Information Policy

Google loses bid for EU-wide trademark on Gmail name

Google lost its bid to get European Union-wide trademark protection for "Gmail," the name of its Web-based e-mail service. The Gmail name is too similar to an existing German trademark, according to a ruling by the EU's trademark agency published on its Web site. Google has been blocked from getting the EU rights to the name because of the trademark owned by German businessman Daniel Giersch for a slogan that includes the name "G-mail." Giersch, who received his German trademark in 2000, has been entangled in a series of European court cases against Google since the Mountain View company started its e-mail service in 2004. Giersch, CEO of P1 Private, uses the name for a mail business that lets users send electronic files and messages through a central e-mail system.

http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_8622621?nclick_check=1

Svyazinvest Privatisation to be Considered Before Mid-2008

Russia's IT and Communications Minister Leonid Reiman has expressed his hope that the privatisation of national fixed-line holding Svyazinvest will be discussed by the government before the end of 2008. Various press reports quote Reiman as saying after a meeting that the issue ought to be considered once a new government has been formed in May 2008. He added that he hoped the matter would be "looked at favourably".

http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/29632?7649

AOL to buy social network Bebo for $850 million

AOL said Thursday it will pay $850 million to acquire the online hangout Bebo, giving the struggling Internet company a foothold in an expanding business. Bebo is one of the largest social networks in Britain, is ranked No. 1 in Ireland and New Zealand and has a global membership of more than 40 million, according to AOL. In the United States, however, it ranks third behind MySpace and Facebook.

http://www.siliconvalley.com/portal/news/ci_8558153?_loopback=1

Go Daddy shuts down police-rating Web site

Domain hoster Go Daddy has shut down a Web site that lets people criticize individual police officers, saying it was using too much bandwidth. But the site owner says he is being censored after police complained. Up until Tuesday, visitors to RateMyCop.com were able to post comments and ratings on specific police officers. The site disclosed officer names and badge numbers, which is public information.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9892656-7.html

Internet Pharmacies & Cross Border Mail Orders in the European Union

Martha L. Arias, IBLS Director Various European Community laws are applicable to the issue of Internet pharmacies and their supply of medical products to buyers located in other Member States. For instance, the E-commerce Directive 2000/31/EC; the provisions of the Distance Sales Directive 97/7/EC; Directive 2001/83/EC regarding medicinal products for human use; Directive 92/28/EEC on advertising of medicinal products in the EU and currently part of the Community Code; and laws applicable to the free movement of goods throughout the Member States. Besides these community laws, domestic laws of the Member States may also play an essential role in deciding any particular case on Internet pharmacies and their supply of products to individuals located in other EU countries. This article presents the EU policies on this topic as enunciated by Court of Justice of the European Community in a 2003 case (2003 ECR I-14887).

http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=latestnews&id=2009

Google closes $3.1 billion DoubleClick acquisition

Google said yesterday it has completed its $3.1 billion takeover of DoubleClick for the New York company's online advertising management expertise, shortly after the European Union approved the deal. In approving the purchase earlier yesterday, EU regulators said the acquisition would not curb competition for online ads.

http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_8533055?nclick_check=1

comScore Releases Top German Web Rankings for January 2008

comScore released its January rankings of the largest and fastest-growing Internet properties and site categories in Germany based on data from the comScore World Metrix audience measurement service. The month saw increases to travel, career, real estate and politics sites as German Internet users reflected on the year past and prepared for 2008. eBay, with 17.6 million unique visitors, grabbed the second position among all Web properties, trailing only Google Sites.

http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=2084

EU Expected To OK Google-DoubleClick Deal Without Conditions

European regulators are expected to approve Google's $3.1 billion acquisition of Internet advertising group DoubleClick without conditions. European approval of the deal, which rival Microsoft has said would hurt competition, would be the last hurdle in Google's bid to buy DoubleClick, a transaction that would enable Google to expand beyond search ads into the online display advertising market.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200803051906DOWJONESDJONLINE001199_FORTUNE5.htm

Domain Pulse 2008: Internet Governance the Focus of Day One

Around 350 attendees came from Russia in the east to Ireland in the west, as well as a few people from elsewhere around the globe, to attend Domain Pulse 2008 in Vienna on February 21 and 22. Day one's focus was internet governance. The future of the DNS was one of the key issues addressed by Michael Nelson of Georgetown University in Washington DC, with domain names becoming less important, but their numbers still increasing, as online access by a myriad of devices skyrockets connect -- everything from the television, refrigerator, washing machine, pets, sprinkler systems and cars.

http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=4044

.Asia Sunrise Completed with Over 30,000 Domain Applications

Application periods for .Asia Sunrise successfully completed according to schedule last week on January 31, 2008. At the time of closing, DotAsia received a total of 30,780 domain name applications. These include domain names received through Pre-Sunrise, Sunrise 1, Sunrise 2, Sunrise 3, as well as the Pioneer Domains Programs. .Asia Landrush (open public registration) is set to launch at 12:00 noon UTC, February 20, 2008.

http://dotasia.org/pressreleases/DotAsia-PR-SunriseComplete-2008-02-06_EN.pdf