***************************************************** 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 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2004 USF Takes Half-Step Toward VoIP Judge Rejects Copyright Challenge HP Computers to Include Antivirus Application British Program Teaches Schoolchildren about Copyright USF TAKES HALF-STEP TOWARD VOIP In upgrading its aging phone system, the University of San Francisco (USF) has opted for a system that offers traditional telephony technology as well as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service. The decision allows the university to provide traditional phone service in a predictable manner, moving to VoIP only as administrators are comfortable with the technology. Tracy Schroeder, CIO at USF, said that although her staff was excited about the possibility of moving to an entirely VoIP system, the more cautious approach has given them time to perform due diligence and business analysis, thereby avoiding the risk of "a failed VOIP implementation." Schroeder said the university will benefit from a having a much more reliable, modern system with needed redundancy. Initially, two new buildings on campus will feature VoIP phone service. In the future, however, as university officials gain confidence in the system, USF can migrate to a converged data and voice system "in areas where it makes sense and when it feels that the technology is fully mature," according to Schroeder. "We want to be at the middle of the pack," Schroeder said, "with mature, widely deployed technologies." ComputerWorld, 30 November 2004 http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1122505324;fp;16;fpid;0 JUDGE REJECTS COPYRIGHT CHALLENGE A federal judge has rejected a challenge to several parts of copyright law that plaintiffs in the case said unnecessarily keep certain works out of the public domain. The nonprofit Internet Archive and the Prelinger Archives argued that so-called orphan works--books that are out of print, old films, and academic articles without significant commercial value--should be easier to archive and make publicly available. At issue in the case was the plaintiffs' contention that current law fundamentally alters the scope of copyright because it does not require owners of works to apply for copyright protection, instead granting protection irrespective of whether it is sought. The judge in the case disagreed, issuing her ruling without hearing arguments. Jennifer S. Granick, executive director of the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford University, which was involved on behalf of the plaintiffs, said the judge's ruling was improper and that the plaintiffs would appeal. Chronicle of Higher Education, 30 November 2004 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2004/11/2004113003n.htm HP COMPUTERS TO INCLUDE ANTIVIRUS APPLICATION In 2005, HP will begin installing an antivirus application called Virus Throttler on its ProLiant servers and ProCurve network switches. The application monitors network traffic and responds to unusual traffic by slowing it down and quarantining it. Most viruses and worms spread quickly across networks, often before users have an opportunity to deal with the problem. The Virus Throttler is intended to give time for users to address the situation. Because malicious code must still be handled after the Virus Throttler identifies it, the application initially will not be available for home users, who typically do not have the skills to ensure that a virus has been fully eliminated from a computer. Eventually, however, HP would like to include a consumer-friendly version of the Virus Throttler on all computers. According to HP, computers that have been tested with the Virus Throttler do not exhibit degraded performance. San Jose Mercury News, 1 December 2004 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/10312217.htm BRITISH PROGRAM TEACHES SCHOOLCHILDREN ABOUT COPYRIGHT British Music Rights (BMR), a group that represents songwriters and composers, is sponsoring a program to educate British schoolchildren between the ages of 11 and 14 about copyright and music piracy. The group has put together education packs that include lessons about copyright, royalties, and downloading music on the Internet, as well as how these issues affect the creation of original work. Music piracy in the United Kingdom is blamed for a steady decline in recent years in CD sales and for significant financial losses to recording companies and to artists and songwriters. In addition to limiting copyright violations, the education packs, which have been requested by more than 1,600 schools, are designed to prepare children for possible careers in the music industry. Guy Chambers, one of the songwriters who has publicly supported the BMR campaign, said the education packs will help shield young people who might pursue a career in the music industry from "unscrupulous" individuals. BBC, 30 November 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4055753.stm ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 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/Edupage/639 ***************************************************** 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/47 ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2005, EDUCAUSE
