The recording industry is considering an all-digital future in which it needs popular Web services like Imeem, both as sources of revenue and as supplements to older channels of promotion like radio and MTV. As a result, music labels are now striking more favorable terms with Web firms, while start-ups have come to realize they can’t rely on Web ads to support themselves.
Website Collecting Views on Google Book Settlement
Caroline Vanderlip believes the escalating debate over Google's plans for a vast Internet library of copyright-protected literature will yield enough compelling material to fill a book. That's one reason why SharedBook, a 5-year-old company run by Vanderlip, has set up a website so the supporters and opponents of Google's digital book project can more easily post their opinions about a legal settlement that will help fulfill or possibly derail the Internet search leader's ambitions.
Obama to Announce White House "Cyber Czar"
President Obama is expected to announce that he will create a "cyber czar," a senior White House official who will have broad authority to develop strategy to protect the nation's government-run and private computer networks, according to people who have been briefed on the plan. The adviser will have the most comprehensive mandate granted to such an official to date and will probably be a member of the National Security Council but will report to the national security adviser as well as the senior White House economic adviser, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deliberations are not final.
More Than 90% of E-mail is Spam, Report Says
Spam now accounts for 90.4 percent of all e-mail, according to a report released from security vendor Symantec. This means that 1 out of every 1.1 e-mails is junk. The report also notes that spam shot up 5.1 percent just from April to May.
New Phishing Attacks Playing on Twitter's Popularity
Recent days have seen a slew of Twitter phishing attacks, possibly orchestrated in a chess-like multi-move plan that resulted in three sets of victims and, very likely, some seedy profits. The scheme appears to have begun with the creation of bogus Twitter accounts, which the scammers used to "follow" other users, says Rik Ferguson, a senior security advisor at security-software maker Trend Micro.
Internet Retailers Report Increase in "Friendly Fraud"
Online merchants are fighting a surge in so-called friendly fraud, as more consumers try to get out of paying for their Internet purchases in the recession. Online jeweler Ice.com Inc. and travel site Expedia Inc. are among companies seeing at least 50% spikes from October in friendly fraud, a term used to describe when a consumer disputes an online charge but doesn't return the item or has already used the product.
Activist Sues Facebook for Spreading Virus
A Florida librarian and activist has filed a civil lawsuit against Facebook alleging that the social network failed to adequately protect users from a virus. Theodore Karantsalis, of Miami Springs, Fla., is seeking $70.50 from Facebook in the lawsuit, which was filed in Miami-Dade county court.
Macintosh Clone Maker Files for Bankruptcy
Macintosh clone vendor Psystar has filed for bankruptcy protection in Florida, effectively stalling its legal battle with Apple while the company tries to resuscitate its coffers. The clonemaker petitioned for Chapter 11 protection in US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida.
U.K. Court Rules for eBay in Suit by L'Oreal
A British court ruled that Internet marketplace eBay is not liable for bogus beauty products sold on its website, dealing a blow to cosmetics company L'Oreal's legal campaign against the online auction giant. In a written judgment handed down at London's High Court, Justice Richard David Arnold ruled that eBay Europe was not liable for trademark infringements committed by its users.
Computer Virus Strikes FBI, U.S. Marshals
Law enforcement computers were struck by a mystery computer virus, forcing the FBI and the U.S. Marshals to shut down part of their networks as a precaution. The U.S. Marshals confirmed it disconnected from the Justice Department's computers as a protective measure after being hit by the virus; an FBI official said only that that agency was experiencing similar issues and was working on the problem.
Pentagon Works with Tech Industry for Protection
For two years, the Defense Department has been collaborating with industry to try to better protect the firms' computer networks. Now, as the Obama administration ponders how to strengthen the nation's defenses against cyberattacks, it is considering ways to share the Pentagon's threat data with other critical industries, such as those that handle vastly larger amounts of data, including phone calls and private e-mails.
Judge Orders S.C. to Stop Pursuing Craigslist
A South Carolina judge has ordered the state attorney general's office to stop pursuing criminal charges against Craigslist.com while a lawsuit related to prostitution ads on the popular classifieds site makes its way through the courts. In statements to the media and on his Web site, South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster has accused Craigslist's operators of not doing enough to eliminate ads soliciting prostitution in accordance with an agreement struck last November with 40 states attorney generals.
Cartier Files, Drops Lawsuit Against Apple Over App
A lawyer representing Cartier International N.V. aid it is withdrawing a suit the company filed earlier in the day against Apple Inc. The suit alleged that two applications for the iPhone infringed on the trademark for the luxury brand's Tank watches.
Facebook Settles Trademark Dispute Over Its Name
Facebook and Think Computer have settled a dispute over whether the former actually owns the term "facebook." Under the settlement, Think has agreed to abandon its efforts to get the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the trademark issued to Facebook in 2006.
Iranian President Denies Ban on Facebook
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he did not call for a ban on Facebook during the country's presidential election. "I should make an inquiry and ask about this," he said when asked about reports that his government blocked access to the online social networking site.
Seven People Indicted Over Prostitution Ring on Craiglist
Seven people accused of publicizing a New York City prostitution ring over Craigslist have been indicted, adding to pressure on the online classified site to vet its ads. Room Service Entertainment, operating from the borough of Queens, continuously advertised in the erotic services section of Craigslist, New York state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.
New Scams Target Users of Facebook, Twitter
A new phishing scam hit Facebook users that, like others in recent weeks, sends them to a Web site which steals their log-in information and also secretly downloads malware onto computers when they visit the malicious Web site in what is known as a "drive-by download." Meanwhile, Twitter users were getting messages from new followers that were posting links to a fake Twitter site with "tvvitter" in the tiny URL, Graham Cluley of Sophos wrote in his blog.
Movie Studios Argue Against Fair Use in DVD Case
Attorneys for the Motion Picture Association of America attacked fair use during a hearing in the RealDVD case, claiming it is not a defense for violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. To prove its point, the MPAA relied on RealNetworks' own testimony in a prior case.
Craiglist Sues South Carolina Over Prosecution Threats
Craigslist sued South Carolina's attorney general, Henry McMaster, in federal court. The classified-ad site is asking the court to rule that the attorney general has no right to threaten executives of the company with criminal prosecution for aiding prostitution in the state.
Calif. Wants Supreme Court to Reinstate Video Game Law
California Attorney General Jerry Brown has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. In February, the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals struck down the 2005 law as a free speech violation that could limit minors' access to other material under the guise of protecting children.
