Edupage, May 02, 2003

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Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association
whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting
the intelligent use of information technology.
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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, MAY 02, 2003
  Government Tackles Internet-Auction Fraud
  Business Users Agree on Definition of Spam
AND
  Students and RIAA Settle Copyright Suits
  New Jersey School Bans File-Sharing
  Senate Supports Funding Bill for Minority-Serving Institutions
  Cadet Accused of Running Sex Club


GOVERNMENT TACKLES INTERNET-AUCTION FRAUD
The federal government, working with state and local law enforcement
officials, has been cracking down on Internet-auction fraud, which
accounted for 46 percent of complaints filed with the Internet Fraud
Complaint Center last year. Most fraud cases involve buyers paying for
goods that are never delivered, including computers, jewelry, and cars.
Some auction crooks have begun setting up bogus escrow services, which
act as a third party to a transaction, holding the money until goods
have been delivered. Other cases involve identity theft. Criminals
advertise goods for sale using stolen identities. When purchased goods
are not delivered, buyers only have contact information for someone
whose identity.
New York Times, 30 April 2003 (registration req'd)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/01/technology/01ONLI.html

BUSINESS USERS AGREE ON DEFINITION OF SPAM
A recent poll shows that amid ongoing discussions about what qualifies
as spam and how to control it, there is general consensus within the
business community on the issue of spam. Results of the survey show
that among business users, a majority believe that the distinction
between spam and non-spam depends on whether the receiver has done
business with the sender. If so, the e-mail cannot be considered spam,
but if not, an unsolicited e-mail is spam, even if it comes from a
legitimate marketer or company. Eighty-six percent of respondents
support certain anti-spam legislation, and 85 percent support the use
of anti-spam technologies within their companies. A majority of
respondents said they would be willing to sacrifice certain existing
capabilities, such as some amount of personal privacy or the ability to
receive e-mail newsletters, for a reduction in the amount of spam.
Internet News, 1 May 2003
http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/2199981

AND
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STUDENTS AND RIAA SETTLE COPYRIGHT SUITS
The four U.S. college students recently sued by the Recording Industry
Association of America (RIAA) for copyright violations have settled
with the music industry group. The RIAA accused the students of
operating music-sharing services that traded in copyrighted material.
Although the students did not admit to any wrongdoing, each will pay
the RIAA between $12,000 and $17,500 to settle the case. The lawsuit
had asked for damages of $150,000 per song, with damage totals running
into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The resolution of the suits
marks an important victory for the recording industry in going after
individual traders of copyrighted files. Until these suits, it had only
sought penalties from the makers of applications that allow such
file-trading networks to function.
Associated Press, 1 May 2003
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/875081p-6102830c.html

NEW JERSEY SCHOOL BANS FILE-SHARING
Officials at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, fearing legal
action from the entertainment industry, have decided to disallow the
use of peer-to-peer sites on the school's network. Jack Gentul, dean
of students, said that the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) was calling the school "on almost a daily basis" to report
alleged copyright violations. Students will not be allowed to use
applications such as Kazaa, Grokster, and Morpheus, according to the
school's chief information officer, but will be able to legally
download music files. An RIAA spokesman said the group was pleased with
the action and "applaud[s] those who take such theft seriously." Gentul
said that despite a lack of "overwhelming support for the recording
industry, there is ... respect for what is currently the law."
Wired News, 2 May 2003
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,58698,00.html

SENATE SUPPORTS FUNDING BILL FOR MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS
This week the U.S. Senate approved a bill (S.196) that would provide
significant technology funding for minority-serving institutions. The
bill, which was sponsored by Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), passed on a
vote of 97-0. Under the terms of the bill, the National Science
Foundation would oversee a $250 million grant program to help
historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving
institutions, and tribal colleges install technology infrastructures.
No information was available on when the House of Representatives might
take up the bill.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 1 May 2003
http://chronicle.com/free/2003/05/2003050102t.htm

CADET ACCUSED OF RUNNING SEX CLUB
Still dealing with complaints from female cadets about sexual abuse,
the U. S. Air Force Academy said it is now investigating reports of a
"sex club" run by a cadet using his government-issued computer. The
cadet, who has not been named, is said to have organized sex parties
involving dozens of people and posted online pornographic photographs
from those parties. Such activities could constitute misuse of
government equipment and Internet services. A second cadet may also be
under investigation in the incident. The announcement of the
investigation came from Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, who became commandant
of cadets and acting superintendent last month, after the academy's
four top leaders were removed following the allegations of rape from
about 50 current and former female cadets. Wayne Allard, Senator from
Colorado, expressed support for Weida, saying, "It's clear that the
new academy leadership is taking this very seriously."
New York Times, 1 May 2003 (registration req'd)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/02/national/02ACAD.html

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