EDUPAGE> Edupage, October 31, 2003
- From: Gleason Sackmann <gleason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: K12Newsletters <k12newsletters@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 08:16:22 -0600
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Sent: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 14:29:58 -0700
Subject: Edupage, October 31, 2003
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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2003
More RIAA Lawsuits, Fewer File Traders
U.S. to Use Biometrics to Screen Foreigners
Copyright Law Takes Effect in U.K.
FCC Rules to Prevent HDTV Piracy Expected Soon
Microsoft Eyes Google Merger
MORE RIAA LAWSUITS, FEWER FILE TRADERS
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed its
second round of lawsuits against individuals it suspects of copyright
violations. Responding to pressure from Congress and others, the RIAA
recently sent letters to 204 individuals it suspected of violating
copyrights prior to filing suits against them. Of those, 124
approached
the RIAA to settle the charges out of court. The RIAA filed suits
against the remaining 80 people this week. Data from
Nielsen/NetRatings
indicate that the RIAA's efforts to end illegal file trading are
having an effect. According to the Web analysis firm, usage of the
Kazaa file-trading network has dropped from 7 million users per week
in
early June to 3.2 million per week in late October.
CNET, 30 October 2003
http://news.com.com/2100-1027-5099738.html
U.S. TO USE BIOMETRICS TO SCREEN FOREIGNERS
Beginning early next year, those entering the United States on
tourist,
business, or student visas will go through a biometric screening
process designed to improve national security. Asa Hutchinson,
undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security at the
Department
of Homeland Security, this week unveiled the equipment to be used in
the new screening procedure, which includes fingerprinting and photo
tools. Visa holders will be screened when they enter the country to
verify they are not on terrorist watch lists, and when they leave the
country to keep a record of whether they have overstayed their visas.
Despite a General Accounting Office report expressing skepticism that
the system can be implemented efficiently and calling it "a very risky
endeavor," Hutchinson said the system will cause few delays and will
provide a strong boost for national security. The system will be
installed at 115 airports and 14 seaports.
Wired News, 29 October 2003
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,61010,00.html
COPYRIGHT LAW TAKES EFFECT IN U.K.
The U.K. joins EU nations Denmark, Germany, Greece, and Italy in
adopting legislation aimed at curtailing digital piracy. The new law,
considered Europe's most stringent, is based on the EU Copyright
Directive, controversial and broad legislation designed to protect
music, film, and software content makers. Nine other EU member states
have yet to ratify similar legislation, almost a year past the
deadline
for its adoption. Debate centers on how to prevent piracy yet
safeguard
consumer rights, specifically on the inclusion of "fair use"
provisions, which determine how consumers can play and store media on
different devices. The EU directive failed to achieve consensus on
this
issue, so while Germany's law allows consumers to make back-up copies
of legally purchased CDs, the U.K. law contains no such exceptions.
Some argue that the U.K.'s law is too broad and could put those who
use peer-to-peer networks at risk of imprisonment. A spokesman for the
U.K. Patent Office, which drafted the legislation, said that the law
is
not "meant to bring criminal charges to individual downloaders" but
rather "is aimed at the most dangerous activity, the organized crime
gangs with warehouses of pirated materials."
Reuters, 31 October 2003
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=373
1756
FCC RULES TO PREVENT HDTV PIRACY EXPECTED SOON
New guidelines are expected soon from the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) governing the copying and use of digital television
programming. The movie and television industries have been pushing for
rules protecting their copyrighted material from the type of
widespread
file trading and related legal battles that have befallen the music
industry. The FCC's rules would likely address issues of fair
use--when and how users are allowed to make copies of works they can
legally access--and questions over which devices can play different
materials. Critics of the plan argue that the FCC does not have the
authority to establish copy-protection rules and that such rules are
unnecessary anyway. They noted that using technology available today,
it would take 36 hours to download a high-definition two-hour movie.
Opponents also said that imposing technical rules on digital video
files would require electronics manufacturers to reengineer large
numbers of devices currently on the market.
San Jose Mercury News, 30 October 2003
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/7137895.htm
MICROSOFT EYES GOOGLE MERGER
Microsoft reportedly approached Google within the past two months
about
the possibility of a merger. Google--the leader among search
engines--generates significant ad revenues. Google, for the moment,
appears to have rejected Microsoft's overture, focusing instead on its
recently revealed intentions to pursue an initial public offering
(IPO). Microsoft might still consider a merger after Google goes
public, however, according to one source. Plans for Google's IPO
remain undecided. Google's founders reportedly have considered an
auction-style public offering, avoiding using financial institutions
to
underwrite the IPO. Many banks are continuing to bid for the IPO,
however, believing that Google executives will ultimately opt for a
traditional approach.
New York Times, 31 October 2003 (registration req'd)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/31/technology/31net.html
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