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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, JUNE 02, 2003 Few Specifics in DMA's Fight against Spam New Kazaa Pushes Legal Downloads PeopleSoft to Acquire J. D. Edwards Microsoft Adds Security Certifications AND Lawmakers Put Brakes on Cal State Computer Project BYU Returns Design Awards FEW SPECIFICS IN DMA'S FIGHT AGAINST SPAM The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has issued a "working strategy" for tackling the problem of spam in a one-page letter to its members. The strategy, which the DMA's Louis Mastria described as "a strategic view, a 30,000-foot view, of the e-mail marketing landscape," outlines a set of principles that the DMA supports regarding e-mail marketing, but it does not offer many specific suggestions for steps to take. Mastria noted that many groups pay close attention to what the DMA says, including marketers, consumer groups, the press, and government officials, and said the goal of the strategy was never to produce "a detailed prescriptive guide." Michael Mayor, president and COO of NetCreations and a DMA member, was disturbed by the lack of detail. "I could follow each of those six principles and still be a spammer," he said. Other observers found the broad focus of the strategy appropriate for the DMA, saying that other groups should concentrate on the details. Internet News, 30 May 2003 http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article.php/2214791 NEW KAZAA PUSHES LEGAL DOWNLOADS Sharman Networks Ltd. is promoting features on its popular Kazaa file-sharing software to encourage users to choose authorized instead of illegally copied content. Sharman is working with Brilliant Digital Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Altnet, to provide users with access to authorized content. Altnet, however, has yet to obtain authorized content from the movie and recording industries, who oppose Sharman and others offering peer-to-peer services. The new beta version of Kazaa, to be released this week, will guide users to Altnet-provided channels for music, games, and other content where they will be charged for downloads. Altnet will entice users with points and prizes awarded for using its service. Wall Street Journal, 2 June 2003 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB10545095121780200,00.html PEOPLESOFT TO ACQUIRE J. D. EDWARDS Human-resources software maker PeopleSoft is acquiring manufacturing-integration software maker J. D. Edwards for $1.7 billion dollars' worth of stock. Against the backdrop of weak corporate spending on technology and a sagging performance, the merger is viewed as PeopleSoft's bid to compete against traditional rivals Oracle and SAP while making inroads to the profitable midmarket sector, where Microsoft and SAP are seeking dominance. One analyst cautioned, however, that the opportunities in the midmarket range may be lost by the time the two companies effectively integrate. The new company will generate $2.8 billion in annual revenue, employ 13,000, and service some 11,000 customers in 150 countries. CNET, 2 June 2003 http://news.com.com/2100-1021_3-1011938.html MICROSOFT ADDS SECURITY CERTIFICATIONS This week Microsoft is expected to announce two new certifications focused on security; one will be more rigorous than the other. Both certifications are very similar to the existing Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification but with an emphasis on security, and both apply to Windows 2000. Certifications for Windows 2003 are expected later in the year. Dan Truax of Microsoft said the new certification programs are a response to suggestions from consumers and partners that the company create certifications specific to Microsoft products and not in competition with other certifications. Usefulness of the certifications is likely to be mixed. Some companies do not use them for hiring criteria, while others will not hire a software engineer without a certification. ComputerWorld, 2 June 2003 http://www.idg.net/ic_1319683_9677_1-5046.html AND ***************************************************** LAWMAKERS PUT BRAKES ON CAL STATE COMPUTER PROJECT Two California lawmakers requested a moratorium on spending for a computer-replacement project at the California State University System known as the Common Management System. The project, estimated to cost $440-$662 million over nine years, aims to replace computer systems on Cal State's 23 campuses with one system running on PeopleSoft software. An audit report accuses Cal State of understating costs and inadequate project planning. Democrats Manny Diaz of the State Assembly and State Senator Richard Alarcon requested in writing that California State Chancellor Charles B. Reed redirect $50 million of the project's $90 million earmarked for the upcoming academic year to pay for educational programs slated to be cut. The lawmakers also seek a partial moratorium on project spending "until the Legislature fully understands the impacts of this project." Cal State's Director of Public Affairs Colleen Bentley-Adler said Chancellor Reed would likely consider a partial but not full moratorium on spending. Chronicle of Higher Education, 2 June 2003 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/daily/2003/06/2003060202t.htm BYU RETURNS DESIGN AWARDS The student news group at Brigham Young University (BYU) has returned two awards won by its Web site after reports that the students who had designed the site lifted elements from another site. The two students who built the site later confirmed the allegations. The BYU NewsNet site had won first place in Web page design from the University of Missouri chapter of the Society of Newspaper Design and second place from a trade publication for best online college newspaper. According to Jim Kelly, NewsNet's general manager, the students used graphics and table definitions from Builder.com, as well as a similar color palette. The similarities between the NewsNet site and the Builder.com site were originally reported by a BYU student in April. ABC News, 31 May 2003 http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Business/ap20030531_835.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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