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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2003 Free Antivirus Software from Computer Associates Closing Gate to Network for Unprotected Computers Feds to Revisit Eolas Patent Microsoft to Allow Developer Access to Office 2003 FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE FROM COMPUTER ASSOCIATES Computer Associates (CA) announced this week it will make its eTrust EZ Armor software--which includes virus protection and a personal firewall--available at no charge to consumers in an effort to protect corporate networks from the large number of unprotected home users. CA's Ian Hameroff said that his company remains focused on corporate customers but that threats increasingly come from home users. CA's announcement sent the stock prices of competing antivirus companies falling. Symantec's stock dropped seven percent, while that of Network Associates fell five percent. At least one analyst said the reaction was excessive, however. Donovan Gow of American Technology Research noted that CA only holds six percent of the antivirus market worldwide and just one percent of the consumer market. Hameroff said CA's motivation in offering the software for free "was not to erode the market share of our competitors." CNET, 18 November 2003 http://news.com.com/2100-7355-5108904.html CLOSING GATE TO NETWORK FOR UNPROTECTED COMPUTERS Networking-equipment giant Cisco Systems will begin offering technology next year to scan individual computers for current virus-protection software before they are allowed access to a network. Computers found to be lacking adequate software can be blocked entirely, given restricted access, or directed to sources of appropriate antivirus software. Cisco Chief Executive John Chambers said that network security threats cannot be adequately addressed by reactive measures. Three leading makers of antivirus software, Network Associates, Symantec Corp., and Trend Micro, will include Cisco's new technology in their products. Security experts agreed that strategies like the one presented by Cisco will help significantly in combating computer viruses such as the Blaster worm, which reportedly infected 128,000 computers within three minutes of being released. Wall Street Journal, 19 November 2003 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/ FEDS TO REVISIT EOLAS PATENT In a rare move at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, James E. Rogan, the director of the office, has ordered a reevaluation of the patent issued to the University of California for technology found in virtually all Web browsers. The technology is at the root of a recent $520 million judgment against Microsoft for infringing the patent in its Internet Explorer browser. The award is for compensation to the university and to Eolas Technologies, the company established to license the patent. Highlighting the amount of effort that would be required of technology companies to modify their products to avoid infringement of the patent or the financial burden of paying royalties to Eolas, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) asked for a review of the patent. The request cites the potential for "substantial economic and technical damage to the operation of the World Wide Web" and claims that the technology in question--which allows browsers to automatically launch plug-ins and applets--was based on "prior art." If so, the patent could be declared invalid. A decision is not expected for at least a year. Chronicle of Higher Education, 18 November 2003 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2003/11/2003111801n.htm MICROSOFT TO ALLOW DEVELOPER ACCESS TO OFFICE 2003 Responding to continued market pressure to move away from the model of proprietary software, Microsoft will soon give developers a look at the nuts and bolts of Office 2003. Beginning next month, the software company will offer a royalty-free licensing program for developers to access the Office 2003 schemas, using XML schema definitions from the World Wide Web Consortium. Office 2003 relies largely on XML, and Microsoft's decision to allow access to the underpinnings of the software is seen as an effort to encourage developers to use XML as the document format when writing applications to integrate the Office software with open-source software. Laura DiDio of the Yankee Group said, "Open source is gaining ground, and Microsoft is responding to market demands; it cannot exist as a monopoly." NewsFactor Network, 18 November 2003 http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22711.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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