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Carriage fees dominate CRTC hearing CBC
CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein is presiding over hearings on the future of Canadian conventional television broadcasting.CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein is presiding over hearings on the future of Canadian conventional television broadcasting. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)A frustrated CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein criticized the “confrontational” and “antagonistic” atmosphere between TV networks and carriers Monday, as Canada’s broadcast regulator began a new hearing about the future of television, with an emphasis on the highly contentious fee-for-carriage debate. During a day-long hearing in Gatineau, Que., von Finckenstein repeatedly appealed for the two sides to come together to negotiate an industry-approved solution. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission chair appeared visibly annoyed on several occasions with both CTVglobemedia, Canada’s largest conventional private broadcaster, and cable TV giant Rogers Communications. “You need each other and yet we have seen, for the last five months, a public battle never seen before and at the end of the day I can see nothing else than the consumer has to pay more,” von Finckenstein declared during CTV’s morning session, referring to the ubiquitous TV and print advertising campaigns run by the rival sides.

CISAC Backs Action Against YouTube Billboard
The International Council of Creators of Music (CIAM), part of the global authors’ rights body CISAC, has backed legal moves against YouTube/Google in Germany. Legal proceedings are due to take place at the district court of civil law in Hamburg, following a complaint of violations of copyright and master rights in relation to user-generated content on YouTube. German composer Frank Peterson filed the lawsuit in April 2009, claiming that his music videos and other audiovisual repertoire were used illegally on the site. In addition to this claim under German civil law, various authors, artists and independent publishers and labels have brought a charge before the public prosecutor’s office in Hamburg against the directors of Google, accusing them of continuing commercial infringements of authors’ rights, copyright, moral rights and performance and master rights.

Ludwig flags data privacy overhaul Australian IT
The Rudd government is planning to reform the federal Privacy Act to ensure businesses regularly assess the impact of new technology on their handling of personal data, Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig says. “Rapid technological changes have meant a vastly increased capacity to collect, retain and disseminate personal information,” Senator Ludwig told the Privacy Awards dinner in Sydney. “Under the new openness principle, government agencies and businesses will be required to express — in a privacy policy — how they handle personal information at each stage of the cycle, allowing people to make informed and confident decisions about how they engage with these organisations,” he told the audience. “As working documents, the policies will require organisations to regularly consider how new technologies and ways of working affect their handling of personal information.”

Senate to disclose findings in Web ‘mystery charge’ probe CNet News
Tuesday could turn out to be an embarrassing day for a score of online retailers, such as Continental Airlines, FTD, and Classmates.com. Expect Sen. John Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate committee looking into “deceptive practices” by companies operating online loyalty programs, to be highly critical of the retail stores that do business with them. The so-called mystery charges that have appeared on some of their customers’ credit card statements will come under scrutiny at a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. At the center of the federal probe are Webloyalty, Affinion, and Vertrue, companies that make “cash-back” and coupon offers to consumers and charge them monthly fees to enroll in their loyalty programs. The reason the government is involved is that for years, scores of online shoppers have asserted they were signed up for the programs without their consent.

Norway puts jail brakes on Swedish ’son of God’ motorist The Local
Swedish man who claimed he was the son of God has been sentenced to prison in Norway for unlawful driving. In a four month span in 2008, the 46-year-old Swede was picked up four times for driving without a licence by Norwegian police in various towns outside of the capital Oslo, the Norwegian newspaper Moss Avis reports reports. On one occasion, the man also attempted to hide his expired registration tabs by fashioning false plates out of cardboard, but Norwegian police saw through the ruse. The Swede defended his actions during questioning by police in the town of Moss, arguing he was Jesus, the son of God, and that he ruled the world.

Chinese censors block Obama’s call to free the Web Associated Press
President Barack Obama prodded China about Internet censorship and free speech, but the message was not widely heard in China where his words were blocked online and shown on only one regional television channel. China has more than 250 million Internet users and employs some of the world’s tightest controls over what they see. The country is often criticized for its so-called “Great Firewall of China” – technology designed to prevent unwanted traffic from entering or leaving a network. During his town hall meeting in Shanghai on Monday, Obama responded at length to a question about the firewall – remarks that were later played down in the Chinese media and scrubbed from some Chinese Web sites.

Google Translate Tool Offers Instant Results PC World
Google on Tuesday unveiled a revamped Translate service, giving a new look and feel to the automatic text and Web page translation tool. Google Translate now offers 51 language options and instant translations. Instant translation is one of the most notable features in the revamped Google Translate service. Once you type in text in the text box, the translation in your desired language will automatically appear underneath, no need to press the “Translate” button. Oddly, though, the “Translate” button is still present.

Twitter to scrap controversial Suggested Users List Mercury News
The Tempest in Twitterville may soon be over. Seeking to soothe the tweeting masses, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said Monday that the micro-blogging darling of the Internet would soon jettison its hand-picked and widely scorned “Suggested Users List.” Intended as a tool for newcomers to quickly find other Twitter users to “follow,” the list of rap stars, politicos and TV stars was seen by many as capricious and an unfair plug for celebrities who already have more celebrity than they know what to do with.

Univision to make shows available on YouTube Associated Press
Univision, the biggest Hispanic broadcaster in the U.S., said Monday its shows will be coming to YouTube in the new year. Videos to be made available include the talk show “El Show de Cristina,” based in Miami, the variety show “Don Francisco Presenta,” and the murder thriller series, “Mujeres Asesinas.” But they won’t include popular telenovelas from its Mexican production partner Grupo Televisa because of a legal dispute preventing either from putting Televisa content on the Internet in the U.S. Univision has the exclusive right to broadcast Televisa-made shows in the U.S. through 2017.

Antitrust concerns linger in Google Books deal CNet News
The revised Google Books settlement agreement may quiet international opponents, but it still gives Google a monopoly on commercializing out-of-print books where the copyrights are unclaimed and fails to protect consumer privacy, opponents said on Monday. “We’re at a cross roads,” Internet Archive Director Brewster Kahle said during a panel late Monday on the Future of Books at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. “Is it going to be a subscription life…where one or two companies own the distribution and presentation (rights) to these books?” In response, Google Books Engineering Director Dan Clancy said: “This is just one of a panoply of choices that people will have in the future.”

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