Post Tech - A Technology Blog from the Washington Post - November 8, 2009

Google narrows book rights in revised settlement

Google scaled back its ambitious digital book project in a revised legal settlement announced late Friday that would narrow its control over millions of online titles. The concessions come after heavy scrutiny by the Justice Department, Web competitors and some...

By Cecilia Kang | November 14, 2009; 12:49 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Antitrust , Google
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Comcast's online video bet clearer, benefits for users unclear

Here's what we now know about Comcast's bet on the future: Its online video program On Demand Online (also known as TV Everywhere) has been tested in 5,000 homes and will launch for real in December. It will offer free...

By Cecilia Kang | November 13, 2009; 9:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Comcast , Online Video | Tags: comcast, newteevee, online video, time warner, tv everywhere
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Verizon may be moving forward on policing copyright

CNET reports that Verizon is getting ready to inform customers of their copyright infringements. The move comes amid ongoing closed-door trade talks among multiple nations--including the United States, Canada and Japan, as well as European Union members--on an anti-counterfeiting plan...

By Cecilia Kang | November 13, 2009; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: AT&T , Comcast , Verizon , copyright | Tags: ACTA, at&t, comcast, michael geist, online copyright, trade talks, treaty, verizon
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Intel pays AMD $1.25B legal settlement; FTC and E.U. continue reviews

UPDATED at 12:10 p.m.: Putting an end to one of Silicon Valley's longest running legal battles, chip giants Intel and Advanced Micro Devices said today they have agreed on a $1.25 billion settlement that will resolve multiple lawsuits around the...

By Cecilia Kang | November 12, 2009; 10:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Bing and Wolfram try to take on Google

Wolfram Alpha, a much-hyped search engine by a famous scientist, launched last May and was supposed to take on Google. Then it kind of faded. It’s back in the spotlight after Microsoft announced yesterday it was teaming up with the...

By Cecilia Kang | November 12, 2009; 9:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Antitrust , DOJ , Google , Microsoft | Tags: google, microsoft, minnesota, yahoo
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Chat with Michael Geist on secret copyright rules

Michael Geist, an Internet law professor at the University of Ottawa, thinks there is so much wrong with trade negotiations on anti-counterfeiting. The least of which is that the dozens of countries participating in anti-counterfeiting talks have been secretly meeting...

By Cecilia Kang | November 12, 2009; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: AT&T , Comcast , copyright | Tags: at&t, comcast, cox, verizon
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Spectrum debate escalates, broadcasters step up lobby

A debate is escalating over the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to use television broadcast spectrum for mobile services. Broadcasters have been quick to tell to FCC that they need to keep airwaves to pursue their own plans to bring...

By Cecilia Kang | November 11, 2009; 9:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: FCC , Mobile , Spectrum | Tags: cable, fcc, fox, hdtv
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Apple says no VoIP apps for iPhone yet

More than one month ago, AT&T announced it would run competing Internet voice applications for the iPhone on its network. The phone giant was showered with kudos from federal regulators and consumer groups. The announcement was seen as a milestone...

By Cecilia Kang | November 11, 2009; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: AT&T , FCC , Mobile , Net Neutrality | Tags: apple, at&t, iphone, skype, voip
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Government moves to speed broadband stimulus

After a delay and criticism over the application process, the federal government said today it will consolidate its $7.2 billion in stimulus funding for broadband Internet into two rounds instead of three. The first round of grants and loans for...

By Cecilia Kang | November 10, 2009; 11:04 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Broadband
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Clearwire gets a breath with $1.5 billion investment

Clearwire said it received $1.5 billion in funding from its motley consortium of early investors, opening a new chapter for the high-speed wireless Internet service provider that is gearing to go up against Verizon Wireless and AT&T for future mobile...

By Cecilia Kang | November 10, 2009; 10:51 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: AT&T , Clearwire , FCC , Google , Mobile
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Oracle's bid for Sun hits a roadblock in Europe

The European Commission's objections to Oracle's $7.4 billion bid for Sun Microsystems could complicate the proposed merger of the two companies, and legal experts say the outcome could depend on how quickly these concerns are resolved. On Monday, European competition...

By Cecilia Kang | November 10, 2009; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Antitrust , DOJ
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After DOJ approval, Europe objects to Oracle-Sun merger

European regulators have objected to Oracle's proposed $7.4 billion takeover of Sun Microsystems, parting from their counterparts in the United States who have already blessed the deal. Oracle, the world's largest database software company, said the European Commission said Oracle's...

By Cecilia Kang | November 9, 2009; 8:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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New Google books settlement delayed to Friday

A federal judge on Monday granted Google and authors and publishers an extension to file a revised settlement to their dispute over the online giant's plan to digitize millions of books. Judge Denny Chin, of the U.S. District Court of...

By Cecilia Kang | November 9, 2009; 5:47 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Update: Lawmaker to introduce bill on cancellation fees after Verizon's increase

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said Monday she plans to introduce legislation to keep wireless carriers from unfairly raising penalties on consumers who cancel their contracts early. The decision comes after Verizon Wireless said last week it plans to double the...

By Cecilia Kang | November 9, 2009; 5:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Early Termination Fees , Mobile , Verizon
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Post Tech: November 8, 2009 - November 14, 2009