***************************************************** Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. *****************************************************
TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2006 Antispam Outfit Crushed by Spammer Retaliation Lawsuits Target Software Pirates on eBay RIAA Sues XM Recording Device ANTISPAM OUTFIT CRUSHED BY SPAMMER RETALIATION An antispam start-up based in Israel has shut its doors after a barrage of retaliatory action from spammers. In July 2005, Blue Security launched the Blue Frog service to fight spam. Users who signed up with the service would submit spam they received, which Blue Security would then use to flood the servers of spammers and the merchants whose products were advertised in those spam messages. If a spammer had a Web site that allowed users to opt out of receiving more messages, Blue Security would swamp those sites with opt-out requests. Officials from Blue Security said their tactic decreased the amount of spam many of its customers received, but it also prompted spammers to respond. Starting in May, Blue Security was the target of a denial-of-service attack, and Blue Security customers began receiving threats from spammers. The prospect of further attacks from spammers, many of whom have deep resources at their disposal, led Blue Security to end operations. "We cannot take the responsibility for an ever-escalating cyber war through our continued operations" said a statement on the company's site. "We believe this is the responsible thing to do." BBC, 17 May 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4990622.stm LAWSUITS TARGET SOFTWARE PIRATES ON EBAY Software makers have filed a set of lawsuits against individuals suspected of selling pirated or unlicensed software on Internet auction sites such as eBay. Software industry representatives, who estimate that $11 to $12 billion is lost annually to piracy, believe that 90 percent of software sold on auction sites violated copyright or licensing agreements. McAfee and Symantec, the two leading makers of antivirus software, have filed lawsuits against several individuals from around the country. Officials from the Software and Information Industry Association said they plan to file batches of lawsuits monthly against individuals selling software illegally. At this point, the suits do not target the auction service or individuals who purchase software from suspected pirates. A spokesperson from eBay said that although the company recognizes the illicit sale of software as a concern, they do not see it as "a big problem." Silicon Valley, 16 May 2006 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/14594174.htm RIAA SUES XM RECORDING DEVICE The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed a federal lawsuit against XM Radio, broadcaster of digital radio, alleging that the company's new Inno recording device will allow "massive wholesale infringement" of copyrights. XM, which introduced the Inno this month, had been in talks with the RIAA over royalties for songs saved on the portable device, but those talks reportedly broke down. In its complaint, the RIAA argued that the new device will allow users to record any of the vast amount of content that XM broadcasts, leaving users with "little need ever again to buy legitimate copies of plaintiffs' sound recordings." The suit asks for $150,000 in damages for every song recorded by XM customers. Officials from XM pointed out that digital radio is not an on-demand service, meaning listeners can only record what the station happens to play, unlike an online music service such as Apple's iTunes. XM said the new device allows consumers to record radio broadcasts, an action that has legal protection. CNET, 17 May 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-6073133.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. To access resources including articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions, and blog content, go to http://www.educause.edu/resources ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2006, EDUCAUSE
