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Vonage May Seek Help from Congress on 911 Service
Internet phone provider Vonage may ask Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to help it solve problems with SBC over subscriber access to the 911 emergency call network. SBC's decision not to work more closely with Vonage may delay efforts to fix the problem that keeps a majority of U.S. Net phone providers from successfully routing 911 calls to the right emergency calling center. Microsoft Releases Virus Writer from $500,000 Fine
Jeffrey Lee Parson, the teen convicted of infecting 48,000 computers with a variant of the destructive Blaster worm, will not have to pay $500,000 in restitution to Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker said. Instead, the Minnesota teen will have to perform 225 hours of community service in addition to a year and half in prison and an earlier order to perform 100 hours of community service, once the final sentence is signed by Judge Marsha Pechman of the U.S. District Court in Seattle. Microsoft Developing Tools to Fight Cybercrime
Microsoft is developing analytical tools to help international law enforcement agencies track and fight cybercrime. Microsoft unveiled the tools development program at the kickoff on Wednesday of three days of technical training for Australian law enforcement agencies. Sony Planning Digital Download Service for Films
Michael Arrieta, senior vice president of Sony Pictures, said at a U.S. Digital Hollywood conference that it wanted to create an "iTunes" for films. Films will be put onto flash memory for mobiles over the next year, said Mr. Arrieta, and it will develop its digital download services for films. Microsoft to Expand Windows Verification Program
As part of its growing antipiracy program, Microsoft plans to require customers that want to download a local language add-on to Windows to first verify that their copy of the operating system is legitimate. Over the coming months, Microsoft will require all customers wishing to download one of 22 "Language Interface Packs" to first authenticate their copy of Windows. Justices Question Impact of File-Sharing Services
The entertainment industry took its campaign to stop illegal sharing of music and videos to the U.S. Supreme Court, telling the justices that popular online services such as Grokster and Kazaa should be held responsible for the unlawful acts of their users. But several of the justices expressed concern that doing so could chill the incentive of inventors to develop new technologies, for fear they would face lawsuits if their products or services were used for illegal purposes. Supreme Court Hears Internet Cable Case
In a case that could help determine the viability of the independent ISP business, the Supreme Court took a close look at whether cable companies could keep other service providers off their networks. The case, which pits the Federal Communications Commission and the cable industry against a small Internet service provider called Brand X, revolves around a highly technical legal definition of cable Internet. Patent Office Takes Another Look at MercExchange Patent
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued an initial ruling that could invalidate a small Virginia business' patent that a federal appeals court ruled eBay Inc. had violated, the Wall Street Journal reported. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled on March 16 that the e-commerce powerhouse's fixed-price auctions and some of its online payment methods violate a patent obtained by Great Falls, Va.-based MercExchange Inc., which sued eBay in September 2001. Freelancers, Online Publishers Settle Lawsuit
A settlement reached in a class-action online publishing lawsuit could mean plenty of freelance writers will be eligible to receive their share of up to $18 million dollars from big media companies, once the agreement receives court approval that is expected in the next few weeks. The settlement, which could net qualifying freelancers a collective minimum of $10 million and maximum of $18 million, is the result of a lawsuit meant to remunerate writers for work that had been published over the years in online databases without their approval. Plans Dropped for Apple Virus Competition
Plans to hold a $25,000 competition to write a virus designed to infect the Apple OS X have been scrapped after the company behind the scheme backed down over "legal problems" and complaints from Mac customers. Apple accessories company DVForge announced the competition after security company Symantec claimed OS X was likely to come under increasing attack as Apple's market share in the computer market grew. Microsoft to Include ID Technology in Windows
Microsoft will build software for managing identities into Windows in order to beef up security by giving users more control over their personal information, the world's largest software maker said. The ID technology, called "info-cards," will give users more control over their own personal information in order to shop and access services online, said Michael Stephenson, a director in Microsoft's Windows Server division. Senator Seeks More Government Protection for ID Theft
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein called for more government protection against identity theft after a laptop storing nearly 100,000 Social Security numbers was purloined from a California university. "The incident at Berkeley was the latest in a series of recent compromises of Social Security numbers or other personal financial information that could be used by identity thieves," Feinstein said in Riverside, Calif. Man Accused of ID Theft, Opening 40 Bank Accounts
Federal authorities have accused a man of using several people's names and Social Security numbers to open more than 40 bank accounts as part of a coast-to-coast scam. Joe Morris Thompson, who has about a dozen aliases, was arrested before he boarded a flight at the Albuquerque International Airport. Boy Scouts Official Charged with Child Porn on PC
A former top official of the Boy Scouts of America is expected to plead guilty to federal child pornography charges Wednesday after investigators found images of children involved in sex acts on his computer, prosecutors said. Douglas S. Smith Jr. is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Fort Worth, said Kathy Colvin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Dallas. Microsoft Agrees to Changes Demanded by EU
Microsoft Corp. said it will adopt all of the main changes demanded by European Union antitrust regulators for its stripped-down version of Windows sold without the Media Player program. U.S. software maker's top lawyer in Europe, Horacio Gutierrez, said the company had contacted the European Commission "to inform them that we have accepted all the main changes they have requested." British Database May Expose Patients' Medical Records
A new NHS computer database may threaten the privacy of patients' medical records, the BBC has learned. A senior Department of Health civil servant said people would not be able to decide what details were stored. E-mail Marketer Files for Bankruptcy Protection
E-mail marketer Scott Richter fought lawman Eliot Spitzer, but he's knuckling under to the world's richest man, Bill Gates. Richter's company, Westminster-based OptInRealBig.com, has filed for bankruptcy protection in Denver. VeriSign Likely to Keep Control of .net Domains
Internet addressing giant VeriSign Inc. is almost certain to retain control of .net -- the world's fourth largest Internet domain and one of the Web's most vital pieces of infrastructure -- after beating out several other companies in a competitive bidding process, Internet authorities announced. The group that oversees the Internet's worldwide addressing system -- the Marina del Rey, Calif.-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) -- posted the findings of the independent panel charged with choosing the .net domain's next operator. Court Rules Against Sony PlayStation on Patent
A federal court ruling that could force Sony Corp. to pull the plug on its popular PlayStation video game consoles marks the latest in a series of underdog victories in legal disputes over intellectual property. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ordered the Japanese electronics giant not to manufacture, use, sell or import into the United States PlayStations that incorporate so-called force feedback technology developed by San Jose-based Immersion Corp. HP Sues Two Companies Over Ink Cartridge Refills
Hewlett-Packard, much of whose profit comes from printer supplies, has sued two companies that sell refilled ink cartridges, but it stopped short of trying to block the refill business altogether. HP sued InkCycle in U.S. District Court for the western district of Wisconsin, alleging that the company's ink violates three HP patents. Thief Gets University Laptop With Data on 100,000
A thief has stolen a computer laptop containing personal information about nearly 100,000 University of California at Berkeley alumni, graduate students and past applicants, continuing a recent outbreak of security breakdowns that has illustrated society's growing vulnerability to identity theft. University officials announced the March 11 theft under a state law requiring that consumers be notified whenever their Social Security numbers or other sensitive information has been breached. Tech Companies to Share Data on Internet Attacks
Leading global telecommunications companies, ISPs, and network operators will begin sharing information on Internet attacks as members of a new group called the "Fingerprint Sharing Alliance," according to a published statement from the new group. The companies, including EarthLink, Asia Netcom, British Telecommunications, and MCI, will share detailed profile information on attacks launched against their networks. Microsoft Picks New Name for Windows Version in EU
One barrier to Microsoft's efforts to comply with European antitrust penalties fell. Microsoft said it would call the two versions of the Windows XP operating system to be sold in the EU Windows XP Home Edition N or Windows XP Professional Edition N. Registrant Continues Fight Over itunes.co.uk Domain
An internet entrepreneur is taking legal action against computer giant Apple over the iTunes domain name. Benjamin Cohen, 22, registered itunes.co.uk in 2000, but earlier this month the UK domain name registry, Nominet, handed the name over to Apple. Congress Faces Cyberspace Challenges, Report Says
Some lawmakers, concerned about the nation's vulnerability to cybercrime and possible cyberterrorism, are considering whether a larger federal government role in dealing with the problem is feasible. But a recent study by the Congressional Research Service, which conducts public policy studies, suggests that congressional leaders will face significant challenges if they try to create a regulatory framework to strengthen the nation's cyberdefenses. Supreme Court Set to Hear File-Sharing, Cable Cases
In a pair of cases this week, the Supreme Court has a chance to dramatically shape the way that many people use and get on the Internet. Scheduled for argument are MGM Studios Inc. v. Grokster Ltd. and StreamCast Networks Inc., which could decide whether peer-to-peer downloading of songs and movies violates copyright, and National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X Internet Services, a struggle to determine which regulatory regime should govern cable Internet services. FCC Suspends Rules Requiring "Naked" DSL
A deeply divided Federal Communications Commission suspended state rules forcing phone providers to offer "naked" DSL, in the commission's first serious look at the controversial issue. The ruling kicks off an investigation into naked DSL -- selling broadband access by digital subscriber line without attaching it to other services, such as a local phone line. U.S., U.K. Groups Coordinate Spam Law Efforts
The U.S. Congressional Internet Caucus, the body charged with educating lawmakers about the Internet and fostering its growth, is teaming up with its U.K. counterpart to tackle spam. The move will improve communication between the two countries on e-commerce, as well as help tighten laws on unsolicited bulk e-mail, said Derek Wyatt, chairman of the U.K. body, the All Party Parliamentary Internet Group. Growing Number of Suits Against Google Could Hurt Revenue
The growing number of lawsuits against Google around the world could diminish its advertising revenue by reducing the number of search words that could be sold to competitors -- a threat to Google's business model that the company has acknowledged in regulatory filings. Companies are pressing Google with varying results on different legal points. Debate Surrounds Next Version of GNU License
Some developers are concerned that the introduction of the third version of the GNU General Public License could split the free-software world, but the Free Software Foundation is confident that these fears are unfounded. The FSF has denied that there is a risk that free-software projects could fork when the next version of the GNU General Public License, or GPL, becomes available. Court Allows RadioShack to End Circuit City Deal
Circuit City Stores Inc. plans to appeal a Tarrant County District Court's ruling in a licensing dispute with RadioShack Corp., Circuit City said. The court ruled that Fort Worth-based RadioShack was within its rights to end licensing, merchandising and advertising agreements with InterTAN, a subsidiary of Circuit City. Technology Magazine Retracts Freelancer's Articles
A freelance journalist who authored two online news articles that Technology Review magazine retracted over questions of veracity is also facing review of stories she wrote for other publications. The journalist, Michelle Delio, is a 37-year-old New York City freelance writer specializing in technology. New Phishing Scam Targets Yahoo's IM Users
Yahoo's free instant-messaging service is being targeted by phishers attempting to steal usernames, passwords and other personal information. According to the company, attackers are sending members a message containing a link to a fake Web site. Yahoo Appeals to U.S. Court in French Nazi Case
Lawyers for Yahoo Inc. returned to a federal appeals court, pleading for legal protection for U.S.-based Internet portals whose content is protected by the First Amendment in the United States, but illegal in foreign countries. Some of the judges acknowledged the need for a shield for American companies in such situations, but suggested it was premature the case of Yahoo, which is challenging a fine levied by a Paris court four years ago for allowing the site's French users to buy and sell Nazi memorabilia, in violation of French law. ICANN Approves New Top-Level Domain for EU
The international body in charge of managing Internet domains has given the official go-ahead to create the European top-level domain suffix .eu. At a meeting of its managing committee, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), authorized its president, Vint Cerf, to sign the agreement with Eurid, the consortium chosen by the European Commission as official caretaker of the new domain name. Chinese Universities Target Internet Discussion Forums
Universities across China are tightening controls on student-run Internet discussion forums as part of a Communist Party campaign to strengthen what it calls "ideological education" on campuses. The crackdown has caused widespread resentment among students and prompted at least two demonstrations in recent days. Nevada Judge to Consider Internet Sting Operations
A Reno, Nev., judge will review a court decision that could end Internet sting operations designed to protect children from cyberspace predators. Washoe District Judge James Hardesty ruled in December that the way the law is written, the person being lured must be underage -- and not an undercover officer. BBC Identifies Person Behind "Doctor Who" Leak Online
The person who allegedly leaked the first episode of Doctor Who onto the internet has been sacked. The 45-minute episode called Rose appeared on the internet on 7 March -- three weeks before the series was due to start on BBC One. Sweden Charges Man in Movie Copyright Case Online
A Swedish prosecutor has charged a man with making a movie available for download from his computer, the first such case in the Nordic country as it clamps down on sharing copyrighted material over the Internet. The case follows a raid earlier this month by Swedish bailiffs and police on Internet firm Bahnhof, in search of pirated music and films, which drew applause from Hollywood but sparked fierce debate over confidentiality rights and file sharing. Music Pirates Finding New Ways to Share Songs
As legal music downloading takes off as never before, music pirates are shunning peer-to-peer services in favor of using iPods to swap music. According to a report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the number of music downloaders using peer-to-peer networks has dropped in recent months. Political Bloggers Exempt from Election Laws, FEC Says
Political bloggers would continue to be exempt from most campaign finance laws, according to highly anticipated rules that federal regulators released. The Federal Election Commission also proposed that online-only news outlets and that even individual bloggers should be treated as legitimate journalists and immune from laws that could count their political endorsements as campaign contributions. Apple Settles with One Defendant in Online Leak
Apple Computer has reached a settlement with one of the men it sued for online distribution of its unreleased Mac OS X Tiger operating system. It did not discuss the details of that settlement, though it does involve money being paid to Apple, according to the man. EU Authorities Reject Microsoft's Proposed Trustee
Microsoft Corp. put itself on a collision course with European Union authorities in a dispute over the powers of a trustee who is to make sure the software giant stops violating antitrust law. The EU executive Commission has ruled that Microsoft abused its monopoly on computer software and told it to change its business practices. New Rules Require Banks to Disclose Identity Theft
Banks and some other financial institutions will be required to tell customers if their private information has been obtained by hackers or identity thieves and is likely to be misused, under new rules approved. Under the new regulations, breaches of private information must be reported to people affected if the financial institution determines that data have been, or could be, illicitly used. Hacker Who Stole Data Sentenced to Four Years
A man who pleaded guilty to hacking into an Arkansas data company's computer system and stealing personal identification files was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison. Daniel J. Baas, 26, of suburban Milford, entered his plea in December 2003, after being indicted that August. Many Companies Vulnerable to IM Attacks, Report Warns
Many businesses are leaving themselves vulnerable to the emerging crop of IM-borne attacks because they aren't managing employee use of instant-messaging software, a new report finds. A report by SurfControl contends that a sizeable number of U.S. businesses have yet to formulate or put into practice any official guidelines for dictating how workers may use IM on their networks. Court Clarifies Copyright "Owner" of Computer Programs
The meaning of the term "owner" in a federal law that provides an exception to copyright protection for computer programs is not limited to the title holder, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. Clarifying an issue that has split at least two courts in the circuit, the panel said that formal title is "not an absolute prerequisite," for an alleged infringer to assert an affirmative defense. Toshiba Ordered to Pay Lexar $380 Million in Damages
A jury in California has found Toshiba and one of its US units liable in a case brought by Lexar Media concerning flash memory and ordered Toshiba to pay $380 million in damages. Toshiba and Toshiba America Electronic Components were found liable of breach of fiduciary duty and theft of trade secrets in the case in the Superior Court for the State of California. Ericsson Sues Sendo for Phone Patent Infringement
Telecoms giant Ericsson is suing UK mobile phone maker Sendo for alleged patent infringement. Ericsson said it had "no choice" but to take the legal action in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK as Sendo had not signed a licensing agreement with it. Former Beauty Queen Sues Sites Over Porn Video
Former Miss West Virginia Allison Williams is suing dozens of Internet businesses that tried to sell pornographic videos they claimed showed her in sexual acts with a Virginia news crew. Williams filed her lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Wheeling against 59 defendants in the United States and several other countries. Texas Sues Vonage Over Access to 911 Service
The state of Texas sued Vonage Holdings Corp., the nation's largest Internet-based phone service provider, for allegedly failing to make clear that 911 calls weren't included in a basic subscription. The lawsuit highlights a challenge for the exploding business of Internet-based telephone service: Consumers attracted by the cheap rates may be giving up full access to emergency operators. EFF Files Appeal in Apple Trade Secrets Case
The Electronic Frontier Foundation said that it has appealed a court ruling that could force Apple Computer fan sites to give up their confidential sources to the company. Apple is suing as-yet-unnamed parties who are alleged to have leaked information about an unreleased product to Think Secret, Apple Insider, PowerPage and other Web sites. Microsoft Requests New Hearing in Eolas Patent Case
In the latest wrinkle in the Eolas patent infringement suit, Microsoft hopes to persuade federal judges that gold masters for Windows software contain ideas, not things. On March 16, Microsoft asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to decide an epistemological question: Does the software code delivered to OEMs on a master CD become a component of the computers the OEM ships? Microsoft Failing to Comply with EU Order, Rivals Say
Microsoft is failing to comply with a European Commission order to sell an unbundled version of its Windows operating system, competitors that were asked to examine the program said. A year ago, Mario Monti, then the European commissioner for competition, ordered Microsoft to sell a second version of Windows in Europe that has its music and video-playing program, Media Player, stripped out. IBM to Pay Compuware $400 Million in Software Settlement
Five weeks into a trial over its alleged theft of intellectual property and monopolistic behavior, IBM has settled with software maker Compuware in a case that centered on whether corporate confidentiality agreements were violated. The plaintiff had claimed that, obtaining trade secrets from former Compuware employees it hired, Big Blue was able to drastically speed development of competing software products for mainframe computers. Macintosh Hack Attacks Increasing, Report Says
Hacker attacks on Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh OS X operating system, thought by many who use the Mac to be virtually immune to attack, are on the rise, according to a report from anti-virus software vendor Symantec Corp. "Contrary to popular belief, the Macintosh operating system has not always been a safe haven from malicious code," said the report. Woman Found Not Guilty in Electronic Harassment Case
A death penalty opponent who sent e-mails laced with obscenities and references to Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden to a pro-death-penalty Web site was not guilty of a crime, a judge ruled. Police charged Rachel L. Riffee with misdemeanor electronic harassment after they traced to her two e-mails and three Web site postings sent to a pro-death penalty site run by Frederick A. Romano, the brother of a murder victim. Programmers Find New Way to Evade iTunes Protections
A group of underground programmers has posted code online they say will reopen a back door in Apple Computer's iTunes store, allowing Linux computer users to purchase music free of copy protection. The release comes just a day after Apple blocked a previous version of the program, called PyMusique, in part by requiring all iTunes customers to use the latest version of Apple's software. S. Korea Questions 150 People About Nude Photos Online
More than 150 suspected South Korean swingers were being questioned by police for possibly violating pornography laws by posting naked pictures of themselves on a Web site for spouse swapping, police said. Police in the southern port city of Pusan on Tuesday arrested the 37-year-old operator of what they believe was one of the biggest Web sites in South Korea for swingers on suspicion of violating pornography laws. Hack Attack at Calif. University Exposes 59,000 People
Hackers attacked computer servers of a California university and may have gained access to the personal information of 59,000 people affiliated with the school, a university spokesman said. California State University, Chico in northern California is alerting students, former students, prospective students and faculty that their personal information, including Social Security numbers, may have been compromised in the attack three weeks ago, said spokesman Joe Wills. Utah Governor Signs Internet Pornography Law
Utah's governor signed a bill that would require Internet providers to block Web sites deemed pornographic and could also target e-mail providers and search engines. The controversial legislation will create an official list of Web sites with publicly available material deemed "harmful to minors." Senators Introduce Spyware Regulation Bill
U.S. Senators Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced their long-awaited anti-spyware legislation, calling for prohibitions and penalties on a variety of practices that result in unwanted software being placed on consumers' computers. Burns and Wyden, the principal authors of the 2003 CAN SPAM Act, said their bill, known as the Spy Block Act, starts with the premise that computer owners should have knowledge and control over the software installed on their machines, according to a statement released by the senators. Time Warner Settles Fraud Charges Over Online Ads
Time Warner Inc. agreed to pay securities regulators $300 million to settle long-running civil fraud charges related to online advertising deals that helped the company artificially inflate revenue. The settlement closes another chapter on more than two years of federal investigation into the accounting practices and dealmaking activities at America Online Inc. before and after its January 2001 merger with Time Warner. Virus, Worm Attacks Rise 332%, Symantec Reports
Cyberintruders have stepped up their attacks on corporate computer networks, according to two surveys. Symantec, the world's largest supplier of anti-virus software, reports a 332% spike in worms and viruses launched against Windows desktop computers and servers in the last half of 2004 compared with the year before -- 7,360 variants in all. Infineon to Pay Rambus Up to $150 Million in Patent Case
German chip maker Infineon Technologies has agreed to pay memory-chip designer Rambus as much as $150 million to settle a long-running patent dispute, the Los Altos company said. The settlement comes three weeks after a Virginia federal judge dismissed Rambus' patent-infringement case against Infineon. Internet Phone Company Drops Request for Fee Ruling
One of the most important Internet telephony rulings of the year was expected from federal regulators, but now it won't happen. In a surprise move, an Internet telephony company that had asked the Federal Communications Commission for the ruling said that it was withdrawing its request. FEC Considering New Rules for Campaigns Online
The Federal Election Commission has begun considering whether to issue new rules on how political campaigns are waged on the Internet, a regulatory process that is expected to take months to complete but that is already generating considerable angst online. The agency is weighing whether -- and how -- to impose restrictions on a host of online activities, including campaign advertising and politically oriented blogs. Apple Closes Security Hole on iTunes Music Store
Apple Computer has closed a security hole that allowed an underground program to tap into its iTunes Music Store and purchase songs stripped of antipiracy protections. The PyMusique software, created by a trio of independent programmers online, emerged as a copy protection-free back door into the popular iTunes store. News Agency Sues Google for Copyright Infringement
Agence France Presse has sued Google, alleging the Web search leader includes AFP's photos, news headlines and stories on its news site without permission. The French news service is seeking damages of at least $17.5 million and an order barring Google News from displaying AFP photographs, news headlines or story leads, according to the suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. European Union Threatens Microsoft with New Fines
The European Union threatened Microsoft with new fines if the software company doesn't make it easier for competitors to see the blueprints of its server software and less expensive for them to use it. After hearing from Microsoft's rivals, the EU's antitrust office found that the system the company had set up to improve the interoperability between its Windows server and other software companies was insufficient. FDIC Orders Banks to Notify Customers of ID Theft
The FDIC ordered U.S. banks to warn customers of suspected cases of identity theft, one of the fastest-growing types of consumer fraud. The 5-0 vote by the agency's board of directors come in the wake of a flurry of announcements of the theft of personal data affecting hundreds of thousands of consumers. More Spending Urged to Prevent Internet Attacks
The Internet is "highly vulnerable to premeditated attacks" and more government spending is necessary to confront those vulnerabilities, members of a White House advisory committee said in a report made public on Friday. The President's Information Technology Advisory Committee includes representatives from Microsoft, AT&T, MIT and the University of Washington. Software Allows Unrestricted Access to iTunes Music
A trio of independent programmers has released new software that allows people to tap into Apple Computer's iTunes music store and purchase songs free of any anticopying protections. Joined by Jon Johansen, the Norwegian programmer responsible for distributing DVD-cracking code in late 1999, the programmers say their "PyMusique" software is a "fair" interface for iTunes, primarily aimed at allowing people who use the Linux operating system to purchase music from Apple's store. Credit Card Companies Agree to Stop Online Cigarette Sales
Major credit card companies will refuse to participate in Internet sales of cigarettes nationwide under a government agreement. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the companies and state attorneys general agreed to work together to prevent the long unchecked use of credit cards to buy cigarettes over the Internet across state lines. Google Loses Trademark Appeal in France Over AdWords
Google's French subsidiary has lost its appeal against an October 2003 court judgment ordering it not to display advertisements alongside searches related to a French travel agent's trademarks. The Court of Appeals in Versailles, France, ruled that another court's earlier decision in favor of travel companies Luteciel SARL and Viaticum SA should stand. EU Has "Strong Doubts" Microsoft Obeying Court Order
The European Commission has "strong doubts" that Microsoft is obeying an order issued a year ago in a landmark antitrust ruling against the company, a commission spokesman, Jonathan Todd, said. It plans to discuss its concerns with Microsoft, and could impose fines up to 5 percent of daily worldwide sales until it decides that the company is complying. Westlaw to Limit Sale of Social Security Numbers
One of the nation's leading brokers of personal data on millions of Americans said that it will restrict its sale of individual Social Security numbers amid growing public worries about privacy. Westlaw, which provides data to government agencies, law firms, companies and other organizations, said corporate clients will no longer have access to Social Security numbers, and government offices other than law-enforcement agencies will now be able to get only partial numbers. Report Finds Human Flaws in IRS Computer Security
More than one-third of Internal Revenue Service employees and managers who were contacted by Treasury Department inspectors posing as computer technicians provided their computer login and changed their password, a government report said. The report by the Treasury Department's inspector general for tax administration reveals a human flaw in the security system that protects taxpayer data. British Court Convicts Two Men in Software Piracy Case
Two men accused of taking part in a massive global software piracy ring were convicted in a British High Court. The men were accused of supplying software for DrinkorDie, a worldwide gang that cracked hundreds of software applications and made them freely available over the Internet. Hatch Named Chairman of Senate Intellectual Property Panel
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), one of the entertainment industry's most powerful congressional allies, will remain at the forefront of the national debate over copyright and illegal downloading after being named to head a new subcommittee on intellectual property. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) officially christened the panel, which will have jurisdiction over copyright, trademark and patent law, as well as treaties intended to protect American intellectual property overseas. More Parents of Teens Using Internet Filters, Study Says
American families with teenagers have sharply increased their use of Internet filters to block access to inappropriate online content, according to a study. Nonetheless, children and their parents say that teens still behave online in ways that parents would not approve of. Intel Gets More Time to Reply to Japanese Antitrust Charges
Facing allegations of antitrust violations in Japan, chip giant Intel requested and received a two-week extension to respond to recommendations by the Japan Federal Trade Commission. The agency is alleging that Intel attempted to reduce competition in Japan by offering rebates to Japanese PC makers, in exchange for their agreement not to use competitors' chips, or at least limit their use. Auditors Criticize Oversight of "E-Rate" Program
A multibillion-dollar program that links schools and libraries to the Internet has weak federal oversight, congressional auditors have found. The $2.25 billion-a-year "E-rate" program provides discounted Internet access and connection equipment to help expand Internet availability, particularly for people in poor and remote areas. Appeals Court Favors Injunction in eBay Patent Case
A federal appeals court handed at least a temporary victory to a Virginia man who claims that eBay has been infringing on several of his patents. Upholding a lower-court decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said there is "substantial evidence" that eBay's fixed-price online marketplace violates a patent held by MercExchange of Great Falls, Va. Companies Violate Linux License, Programmer Says
An open-source programmer stopped by the CeBit trade show in Hannover, Germany, to tell Motorola and 12 other companies he believes they're using Linux in violation of the license that governs the software. Harald Welte said the companies have embedded Linux in their products but haven't released the underlying source code, as required by the General Public License, or GPL, that governs the operating system. Boston College Warns Alumni of Possible ID Theft
Boston College has sent warning letters to 120,000 of its alumni, after a computer containing their addresses and Social Security numbers was hacked by an unknown intruder. College officials say they have no reason to believe the intruder was looking for personal information to steal; instead, the attacker planted a program that would enable him to use the computer to launch attacks on other machines. Bush Chooses FCC Commissioner to Become Its Chairman
President Bush has chosen Kevin J. Martin, one of the Federal Communication Commission's leaders in the crackdown on indecency, to succeed the agency's outgoing chairman, Michael K. Powell, the White House said. Martin, 38, is one of the FCC's three Republican commissioners and has been considered the front-runner to head the agency, which is the government's chief regulator of the media and telecommunications industries. Spain Coordinates International Online Child Porn Search
Spain said it was coordinating a 12-nation police operation against Internet child pornography and around 500 arrests were expected. Police were making simultaneous searches of homes in Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Chile, Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Tracking Child Porn Site Visits OK, British Survey Says
UK net users would strongly back service providers if they tracked visitors to child porn websites, according to a Mori survey. Eighty-nine percent in the survey of 1,000 said they would support the move. ChoicePoint, LexisNexis CEOs Support Some New Data Laws
Two captains of the information-broker industry told a congressional panel that they would support new regulations to better protect sensitive personal data that they collect and sell on virtually every adult American. But the executives balked at what appears to be a growing bipartisan consensus among key House and Senate members that the sale of Social Security numbers for commercial purposes should be banned unless individuals give their permission. RIM to Pay NTP $450 Million to Settle Patent Suit
Research In Motion Ltd., the maker of BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices, said it agreed to pay $450 million to NTP Inc. to settle a patent suit against the firm. The company said the settlement included $137 million already held in escrow, while the remaining $313 million would be expensed in the fourth quarter, ended Feb. 26. Apple Wins Case Over iTunes.co.uk Domain Name
Apple Computer has won a legal dispute to force a U.K. company it accused of cybersquatting to hand over the domain ownership for the iTunes.co.uk Web address. Apple issued proceedings against CyberBritain in December of last year through domain registrar Nominet UK, claiming that ownership of the domain should be transferred to Apple because it holds the iTunes trademark. EU Regulators Drop Probe into ContentGuard Deal
As EU regulators abandoned their investigation into the acquisition, Microsoft, Time Warner and Thomson Media quickly sealed the deal to acquire digital rights technology vendor ContentGuard. But ContentGuard CEO Michael Miron charges they've plundered the company. Microsoft's Allies Win Right to Intervene in EU Case
Five allies of Microsoft and four of the European Commission won the right to intervene in the software giant's antitrust case before a European Union court in Luxembourg. The European Commission decided nearly a year ago that Microsoft competed unfairly against competitors, fined it 497 million euros ($657 million) and ordered it to offer a stripped-down version of Windows and share some protocols with rival makers of servers. Three States Move to Legalize Internet Gambling
Undeterred by murky federal law and emboldened by a trade ruling, at least three states are edging toward legalizing online gambling, and Great Britain is on the verge of permitting its land-based casinos to take bets online from U.S. citizens. Those are the latest assaults on the federal Wire Act of 1961, which bans use of telephones to place sports bets. Sun Plans to Simplify Licensing Terms for Java
Sun Microsystems plans to simplify its Java license for commercial software companies. The new licensing tack is designed to give those developers more flexibility in how they can use the Java source code, Sun executives said. Man Gets 6 Months for Malicious E-mail Code
A Louisiana man who wrote malicious e-mails that caused some computers to dial the 911 emergency number was sentenced to six months in prison. A U.S. federal judge sentenced David Jeansonne, 44, to the prison term as well as six months home detention after he admitted sending e-mails to about 20 subscribers of Microsoft's WebTV, a television Internet service since renamed MSN TV. Duke Rejects Business School Applicant for Hacking
An applicant to the business school of Duke University who tried to hack into his admission file has been rejected, school officials said. The electronic intrusion happened after instructions for circumventing controls in application software used by many business schools showed up in an online forum for the magazine BusinessWeek. AOL to Revise Privacy Policy for Instant Messenger
America Online said that it plans to revise its user agreement in response to concerns that instant messages sent through the company's service could be monitored. The new policy for AOL Instant Messenger, or AIM, will stress that the company does not eavesdrop on customer's conversations except in unusual circumstances such as a court order, an AOL spokesman said. Africa Backs Tech Tax by Weathly Nations to Help Poor
African leaders voiced support for a plan asking wealthy nations to tax their cities' investment in technology to buy mobile phones and computers for poor nations. The tax would feed a Digital Solidarity Fund, a United Nations-sponsored plan to use high-tech tools such as satellite telephones or the Internet to promote economic development in areas that lack even the most basic infrastructure. Five Dutch ISPs Agree to File-Sharing Crackdown
Five major Dutch Internet providers agreed to cooperate in a crackdown on illegal file sharing, saying they will send warnings to clients suspected of swapping copyrighted music, film and software files. The providers said they will forward letters from the Brain Institute, which represents the entertainment industry in the Netherlands, warning clients that sharing copyrighted material is against the law. Interest Grows in Creative Commons Licensing Plans
So far, more than 10 million creations -- ranging from the movie "Outfoxed" and songs by the Beastie Boys to the British Broadcasting Corp.'s news footage and the tech support books published under the O'Reilly label -- have been distributed using Creative Commons licenses. Interest in Creative Commons licenses comes as artists, authors and traditional media companies begin to warm to the idea of the Internet as friend instead of foe and race to capitalize on technologies such as file-sharing and digital copying. "Bot Nets" Used for ID Theft, Spyware, Group Reports
Bot nets, collections of compromised computers controlled by a single person or group, have become more pervasive and increasingly focused on identity theft and installing spyware, according to a Honeynet Project report. The report summarizes the findings of researchers who have tapped into more than 100 different bot nets since last summer. Apple Can Subpoena Website Records, Judge Rules
Apple Computer has the right to subpoena the electronic records of a Web site that published items about an unreleased product, a judge ruled. The judge said that Apple can go ahead and obtain records from Nfox, the e-mail service provider to Mac enthusiast site PowerPage. Lawmakers Urge FEC Not to Regulate Bloggers
Internet bloggers should enjoy traditional press freedoms and not face regulation as political groups, lawmakers and online journalists said. In separate letters, Democratic lawmakers and Internet commentators urged the Federal Election Commission to make sure that political Web sites that serve as focal points for political discussion, like Wonkette.com and Freerepublic.com, don't have to comply with campaign-finance rules. Court Orders Seller of Spyware Software to Shut Down
A software vendor that tried to drum up sales by offering to clean up nonexistent computer "spyware" has been temporarily shut down, U.S. regulators said. The makers of Spyware Assassin tried to scare consumers into buying software through pop-up ads and e-mail that warned their computers had been infected with malicious monitoring software, the Federal Trade Commission said. Microsoft to Pay Burst $60 Million in Settlement
Software company Burst.com has agreed to a tentative $60 million settlement with Microsoft over charges that the giant had stolen its streaming media technology. The lawsuit has been one of the most contentious of Microsoft's litigations, with Burst claiming that the software giant deliberately deleted e-mails relevant to the case. CompUSA Must Pay for Rebates in Settlement with FTC
The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with CompUSA Inc., requiring it to pay for rebates that a supplier failed to deliver to customers -- an action designed as a warning to retailers that they will be held accountable for rebates they advertise. CompUSA, one of the nation's largest computer retailers, declined to discuss the agreement, which settled allegations that the company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices. Security Glitch Exposes 31,000 Broadway E-mail Addresses
A security glitch on a Broadway website -- now fixed -- exposed the names and postal and e-mail addresses of more than 31,000 people to savvy computer users. The security hole was not obvious to casual Web surfers because the address was buried in the site's code. Kaiser Permanente Notifies 140 Patients of Data Online
In a troubling episode involving medical privacy in the digital age, Kaiser Permanente is notifying 140 patients that a disgruntled former employee posted confidential information about them on her Weblog. The woman, who calls herself the "Diva of Disgruntled," claims it was Kaiser Permanente that included private patient information on systems diagrams posted on the Web, and that she pointed it out. Man Charged in Hacking Navy Database Pleads Guilty
Robert Lyttle, one of two hackers behind the Deceptive Duo team responsible for a number of network breaches in 2002, including a U.S. Navy database, has decided to plead guilty to the charges filed by the U.S. Attorneys' Office last year, according to documents filed in the case. The plea agreement between federal prosecutors and Lyttle in the case U.S. v. Robert Lyttle will be entered in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Oakland Division, as part of a change of plea hearing. Swedish Police Raid ISP in Internet Piracy Case
The U.S. film industry hailed a raid by Swedish police against an Internet service provider as a major blow to European piracy of movies and music on the Web. The raid was carried out at the Stockholm offices of Bahnhof, Sweden's oldest and largest ISP, which U.S. copyright protection experts have considered a haven for high-level Internet piracy for years. Canada "Nowhere Near" Decision on Regulating Internet Pharmacies
Canada said it was "nowhere near" deciding how to clamp down on Internet pharmacies that send cheap medicine to the United States, often without Canadian doctors having seen the patients. Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, who says the practice is immoral, is studying several options on how to restrict a trade worth around C$850 million ($710 million) a year. Microsoft to Give Early Security Fixes to Military
Microsoft Corp. is giving early versions of its software security patches to the U.S. Air Force and other organizations, a practice some experts fear could give rogue hackers important details about how to break into unprotected computers on a massive scale. Microsoft maintains that participants in its security-testing program abide by strict rules to protect these early software patches from leaking into the Internet's underground. FTC Chief Urges Congress to Regulate Data Brokers
ChoicePoint and other companies that amass consumer profiles should be forced by Congress to protect that information from identity theft, the head of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said. Existing laws are not strong enough to ensure that data brokers handle Social Security numbers and other sensitive details responsibly, FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras told the Senate Banking Committee. Internet Payment Company Settles Privacy Case with FTC
An Internet payment company has agreed to return the money it earned from selling a list of nearly 1 million customers to telemarketers and junk mailers without permission, federal regulators said. Utah-based CartManager International sold the names, addresses, phone numbers and purchase history of consumers who used its "shopping cart" software to make purchases on thousands of Web sites, the Federal Trade Commission said. Wisconsin Lawmakers Debating Tax on Digital Downloads
Legislators in Wisconsin are mobilizing against a proposal they call the "iPod tax," in a battle over online music and movies that could soon spread across the United States. At issue is whether consumers need to pay tax on digital downloads such as movies or songs purchased from Apple Computer's iTunes store. Hackers Continue Trying to Attack U.S. Power Grid
Hackers have caused no serious damage to systems that feed the nation's power grid, but their untiring efforts have heightened concerns that electric companies have failed to adequately fortify defenses against a potential catastrophic strike. The fear: In a worst-case scenario, terrorists or others could engineer an attack that sets off a widespread blackout and damages power plants, prolonging an outage. Illinois House Committee OKs Ban on Some Video Game Sales
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's proposal to bar stores from selling violent and sexually explicit video games to children unanimously passed an Illinois House committee. Under the proposal, any store that violated the ban could face misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $5,000. Online Gaming Company Countersues Yahoo Over IM Patents
Online gaming company Xfire said it countersued Yahoo Inc. in a legal battle over instant-messaging patents. Yahoo previously had sued Xfire, alleging a former employee who went to work for the privately funded Xfire had developed products that infringed on Yahoo patents. Microsoft's General Counsel Pushes for Patent Reform
Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith said that, in a global economy, patent reform should begin at home. In a lecture on Thursday at the American Enterprise Institute, Smith delivered Microsoft's four-point plan for reform. Gay Couple Files Suit Over Photo in Internet Ad
A gay couple featured without their permission in an Internet advertisement criticizing the AARP sued the ad's producer, alleging libel and invasion of privacy. The ad was produced by USA Next, a conservative group that supports creating personal accounts within Social Security and that has aggressively criticized the AARP, which disagrees about the accounts. Australia Raids ISP in Assault on BitTorrent
Australia's music industry piracy investigations unit has raided an Internet service provider in Perth in what it says is the first Australian assault on the use of BitTorrent technology for copyright infringement. Michael Speck, outgoing general manager of Music Industry Piracy Investigations, or MIPI, said the raid occurred at the offices of Swiftel Communications in Perth after federal magistrate Rolf Driver granted a civil search order. Hackers Gain Access to LexisNexis Data on 32,000 People
Identity thieves have penetrated another company that collects and sells personal information on millions of U.S. consumers, the latest in a series of breaches that is throwing a spotlight on the practices and safeguards of a booming data-collection industry. LexisNexis, a worldwide provider of legal and business data, announced that information about 32,000 consumers was fraudulently gathered in a series of incidents. House Committee Approves Anti-Spyware Legislation
A key committee in the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved anti-spyware legislation that includes revisions designed to make the bill more palatable to business interests. HR29, the Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act, or Spy Act, aims to prevent spyware purveyors from hijacking a homepage or tracking users' keystrokes, requires that spyware programs be easily identifiable and removable, and allows for the collection of personal information only after express consent is given by users. Campaign Laws Don't Apply to Bloggers, Senators Say
Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold reassured the Internet community that bloggers will not be regulated by federal campaign finance laws. The senators, who authored the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 known as the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance reform law, issued a statement in response to comments made by a Federal Elections Commission commissioner. Amazon.com Gets Patent on Purchasing Methods
Amazon.com has been granted a U.S. patent on "Methods and systems of assisting users in purchasing items," including the use of gift-buying habits to determine the age, gender and birthday of gift recipients, according to a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent concerns inferring information about gift recipients and using that information to suggest appropriate items and services, such as birthday or Valentine's Day reminders and age- and gender-appropriate gifts. Md. Lawmakers Reluctant to Limit Video Game Sales
Maryland legislators stopped short of advocating a bill that would ban the sale of violent video games to minors. Lawmakers expressed concerns about the constitutionality of such a measure and questioned whether it is necessary, since the industry has been establishing policies to keep youngsters from buying the games. House Committee Approves DVD-Filtering Legislation
A bill that would let parents and children filter the curse words, sex scenes and violence out of movie DVDs moved closer to approval by Congress. The House Judiciary Committee on voice vote gave the legislation its endorsement, sending it to the full House. Three Plead Guilty to Internet Copyright Infringement
The U.S. Department of Justice said that three men pleaded guilty to criminal copyright infringement, as part of what attorneys called the largest multinational Net piracy investigation to date. The investigation, called "Operation Higher Education," has been conducted in 12 countries, prosecutors said. "Future Bright" for Internet Phone Service, FCC Chair Says
The outgoing chief regulator of U.S. communications markets said phone calls via the Internet have become a fact of life but warned the emerging industry not to become cocky in its success. In his last public speech as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Michael Powell told Internet-based phone service providers that the industry has been secured against efforts to use regulation to defeat it. New Web Attacks Could Target Key Internet Servers
Online thieves looking for personal data may be moving to more active measures by redirecting people from legitimate sites to malicious ones, security experts said. The warning follows reports that some people's computers were being redirected from sites such as eBay and Google to malicious Web servers that attempted to install spyware. Credit Card Data Reported Stolen at DSW Shoe Warehouse
Retail Ventures Inc., which operates DSW Shoe Warehouse, announced the theft of credit card and other purchase data related to customers who shopped at 103 DSW stores, mainly over the last three months. Customers who provided data via DSW's Web site are unaffected, it said. B-School Applicants Rejected After Following Hacker's Tip
Business school applicants who peeked into their prospective school's Web site to see if they had been accepted may have made a stupid mistake, but not one worthy of rejection, a college-prep coach said. He was responding to Harvard's decision to reject 119 applicants for following a hacker's instructions to visit the school's admissions site to get an early glimpse of acceptance decisions. U.S. Needs to Invest in Education, R&D, Tech Group Leader Says
Leaders of high-tech companies said the United States risks losing its competitive edge without significant new investments in education, research and development and the spread of broadband technology. "The world is changing a little bit, and frankly there is a significant amount of concern that if we don't make some adjustments, follow the right public policies, do some things that are important, we could find ourselves very quickly losing the advantage we've had for so long," Rick White, president and chief executive of high-tech lobby TechNet, said at a press conference. Australia Plans to Outlaw Inciting Suicide Online
Australia's government plans to outlaw inciting, promoting or teaching people how to commit suicide on the Internet, but Justice Minister Chris Ellison said the laws were not a bid to spark a euthanasia debate. Use of the Internet to organize suicide pacts has emerged as a grim new problem for Japan, where at least 54 people killed themselves in 2004 in Internet-linked group suicides. Man Sentenced to 5½ Years in ChoicePoint Theft
A Nigerian national who used personal information from ChoicePoint and other companies to commit identity theft against thousands of people was sentenced to 5½ years in federal prison. Besides his term, Adedayo Benson, 38, was ordered to pay nearly $155,000 in restitution to 10 financial institutions. Intel Violated Japan's Antitrust Laws, Reports Say
Japanese newspapers are reporting Japan's government has found Intel in violation of the country's antitrust laws. It remains unclear what kind of action the commission will take against Intel, if any. Company Claims Patent Rights to iTunes Sales
A Hong-Kong based company wants 12 percent of all profits from iTunes and iPod sales, claiming it holds the patents to the DRM technology that governs the use of downloads through Apple Computer's online music service. According to a post on the Pat-rights company Web site, the patent governs the verification of a single user before permitting the user to download tracks. FTC Asked to Investigate Sales of File-Sharing Software
The Federal Trade Commission is being asked to investigate Web sites that claim to offer legal music downloads for a low price but actually sell popular software that is available free elsewhere on the Internet and is commonly used to steal songs. Such Web sites typically charge $30 to $40 and prominently advertise services as "100 percent legal." Student Pleads Guilty to Illegally Downloading Music
An Arizona university student is believed to be the first person in the country to be convicted of a crime under state laws for illegally downloading music and movies from the Internet, prosecutors and activists say. University of Arizona student Parvin Dhaliwal pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeit marks, or unauthorized copies of intellectual property. Russian Prosecutors Won't Charge MP3 Website
Moscow prosecutors have declined to press criminal charges against a popular Internet site that sells MP3s for just pennies, according to Russian news reports. Record industry groups in the United States and Europe are trying to close the Russian AllofMP3.com, which offers downloads of MP3s -- including songs from The Beatles and other groups that have not authorized digital distribution -- for just a few cents per song. Court Rejects Request to Disclose Assets in Kazaa Case
A court refused to grant a request by the Australian recording industry to force owners of the file-swapping giant Kazaa to disclose their assets pending a decision in a landmark music piracy case. Australian recording labels are suing Kazaa's owners, accusing the company of contributing to widespread copyright infringements by letting Kazaa users download up to 3 billion files each month, freely exchanging songs, music and television programs without paying royalties. New "Doctor Who" Episode Posted Online, BBC Says
An episode of the new series of sci-fi drama Doctor Who has been leaked onto the internet. A 45-minute episode, called Rose, has appeared three weeks before the series is expected to begin on BBC One. Officials to Study Campaign Laws, Internet Activity
Federal election commissioners are preparing to consider how revamped campaign finance laws apply to political activity on the Internet, including online advertising, fund-raising e-mail messages and Web logs. Anyone who decides to "set up a blog, send out mass e-mails, any kind of activity that can be done on the Internet" could be subject to Federal Election Commission regulation, Bradley A. Smith, a Republican commissioner, said. Website Asks Court to Dismiss Apple's Trade Secret Case
Rumor site Think Secret isn't rolling over in the face of legal pressure from an irate Apple Computer. The small web publication, which is being sued by Apple for allegedly revealing trade secrets, filed a special motion asking that the case be thrown out of court. Musician Durst Sues to Stop Sex Video Distribution
Musician Fred Durst is hopping mad that several Internet sites hosted footage and still images from a sex video of him and an ex-girlfriend that was reportedly stolen from the rocker's hard drive -- and he's taking legal action. In paperwork filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Durst seeks restraining orders against an array of Web companies accused of airing portions of a 2003 bedroom encounter. Musician Durst Sues to Stop Sex Video Distribution
Musician Fred Durst is hopping mad that several Internet sites hosted footage and still images from a sex video of him and an ex-girlfriend that was reportedly stolen from the rocker's hard drive -- and he's taking legal action. In paperwork filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Durst seeks restraining orders against an array of Web companies accused of airing portions of a 2003 bedroom encounter. eBay Fixing Software Glitch That Aids Phishing Attacks
eBay is fighting to repair a software glitch that opens the door to phishing attacks using one of its own legitimate URLs. The problem, described by the company as a "software bug," could be exploited by criminals to create an actual eBay link that redirects customers to a malicious site, the representative said. Judge Hears More Tetsimony in Apple Bloggers Case
A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge heard arguments Friday in a case that ultimately could determine whether bloggers and other online publishers share the constitutional rights of traditional journalists to protect their sources. Judge James Kleinberg did not issue a decision Friday after tentatively ruling one day earlier that Apple Computer was entitled to e-mails and other documents that might help the company determine who leaked information about an unreleased product code-named "Asteroid." People, Not Technology, Key to Fight Hacking, Mitnick Says
Famed ex-hacker Kevin Mitnick is warning against security strategies that focus on technology. Rather, teaching your staff to say no will help keep your network secure, he says. Sharman's Assets Frozen in Australian Kazaa Case
The assets of Sharman Networks, the maker of the Kazaa peer-to-peer software, have been frozen pending the outcome of a lawsuit brought against the software-maker by the recording industry. The personal assets of Sharman's directors, including their homes, have also been frozen following the latest legal push. Internet Phone Companies Praise FCC's Ruling
Internet telephony firms praised action by the Federal Communications Commission to fine a small telecom for blocking Voice over Internet Protocol traffic, but said problems of keeping broadband networks open to all IP applications remain. Over the last six months, both consumer VoIP provider Vonage and wholesaler Nuvio complained to the FCC about both telecom and cable broadband providers either blocking or degrading VoIP calls. Law Firm Seeks Class-Action Employment Suit v. eBay
Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian is seeking class action status in an employment suit that takes aim at what its defenders call standard Silicon Valley practice. In a case filed in San Francisco Superior Court, Goldstein Demchak partner Laura Ho argues that eBay violated contracts with about 100 employees when it sold a subsidiary in 2002 and canceled stock options held by the subsidiary's employees. SEC, FTC Investigating Theft of ChoicePoint Files
Federal authorities are investigating the theft of more than 100,000 consumer profiles in databases of ChoicePoint Inc. as well as trading in its stock by top executives, the company said. ChoicePoint, which maintains personal profiles of nearly every U.S. consumer, said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an informal inquiry and the Federal Trade Commission has begun a separate inquiry. Phone Company Pays Fine for Blocking VoIP Calls
The Federal Communications Commission announced that a North Carolina-based telephone company agreed to pay $15,000 and to stop blocking the ability of consumers to use voice-over-Internet calling services instead of regular phone lines. In the first action of its kind, the FCC settled with Madison River Communications Corp., which operates several rural phone companies throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Judge Refuses to Protect Blog Sites in Apple Case
In a case with implications for the freedom to blog, a San Jose judge tentatively ruled Thursday that Apple Computer can force three online publishers to surrender the names of confidential sources who disclosed information about the company's upcoming products. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James Kleinberg refused to extend to the Web sites a protection that shields journalists from revealing the names of unidentified sources or turning over unpublished material. Luxembourg Expects Approval of Software Patent Law
Luxembourg, which holds the European Union presidency, expects the bloc's ministers to approve a controversial draft law on patenting software, a Luxembourg official said. The decision would mark a victory for advocates of patenting some software, notably big companies such as Microsoft and Nokia, against many small companies, which fear the planned law will push them out of the market. Judge Fines Amazon.com $18,000 in Toys R Us Case
A judge has fined Amazon.com Inc. $18,000 for violating her order in a lawsuit in which Toys R Us Inc. charges the Internet merchant with flouting its exclusivity agreement. The nation's second biggest toy retailer sought a sanction against Amazon because it claims that, after the suit was filed, Amazon listed 46 products on its Web site that only Toys R Us was allowed to sell. Utah Passes Bill Requiring ISPs to Block Porn Sites
The Utah governor is deciding whether to sign a bill that would require Internet providers to block Web sites deemed pornographic and that could also target e-mail providers and search engines. The Utah Senate approved controversial legislation that would create an official list of Web sites with publicly available material found to be "harmful to minors." British Police Seek Center to Tackle Internet Child Porn
British police called for a national center to tackle soaring Internet child pornography crime, as new figures highlighted the extent of the problem. A multi-national crackdown under the so-called Operation Ore and greater use of the Internet in general have led to an explosion in convictions for child pornography offences. U.S. Stops Proxy Service Registrations of .us Domains
The U.S. Commerce Department has ordered companies that administer internet addresses to stop allowing customers to register .us domain names anonymously using proxy services. The move does not affect owners of .com and .net domains. Court Orders New Trial Microsoft-Eolas Patent Case
A federal appeals court partially reversed a lower-court decision that had exposed Microsoft to $565 million in damages. The patent infringement case, brought by the University of California and its Eolas Technologies spinoff, had riled the Web over potential ripple effects that could have forced changes in millions of Web pages that use plug-in applications like Macromedia Flash and Adobe Acrobat that run inside the browser. Illegal Drug Sales Bomming Online, UN Group Says
Illegal drug sales on the Internet are booming as unlicensed online pharmacies selling drugs like morphine evade a patchy global effort to stop them, the United Nations narcotics watchdog said. In its 2004 annual report, the International Narcotics Control Board said Internet pharmacies sell several billion doses of medicine illicitly each year and deliver them by post, making them an alternative drug-trafficking route. Dell CEO Opposes Legal Restrictions on Tech Devices
Congress and the courts should avoid imposing restrictions on ways consumers use computers and other devices to listen to digital music and watch movies, the chief executive of the largest U.S. computer-maker said. The head of Texas-based Dell Inc., Kevin Rollins, also said entertainment companies should work closely with technology firms to build new businesses delivering music and movies to consumers. |