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Governance

September 2009

September 30, 2009

Patent Verdict Against Microsoft Overturned

A federal judge has overturned a $388 million judgment against Microsoft in a patent-infringement case brought by Uniloc, reports CNET News.   Uniloc filed suit in 2003, claiming that Microso... More >

September 29, 2009

EU Wants to Set Safe Volume Levels on MP3s

In an effort to reduce hearing loss among MP3 users, the European Union has approved new safety standards that set a new, lower, "safe" volume level , reports AppleInsider . All makers of portable ... More >

September 28, 2009

Microsoft's 'Ballot Screen' Plan Faces Opposition

Microsoft's proposal to give users the option to download other browsers from a "ballot screen" faces criticism from rivals and could delay any settlement with the European antitrust regulators, re... More >

New Zealand's Ban on Mobiles While Driving Includes GPS Navigation

Kiwis who rely on their smartphone's navigation system to get around are going to have to find an alternative method of getting from point A to B. New Zealand's Transport Ministry banned the use of m... More >

ICANN to Become More Independent

According to The Register , the U.S. government is set to cede control of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) this week when its pact with the Internet governing body expires... More >

AT&T Charges Google Voice with FCC Violations

AT&T penned a letter to the Federal Communications Commission that urged the agency to investigate the Google Voice service on grounds that it may be violating federal telecommunications laws. Ac... More >

September 25, 2009

Apple Stands to Profit from Accounting Rule Change

The FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) unanimously approved an accounting rule change that will benefit companies that currently report tech device sales on a subscription basis. Apple is on... More >

September 24, 2009

FCC to Formally Propose New Net Neutrality Rule

The Federal Communications Commission will meet on Oct. 22 to formally propose a new "net neutrality" rule to ensure that network operators treat the flow of Internet content without discrimination... More >

Bus, Truck Drivers May Be Banned from Cell Phone Use

The Obama administration has decided to act on the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendation to ban cell phone use by bus and truck drivers , according to the Boston Globe . The recomme... More >

Research Finds Social Networks Leaking Personal Info

According to Computerworld , a study done at AT&T Labs and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute found that many major social networking sites are leaking information that allows third party adve... More >

September 22, 2009

Intel Criticizes EC Handling of Antitrust Case

Computerworld reports that Intel is criticizing how the European Commission handled the antitrust case against it. Intel accuses the EC of being "one-sided" in order to prove its point of view. &n... More >

Oracle's Ellison Says EC Probe Costs $100 Million a Month

According to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, the European Commission investigation into his company's proposed takeover of Sun Microsystems is costing him $100 million a month , reports The Register . &n... More >

Judge Rules Lawsuit over Gmail Error Can't Be Secret

According to InformationWeek , a district judge has rejected the Rocky Mountain Bank's motion to prevent the disclosure of information about a data breach arising from an errant Gmail message. Jud... More >

EU Adviser Sides with Google on Keywords

So much for the dire tone in reports Monday about an expected ruling in Europe on Google's keyword advertising practices . An adviser to the European Union's top court in effect said, "Nevermind." &... More >

DoJ Not a Fan of Google Books Settlement

The Department of Justice is urging a district court to reject the current form of Google's $125 million class-action settlement with publishers, reports PCMag.com . The DoJ writes: "The breadth o... More >

Wireless Providers Not OK With Net Neutrality

According to BBC News , mobile providers are not fond of the Federal Communications Commission's proposed rules to prevent providers from blocking or slowing down bandwidth-heavy usage. Mobile p... More >

September 21, 2009

EU to Question Google's Keyword Advertising?

The same sort of keyword issues that are the crux of a lawsuit against Google in India could be challenged in the European Union’s highest court , reports Bloomberg .   An opinion due Tuesda... More >

Indian Portal Sues Google

An Indian portal company, Consim Info, is suing Google , alleging its search engine drives business to competitors, reports PCWorld.com .   Consim Info runs a series of matrimonial portals, in... More >

EC Releases E-Mails in Intel Antitrust Case

Intel has argued that the European Commission levied a $1.45 billion fine against the chip maker without sufficient evidence that it abused its dominant market position. But the commission isn't bu... More >

FCC Chairman to Propose Net Neutrality Rules Today

The Federal Communications Commission will propose that the government agency expand and formalize rules to prevent Internert service providers from discriminating against certain content on their ne... More >

September 18, 2009

Sprint CEO Backs Government Scrutiny of Handset Exclusivity Deals

Dan Hesse, head of Sprint Nextel, says it's fair for the U.S. government to examine the idea of placing limits on handset exclusivity deals . Hesse says exclusivity deals are important for promoting... More >

Microsoft Sues over Malicious Ads

Microsoft has filed five lawsuits against alleged purveyors of  online ads that lure unsuspecting users into downloading malicious software, reports Information Week.   It claims an unknown num... More >

September 17, 2009

Microsoft Endorses HTML 5 Multimedia Tags

Internet Explorer program manager Adrian Bateman is being lauded on Ars Technica for participating in drafting HTML 5 .   The article says Microsoft initially declined to take part in the eff... More >

eBay, Verizon Top Privacy Rankings

A study from the Ponemon Institute and TRUSTe ranks eBay the most trusted company for privacy in America, followed by Verizon and the U.S. Postal Service, reports PCmag.com .   The study poll... More >

Skype Founders Sue eBay, Investors

The founders of Skype, Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, have filed a copyright lawsuit against eBay over technology they claim  is being infringed on by Skype users "in the United States at least ... More >

September 15, 2009

French Parliament to Vote on Internet Piracy Bill

French legislators are expected to approve today a new version of an Internet piracy bill that will allow blockage of Internet access for those found guilty of illegally downloading material, accordi... More >

Broadcom Suit Against Emulex Alleges Patent Infringement

If you can't buy 'em, sue 'em. That appears to be Broadcom's strategy.   After spending nearly a year unsuccessfully trying to buy Emulex in a hostile bid that lived up to that name , Broadc... More >

September 11, 2009

Microsoft Wins One in Alcatel-Lucent Patent Suit

A federal appeals court has ruled that Microsoft did infringe an Alcatel-Lucent patent, but threw out a $358 million award and said damages need to be recalculated, reports The Associated Press o... More >

Justice Digs in to Review Microhoo Deal

The Justice Department is seeking additional documents from Yahoo and Microsoft as it scrutizes their proposed advertising and search partnership, reports InformationWeek.   According to Blo... More >

September 9, 2009

E.U. Warns Web Shoppers of Shady Practices

A European Union study shows that more than half of all Web sites selling electronic products may be breaking the law .   According to The New York Times , two-thirds of the 369 Web sites that... More >

Linux Group to Purchase 22 Microsoft Patents

In an effort to protect Linux distributors against the ongoing threat of patent litigation from Microsoft, Open Invention Network is planning on purchasing a set of 22 patents once held by Microsoft... More >

September 8, 2009

Russia Closes Microsoft Antitrust Probe

According to Reuters , Russia's state anti-monopoly service has closed its investigation into whether Microsoft violated antitrust laws over cutbacks in supply of the Windows XP operating system. ... More >

FTC Urges Privacy in National Broadband Plan

According to Marketing VOX , the Federal Trade Commission is asking the Federal Communications Commission to think about privacy issues associated with behavioral targeting when creating its natio... More >

Microsoft Faces Suit over XP's Windows Genuine Advantage

According to electronista , Microsoft is facing a class action suit for allegedly violating privacy laws through Windows XP's Windows Genuine Advantage copy protection scheme. The complaint claims... More >

New Bill to Set Rules for Targeted Advertising

According to an Associated Press article in The Boston Globe, Rep. Rick Boucher, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, is working on... More >

Google Tries to Quell Concerns of European Publishers

Google has made several concessions to quell European publishers' concerns over book digitization.   According to ZDNet , Google has agreed not to list books that are out-of-print in the U.S.... More >

September 4, 2009

Italy Expands Google Antitrust Probe

Italy's Antitrust Authority has expanded its investigation of Google Italy's business practice to include parent company Google in the U.S., reports ITWorld . Google has about three weeks to say wh... More >

CTIA Wants Repeal of Cellphone-Tax Law

The Wall Street Journal reports that CTIA is voicing its support for legislation to get rid of a 20-year-old law that taxes personal use of employer-provided cellphones. Until Congress makes a dec... More >

Appeals Court OKs Microsoft's Stay of Word Injunction

According to CNET News , the Court of Appeals for the Federal District has granted Microsoft's motion for a stay of an injunction that would have prevented it from selling Word in its current form... More >

September 3, 2009

Bank Can Be Sued for Lax Security, Rules Court

According to Computerworld , a judge has ruled that Marsha and Michael Shames-Yeakel, a couple whose Citizens Financial Bank account was breached, can sue the bank for its alleged failure to implem... More >

European Commission Investigating Oracle-Sun Deal

The European Commission says it will investigate Oracle 's planned $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun Microsystems. According to Computerworld , the regulator has "serious concerns" about the deal's e... More >

Telcos Push for Lower Broadband Standards

AT&T, Comcast, Verizon Communications and Verizon Wireless have offered the FCC a clever way to provide universal broadband to every U.S. citizen as mandated by the Obama administration. Accord... More >

September 2, 2009

Coalition Wants New Privacy Laws for Web Users

A coalition of 10 U.S. privacy and consumer groups, including the Center for Digital Democracy and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, are pushing for new federal privacy protections for Web users.... More >

Jury Orders Web Hosters to Pay $32 Million in Infringement Case

According to Computerworld , a jury has handed down a $32 million decision against Akanoc Solutions Inc. , Managed Solutions Group Inc. and Steven Chen, the owner of the two companies, for contribu... More >

September 1, 2009

German Court Orders Google to Change Terms of Service

A German court has ruled in favor of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations in requiring Google to change terms of service that could be interpreted to compromise a user's rights, accordin... More >

New, Expanded Indictment in H-1B Fraud Case

According to Computerworld , federal prosecutors have filed a new, expanded suit against Visions System Group Inc. alleging the firm fraudulently used H-1B visas through a scheme that earned it mi... More >