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May 16, 2003
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IRC operators may out-hack Fizzer
Administrators of Internet relay chat networks believe they might be able to eradicate the Fizzer virus, but the methods may run them afoul of cybercrime laws, said a legal expert Friday.
Several postings on an IRC-Security list debated the merits of trying to shut the computer virus down, and one operator, QuakeNet security team member Daniel Ferguson, warned that manipulating the worm could be illegal. Despite that, he believes that several IRC operators will likely attempt to shut down the computer viruses running on PCs connected to their networks.
"You can't really blame them," Ferguson said. "When there is nothing else (they) can do to solve a problem like this, then they are left with little choice. The worms (and) trojans not only use their bandwidth, costing them money, but are a danger to the general IRC and Internet infrastructure."
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Chip trade group chastises China
Eager to open the fastest-growing chip market further, a semiconductor trade group is scolding China for what it calls a discriminatory tax policy.
The World Semiconductor Council, a conglomeration of industry organizations such as the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), this week urged China to open its market fully to all foreign semiconductor products by reforming what is known in the industry as a "value added" tax policy.
According to the SIA, China's tax policy in question discriminates against foreign products by applying a 17 percent tax on sales of all imported and domestically produced semiconductors and integrated circuits, but offering a rebate for domestic products. Because of the rebate, integrated circuits manufactured within China face a value-added tax rate of 6 percent, while integrated circuit designs developed in the country face a value-added tax rate of 3 percent, according to the association.
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Disney to DVDs Die After 48hrs
This disc will self-destruct in 48 hours.
That is the warning Walt Disney will issue this August when it begins to "rent" DVDs that are set to become unplayable after two days and that therefore do not have to be returned.
Disney home video unit Buena Vista Home Entertainment will launch a pilot movie "rental" program in August that uses self-destruction technology, the company said Friday.
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FCC does wireless spectrum shuffle
The Federal Communications Commission is taking steps to make more efficient use of the available wireless spectrum and to open up more for communications.
The agency said it is responding to a dramatic increase in demand for wireless spectrum, which has come about as a result of explosive growth in wireless communications technologies and demand for services.
In its late Thursday announcement, the FCC said it's working to allow spectrum in the 5GHz band to be leased for a variety of wireless radio services, such as cellular and networking. It is also attempting to improve the process of transferring licenses. Most parties with exclusive rights to assigned spectrum that they are not using or don't need will be allowed to freely lease it to prospective users.
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