November 2003 Articles

    • Transatlantic cable failure disrupts UK internet

      27 Nov 2004

      Telephone and ISP services in the UK were disrupted this week by a fault in a major undersea communications cable that links the US and parts of Europe. But the cause, and the time it will take to repair, are still unknown, reports CNET News.com.

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    • ID cards – draft bill expected in New Year

      27 Nov 2004

      A draft bill introducing national ID cards in the UK will be published in the New Year, it was announced yesterday in the Queen's Speech to mark the opening of Parliament. The draft Bill will allow the Government to lay the groundwork for the scheme,...

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    • TV ad's incidental use of copyright work did not infringe

      25 Nov 2004

      A medical artist, whose illustrations appeared in the background of a TV advert for text messaging, has lost his claim of copyright infringement. An appeals court in the US decided the use was 'de minimis' - i.e. so minor as to be disregarded.

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    • Government guarantee on how your personal data is used

      24 Nov 2004

      The UK's Department for Constitutional Affairs announced on Friday that it will introduce a written guarantee to outline the standards that individuals can expect from public bodies when they use and share personal information.

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    • OFT issues distance selling guidance for the IT industry

      04 Nov 2004

      The Office of Fair Trading has issued draft guidelines for the IT industry on the practicalities of complying with the Distance Selling and Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations. The consultation will last for 12 weeks and the OFT has welcomed...

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    • DVD security cracker turns to iTunes, faces court

      28 Nov 2003

      Norway's Jon Johansen, best known for his software to crack DVD security, this week posted software code to his blog that defeats the copy protection on Apple's iTunes service. This comes only days before a court hears an appeal against his DVD code acquittal....

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    • Indiana ditches Indian outsourcing contract

      28 Nov 2003

      The state of Indiana last week dropped a $15.4 million outsourcing contract for IT services with an Indian software company. The move was part of an initiative launched by Governor Joseph Kernan, intended to protect local companies and jobs.

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    • Norway to take action over on-line privacy breaches

      28 Nov 2003

      Norwegian pranksters who publish sneaky pictures of others on-line may find themselves on the wrong end of an action by the country's Data Inspectorate. The agency has confirmed that, in light of a landmark EU ruling, it's ready to act.

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    • Trade marking a sound in Europe

      28 Nov 2003

      A sound can be registered as a trade mark if it is capable of being represented graphically in a clear and easily accessible way, the European Court of Justice ruled yesterday in a case that heard from Beethoven's 'Für Elise' and a Dutch-speaking...

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    • Software patent Directive changes go too far, says EICTA

      27 Nov 2003

      A major IT industry group, with members including Apple, Dell, Microsoft and Intel, has asked the EU's Council of Ministers to reject amendments made by the Parliament to a draft Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions. It says...

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