook ?Likes? into customers
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is one of the world?s largest airlines. The courage and ingenuity they have been demonstrating in their social media activity helps to show why. The company?s social media strategy shows its leaders are willing to push beyond their comfort zone, and take calculated risks. Not all of these risks have paid off since they ventured into the world of social media in 2009, but enough of them have worked for KML to now be considered one of the best brands at converting Facebook ?Likes? into customers. Let?s look at what they have done to achieve this success.
http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/opinion/how_klm_converts_facebook_likes_XEJAo7Vc3M9hqkhwOJau1K

uk: DPP to issue guidelines on prosecutions over Facebook and Twitter abuse
The director of public prosecutions is to issue guidelines on when criminal charges should be brought against people posting abusive comments on social media networks.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/sep/20/dpp-prosecutions-facebook-twitter-abuse

Facebook suspends photo tag tool in Europe
Facebook has suspended the facial-recognition tool that suggests when registered users could be tagged in photographs uploaded to its website.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19675172

Facebook Can ID Faces, but Using Them Grows Tricky
Facebook on Friday confronted a new obstacle over what to do with one of its most vital assets ? pictures.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/technology/facebook-backs-down-on-face-recognition-in-europe.html

Facebook to delete all European facial recognition data [IDG]
Facebook will delete all facial recognition data it stores about its European users, going beyond recommendations of the Irish data protection authority, the agency said on Friday.
http://www.cio.com/article/716908/Facebook_to_delete_all_European_facial_recognition_data
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/437105/facebook_fixes_most_privacy_concerns_raised_by_irish_data_protection_commissioner/

Facebook tightens privacy to satisfy Irish regulator
Facebook Inc has tightened up its privacy controls sufficiently to satisfy a review by the body that regulates the social networking company outside North America, removing the immediate threat of legal challenges.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/21/uk-facebook-ireland-idUKBRE88K1AF20120921
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/21/facebook-ireland-data-idINDEE88K0BG20120921

Twitter CEO promises interactive tweets, defends curbs
Twitter will soon roll out a free tool for users to handpick and publish selections of tweets, reflecting the company's commitment to remain a neutral, interactive platform rather than become a media company, CEO Dick Costolo said Friday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/21/uk-twitter-ceo-idUKBRE88K1D320120921
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/22/twitter-ceo-idINDEE88L00020120922

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NEW TECHNOLOGIES
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Formula One: Connected to the Future in the Fast Lane
The most striking image to be beamed around the world during the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend is likely to include the brightly lit skyscrapers of the Asian city-state rising above the equally brightly lit racing circuit winding through the urban nighttime streets.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/sports/autoracing/22iht-srf1connect22.html

The Internet? We Built That
... Like many of the bedrock technologies that have come to define the digital age, the Internet was created by ? and continues to be shaped by ? decentralized groups of scientists and programmers and hobbyists (and more than a few entrepreneurs) freely sharing the fruits of their intellectual labor with the entire world. Yes, government financing supported much of the early research, and private corporations enhanced and commercialized the platforms. But the institutions responsible for the technology itself were neither governments nor private start-ups. They were much closer to the loose, collaborative organizations of academic research. They were networks of peers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/the-internet-we-built-that.html

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
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nz: Red flags raised over ?Cyberbullying Bill?
It is aimed at combating harmful digital communications, but those attending an InternetNZ workshop on the Communications (New Media) Bill are concerned it may interfere with free speech.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/red-flags-raised-over-cyberbullying-bill
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/7722252/Red-flags-raised-over-Cyberbullying-Bill

au: NSW to introduce R18+ Computer game rating [news release]
Legislation to introduce a new classification regime for computer games was passed by the NSW Parliament today.
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/Corporate/ll_corporate.nsf/pages/LL_Homepage_news2012#r18

au: New R18+ classification for computer games [news release]
The State Government is a step closer to introducing legislation for the R18+ classification of computer games, Attorney General John Rau has said.
http://www.ministers.sa.gov.au/news-release-archive/hon-john-rau-mp/new-r18-classification-for-computer-games.html

au: Schools warned on cyberbullying of teachers
The Education Department has issued a memo to public schools in South Australia outlining what it says is an emerging problem of cyberbullying of teachers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-21/schools-warned-on-cyber-bullying-of-teachers/4273514

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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In These Countries, BlackBerry Is Still King-Of Pop Culture - BBM Spawns Romantic Comedies in Indonesia, Love Songs in Haiti; 'BlackBerry Boys'
Chasmaille Odera was so obsessed with writing instant messages on her white BlackBerry, the 20-year-old host of a music-video show here decided to write her own song about it.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444082904577605552824161264.html

Apple's Feud With Google Is Now Felt on iPhone
Once the best of friends, Google and Apple have become foes, battling in courtrooms and in the consumer marketplace. Last week, the hostilities took a new turn when they spilled right onto smartphone screens.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/technology/apples-feud-with-google-is-now-felt-on-the-iphone.html

IPhone 5 Fever? Don?t Count Samsung Out
By many measures, Samsung Electronics should be on the ropes. Last month, it lost an important patent battle with its rival Apple after a jury in the United States ruled that Samsung had illegally copied aspects of Apple?s groundbreaking iPhone. Apple introduced its newest model, the iPhone 5, to enthusiastic reviews and a worldwide consumer frenzy, with customers lining up to buy the new model days before it arrived in stores on Friday. This week, Apple shares hit a record high and cracked the $700 threshold.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/business/iphone-fever-dont-count-samsung-out.html

Smartphone shipment to reach 1.7B in 2017
Worldwide smartphone shipment will reach 1.7 billion units in 2017, driven by growth from emerging markets especially China.
http://www.zdnet.com/cn/smartphone-shipment-to-reach-1-7b-in-2017-7000004680/

au: Minister takes aim at Apple over apps
Apple has been accused by the NSW state government of "taking unfair advantage" of children after reports that parents were unwittingly being billed hundreds of dollars for their children's use of "free" apps.
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/minister-takes-aim-at-apple-over-apps-20120920-269kd.html
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/minister-takes-aim-at-apple-over-apps-20120920-269kd.html

US parents in class action against Apple
American parents are taking on Apple in a class action, for allowing children to make online purchases and run up huge bills on their parents' credit cards.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3593115.htm

Chinese Phone Giant ZTE Chooses a Web-Based Mobile OS
ZTE, China's biggest maker of mobile phones, says it's soon going to be selling phones that run on a novel Web-based operating system developed by Mozilla. The news is a small setback for the further rise to global dominance of Google's Android operating system but a positive sign for Web standards.
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/429279/chinese-phone-giant-chooses-a-web-based-mobile-os/

Privacy Multistakeholder Process: Mobile Application Transparency
This web page provides details on the NTIA-convened privacy multistakeholder process regarding mobile application transparency. On June 15, 2012, NTIA announced that the goal of the first multistakeholder process is to develop a code of conduct to provide transparency in how companies providing applications and interactive services for mobile devices handle personal data.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2012/privacy-multistakeholder-process-mobile-application-transparency

AT&T Chief Speaks Out on Texting at the Wheel
Randall L. Stephenson, the chairman and chief executive of AT&T, spoke Wednesday morning at a conference in New York to hundreds of major investors, including Fortune 500 executives. The topic was the state of the telecom businesses, but he began with a request on a different topic: Please don?t text and drive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/technology/att-chief-speaks-out-on-texting-while-driving.html

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ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
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Can a Google Function Be Libelous?
Search engines attempt to guess what users are looking for and offer them suggested words. But can these terms constitute defamation? Former German first lady Bettina Wulff says they do, and is suing Google over searches that pair her name with terms like "prostitute." Google maintains it is an automatic mechanism.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/google-autocomplete-former-german-first-lady-defamation-case-a-856820.html

Twitter promises to keep metadata for Australian law enforcement
Twitter has agreed to establish better contact with Australian law enforcement and "preserve metadata," following meetings with the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) and with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) this week.
http://www.zdnet.com/twitter-promises-to-keep-metadata-for-australian-law-enforcement-7000004544/

nz: International scammers hit Trade Me
International cyber scammers are targeting Trade Me accounts in a two-tiered identity fraud to try to fool gullible New Zealanders.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10835753

nz: PM admits illegal spying on Dotcom ? orders inquiry
Prime Minister John Key has ordered an inquiry into "unlawful" interception of communications relating to the Kim Dotcom case.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/pm-orders-dotcom-security-breach-inquiry-checked-and-redady-go-gb-129361

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SECURITY
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Cyberwar on Iran more widespread than first thought, say researchers
The covert cyberwar being waged in the Middle East and north Africa ? particularly against Iran and its allies ? is even more sophisticated and widespread than had previously been understood, according to new research.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/sep/21/cyberwar-iran-more-sophisticated