Court orders YouTube to give Viacom video logs

By ANICK JESDANUN, AP Internet Writer

YouTube

U.S. District Judge Louis L. Stanton authorized full access to the YouTube logs after Viacom Inc. and other copyright holders argued that they needed the data to show whether their copyright-protected videos are more heavily watched than amateur clips.

The data would not be publicly released but disclosed only to the plaintiffs, and it would include less specific identifiers than a user's real name or e-mail address.

Lawyers for Google Inc., which owns YouTube, said producing 12 terabytes of data — equivalent to the text of roughly 12 million books — would be expensive, time-consuming and a threat to users' privacy.

The database includes information on when each video gets played, which can be used to determine how often a clip is viewed. Attached to each entry is each viewer's unique login ID and the Internet Protocol, or IP, address for that viewer's computer.

Stanton ruled this week that the plaintiffs had a legitimate need for the information and that the privacy concerns are speculative.

Stanton rejected a request from the plaintiffs for Google to disclose the source code — the technical secret sauce — powering its market-leading search engine, saying there's no evidence Google manipulated its search algorithms to treat copyright-infringing videos differently.

The court has yet to rule on Google's requests to question comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert of Viacom's Comedy Central.

Viacom is seeking at least $1 billion in damages from Google, saying YouTube has built a business by using the Internet to "willfully infringe" copyrights on Viacom shows, which include Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob SquarePants" cartoon.

The lawsuit was combined with a similar case filed by a British soccer league and other parties.

Together, the plaintiffs are trying to prove that YouTube has known of copyright infringement and can do more to stop it, a finding that could dissolve the immunity protections that service providers have when they merely host content submitted by their users.

Though Google said giving the plaintiffs access to YouTube viewer data would threaten users' privacy, Stanton referred to Google's own blog entry in which the company argued that the IP address alone cannot identify a specific individual.

In a statement, Google said it was "disappointed the court granted Viacom's overreaching demand for viewing history. We are asking Viacom to respect users' privacy and allow us to anonymize the logs before producing them under the court's order."

Google did not say whether it would appeal the ruling or seek to narrow it.

Stanton's ruling made only passing reference to a 1988 federal law barring the disclosure of specific video materials that subscribers request or obtain.

Kurt Opsahl, a senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said Stanton should have considered that law along with constitutional free-speech rights, including a right to read or view materials anonymously.

He said a user's ID can sometimes include identifying information such as a first initial and last name.

After Google resisted, a federal judge ruled that Google was obliged to turn over only a sample of Web addresses in its search index, not the actual search terms requested.

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Lithuania: Attacks Focused on Hosting Company

Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service

A vulnerability in a Web server contributed to attacks on some 300 Web sites in Lithuania earlier this week, a computer security expert said on Friday.

The Web sites were defaced after Lithuania passed a law prohibiting the public display of symbols dating from the Soviet Union era, as well as the playing of the Soviet national anthem.

The attacks, which started on Sunday and subsided by Monday, saw many Web sites defaced with pro-Soviet slogans and symbols in an apparent retaliation from hackers.

The majority of the Web sites were hosted on a single physical Web server, which had a vulnerability either in the Web server software or Linux operating system, said an official with Lithuania's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) on Friday. The hosting company was advised on how to fix the problem.

The server was hosted by a company called Hostex, formerly known as MicroLink Lithuania, said Marius Urkis, head of the Academic and Research Network (LITNET) CERT, a different but related computer security organization.

The attacks in Lithuania were reminiscent of a similar situation in Estonia in April and May 2007, after the government there decided to move a Soviet-era memorial to soldiers who served in World War II. That decision caused protests and violence from the Russian minority living in Estonia. Web sites run by the government, bank and schools experienced severe denial-of-service attacks, which were blamed on pro-Russian hackers. The Russian government denied involvement or knowledge of the attacks.

In Lithuania, the passage of the law has not caused protests or much outcry, although the ethnic Russian population in Vilnius is less than 10 percent, Urkis said.

Urkis said it is possible some Russians are upset over the law and would undertake the cyber attacks.

The CERT official said that the matter has been referred to the police, which has a special department under the Ministry of the Interior that handles cybercrime.

Officials do know that proxy servers likely located in Western Europe were employed to perform the hacking. That could make it more difficult for investigators, who will have to trace a winding electronic path in an attempt to find the perpetrators.

"I think it will take some time to find the real attackers," the CERT official said.

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1 euro eBay baby goes home

By Natalie Weinstein, CNET

eBay

"The child has been returned to his parents," prosecutor Johannes Kreuzpointer told the AP on Thursday.

The parents had told the authorities the posting had been a joke. Prosecutors eventually agreed and dropped their investigation into child trafficking, the news service reported.

The original ad that ran May 24 stated: "Offering my nearly new baby for sale, as it has gotten too loud. It is a male baby, nearly 28 inches long and can be used either in a baby carrier or a stroller." The parents, both in their early 20s and residents of Unterallgau, were not identified. The bid price, 1 euro, is equivalent to about $1.57.

Otto Gaschler, deputy chief of youth services in Unterallgau, told the AP that the posting was "like a game for them. They never thought that this stupid joke could have such an effect."

Gaschler said he didn't know how exactly how long the infant was away from home but said it was for several days. "The parents always had contact to their son," he noted. A social worker is checking on the family, he told the AP.

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Ask.com closes Dictionary.com deal

By Natalie Weinstein, CNET

AskLexicoDictionaryThesaurusReference

Ask, a wholly owned subsidiary of InterActiveCorp, had announced the all-cash deal in mid-May. Financial terms of the deal, which closed Thursday, were not released. Lexico, a privately held company based in Long Beach, Calif., debuted in 1995 with Dictionary.

Altogether, Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Reference had more than 28 million unique visitors in March, according to Lexico.

In May, Ask said the acquisition would increase its unique monthly users by 11 percent to 145 million.

According to statistics-tracker Hitwise, Ask had 4.23 percent of the U.S. search market in May. Microsoft had 5.89 percent, Yahoo had 19.95 percent, and Google overwhelmed them all with 68.29 percent.

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Ultra Mobile PC Buyer's Guide

Bill O'Brien

This classification appears to cover ASUS Eee PC 901, Acer's Aspire One, HP's 2133 Mininote, MSI's Wind, and others. This genre moves the bar up to an 8.9-inch or even a 10-inch screen, has a cover just like a portable, and, while the keyboard isn't full size (even by portable definitions), at least you can prop it on your lap while you type with both hands.

According to Intel, the ASUS R2H, Samsung Q1 Ultra, and the TabletKiosk eo* i7210 UMPC device are prime examples of MIDs. (You might see the inherent problem in recommending a UMPC as a MID device. It doesn't exactly clarify the platform.) The general consensus about MIDs is that, no matter how much media chatter they seem to be accruing, they are too loosely defined at this point to be much of a challenge.

Because the only real distinction right now seems to be that if they're Windows-based you call them UMPCs, but they're MIDs if they run Linux, they are doing an excellent job of muddying the water.

Included among the might-have-beens and wannabe UMPCs, we've uncovered some honest-to-specification (well, mostly) UMPC devices for your consideration. While some are from companies you know, ASUS, Gigabyte, and Samsung among them, names such as Amtek, OQO, Roan Digital, Vye, and WiBrain may be new to you.

Familiar name or not, they each, to a certain degree, represent a still-evolving product. They are also precursors of the next wave of PCs and, even if you don't intend to rush out and buy one, you really need to give them some attention.

As always, stats and specs are gleaned from the individual manufacturer's Web site. That means some things should probably be taken with a grain of salt. (Pssst: battery times where noted; some manufacturers haven't given a hint)

Notebook Ultra Mobile PCs

13. ASUS Eee PC 901
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom
Chipset: Intel 945GMS
Memory: 1 GB
Hard Drive: 12 GB or 20-GB SSD
Graphics: Intel 945GMS
Screen Size & Resolution: 8.9-inch 1024x600
Size: 8.9 x 6.7 x 1.3 inches, 2.6 lb.
Run Time: 8 hours
Operating System: Windows/ Linux
Web Site

You'd have to be living in a cave, high on a mountain, to not be aware of ASUS' Eee PC line-up. The variety of models is almost as diverse as pollen at this point. While the Eee PC 8G and 4G (as well as their associated "Surf" variants) are probably closer relatives to UMPCs, focus seems to have shifted to the Eee PC 901 with its larger screen, for no better reason than because it's new. All right. At 2.2 pounds, the Eee PC 901 isn't a bantamweight contender. It runs Linux and supports a native 1024x600 resolution on its 8.9-inch display. If you order the Windows version, you get 4-GB and 8-GB SSDs, for a total of 12 GB of storage. The Linux model carries both 4-GB and 16-GB SSDs. Asus claims "up to" 8 hours of battery life.

14. Acer Aspire One
Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom
Chipset: Intel 945GMS
Memory: 512 MB
Hard Drive: 8-GB SSD or 80-GB HD
Graphics: Intel 945GMS
Screen Size & Resolution: 8.9-inch 1024x600
Size: 9.8 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches, 2.17 lb.
Run Time: not listed
Operating System: Linpus Linux Lite
Web Site

The Aspire One is scheduled to appear in a store near you (and online as well) shortly. Aside from the expected barrage of color (sapphire blue, seashell white, golden brown, and coral pink), you'll find an 8.9-inch screen, QWERTY keyboard (still not full-sized), your choice of Windows or Linux, and either an 8-GB SSD or an 80-GB mechanical hard drive.

15. Fujitsu Lifebook U810
Processor: 800 MHz Intel UMP A110
Chipset: Intel 945GMS
Memory: 1 GB
Hard Drive: 40 GB or 60 GB
Graphics: Intel 945GMS
Screen Size & Resolution: 5.6-inch 1024x600
Size: 6 x 6.7 x 1 inches, 1.5 lb.
Run Time: 5.5 hours
Operating System: Windows
Web Site

Part tablet, part PC, Fujitsu says its Lifebook U810 is a "mini-notebook." But weighing in at 1.56 pounds and powered by an Intel UMP A110 processor, this fits-in-your-pocket device has "notebook UMPC" pasted all over it. There's a miniature QWERTY keyboard, an optional 5200mAH battery that nets you 5.5 hours of run time, and a choice of 40-GB or 60-GB hard drives.

16. HP 2133 Mininote
Processor: 1.6 GHz VIA C7M NaNo
Chipset: VIA CN896NB and 8237S
Memory: 1 GB (Linux) or 2 GB (Windows)
Hard Drive: 120 GB
Graphics: VIA Chrome
Screen Size & Resolution: 8.9-inch 1280x768
Size: 1.05 x 10.04 x 6.5 inches, 3.2 lb. (with 6-cell battery)
Run Time: not listed
Operating System: Windows/ Linux
Web Site

Two-and-a-half pounds is a bit porky for a UMPC, but as a notebook UMPC it slides in well under the usual 4-pound boundary set for "ultra light" laptops. (Give them a few weeks. Someone will come up with another name.) That's the weight claim for HP's 2133 Mininote equipped with the three-cell battery pack. (The six-cell pack will net you 4.5 hours of use.) But you'll probably be happy lugging the 2133 Mininote around just for its 2 GB of memory and the 7200rpm 120-GB hard drive. These are decidedly upscale, non-notebook, style options. And an 8.9-inch WXGA screen is no slouch either.

5. Gigabyte M704Processor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web Site6. OQO Model 02Processor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteHDMI7. Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1Processor:Chipset:IntelMemory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web Site8. Samsung Q1 UltraProcessor:Chipset:Intel GMA950Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteUMPCWindows XPtiny touch screeniPod TouchMicrosoftWindows Vista Home PremiumBluetoothnotCentralNow

Ultra Mobile PCs

1. AMtek iTablet T700Processor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteWindows XPLinux2. Amtek iTablet T770Processor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web Site3. ASUS R2HProcessor:Celeron MChipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteIntelUMPC4. Gigabyte U60Processor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteQWERTY keyboard17. MSI WindProcessor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteASUS' Eee PCWindows XPLinux

Mobile Internet Devices

18. Gigabyte M528Processor:MHz Intel Centrino AtomChipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteMicrosoft19. TabletKiosk eo v7110eProcessor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web Site20. TabletKiosk eo TufTab v7112XTProcessor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web Site9. Raon Digital EverunProcessor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteRaon Everun10. Vye Mini-v S18Processor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteQWERTY keyboard11. Vye Mini-v S41Processor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SiteUMPC12. WiBrain B1EProcessor:Chipset:Memory:Hard Drive:Graphics:Screen Size & Resolution:Size:Run Time:Operating System:Web SitepixelmemoryWindows XP HomeLinux

See original article on InformationWeek

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Terra gets Olympic Internet rights

2 hours, 5 minutes ago

2008 Beijing Olympic Games

Terra says its Olympic Games site will go live Aug. 1. It will include 13 different channels where users can choose whatever event they want to see 24 hours a day.

Terra says users will have access to streaming and live coverage, as well as photo galleries and the latest Olympic news. It will also give access to cell phone users by SMS.

The deal was announced Thursday by Terra and the International Olympic Committee.

Terra, owned by Spain's Telefonica, is Latin America's largest Internet company with presence in 17 Latin American countries and the United States.

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WITNESS: Virtual friends in a cancer world

1 hour, 17 minutes ago

Janet Guttsman is bureau chief for Reuters in Canada, and
has worked for the company in Germany, Russia and the United

States. When she's not running the Canadian news file, she
enjoys long bicycling trips in Canada and beyond. In the

following story, she writes of the support she received
online after a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer.

TORONTO (Reuters) - "Forgive me a freakout moment here," I
wrote to a woman's-only Internet bicycling forum I've been
posting on for years. "I have to see a specialist for something
that they suspect is very early breast cancer."

It was my real friends who accompanied me to the medical
appointments after that initial shock, and held my hand when I
emerged from general anesthetic and surgery.

But in a world of instant Internet communications, a group
of women I have never met provided a second level of support as
I faced up to the diagnosis you never want to get.

The first replies to my post came within minutes, both from
women with stories of their own and from those offering
sympathy and emoticon hugs.

I don't know their real names, and they don't know mine,
yet over the next weeks and months this virtual support network
kept prodding me for news, and reminding me that they were
rooting for me at every step of the way.

"I've read that good quality chocolate has cancer-fighting
properties," one woman wrote with a big smiley face of
encouragement.

"Hmmm, funny, I was working away when something told me to
check the Women's Forum," another virtual friend replied.
"Aaah, yes. Someone said, 'chocolate'."

Christina Koenig, head of media relations for the web-based
support group Breast Cancer Network of Strength said Internet
resources could be a tremendous comfort to women facing scary
diagnoses like mine.

"You keep a brave face for your family and your friends and
workmates and for your children, and it's wonderful to be able
to talk to people like you who have been where you are now,"
she said. "It's anonymous, it's honest and it's immediate."

'TERRIBLE SISTERHOOD'

Network of Strength set up its own Internet forums last
month, supplementing a round-the-clock telephone support center
and offering women with a diagnosis of breast cancer a chance
to compare notes and experiences.

"It's a terrible sisterhood to be part of," said Koenig, a
former journalist who is herself a breast cancer survivor. "But
nobody understands it like someone who has been through it."

Dr Marisa Weiss, a Philadelphia-area breast cancer
oncologist and founder of a fact-filled website
breastcancer.org, said it was often easier for patients to seek
advice on the Internet than to go to hospital support groups,
which could take place at inconvenient times or in
hard-to-reach locations.

breast cancer survivorsnasty side effectspreventative medicinecancer

(Editing by Frances Kerry and Sara Ledwith)

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