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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2005 *** Holiday Break *** FTC Says CAN-SPAM Working Japan Explores Search Engine Development Patent Office Expected to Reject NTP Patents Hackers Hit Security Company Database Also************************************* Seagate to Acquire Maxtor IBM Acquires Micromuse Ericsson Buys Marconi Name and Most Assets UC Retains Contract to Run Los Alamos Lab ***Following this issue of Edupage, publication will be temporarily suspended during the winter holidays. The next issue of Edupage will be published on January 4, 2006.*** FTC SAYS CAN-SPAM WORKING The Federal Trade Commission reported to Congress on the effectiveness of the CAN-SPAM Act, concluding that legal action against spammers and improved e-mail filtering have reduced the amount of junk e-mail reaching consumers. The agency has filed 21 lawsuits under CAN-SPAM. Recommendations include passing new laws to help regulators trace spammers and sellers outside the United States, better user education on spam prevention, and continued improvement in filtering tools and techniques. The Register, 21 December 2005 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/21/can-spam/ JAPAN EXPLORES SEARCH ENGINE DEVELOPMENT The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has organized a study group of universities and electronics companies, including Hitachi and Panasonic, to consider the merits of creating a search engine specifically for Japan's Web users. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has publicly stated that Japan needs to extend its influence in the IT arena. The government reportedly is considering spending up to $885 million on the search-engine plan as part of its efforts to become more dominant online. ZDNet, 21 December 2005 http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6004037.html PATENT OFFICE EXPECTED TO REJECT NTP PATENTS The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office notified NTP, a patent holding company, and Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the BlackBerry wireless e-mail device, that it expects to reject the five patents held by NTP. The two companies are involved in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by NTP. The patent office had issued preliminary rejections of the e-mail patents in the past, but speeded its review process in response to a request by RIM. The patent review is separate from the patent infringement lawsuit, which could potentially stop most BlackBerry service in the United States. NTP expects to appeal the final patent rulings, a process that could take several years. New York Times, 19 December 2005 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/20/technology/20rim.html HACKERS HIT SECURITY COMPANY DATABASE Hackers gained access to the financial and personal data of 3,800 law enforcement and network security professionals when they broke into the customer database of Guidance Software in Pasadena, California. Guidance Software is a leading provider of software to diagnose hacker attacks, and its EnCase product is used by hundreds of security researchers and law enforcement agencies worldwide, including the U.S. Secret Service and FBI. The break-in took place in November and was discovered December 7. The company alerted its customers within two days after the discovery and assured them it would no longer store customer credit card data. The company is working with the Secret Service on a detailed investigation of the incident. Washington Post, 20 December 2004 (registration req'd) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/19/AR2005121901525.html ALSO ******************************************* SEAGATE TO ACQUIRE MAXTOR Seagate Technology announced plans to acquire rival hard-disk drive maker Maxtor Corporation for $1.9 billion in stock. The companies expect to share expenditures on research and development to expand the range of products offered, with anticipated cost savings of $300 million a year. At the same time, they warned that combined revenues will probably also fall, despite predictions of increased earnings per share following the first year of joint operations. The deal must next be approved by shareholders and regulators. ComputerWorld, 21 December 2005 http://www.computerworld.com/hardwaretopics/storage/story/0,10801,107246,00.html IBM ACQUIRES MICROMUSE IBM plans to acquire San Francisco-based Micromuse Inc. for $865 million in cash. Micromuse software manages video and voice traffic on computer networks. The company's 1,800 clients include America Online, E-Trade Financial, Verizon Communications, and government customers. After approval by shareholders and regulators to complete the deal, Micromuse will be folded into IBM's Tivoli software division. Yahoo, 21 December 2005 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051221/ap_on_bi_ge/ibm_micromuse ERICSSON BUYS MARCONI NAME AND MOST ASSETS Marconi shareholders approved the $2.1 billion sale of the Marconi name and most of the company's assets to Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson. Marconi plans to keep its U.K. services division, to be renamed Telent. The acquisition reportedly helps Ericsson meet demand for mobile and fixed broadband Internet access, which requires upgrading of telecommunications networks to increase transmission capacity, through Marconi's strength in optical systems. BBC, 21 December 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4548646.stm UC RETAINS CONTRACT TO RUN LOS ALAMOS LAB The University of California won the right to continue managing the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The contract went out for bid earlier in 2005 for the first time in response to financial and security lapses at the lab. UC will manage the seven-year contract in concert with Bechtel Corporation. San Jose Mercury News, 21 December 2005 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/13458192.htm ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, 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] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. 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