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January 2004 Volume 5, Issue 1
Editors Cherie W. Blackburn Robert W. Pearce, Jr. John C. McElwaine
1-800-237-2000 Nelson Mullins has more
than 275 attorneys firm-wide, with over 25 attorneys having
significant representation of e-commerce clients in areas including
patent, copyright and trademark protection; business planning,
securities and venture capital; and licensing, distribution and
contract preparation. Atlanta Contacts Neil Grayson Cherie
Blackburn Robert
Pearce John
McElwaine Charlotte Contact Larry Scott Myrtle Beach Contact Franklin
Daniels Columbia Contact Mark Dukes Greenville Contact Marvin
Quattlebaum William
Herlong CyberWatch is an Internet Law Group news digest published as a service to Nelson Mullins’ clients and friends. The articles are summaries of particular developments in the law and are not intended to be a solicitation or to render legal advice. This publication can be considered advertising under applicable laws.
CyberWatch
is a trademark of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, L.L.P. |
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British Officials Target Organized Crime’s Efforts Against Internet Betting Sites In the week prior to the Super Bowl, the British National High-Tech Crime Unit said that it was investigating efforts by organized crime to “shake down” Internet betting sites. The organized crime gangs had threatened to unleash crippling data attacks against the online betting sites unless they paid the gangs “protection” fees. Lately, organized crime has learned to target Internet sites by threatening “denial-of-service” attacks which are a method of electronic attacks that overwhelm a Web site’s capacity and shut it down. One extortion threat picked up by a news agency demanded $15,000 for six months worth of protection. Security experts say Internet betting sites in the Caribbean and Europe have been the targets of most gangs. Source: UK.news.yahoo.com. “MyDoom” Virus Called the Worst Ever in E-mail HistoryAccording to one security and software services company, the e-mail worm virus “MyDoom” is the fastest spreading worm in virus history. The virus was estimated to be accounting for twenty percent to thirty percent of worldwide e-mail traffic on January 28, 2004 alone. The virus was quickly clogging e-mail servers with another e-mail security company estimating that the virus was infecting one of every 12 messages at its peak. On the all-time “e-mail virus” list prepared by the company MessageLabs, which ranks the most troublesome viruses of all time, “MyDoom” had already climbed to number five after only three days. One company, SCO Group, has even offered $250,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator of the “MyDoom” virus, with the company claiming that it was working with the U.S. Secret Service and FBI to identify the author of the virus as quickly as possible. Source: CNETnews.com. Bill Gates Using Fortune to Buy Up His Own NeighborhoodMicrosoft’s Bill Gates has purchased at least 11 properties surrounding his Medina, Washington estate, seeking to create a “baronial” buffer zone around his 48,000 sq. foot home. Not everyone that remains in the neighborhood is necessarily happy, with one of the remaining neighbors saying, in one of the more classic understatements, that “casual socializing among neighbors has grown less commonplace.” There was no comment from Mr. Gates as to whether he intended to acquire additional properties in the neighborhood. Source: Seattletimes.nwsource.com. McDonalds Serves Up Wireless Hot SpotsIn an effort to attract more business customers, McDonalds plans to install wireless broadband hot spots, allowing laptop and PDA owners to connect to the Internet, at more than 560 restaurants by the end of March. Wireless hot spots, which are also called “Wi-Fi” hot spots, allow the wireless checking of e-mail, accessing of the Internet, and the downloading of information. McDonalds says that Wi-Fi is not something it will offer in every restaurant but will make Wi-Fi available at locations frequented most often by business travelers. Source: Vnunet.com. Coca Cola Starts Music Download Web SiteWhile not exactly competing with the Wi-Fi effort of McDonalds, Coca Cola is also offering its consumers something off the normal path. Coke recently launched a Web site, (“MyCokeMusic.com),” which features more than 250,000 new and old songs available for downloading. Coke says that this is “the first consumer-branded, legitimate, downloadable music site.” Source: Guardian.co.uk.
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