InternetInternet Giants Near Deal on Chinese Conduct

Report says Microsoft, Yahoo and Google -- at odds for years with U.S. lawmakers over their policies in China -- are close to an agreement on a voluntary code of behavior.

U.S. technology giants Microsoft, Google and Yahoo, in talks with other Internet companies and human-rights groups, have reached an agreement on a voluntary code of conduct for activities in China and other restrictive countries, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. In separate letters sent to Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the companies said the code's details were being worked out, the paper reported. The two lawmakers had asked for an update out of concern that without such a code, Internet companies could be pressured by China's government to provide information about Internet users who are in China for the Olympics, the paper said. Google, Yahoo and Microsoft did not immediately return calls seeking comment. RELATED ARTICLES Olympics Clips Headed for YouTube IOC 'Surprised' by Olympics Censorship Expert: Encryption Essential in China for Games Why Apple and China Are Simply Incompatible Yahoo Settles Chinese Dissident Lawsuit Lawmakers Hammer Tech's China Policy For more stories on this topic: The voluntary code will spell out "principles of freedom of expression and privacy" in countries where governments seek users' private information or block access to certain Web sites, the paper said, citing the letters. The code will be completed later this year... [ Read more on www.internetnews.com ]

InternetApple Tops Online Music Vendors, But Amazon Climbs (PC Magazine)

PC Magazine - Apple's iTunes store remained the number one music retailer in the first half of 2008, but the launch of Amazon's mp3 store has helped it jump one spot to number four, according to a Tuesday report from NPD Group.

InternetInternet companies agree on China code of conduct: report (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. technology giants Microsoft Corp, Google Inc and Yahoo Inc, in talks with other Internet companies and human-rights groups, have reached an agreement on a voluntary code of conduct for activities in China and other restrictive countries, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.