INTERNET
Napster Must Halt Online Music Swaps (WP)
ICANN Governance Hearing Set for February 14 (Senate)
'Kournikova' E-Mail Spreads Virus (WP)
FCC
FCC Commissioner Ness Won't Seek a Second Term (WSJ)
TELEVISION
Black and White Viewers Are More In Tune on Top 20 (WP)
PRIVACY
Privacy Coalition Announces New Privacy Initiative (EPIC)
INTERNET
NAPSTER MUST HALT ONLINE MUSIC SWAPS
Issue:
A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that Napster must prevent its
millions of devotees from swapping copyrighted songs. The decision is likely
to lead the company to shut down much of its free service. The 9th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Napster's arguments that the swapping was
legally protected fair use under copyright laws because Napster makes no
money off of the swapping. "Direct economic benefit is not required to
demonstrate a commercial use," the three judges wrote in their opinion.
"Rather, repeated and exploitative copying of copyrighted works, even if the
copies are not offered for sale, may constitute a commercial use." The
appeals court ordered a lower court to reword an earlier injunction; until
the new injunction is issued, the site can operate as usual.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A01), AUTHORS: Streitfield and Stern]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61907-2001Feb12.html)
See Also:
NAPSTER SUFFERS SETBACK IN APPEALS COURT RULING
[SOURCE: New York Times (A1), AUTHOR: Matt Richtel]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/13/technology/13NAPS.html)
(requires registration)
ICANN GOVERNANCE HEARING SET FOR FEBRUARY 14
Issue: Internet
The Senate Communications Subcommittee will hold hearings on Wednesday,
February 14 examining the structure of ICANN, the organization in charge of
creating and distributing Internet domain names, and the effort underway to
expand available domain names.
[SOURCE: US Senate]
(http://www.senate.gov/~commerce/press/107-13.html)
'KOURNIKOVA' E-MAIL SPREADS VIRUS
Issue: Internet
A new computer virus disguised as a photo of teenage tennis star Anna
Kournikova overwhelmed e-mail servers throughout Europe and North America
yesterday. Anti-virus researchers expected more computer infections Tuesday
in Asia. The virus (technically, a worm) sends itself to everyone in the
address books of Microsoft Outlook e-mail software on Windows computers,
although Macintosh users and those using other e-mail programs can still
spread the virus manually. The virus comes as an attachment named
"AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs" - although the ".vbs" may not necessarily be
visible - and carries the message "Hi: Check This!" At least three subject
lines have been identified: "Here you have," "Here you go" and "Here you
are" -- all followed by a smiley face.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E04), AUTHOR: Anick Jesdanun]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61851-2001Feb12.html)
FCC
FCC COMMISSIONER NESS WON'T SEEK A SECOND TERM
Issue: FCC
Democrat Susan Ness, the most senior member of the Federal Communications
Commission won't seek a second term at the agency. With Ms. Ness' planned
departure, President George W. Bush must recruit three new nominees to an
agency responsible for regulating key new economy technologies like wireless
devices, cable and telephone networks, as well as broadcasting. Only three
members of the commission can be of the same party, which means that
President Bush must now find a Democrat and two Republicans. Ms. Ness has
been active in policies affecting the transition to digital television,
children's television, international negotiations over spectrum management
and other issues.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (Interactive), AUTHOR: Mark Wigfield]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB982015859727514659.htm)
(requires subscription)
TELEVISION
BLACK AND WHITE VIEWERS ARE MORE IN TUNE ON TOP 20
Issue: Television
A television show has brought African American and white households closer
than they have been in a decade -- when it comes to their TV-viewing habits,
anyway. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," a show that has been chastised for
its virtually all-white pool of contestants, had two editions rated among
the eight programs on the Top 20 lists for both black and white households.
The last television show to rate this highly on both lists was in 1996 -
ABC's "Monday Night Football." To underscore the apparent cross-over appeal
of winning a million dollars, consider this: four of the top five shows in
black homes -- UPN sitcoms "The Parkers," "The Hughleys," "Moesha" and
"Girlfriends" -- rank below No. 110 with whites. CBS's now-canceled "City of
Angels," which featured a mostly minority cast, ranked No. 7 in black homes
but No. 89 in white homes.
[SOURCE: Washington Post C01), AUTHOR: Lisa de Moraes]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61822-2001Feb12.html)
PRIVACY
PRIVACY COALITION ANNOUNCES NEW PRIVACY INITIATIVE
Issue: Privacy
The Privacy Pledge The Privacy Coalition, a nonpartisan coalition of
consumer, civil liberties, educational, library, labor, and family-based
groups, presented "The Privacy Pledge." The goal of the pledge is to set the
standard for privacy proposals in congress. Members of the coalition
include: American Library Association, American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU), Center for Media Education, Electronic Privacy Information Center
(EPIC), and the UAW.
[SOURCE: Electronic Privacy Information Center]
(http://www.epic.org/privacycoalition/coalition_press_release.html)
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