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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2004 P2P Music Downloads Increase RIAA Requests Action from ISPs Microsoft Agrees to Change Windows P2P MUSIC DOWNLOADS INCREASE According to data released by research firm The NPD Group, the number of people trading files online rose in October and November, after having fallen during the previous six months. Russ Crupnick of The NPD Group said the increase could have been a result of a seasonal upswing in demand or of users' wanting to compare peer-to-peer music sharing with legal online music services, several of which were launched last year. Crupnick also noted that the number of file traders is still lower than it was prior to lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A spokesperson from the RIAA said his group was not concerned by the new data from The NPD Group. Jonathan Lamy said the RIAA's measure of success is "creating an environment where legal online music services can flourish" and that indicators of that are encouraging. New York Times, 15 January 2004 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Music-Downloading.html RIAA REQUESTS ACTION FROM ISPS In December, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sent a letter to most of the 50 largest ISPs requesting that they notify customers who have been targeted for possible prosecution for copyright infringement. As a concession to critics of its lawsuits against individuals, the RIAA had agreed to notify file traders before filing lawsuits against them. An appeals court later ruled, however, that the RIAA could not compel ISPs to reveal customers' identities until a lawsuit was filed. The RIAA's proposal to ISPs was that the trade group provide IP addresses of users suspected of copyright violations, and ISPs would then notify those users without identifying them to the RIAA. Officials of the RIAA said they believe such a strategy would significantly increase awareness among Internet users and decrease illegal file trading. So far, however, none of the ISPs that received the letter has agreed to the proposal. Internet News, 16 January 2004 http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3300211 MICROSOFT AGREES TO CHANGE WINDOWS Microsoft has agreed to make changes in its Windows operating system to allow users to open a non-Microsoft browser when shopping for music. Currently, even if a user has designated a browser other than Internet Explorer as the default browser, Internet Explorer opens when users click a "shop for music online" feature. Officials from the Justice Department, which is responsible for monitoring Microsoft's compliance with a 2002 antitrust ruling, had complained about the feature, suggesting it violated the terms of the ruling. Microsoft disputed that charge and said it is making the operating system change "for business reasons." A company spokesperson said that while Microsoft does not agree with the assessment of the Justice Department, "we are pleased that the changes we are making also address government concerns." The updates to the operating system are expected as a patch in February or March. Reuters, 16 January 2004 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4135366 ***************************************************** 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. For information on EDUCAUSE publications see http://www.educause.edu/pub/ ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/conference/ ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2004, EDUCAUSE
