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Copyright lawsuit against iiNet kicks off

A LANDMARK court battle between iiNet and the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) kicked off this week with the national internet service provider pledging to vigorously defend itself against claims that it authorised piracy among its users.

Telstra quiet on NBN legal action

TELSTRA has not ruled out seeking legal action over its exclusion from the bidding process to build a $15 billion national broadband network In an analysts call this morning Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo said the telco would reserve its right to pursue its legal options in the future.

Department of Industry and Resources restructure

The Department of Industry and Resources is being restructured to establish new Departments more closely aligned with the priorities of the State Government. The new Departments will begin operating as of January 1, 2009.

Telstra to Unveil "TiVo-killer"

TELSTRA is expected to take a major step towards its goal of being a media company early next year when it rolls out set-top boxes that allow internet customers to download films and play them on television.

Children's welfare groups slam net filters

Support for the Government's plan to censor the internet has hit rock bottom, with even children's welfare groups now saying that that the mandatory filters, aimed squarely at protecting kids, are ineffective and a waste of money.

The NBN Saga:Q&A with Layer 10's Paul Brooks

With the deadline for NBN bids officially closed, much of the attention has been focused on Telstra's non-compliant bid. At 12 pages - almost 1000 pages shorter than the Optus-led Terria bid - Telstra's proposal to construct the NBN will be considered, communications minister, Stephen Conroy, said.

Telstra Enters NBN Race

TELSTRA has continued 12 months of brinksmanship in its aggressive bid against regulation by not submitting a full bid for the federal Government's $10-billion plus national broadband network, instead lodging a $5 billion proposal to build a network in major cities.

Media Companies Help Promote Laptop Project

The goal, Mr. Negroponte says, is greatly increasing the donation program, "Give a Laptop. Get a Laptop. Change the World." For $399, a person can donate an XO laptop and also receive one. Or donors can simply donate $199, to give a child a laptop, at www.amazon.com/xo.

How Obama's Internet Campaign Changed Politics

One of the many ways that the election of Barack Obama as president has echoed that of John F. Kennedy is his use of a new medium that will forever change politics. For Mr. Kennedy, it was television. For Mr. Obama, it is the Internet. "Were it not for the Internet, Barack Obama would not be president. Were it not for the Internet, Barack Obama would not have been the nominee," said Arianna Huffington, editor in chief of The Huffington Post.

Carr Drives Open Innovation Practices

INNOVATION Minister Kim Carr has backed Cutler Review recommendations to establish an “open access” regime to publicly-funded research based on open publishing licences and creative commons standards.

Australia 'Coming Last' in Dealing with e-Waste

While some states are trying to facilitate e-waste recovery and recycling, the common complaint from industry and environmentalists is that there is no sensible, coherent, national response. "The issues are really basic ones," says Mr Gertsakis from PSA. "The EU has dealt with this. A growing number of US states are doing it. Japan has done it. Yet again, we are the laggard in this part of the world."

Ripper announces shadow portfolios

Opposition leader Eric Ripper has gone for newcomers in crucial portfolios as he seeks to put early pressure on the new state government. Announcing his shadow cabinet today, Mr Ripper handed Victoria Park MP Ben Wyatt the Treasury portfolio and deputy leader and new Kwinana MP Roger Cook took the health job formerly held by Jim McGinty.

Murdoch takes out top spot in national robot championships

A team of Murdoch College students and their robotic creations have danced up a storm at the Robocup Junior National Championships at Scitech, their magnificent moves seeing them beat a host of international competitors and win first place in the Secondary Dance Division. "It was great to see a Western Australian team come out on top, especially in the face of the exceptional skills and expertise of our international counterparts."

Barnett Announces New Cabinet

Former Liberal leader Troy Buswell will be Treasurer and hold the super portfolio of Commerce which includes small business, trade, consumer protection and industrial relations, as well as the Housing and Works portfolio. Mr Barnett said the new Department of Commerce would run along the lines of the US Department of Commerce.

Industry, business & Government drive digital economy future

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today met with industry and business leaders to drive the vision for Australia's future in the global digital economy. "We need to position now for Australia to realise the full benefits from the Governments infrastructure and other digital economy investments, and realise our ambition to become one of the worlds leading digital economies," Senator Conroy said.

Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S.

Andrew M. Odlyzko, a professor at the University of Minnesota who tracks the growth of the global Internet, added, "We discovered the Internet, but we couldn't keep it a secret." While the United States carried 70 percent of the world's Internet traffic a decade ago, he estimates that portion has fallen to about 25 percent.

Digital Economy Workshops Under Way

Following Government commitments to develop Australia's digital economy including $4.7 billion investment in the National Broadband Network (NBN), and $1 billion in the Digital Education Revolution, a series of workshops with the industry have begun with the view to convening a Digital Economy forum on 10 September in Melbourne.

Grant program recipients announced for Internet-related community projects in WA

The Western Australian Internet Association (WAIA) today awarded the 2008 round of the Grants to a range of WA organisations to assist in the growth and development of the Internet community in Western Australia.

Through the WAIA Internet Community Development Grants Program, the WAIA has allocated over $20,000 in grant funds this year to projects projects that range from an online car pooling register to an online information group for people living with Cystic Fibrosis.

Tanner hands-on for mobile revolution

If it were up to federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner the iPhone would be as ubiquitous as the television. However, as the man responsible for making sure the nation's financial position remains as buoyant as possible, he knows that forking out big dollars for new technology is not always the most sound approach

Beijing conjures Olympic opening epic with high technology

Five thousand years of Chinese history flowed on a huge scroll that unrolled to chapters of China's 5,000-year civilization. "Whales" swam in the tank-like inner walls of the stadium. Human beings roamed on an elevating "globe", and dancers dressed in bright costumes formed a brightly-lit "Bird's Nest".

"We have combined creativity with the most complicated technologies in Olympic history to maximize the visual and sensory impact on the audience".

Perth plays host to the world's best in computer gaming

The latest developments in computer gaming from around the world will be on show this weekend at the GO3 Electronic and Entertainment Expo. The three-day expo, which was officially opened by Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale today, is being run in conjunction with a commercial gaming conference that has attracted speakers from all over the world.

New Portal Opens up WA's ICT Industry

Western Australia's information and communication technology (ICT) industry has opened up to the world, thanks to a new online one-stop shop. Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan today launched the new ICTWA Portal which provides a pathway to careers in the ICT industry, as well as centralised information about the ICT sector in WA.

First Aussie astronaut launches National ICT Careers Week

Australia's first Astronaut officially opened the inaugural National ICT Career's Week at Sydney University today, kicking off a week of more than 100 events and activities presented by businesses, state and federal governments, industry and professional bodies, high schools, women in IT groups, universities and other educational institutions.

Bligh makes $18m ICT pledge

THE Queensland government will invest $18.55 million in ICT research to boost the state's position as an innovation hub. National ICT Australia (NICTA) has been allocated $10.05 million over the next four years for its Queensland research laboratory, while the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF) will receive $8.5 million over three years.

China Surpasses U.S. in Number of Internet Users

China said the number of Internet users in the country reached about 253 million last month, putting it ahead of the United States as the world's biggest Internet market.

WA animations to screen on Nickelodeon

Western Australian animators will have the chance to create short films to screen nationally on children’s television broadcaster Nickelodeon. Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the new Nick Shorts animation initiative would give up to six creative teams the opportunity to showcase innovative, original work on a range of Nickelodeon platforms, including Nick TV, Turbo Nick and Mobile.

National ICT Careers Week garners support from wider industry

The essential contribution skilled ICT workers make to Australian industries, governments, communities and citizens is being embraced by the wider business community, which is enthusiastically supporting the inaugural National ICT Careers Week - set to run from 28 July to 2 August this year. Under the banner "Start Here, Go Anywhere", over 100 events and activities are being presented across the country by companies, educational institutions, government organisations and industry bodies.

Five Ways Technology Has Changed the Olympics

When the Summer Olympics kick off in Beijing next month, they will be very different from the Olympics held eight or even four years ago. From weather control to laser timing devices, technology is having an impact on the Olympics in a profound way.

Scholarships to Lift Student Numbers

The lure of scholarship dollars is being used to attract students to study IT, as the industry tackles dwindling graduate numbers. The Australian Computer Society Foundation, the main scholarship facilitator focused exclusively on the technology sector, expects to award about 300 scholarships, worth more than $5 million, this year.