***************************************************** Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. *****************************************************
TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, MARCH 01, 2004 Report Recommends Balance in Copyright Issues University Supercomputer to Address Global Weather Changes Labor Costs Push Tech Jobs Overseas REPORT RECOMMENDS BALANCE IN COPYRIGHT ISSUES A new report from a policy group in Washington is likely to add fuel to the debate over copyright in the digital age. The report from the Committee for Economic Development argues that although digital media open new doors for copyright infringement, the solution should lie with "clear, concentrated thinking, rather than quick legislative or regulatory action." At least some of the restrictions on electronic content proposed by the entertainment industry are likely to disturb the balance between content owners and the public, according to the report. Debora L. Spar of Harvard Business School noted that conceptions of "a more liberal regime of copyright" are becoming more mainstream, not just "a wacky idea cloistered in the ivory tower," but that the existing system of copyright is far from simply being thrown out. Jack Valenti of the Motion Picture Association of America said that although he had not seen the report, the notion that efforts by the entertainment industry to protect copyright will stifle innovation are "malarkey." New York Times, 1 March 2004 http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/01/technology/01rights.html UNIVERSITY SUPERCOMPUTER TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WEATHER CHANGES A new supercomputer at the University of California at Irvine may strengthen arguments made by researchers involved in climate-change studies. Detractors of climate-change research have often pointed to variables not accounted for in computer simulations, according to UC Irvine's Charles Zender, an assistant professor of earth system science. The new computer, dubbed the Virtual Climate Time Machine, has enough processing power to add many of those variables into simulations, potentially providing researchers with stronger data supporting theories about global warming and its causes. The new computer will not only make predictions about future changes but will also examine historical data, looking for clues about changes that have already happened. Chronicle of Higher Education, 5 March 2004 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/prm/weekly/v50/i26/26a02602.htm LABOR COSTS PUSH TECH JOBS OVERSEAS Executives from technology companies speaking at the Reuters Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Summit in New York last week said that although the tech sector is experiencing an upswing, labor costs will drive most new tech jobs overseas. An executive from Electronic Data Systems Corp., for example, said his company's pool of tech workers in countries such as India will likely rise from 9,000 today to 20,000 by 2006. Many companies at the event said they have no plans to increase their workforces. Several states are considering legislation that would require companies working on government contracts to use employees inside the United States. Michael Turner of the Information Technology Institute suggested that federal laws that prohibit sending personal information abroad--such as exist in several European countries--might be a more effective means of fighting the trend of sending tech jobs overseas. Reuters, 27 February 2004 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4455471 ***************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************** 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
