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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2002 ElcomSoft Acquitted of Copyright Violation Government Fears Wireless Interference with Military Radar Bush Signs E-Government Act Two Electronics Makers to Develop Linux Operating System AND Academics Push for Free, Online Access to Journals Organizations Ask for Copyright Exceptions Intel Fund to Support Two Wi-Fi Companies ELCOMSOFT ACQUITTED OF COPYRIGHT VIOLATION The Russian software company ElcomSoft, Ltd. was acquitted by a California federal court for copyright violations. The Justice Department took ElcomSoft to court, in the first such case to go to trial, for having developed a program that disables security features of e-book software from Adobe Systems. ElcomSoft's application allowed e-book users to make copies of those books and to read them on other devices, actions which are generally protected as "fair use." The Justice Department, citing the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), said the application could also allow piracy of the e-books. ElcomSoft argued that its application was not intended to support piracy and that the application is not illegal in Russia. The jury agreed with ElcomSoft, but experts nevertheless expect more such prosecutions under the DMCA. Wall Street Journal, 18 December 2002 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1040151273810568553,00.html GOVERNMENT FEARS WIRELESS INTERFERENCE WITH MILITARY RADAR The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has expressed concern over potential interference between military radar, which operates at frequencies above 5 GHz, and wireless devices using the upcoming 802.11a standard, developed by the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The new IEEE standard allows data transfer rates of up to 54 megabits per second, compared to rates of 11 megabits per second for the older 802.11b standard. But 802.11a operates between 5 and 6 GHz, posing a risk for interference with military radar. Devices using 802.11b operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Dynamic frequency selection (DFS) technology moves wireless communication to another channel when it detects a radar beam on its current channel; the DOD is working with wireless industry groups to establish sensitivity standards for DFS technology that will allow wireless devices to work properly while protecting DOD radar. IDG, 16 December 2002 http://www.idg.net/ic_992832_1794_9-10000.html BUSH SIGNS E-GOVERNMENT ACT This week President Bush signed the E-Government Act of 2002, which is intended to foster more effective and efficient electronic communication among government agencies and with government employees and the public. The bill creates an Office of Information, within the Office of Management and Budget, which is directed by a federal chief information officer. Groups such as the Information Technology Association Of America supported the bill and said its passage relatively soon after the September 11 attacks--which highlighted breakdowns in government systems--was coincidental. The bill also won support from privacy groups, which typically are opposed to measures that facilitate greater and easier gathering and sharing of personal information among government agencies. CNET, 17 December 2002 http://news.com.com/2100-1023-978297.html TWO ELECTRONICS MAKERS TO DEVELOP LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM Many high-end electronics devices aside from computers require operating systems to function. Sony Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. announced that they will develop a new Linux-based operating system for consumer electronics, including such items as televisions, DVDs, and microwave ovens. Sony spokesman Shinji Obana said the project "is designed to make products with better functions that are easier to use." Sony and Matsushita said they have received inquiries about the operating system from companies including Hitachi, IBM, NEC, Philips, Samsung, and Sharp. The source code for the operating system will also be made public to encourage its use. Associated Press, 18 December 2002 (registration req'd) http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/679910p-5063399c.html AND ***************************************************** ACADEMICS PUSH FOR FREE, ONLINE ACCESS TO JOURNALS Since the advent of the Internet, many academics have complained about the practice of charging for online access to scientific journals, as is done by many high-profile publications, including Science and Nature. Now, a $9 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation will support a new organization that will publish two new online journals, one on biology and the other on medicine, that will be entirely free. The Public Library of Science will be led by Dr. Harold E. Varmus, a Nobel laureate in medicine and president of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Varmus, one of the critics of charging for online access to scientific articles, said, "The written record is the lifeblood of science." Dr. Donald Kennedy, the editor of Science, defended the subscriptions, however, noting that the publication's standards and costs are high. He said that the number of downloads of articles relative to the subscription fee indicates that each article is being accessed for just a few cents each. New York Times, 17 December 2002 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/17/science/17JOUR.html ORGANIZATIONS ASK FOR COPYRIGHT EXCEPTIONS Several organizations, including the American Library Association, the Association of American Universities, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, will file paperwork with the U.S. Copyright Office requesting exceptions to the copy-protection provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The groups argue that electronic measures to prevent copying also limit protected fair use rights to make copies for backup and educational purposes. Most observers, and many representatives of groups that otherwise might file similar requests, admit that the odds of being granted an exception by the Copyright Office are extremely remote. Nevertheless, these and several other organizations are expected to file the requests, which are due today. Los Angeles Times, 18 December 2002 (registration req'd) http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-copy18dec18,0,5043844.story INTEL FUND TO SUPPORT TWO WI-FI COMPANIES Money from a fund set up by Intel will go to support two companies--STSN, a Wi-Fi network access company, and TeleSym, an IP telephony software company--involved in Wi-Fi broadband technology. Of the Intel Communications Fund's $500 million, $150 million is intended for companies working with Wi-Fi technology. Intel's upcoming Banias chip set targets the wireless market, and, according to Intel spokesman Daniel Francisco, the work of these two companies will complement Intel's efforts to "support mobility and offer anytime, anywhere high-speed access to the Internet." NewsFactor Network, 18 December 2002 http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/20287.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html 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] For past issues of Edupage or information about translations of Edupage into other languages, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS EDUCAUSE publishes periodicals, including "EQ" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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