InternetSoftware Group Contemplates Suing eBay (TechWeb)

TechWeb - InformationWeek - The SIIA is frustrated with eBay because so much pirated software is sold on the site that the group can't identify all the offenders.

A software industry trade group said Friday it could sue eBay for failing to do enough to prevent the sale of pirated software on the online auction site. The Software & Information Industry Association said eBay has refused to take several steps recommended by the group to help reduce sales of illegal software. Despite a few years of discussions, eBay refuses to do more than just take down auctions of software that the SIIA has identified as pirated. "Once notified, they will do something," Keith Kuperschmid, senior VP of intellectual property policy and enforcement for SIIA, told InformationWeek. "What they won't do is what we consider pre-emptory, proactive measures." Those measures include placing a notification in the buyer feedback section that the seller has had pirated items removed from the site; penalize sellers of illegal software, even if it's their first offense; and develop technology to try to find repeat offenders who use multiple identities on eBay. The reason the SIIA wants eBay to do more is because so much pirated software is sold on the site that the group can't identify all the offenders, Kuperschmid said. The SIIA estimates that 75% of the software sold on eBay is illegal. EBay's refusal to take these steps has led to SIIA discussions of taking eBay to court. The latest talks among members were in May. SIIA members include many big names... [ Read more on www.yahoo.com ]

InternetScreen Actors board backs negotiators on new media (Reuters)

Reuters - The board of the major union for U.S. film and television actors has backed its negotiators' demands to cover Internet-related work, signaling that contract talks with Hollywood's studios may remain stalled for weeks.

InternetFCC poised to punish Comcast over Web blocking (AP)

AP - A majority of members of the Federal Communications Commission have cast votes in favor of punishing Comcast Corp. for blocking subscribers' Internet traffic, an agency official said Friday.