Business Software Alliance member-companies have called for EU action on software piracy and counterfeiting, which they claim is draining billions of euros and hundreds of thousands of jobs from European economies. In a letter to members of the European Commission, the European Parliament and heads of member-states, the software industry leaders call for a five-point action plan to rid the European Union of copyright theft. Among their proposals are the co-ordination of anti-piracy efforts, the adoption of deterrent levels of penalties and damages and an attack on the problem of large-volume counterfeiting at CD plants.
Sun Shines On Dublin: Sun Microsystems has formally opened an extension to its European Software Centre in Dublin and confirmed that it will create an additional 100 jobs at the centre, which currently employs 225 people. EIRCOM'S FREEBIE: Bowing to the inevitable, Eircom has launched a free Internet access service, Go Further for Free, without registration, subscription or CD charges. Info - www.eircom.net
Veri Smart Move: Hewlett-Packard is behind the technology which will see Ireland host one of the world's first Internet over mobile phone projects. Its VeriFone division has integrated a Wireless Application Protocol interface into its VeriSmart e-commerce software for the project in Ennis.
In Pcs We Trust: IBM is to join the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance, a group that hopes to create better security for e-commerce transactions. The alliance aims to develop a standard to make PCs more secure.
Scaling The Heights: A salary report by NewMediaCV shows that staff with e-commerce and web skills can command increasingly large salaries, particularly in Dublin or Limerick. It found that people working in marketing, design, software engineering, e-commerce project management or web production can earn from £22,000 to £50,000. Info - www.newmediacv.com/salreport.htm.
Go Faster With Gas: A super-fast molecular computer driven by gases may be a step closer to reality, New Scientist magazine has reported. James La Clair has developed a molecule that can be switched on and off by nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Molecular computing could help to solve a major problem facing the technology industry - the physical limitations of silicon-based transistors.
That's All Volks: Volkswagen has filed a counter-suit against a US ISP called Virtual Works, charging it with extortion and cyberpiracy for using the domain name www.vw.net. This is in response to a Virtual Works lawsuit, seeking $1 million in damages from VW and the right to retain the address.
Cia Y2k Alert: Russia, China and Indonesia are among the countries likely to suffer the greatest Y2K-related disruptions, but even well-prepared countries could import computer problems from other nations, a CIA official has warned. A US Senate Y2K panel heard that crises overseas could "involve US military and civilian components in humanitarian relief, environmental disaster recovery or evacuations".
Nai Virus Alert: An alert was issued last week for two variants of the Melissa virus. AVERT, the Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team, a division of Network Associates, ranked the new strains as medium-risk viruses. Like Melissa, the two new viruses - Melissa U and Melissa V - arrive via an infected Word document email attachment with a subject line of "pictures" or "My Pictures" and the sender's name.
Playing With Linux: In an indication that Linux is steadily eating into the desktop market, computer gaming is becoming a reality on the operating system. Loki Entertainment Software has gone into partnership with gaming giant Activision and Penguin computer has announced it will sell a gaming-oriented Linux machine.
Oracle's Irish Applications: Oracle has announced plans for a new Applications Solution Centre (ASC) in its European development and technology centre in Dublin.
In Brief...3Com maintained its global leadership in the service provider access concentrator market in the second quarter, claiming nearly 40 per cent of the worldwide market. . . The Irish-owned software localisation company VistaTEC has opened an office in Silicon Valley. . . NCB has become the first stockbroking company in Ireland to offer the ability to check Irish share prices through mobile phone handsets. . . Bull, the parent company of Bull Cara Group in Ireland, has announced the creation of Express Servers SAS - a joint subsidiary with Packard BellNEC. . . Richard Branson has announced plans to launch a web portal that will "champion the British people". . . Apple Computers has finished its fiscal year with an eighth straight quarterly profit, although profits were down. . . Microsoft is to donate $160,000 to set up awards for literary achievement in the online book industry. . . Maine State officials got their first Y2K surprise when owners of 2000 model cars and trucks received documents identifying their new vehicles as "horseless carriages". . .
Diary
Tomorrow: The Electronic Media - A Century of Convergence examines the progression of technology - and specifically mass media - throughout the twentieth century, as part of the celebrations to mark centennial of the Irish Centre of The Institution of Electrical Engineers at 2.30 p.m. in the RDS Concert Hall. Info - chris.mcloughlin@mail.esb.ie
Tomorrow: E-Commerce: Getting Paid Online. The first of a number of Irish Internet Association events in Cork, this seminar in the Kingsley Hotel, Carrigrohane will discuss some available options, pitfalls and what is involved in getting paid through a website. Info - events@iia.ie or 01 495 2265.
Wednesday: A overview of current methods available for making online payments including presentation from representatives of Trintech and Bank of Ireland's ClikPay in the Institute of Engineers, Clyde Road Dublin 4. Info - events@iia.ie or 01 495 2265.
Modem World
www.voltapublishing.com
Volta Digital Media online news service covering Internet and digital media issues. Net Gains promises daily updates on Internet news and trends in Ireland, Europe and further afield.
www.21stnetwork.com/users/4330
Site that allows users to sign up for online computer training, using streaming technology.
www.gpit.ie
A new site for the National General Practice Information Technology Working Group with the aim of promoting the development of information technology in Irish General Practice.
www.Ireland2000.ie Somewhat Spartan site dedicated to the Millennium celebrations in Ireland.
www.dunamaisetheatre.com
Online home of the Dunamaise Theatre and Centre for the Arts, a new arts centre/venue in Portlaoise.
www.slb.com/seed/watch/atslb/wise
Homepage of Women in Science and Engineering, a group which confronts the difficulties faced by women pursuing a career in a still what is seen as a male-dominated world.
Textbites
"The current version of Microsoft Windows NT network operating system has excellent security features built-in. A single log on to the Windows NT-based domain allows user access to resources anywhere in the corporate network." - From the introduction to a white paper on Microsoft's Security Configuration Manager, available at www.microsoft.com
"I think it was important not to burden the Internet and e-commerce with extra taxation up front, but as you look at the projections of the amount of Internet business two or three years out, there's going to have to be some resolution to the taxation problem. You're not just going to rip the tax revenue out of the system." - Intel president and CEO Craig Barrett.
The full text of Computimes reports is available on The Irish Times web site at www.ireland.com
Monitor compiled by Conor Pope. Email to computimes@irish-times.ie preferred (rather than fax, post, phone). No attachments, please. Private correspondence should be marked "Not for publication".