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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 08, 2003 Bush Administration Revises Security Plan Technology Measures in the 108th Congress Writer of DeCSS Program Acquitted AND Columbia Closes Fathom Apple Unveils New Browser Microsoft Discounts Media Technology BUSH ADMINISTRATION REVISES SECURITY PLAN The most recent draft of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, acquired by the Associated Press, shifts responsibility to defend the Internet to the Department of Homeland Security and away from the private sector, while reducing the number of security proposals from 86 to 49. A recommendation for the government to regularly consult with privacy advocates about how proposed security measures would affect civil liberties has been eliminated, prompting James X. Dempsey of the Washington-based Center for Democracy and Technology to question the Bush administration's �willfully raising privacy concerns,� even after having been heavily criticized by privacy advocates in the past. The draft also clearly states that the Defense Department can wage cyberwarfare if the nation is attacked and increases the role of the CIA and FBI. Critics pointed out the lack of new regulations in the plan, saying that regulations would provide the easiest method for improving security. They implied that the White House's decision to eschew new regulations was a response to concerns that U.S. corporations would face financial burdens in compliance. President Bush is expected to sign the plan in the coming weeks. Wired News, 7 January 2003 http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,57109,00.html TECHNOLOGY MEASURES IN THE 108TH CONGRESS While the 107th Congress left dozens of technology-related bills on the table when it adjourned, observers expect renewed attention and interest in measures dealing with spam, copyright, and Internet taxes from the 108th session of Congress. A bill that would significantly alter the Digital Millennium Copyright Act was reintroduced Tuesday. The bill would affirm users' rights to circumvent copy-protection measures in the name of fair use of legally purchased products. Last year Sen. Fritz Hollings introduced a bill that would force makers of computers and consumer electronics to install copy-protection technology, but the bill died, in part due to opposition from Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Dick Armey. In the new Congress, however, Leahy has lost his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee and Armey has retired, signaling a possible reintroduction of the Hollings bill. A recent announcement that the Direct Marketing Association will support anti-spam measures, coupled with a continued rise in the amount of spam and associated costs, could lead to spam-limiting legislation from this session of Congress. CNET, 8 January 2003 http://news.com.com/2100-1023-979623.html WRITER OF DECSS PROGRAM ACQUITTED In a blow to the U.S. film industry, Norwegian teen Jon Lech Johansen was found innocent on all counts in a complaint filed against him for violating computer break-in laws by the U.S. Motion Picture Association and the DVD Copy Control Association in January 2000. Now 19, �DVD-Jon� was 15 when he wrote and posted on the Internet the DeCSS software, which decodes the Content Scrambling System (CSS) used by the film industry to prevent illegal copying of DVD films. CSS also prevents consumers from playing DVDs on certain devices, however, and from making legal copies of DVDs. Head Judge Irene Sogn ruled that there was no proof that Johansen or others had used the program for illegal purposes and that consumers have rights to DVDs obtained legally "even if the films are played in a different way than the makers had foreseen." No decision has been made about an appeal in the case. Washington Post, 7 January 2003 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20997-2003Jan7.html AND ***************************************************** COLUMBIA CLOSES FATHOM Columbia University has announced that because of continued unprofitability, the Fathom online-learning venture would be shut down. Fathom was created about two years ago as a for-profit company to develop Web-based courses and sell them to the public. Fathom attracted a number of high-profile partners for development of content, including the American Film Institute, the Cambridge University Press, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the New York Public Library, RAND, the University of Chicago, and the University of Michigan system. Though officials at Columbia would not release investment totals for Fathom, the university in 2001 reportedly funded Fathom with $14.9 million and recouped only $700,000, in fees and sales revenue. Robert Kasdin, senior executive vice president at Columbia, said the decision to dissolve Fathom reflects an understanding that "the university is going to be better served if we focus [resources] on the campus-based initiatives." Chronicle of Higher Education, 8 January 2003 http://chronicle.com/free/2003/01/2003010701t.htm APPLE UNVEILS NEW BROWSER At the Macworld Expo, Apple Computer unveiled a new Web browser, called Safari. The new browser, which only runs on Mac OS X 10.2 or higher, can read Web pages aloud, includes a Google search field, tracks recently visited URLs, and includes a feature to block pop-up ads. Apple also said Safari is faster than competing browsers, including Internet Explorer, Netscape, and Chimera. IDC analyst Dan Kusnetzky, however, is skeptical that the new product will be able to change Apple's fortunes. The company has been losing ground for five consecutive years, and, said Kusnetzky, unless Apple can "radically change the game," Linux will likely "take the number two spot in the desktop OS market from Mac by the middle of 2003." Although no one expects Safari to challenge Internet Explorer's dominance of the browser market, Apple's new browser will give existing Apple customers an alternative to Microsoft software. NewsFactor Network, 8 January 2003 http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/20409.html MICROSOFT DISCOUNTS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY Microsoft said it will offer discounts on its Windows Media software to makers of consumer electronics, making the Microsoft product more attractive than similar products from other companies, such as MPEG-4. According to Will Poole of Microsoft, the software maker's goal is to ensure a better experience for users with Windows operating systems when using electronic media devices such as camcorders or DVD players. Analysts agreed that Microsoft's offer would be tempting to many device manufacturers. Richard Doherty of the Envisioneering Group said, "They've come up with a licensing program that is bound to shock the industry." New York Times, 7 January 2003 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/07/business/media/07SOFT.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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