Vivendi Universal to Buy MP3.com
5/18. Vivendi
Universal announced that it will acquire MP3.com
for $372 million in a friendly, combined cash and stock transaction. See, MP3.com release.
DOC and VeriSign Reach Agreement
5/18. The Commerce Department (DOC), ICANN, and VeriSign
reached an agreement
in principle on additional terms to be included in the ICANN and VeriSign
Registry Agreements and related agreements. See also, DOC release
and VeriSign release.
FCC Software Defined Radio NPRM
5/18. The FCC received six reply comments
regarding its Notice
of Propose Rule Making regarding on software defined radio (SDR). See,
comments from AirNet
Communications, Cingular
Wireless, Industrial
Telecommunications Association, SDR
Forum, Sprint
PCS, and Vanu.
(ET Docket No. 00-47.)
SEC Regulation of Web Based Activities
5/18. Paul Roye, Director of the SEC's Division of
Investment Management gave a speech to the Investment Company Institute in Washington DC in
which he addressed web based baskets of securities, ETFs, and other topics. He stated that
"The Internet has spurred a flurry of new products and ways of offering and
delivering investment products and investment advisory services. It is incumbent
upon regulators to understand these products and monitor their compliance with
the federal securities laws." He said that the SEC is reviewing whether web
based baskets of securities are investment companies, and whether the promoters
should register as securities advisors.
Bush Trade Proclamation
5/18. President George Bush issued a proclamation
regarding free trade in which he stated that "our exports support 12
million jobs that pay wages higher than the national average, and high-tech jobs
supported by exports pay even more. It is no coincidence that the longest period
of sustained economic growth in U.S. history has followed efforts to liberalize
trade, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Uruguay Round
Agreement that established the World Trade Organization."
WIPO and ASPs
5/18. The WIPO's Arbitration and
Mediation Center and the Application Service Provider Industry Consortium
(ASPIC) finalized a set of best practices and guidelines for dispute avoidance
and resolution for the Application Service Provider (ASP) industry. See, WIPO release.
More News
5/18. BellSouth filed a request
with the Kentucky Public Service
Commission for permission to provide long distance service. See, BellSouth
release.
5/18. The GAO released
a report [PDF] titled
"Information Technology: Architecture Needed to Guide Modernization of
DOD's Financial Operations."
Powell Confirmation Hearing
5/17. The Senate Commerce Committee
held a hearing on the nomination of Michael Powell to be Chairman of the FCC.
Members of the Committee uniformly praised Powell. They used the occasion to
press their views, and to question Powell about his views, on various issues
that fall within the jurisdiction or activity of the FCC. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the Chairman of
the Committee, stated that the Committee would likely vote on the nomination on
May 24. See, TLJ Story.
Abernathy, Martin and Copps Have Smooth Confirmation Hearing
5/17. The Senate Commerce Committee
also held a hearing on the nominations Kathleen Abernathy, Kevin Martin, and
Michael Copps to be FCC Commissioners. The hearing was quick and without
controversy or opposition. They will likely be approved by the Committee at its
May 24 mark up meeting, and by the full Senate shortly thereafter.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) sought
commitments from all three that they will support (1) the e-rate subsidy
program, (2) continued operation of the e-rate as a Section 254 universal service program,
(2) continued coverage of telecommunications, Internet access, and internal
connections, and (3) continued coverage of private and parochial schools and
libraries. All three, like Powell before them, made these commitments. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) praised the
nomination of Kevin Martin, a Republican from North Carolina, who previously was
a legal advisor to outgoing Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) praised Abernathy.
Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC) talked
about the importance of the public interest standard. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) said that spectrum
management would be a major issue for the three.
NTCA Requests Rural FCC Commissioner
5/17. Michael Brunner, CEO of the National
Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA), wrote a letter to Senate Minority
Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) stating that the "fifth and final commissioner
needs to be someone who will ensure the FCC's implementation of sound rural
telecommunications policy ..." The NTCA is a group that represents rural
telecommunications companies. The FCC will shortly have another opening, which
must be filed by a Democrat to maintain the 3-2 partisan balance required by
law.
Compulsory Licensing of Music on the Internet
5/17. The House Judiciary Committee's
Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property held a hearing on
music on the Internet. The hearing focused on the availability of music online,
the technologies for providing music online, security for copyrighted music, the
status of licensing by the various types of rights holders, and recommendations
by some that the Congress extend compulsory licensing to music on the Internet.
Several witnesses argued that existing laws are complex and archane, that too
many permissions are required, that music is not being made available online,
and that Congress should therefore pass legislation providing for compulsory
licensing for online streaming and downloading of music. In contrast, several
other witnesses who represent various types of copyright holders testified that
their copyrights are being licensing for the Internet, that technologies (and
security for those technologies) is being developed, and Congress should
therefore not enact any new legislation. See, TLJ Story.
Computer and Software Depreciation Bills
5/17. Rep. Mac Collins (R-GA)
introduced HR
1895, the Computer Equipment Common Sense Depreciation Act, a bill to amend
the Internal Revenue Code to establish a 2 year recovery period for depreciation
of computers and peripheral equipment used in manufacturing. It was referred to
the House Way and Means Committee,
of which Collins is a member. This is one of several bills that would shorten or
eliminate the depreciation period for business computers. On April 4, Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) and others
introduced HR
1411, which provides for the expensing of qualified equipment and computer
software. And, on April 6, Sen. Conrad Burns
(R-MT) introduced S
752, which provides for a three year period.
ProComp Criticizes Microsoft's .NET
5/17. The Project to Promote
Competition & Innovation in the Digital Age (ProComp) released a paper
[1.14 MB PDF file] titled "Microsoft's Expanding Monopolies: Casting a
Wider .NET." The paper is subtitled "The Impact of .NET, HailStorm,
Windows XP, Internet Explorer 6.0, MSN Messenger, Windows Media Player 8.0, MSN
Explorer and MS Passport on the Future of the Internet." The paper argues
that Microsoft has introduced "a series of
business initiatives that put Microsoft in a position to extend its monopoly to
the Internet itself." ProComp is a Washington DC based group that is
devoted to the criticism of Microsoft, that is funded by competitors of
Microsoft. See also, ProComp's summary
of its paper, and Microsoft's .NET web
section.
HP Settles Patent Proceeding
5/17. Hewlett Packard (HP) announced that it
settled patent proceedings pending before the U.S.
International Trade Commission (USITC) regarding the importation of printer
cartridges which infringe HP patents. HP filed complaints with the USITC against
Printer Essentials, Microjet Technology, and four other companies, alleging that
the companies infringed six HP patents by importing or selling inkjet cartridges
manufactured by Microjet, including one model intended to replace the HP 51626A
cartridge and another model intended to replace the HP 51629A cartridge. Under
the settlement, Printer Essentials agreed to enter into a consent order through
which it agrees to stop importing and selling the disputed cartridges. Printer
Essentials also acknowledged that the Microjet cartridges infringe HP's patents
and that the patents are valid. See, HP release.
GAO Reports on Defense Spectrum Management
5/17. The GAO released
a report [PDF] titled
"Defense Spectrum Management: New Procedures Could Help Reduce Interference
Problems." The report, which was prepared for members of the House and
Senate Armed Services Committees, addresses new Department of Defense procedures
for spectrum management, including electromagnetic environmental effects, when
acquiring and implementing new weapon systems. It concludes that "the new
procedures established by DOD are reasonable and, if successfully implemented,
could help prevent problems related to radio frequency interference."
ILEC Enforcement Hearing
5/17. The House Commerce Committee's
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing on HR 1765, a
bill to increase penalties for common carrier violations that is sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI). The bill is
related to HR 1542, a bill to give regulatory relief to the Baby Bells, which
the House Commerce Committee approved last week. FCC Chairman Michael Powell has
requested that Congress enact legislation giving the FCC more enforcement
authority to deal with ILECs that violate the local competition provisions of
the Telecom Act of 1996.
David Solomon, who testified on behalf of the FCC, said in his prepared
statement that "Given the vast resources of the nation's large common
carriers, including incumbent local exchange carriers and long distance
carriers, the existing caps on common carrier forfeitures of $120,000 per
violation or per day of a continuing violation, up to $1.2 million overall for a
continuing violation, are an insufficient sanction or deterrent in many
instances. The proposed 10-fold statutory increases -- to $1 million and $10
million -- would significantly strengthen our enforcement authority against
incumbent local exchange carriers and other common carriers."
See, prepared testimony of witnesses: David
Solomon (FCC Enforcement Bureau), Albert
Halprin (Halprin Temple),
Lawrence
Sarjeant (USTA), Royce
Holland (Allegiance Telecom), and Leon
Jacobs (Florida PSC).
See also, statement
of Rep. Tauzin.
HR 1542 is sponsored by Rep. Tauzin and Rep.
John Dingell (D-MI). Reps. Tauzin and Dingell did not make the language of
HR 1765 a part of HR 1542, citing lack of germaneness. Instead, it will be
submitted to the House Rules Committee for permission to offer it as an
amendment to HR 1542 on the House floor.
Internet Distance Learning and Copyright
5/17. The Senate Judiciary Committee
amended and reported S 487, the Technology, Education and Copyright
Harmonization (TEACH) Act of 2001, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT). The bill would amend
§§ 110(2) and 112 of the Copyright
Act to extend the distance learning exemptions enacted in 1976 to digital
delivery media. Under current
law, there are exemptions for "face-to-face" and
"transmission" teaching activities; but, Internet based education is
not referenced.
Education Technology Bill
5/17. Rep. James Barcia (D-MI) and Rep. David Wu (D-OR) introduced HR
1889, a bill to improve the utilization of educational technologies in
elementary and secondary education by creating an educational technology
extension service. The bill was referred to the House Science Committee and the
House Education and Workforce Committee.
Export Licensing Bill
5/17. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
introduced HR 1898, a bill to amend the Arms Export Control Act to update the
export licensing requirements under that Act. The bill was referred to the House
Committee on International Relations.
People
5/17. Robert Mendelson returned to New York City office of the law firm
of Morgan Lewis as a partner in the
firm's Securities Interdisciplinary Initiative. His practice includes securities
regulation, broker-dealer regulation and enforcement, derivatives product
development and litigation, and online public offerings. He spent two years as
SVP and Co General Counsel of Wit
SoundView Group, an investment bank and online broker. See, release.
5/17. Laura Klaus joined the Washington DC office of the law firm of Greenberg Traurig as shareholder in the
litigation group. Her practice includes appellate litigation, federal
administrative, and regulatory law. Before entering private practice, she was a
trial attorney in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. In
addition, Tab Turano joined the Washington DC office as an associate. He
practices in the areas of administrative, regulatory and appellate litigation
and trademark and patent cases. See, release.
More News
5/17. The Senate Appropriations
Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary held
a hearing on proposed budget estimates for FY 2002 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement
Administration, and Immigration and Naturalization
Service.
5/17. The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on several
nominations, including that of John Graham to be Administrator of the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.
5/17. The Senate Judiciary Committee
voted 9 to 9 on the nomination of Ted Olson to be Solicitor General. It
was a straight party line vote. Senator Majority Leader Trent Lott may now bring
the matter to a vote in the full Senate.
5/17. The House Judiciary
Committee's Subcommittee on the Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual
Property held a hearing titled Music On The Internet. TLJ will write
about this hearing in the Monday, May 21 issue.
RIM Files Blackberry Patent Suit
5/16. On April 17 the USPTO issued U.S.
Patent No. 6,219,694 to Research in Motion
(RIM). The patent discloses a system and method for pushing information from a
host system to a mobile data communication device upon sensing a triggering
event is disclosed. RIM produces the Blackberry wireless, always on, e-mail
devices. See, RIM
release.
On May 16 RIM filed a complaint in U.S. District Court (DDel) against Glenayre alleging patent infringement. The
complaint alleges patent infringement, trademark infringement, dilution, unfair
competition and false advertising, violation of the Lanham Act, and violation of
the Delaware Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Glenayre, based in Charlotte, North
Carolina, makes wireless messaging products. RIM seeks injunctive relief and
damages. See, RIM
release.
Coble Bills on Reexamination of Patents
5/16. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC),
introduced HR 1866,
an untitled bill to clarify the basis for granting requests for reexamination of
patents. The bill would amend 35 U.S.C. § 303(a) and § 313(a) by
adding the following language: "The existence of a substantial new question
of patentability is not precluded by the fact that a patent or printed
publication was previously cited by or to the Office." The bill was
referred to the House Judiciary
Committee, and its Courts, Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee.
Rep. Coble is the Chairman of this Subcommittee. The Subcommittee has already
scheduled a mark up for Tuesday, May 22, at 10:00 AM.
Rep. Coble also introduced HR 1886, a
bill to provide for appeals by third parties in certain patent reexamination
proceedings, on May 17. This bill is also scheduled for mark up on May 22.
Timothy Muris Confirmation Hearing
5/16. The Senate Commerce Committee
held a hearing on the nomination of Timothy Muris to be Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. The hearing, which
covered several other nominees as well, went smoothly for Muris, and all
nominees. Republicans and Democrats expressed their support. Members asked Muris
about both online privacy and antitrust enforcement, but he said little in
response. Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) said "I look forward to
moving these nominations quickly." He added that the Committee will likely
vote next week. See, TLJ Story.
Bruce Mehlman Confirmation Hearing
5/16. The Senate Commerce Committee
also held a hearing on the nomination of Bruce Mehlman to be Assistant Secretary
of Commerce for Technology Policy. His hearing went smoothly. Like Muris, he
said little. See, TLJ story.
FCC Ownership Rules
5/16. The FCC released a Report and
Order [PDF] that amends its "dual network" rule to permit one of
the four major television networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC -- to own, operate,
maintain or control the UPN and/or the WB television network. The FCC had
announced, but not released, this Order at its April 19 meeting. See, FCC
release. Commissioner Tristani dissented; see, statement.
Bell News
5/16. Mark Cooper, of the Consumer
Federation of America, a Washington DC based interest group, submitted a reply
comment [PDF] to the FCC opposing SBC's Section 271 petition to provide
interLATA long distance telephone service in the state of Missouri. He argued
that "SBC has not provided parity in provisioning DSL loops to competitive
local exchange carriers (CLECs)." He added that "Prematurely allowing
incumbent local companies into the in-region long distance market undermines the
prospects for competition." See, CC Docket No. 01-88.
5/16. The Missouri Office of Public Counsel
also submitted a reply
comment to the FCC regarding SBC's Missouri application. It stated that the
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filing was "squarely on point." On
May 10, the Antitrust Division of the
DOJ submitted an analysis to the FCC in which it recommended that
the FCC should independently review the prices that SBC charges its competitors
for use of its network. The DOJ stated that many of the prices charged by SBC
for the use of "unbundled network elements" are significantly higher
in Missouri than in states where SBC has already been permitted to provide long
distance service.
5/16. BellSouth asked the Public Service Commission of South Carolina
to permit it to provide long distance service in the state. See, release.
USTR Nominations
5/16. The Senate Finance Committee
held a confirmation hearing on many nominations, including Linnet Deily
and Peter Allgeier to be Deputy USTRs. See, statement [PDF] by Sen.
Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Committee.
SEC and Revenue Recognition
5/16. The SEC instituted an administrative
proceeding against Microtest alleging
that it improperly recognized revenue from sales in various quarterly and year
end reports filed with the SEC, in violation of §§ 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and
13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1, and 13a-13 thereunder.
Microtest and the SEC simultaneously settled the matter, with Microtest agreeing
to cease and desist from violating these sections and rules. See, SEC release.
Microtest, which is based in Phoenix, Arizona, makes network test and
measurement products and network storage and appliance servers.
New Bills
5/16. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Rep. James Barcia (D-MI) introduced HR 1860, a
bill to reauthorize the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. It
was referred to the House Small Business Committee and the House Science
Committee.
5/16. Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT)
and others introduced HR 1877, a bill to amend Title 18 to provide that certain
sexual crimes against children are predicate crimes for the interception of
communications. The bill would amend 18 U.S.C. § 2516
regarding authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic
communications. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Former
Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL) sponsored a similar bill, HR 3484, in
the 106th Congress; it was passed in the House by a voice vote.
People
5/16. Michael Songer and Robert Worrall joined the law firm of Arnold & Porter as partner and of
counsel, respectively. Songer focuses on electrical and mechanical patent
litigations. He also handles trademark, copyright and Internet disputes,
including cybersquatter and other domain name infringements, website disputes,
jurisdiction and evidence issues, and free speech cases. Songer is also an
Adjunct Professor at Georgetown
University Law Center, where he teaches the Law
of Cyberspace. He was previously a partner at Brobeck Phleger & Harrison. Worrall is a
patent litigator. See, release.