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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2006 USPTO to Work with Open Source Developers FTC Wins Settlement for Bogus Antispyware Scheme U.K. IT Graduates Criticize Universities University Looks for Technophobes for Study Google Ponders Starting an Online Bookstore Data Stolen on Resort Guests USPTO TO WORK WITH OPEN SOURCE DEVELOPERS The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will participate in a series of efforts intended to improve the quality of software patents and reduce the time and money organizations currently spend challenging and defending patents, particularly for open source applications. As open source technologies have flourished, high-profile disputes over the validity of software patents and over so-called prior art have become a common aspect of intellectual property concerns. Many have faulted the USPTO for issuing too many patents, saying that many of them rely on components developed by others. The patent office will work with open source developers and industry to establish more and clearer channels of communication about technologies. Such an open exchange of information, it is hoped, will reduce the number of unwarranted patents issued while minimizing the efforts spent defending legitimate patents. In another initiative, the USPTO will develop a quality index for patents. New York Times, 10 January 2006 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/technology/10blue.html FTC WINS SETTLEMENT FOR BOGUS ANTISPYWARE SCHEME The operators of two supposed antispyware products agreed to pay nearly $2 million to settle complaints by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that the products amounted to nothing more than a scam. Last year, the FTC charged the operators of Spykiller and Spyware Assassin with running similar schemes to defraud consumers. According to the FTC, both companies used pop-up ads and e-mail to draw consumers to the companies' Web sites, where users could supposedly receive free scans of their machines. After the scans reported spyware, which frequently did not exist, users were offered a spyware-removal service for around $30-40. The removal also did not do what was advertised, said the FTC. In addition, many of the e-mail messages violated provisions of the CAN-SPAM Act. The makers of Spyware Assassin agreed to pay $76,000, which represents the amount the FTC spent on its investigation. Makers of Spykiller will pay $1.9 million. Internet News, 5 January 2006 http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3575421 U.K. IT GRADUATES CRITICIZE UNIVERSITIES A recent study indicates high levels of dissatisfaction among IT graduates in the United Kingdom, both with their education and with governmental efforts to help them find jobs. According to the study, which was paid for by training firm FDM, 46 percent of respondents said the training they received in university courses did not provide them with appropriate skills for today's workplace. Specifically, graduates complained that they were not taught Java or .Net, two key technologies in the commercial sector. Forty-one percent of respondents said that if they had it to do again, they would skip a university education in favor of entering the workforce and receiving on-the-job training. Graduates also were not happy with job assistance from the government. Just 6 percent of respondents said the government is adequately helping them find work. The Register, 11 January 2006 http://www.theregister.com/2006/01/11/grads_say_courses_no_good/ UNIVERSITY LOOKS FOR TECHNOPHOBES FOR STUDY Researchers at the University of Dundee are looking for subjects for a study about how to make technology more appealing to users who are not especially comfortable with the latest gadgets. Alex Carmichael, research fellow at the university, said, "Unfortunately a lot of 'modern technology' tends to be designed by relatively young and technically savvy people, effectively for other young, technically savvy people." Many users may believe in the advantages of technology but are uneasy with having to learn how it works. In addition, the change between 2008 and 2012 from analog to digital television will force many users to adjust to new technology, whether they want to or not. The research project, which is seeking individuals over 40 who have difficulty adapting to technology, will look at ways to smooth that transition, including changes to interfaces and controls and possibly using new devices for purposes that would be more appropriate for users in their 40s. BBC, 6 January 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4588322.stm GOOGLE PONDERS STARTING AN ONLINE BOOKSTORE At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), officials from Google said they are considering launching an online bookstore, though they were quick to say such a venture would depend on permission from copyright holders. Google has been embroiled in ongoing legal disputes with publishers and other copyright holders over its effort to scan millions of texts, creating what CEO Eric Schmidt called "the world's largest card catalogue." Despite Google's contention that the scanning project does not violate copyright, many copyright holders disagree and have challenged the project in court. An online bookstore would be a fundamentally different proposition, according to Google officials, and such a plan would only go forward with the express permission of copyright holders. During the CES, Google unveiled an online video store, the company's first offering that allows consumers to pay for premium content. BBC, 10 January 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4598478.stm DATA STOLEN ON RESORT GUESTS The owners of a luxury hotel in the Bahamas announced that personal information on more than 50,000 guests was stolen from the hotel's computer system. The data stolen from the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island include names, addresses, Social Security numbers, bank account information, credit card numbers, and driver's license numbers. Representatives of the resort said they do not know whether the breach was the work of an insider or of an outside hacker. They said they have no reports so far that any of the information has been used fraudulently, but the resort is notifying all affected guests. Those affected can take advantage of a year-long credit monitoring service paid for by the hotel. CNET, 10 January 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-7348_3-6025591.html ***************************************************** 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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