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Internet Research Goes Global
by William New
A new international partnership has been formed to establish a "true worldwide, next-generation Internet" designed to connect high-speed research and education networks, according to a release this week from Internet2.
The Global Terabit Research Network (GTRN) will provide a high-speed, production-quality backbone for offering advanced Internet services to the research and scientific community. It initially involves North America through Internet2 in the United States and CANARIE, Canada's advanced Internet organization, and in Europe through the National Research and Education Networks Consortium. Asia Pacific and other regions are expected to participate soon.
"The scientific community is now truly international in just about all fields, and many vitally rely on the integration of computation, data, instruments and arrays of sensors that enable e-science," said Douglas Van Houweling, president and CEO of Internet2.
News From The Privacy Front
Australia is investigating 23 complaints of non-compliance with new privacy laws enacted in December, according to ZDNet Australia.
The primary complaints revolve around the unnecessary collection of information, the use of personal information for direct marketing with no way for consumers to opt out of such uses, the disclosure of information, and the security of the data that is collected.
Meanwhile, four New Zealand judges may wish they had more privacy after a routine check of computers provided by the Department of Courts confirmed that the judges had surfed to Internet sex sites. The Age reported on Tuesday that one judge quickly admitted to the activities and apologized, vowing never to visit sex sites again. His behavior does not appear to have been unlawful. The government is still awaiting word from the other three judges.
In other privacy-related news, a business for the first time was allowed to give input to a key committee on European Union privacy safeguards for data flows out of the region to the rest of the world, according to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
An ICC representative presented proposals on behalf of eight business groups to a committee given the authority to approve model contract clauses for the transfers of data out of Europe. The representative told the committee of concerns that the standard clauses "impose excessive obligations on companies," the ICC said.
Private-sector groups have submitted their own alternative clauses, which stress flexibility while also meeting the standard of an "adequate level" of protection for personal data, the ICC said.
Zoellick Urges Africa To Open Services
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick this week exhorted African nations to allow outside investment in their services sectors.
"In services, liberalization offers three primary benefits for African nations," Zoellick told a gathering of Kenyan businesspeople while visiting African nations. "It will improve their overall investment climate, open a sector that offers the best long-term prospects for job creation, and accelerate the introduction of industries such as telecommunications, energy and financial services that are critical to economic development."
He said that by year's end, Africa is predicted to have more mobile-phone subscribers than landline telephone subscribers. But landline access will grow, too, to provide access to the Internet, he said.
Cellular phones also are driving political reform, Zoellick said, noting that in Senegal, the rapid conveyance of election results to radio stations by cell phones prevented the losing incumbent from credibly challenging the election.
Separately, Zoellick signaled a willingness to discuss a free-trade agreement with southern Africa. "If the countries of the Southern African Customs Union wish to explore this option, we will seek to do so in a way that supports their own regional integration," he said.
Zoellick also urged African nations to satisfy their commitments at the World Trade Organization to establish intellectual property protections.
WTO Committee Chairmen Named
At the WTO, meanwhile, the General Council has approved a list of chairmen for its committees and working groups.
The new chairman of the General Council will be Sergio Marchi of Canada, former head of international trade for that country. Mary Whelan of Ireland, meanwhile, will chair the Council for Trade in Services, while Alejandro Jara of Chile will steer the Council for Trade in Services, Special Session (for trade negotiations until the next WTO ministerial in Mexico in 2003).
Eduardo Perez Motta of Mexico will head the Council for TRIPS, or the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, while Eui Yong of Korea will chair the special session of the TRIPS Council. Finally, Carlos Perez del Castillo of Uruguay will chair the Dispute Settlement Body, and Peter Balas will chair its special session.
Japan Moves To Modify Patent Law
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Monday proposed revisions to patent law in an effort to strengthen protection of intellectual property rights held by Internet firms, reports The Japan Times. The update would clarify patent protections for computer programs on the Internet and trademarks that appear temporarily on computer screens.
The bill, being developed for consideration in the current session of the Diet, also would extend protections to program modules. In addition, the changes would streamline the application process for patents.
The ministry's action responds to pressure to modernize Japanese patent laws, which predate computer software and non-printed trademarks.
The Internet As Customs Tool
An Oracle executive this week urged customs officials to use the Internet to ease shipments of goods across borders.
Sergio Giacoletto, an executive vice president at Oracle, said at a conference of the World Customs Organization and the ICC in Brussels, Belgium, that customs could use e-business technologies to increase efficiency and predictability, as well as to lower costs. Placing information about shipments online would allow officials anywhere to access it more easily, he said, and it could be done securely.
Program Trains Executives From Eastern Europe
The Commerce Department's Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT) has $1.5 million in grants for companies holding domestic training for business executives and scientists from Russia and the other Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union.
Commerce has issued a notice calling for applications from interested parties by April 15.
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