A recently
filed lawsuit has intensified an ongoing dispute over whether
Google's policy of selling ads related to search terms is legal
or involves trademark infringement. American Blind and Wallpaper
Factory filed suit against the search giant and its partners,
AOL and Netscape, in a New York federal court, claiming that
Google's practice of selling text ads related to keyword search
terms takes advantage of American Blind's trademarks, given
that competitors' ads can appear on results pages turned up
by searches for "American wallpaper" and "American
blind." In November, Google filed a complaint in the U.S.
District Court in San Jose , Calif. , asking the court to rule
on whether its keyword-advertising policy is legal. According
to the complaint, Google pursued a court ruling after receiving
legal threats from American Blind about its advertising policy.
American Blind has insisted Google stop selling keyword phrases
it claims violate its trademarks. Google had said it would
block advertisers from buying keywords that directly infringe
on American Blind's trademarks, including "American Blind
Factory" and "DecorateToday" but said it could
not block other descriptive phrases American Blind wished to
protect. Those phrases included "American wallpaper" and "American
blind." The law is unclear in the United States about
the responsibility of search engines to police trademarks in
paid search. Earlier this year, auction giant eBay asked Google
to block advertisers from using its trademark in sponsored
search results. eBay listed, in 13 pages, a wide selection
of terms related to its trademarks. Google complied with some
of eBay's requests. In August, Louis Vuitton sued Google and
its French subsidiary for similar alleged trademark infringement,
and a French court in October ordered Google to cease the practice
and pay a fine.
Sony and
Microsoft are developing microprocessors to power the next
generation of game machines, but Nintendo seems to be heading
in the opposite direction. Nintendo's philosophy is that video
games should be fun and simple, like toys. So stating, they
have unveiled details of a new, portable video game system,
codenamed "Nintendo DS", which features two liquid-crystal
display screens, one above the other, which will the user to
view the game from two angles at once--in racing games, for
example. Nintendo has seen a surge in sales in the United States
after it slashed GameCube prices to less than $100, a 40% discount
to PS2 and Xbox.
Monster Worldwide
next month plans to launch an online community for users of
its popular jobs listing site for a fee. The venture will be
part of the Monster.com site and is a cross between increasingly
popular networking and dating sites, such as Friendster.com,
and job posting. While users can search for contacts by profession,
location and school, they will have to pay to be able to view
contact information, like a $24.99 one-time fee and a monthly
charge of $2.99 for users to get in touch with each other.
E-COMMERCE RELATED EVENTS AND INFORMATION
The following
are links to upcoming seminars and other events that our readers
might have an interest in and/or other information related
to e-commerce.
The state
of Pennsylvania said Thursday it will sponsor its second nanotechnology
conference in Philadelphia in May. The state will hold "The
Business of Nano: Pennsylvania Nanotechnology Conference 2004" May
25 and May 26 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center . The conference
is designed to help Pennsylvania research and business institutions
that wish to get involved with nanotechnology, which involves
working at the atomic level to create devices and substances.
President Bush in December signed the 21st Century Nanotechnology
Research and Development Act, which will provide $3.7 billion
in nanotechnology funding over four years.
WASHINGTON
, D.C. - The five-year-old federal moratorium on taxing Internet
access officially expired Nov. 1, 2003. But don't panic. You
aren't likely to get a new tax bill for your Internet access--at
least not anytime soon. In fact, proponents of permanently
banning local and state Internet-access taxes would like nothing
better than for some wayward state or locality to slap on a
stiff new Internet levy, says Bartlett Cleland, associate general
counsel of the Information Technology Association of America,
which represents technology and Internet heavyweights such
as IBM , Microsoft , Time Warner's AOL and Yahoo! Local tax
officials "will do something stupid," he says. "It's
just a matter of time." Cleland hopes for a new tax because
it might give proponents of a permanent ban the momentum to
break the current logjam in the Senate. And what a jam it is.
Arguing that this is foremost an issue of states' rights, Sen.
Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has blocked efforts by Sen. George
Allen (R-Va.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to make the moratorium
permanent and to expand the Internet services it explicitly
protects from tax. The question, says Alexander, "is whether
Congress should give a big tax break to the telecommunications
industry and then send the bill for it to the states.'' Shortly
before Congress adjourned last year, he and Senate allies such
as former governors George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), Tom Carper
(D-Del.) and Bob Graham (D-Fla.) offered up a simple two-year
extension of the old moratorium as a compromise. But with Congress
now back in town, Frank Cavaliere, George Allen's deputy legislative
director, doesn't see much chance for a deal. "It's difficult
to negotiate when the negotiating position on the other side
is nothing,'' he sniffs. So Allen is pushing his own bill again
this year. Cavaliere predicts a vote some time before Congress'
Easter recess in April, but it's unclear if Allen has the votes
to pass his version of the bill. It wasn't supposed to be like
this. Last summer, the states seemed resigned to a permanent
moratorium. But then the telecommunications industry and antitax
forces in Congress gambled they could get even more tax relief.
That stirred up simmering opposition from state and local officials,
who now collect $20 billion a year from taxes on telecommunications
services.
Allen and
his telecom allies are adamant on two
points. One is that the bill should clearly exempt broadband
access, as well as dial-up service, from tax. According to the
Congressional Budget Office, states that haven't treated
certain DSL service as covered by the old moratorium
will collect at least $40 million in tax on DSL
this year. Another $80 million to $120 million of Internet access
taxes already in place before the 1998 moratorium were "grandfathered," or
still allowed. Allen's bill would knock out all grandfathered
taxes after three years, while the House-passed bill would
end them right away. The second, far more controversial point
is that Allen wants to make the infrastructure of the Internet
tax-free too. Wholesale telecommunications and Internet backbone
services purchased by Internet service providers would be exempt
from tax. Many states now impose either a telecommunications
sales or excise tax on such purchases. "If you get to
tax the wholesale piece, the provider is just going to pass
it on to the customer. It's not a telecommunications windfall,
it's a pass-through tax,'' says Mark Beshears, vice president
of state and local tax for Sprint , a major backbone provider.
The provision could mean a big revenue hit to the states. Harley
Duncan, executive director of the Federation of Tax Administrators,
figures it would cost state and local governments roughly $500
million in annual tax revenue, based on the $15 billion to
$20 billion a year ISPs already spend to purchase telecom services.
And that number can only grow. For example, a coalition of
wireless providers, including AT&T Wireless Services ,
Verizon Communications and Nextel Communications , is lobbying
to make sure that the Internet services they buy from land
line companies for resale to their own customers won't be taxed.
Meanwhile, the Senate standoff has given Internet consumers
a bonus: Until the access tax issue is resolved, Congress is
unlikely to move on a bill that would make it easier for states
to collect sales taxes on purchases made through Internet-only
retailers like Amazon.com "With this clogging up the agenda,
I'm hard-pressed to see how it can be done,'' Duncan acknowledges.
Kutztown
SBDC announces its Business Skills for Success seminar series– view
course schedule by visiting http://www.kutztownsbdc.org/
If you're
a small or medium-sized business located in northwest PA and
you're searching for project funding, IT expertise – or both,
contact the Center for eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology
( eBizITPA ) and ask about their IT Kickstart competitive grant
program. It provides grant dollars to help fund your
IT projects and allows you to draw upon their experience and
know-how to get your project moving. Visit www.ebizitpa.org/ITkickstart or
call 814-898-6500.
PROCUREMENT AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The following
is a listing of recently published technology procurement or
Federally funded opportunities with various governmental entities.
We hope our readers take the opportunity to investigate these
postings and increase their business :
Department
of Defense (DoD)
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is soliciting
proposals for rapid demonstration of air-to-air-to-ground
laser communications using adaptive optics . The goal
is to develop a fast-track program to demonstrate these communications
as quickly as possible under realistic conditions with capability
to rapidly transition developed systems to full-scale production.
The project must be completed within a one-year timeframe with
an estimated budget of $2 million. A single award is anticipated.
Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals are due Feb. 20, 2004.
More information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLPLDED/BAA04%2DDE%2D02/listing.html
AFRL also
is soliciting white papers for science and technology projects
to support Laser Development, Engineering, and Research
Applications . Twelve technical topic areas are outlined
in the solicitation: (1) high power bulk solid state lasers,
(2) high power gas and chemical based lasers, (3) high power
fiber lasers, (4) moderate power military systems lasers, (5)
systems engineering and integration, (6) modeling simulation
and computational support of lasers and laser systems, (7)
optimization using advanced computational techniques, (8) remote
sensing of chemicals and biological agents, (9) laser effects
research, (10) in-house research, (11) test and integration,
and (12) ultra-short pulsed lasers. Approximately $125 million
is expected to be available over 60 months for multiple awards.
Eligibility is unrestricted. White papers are due Feb. 20,
2004. More information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLPLDED/BAA03%2DDE%2D06/listing.html
The Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals
for the first phase of a new program in Architectures
for Cognitive Information Processing . The goal of
this program is to develop a new generation of computing architectures
that will enable revolutionary advances in cognitive information
processing algorithms and systems for real-time DoD applications.
All responsible sources capable of satisfying the government's
needs may submit proposals, which are due March 19, 2004, for
the initial evaluation phase. Proposals will continue to be
accepted until Jan. 21, 2005. More information is available
at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA04%2D14/listing.html
National
Science Foundation (NSF)
NSF invites proposals for funding to support research
in networking technology and systems . Projects should
focus on either of two broad areas, programmable wireless networks
and networking of sensor systems. Approximately $40 million is
expected to be available for 50-60 awards. Individual investigator
and small group awards may average about $150,000 per investigator,
annually, for up to three years. Large group awards of up to
$1 million per year for up to four years and facility awards
averaging about $500,000 per year for up to three years also
may be made. Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals are due April
14, 2004. More information is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04540
NSF invites
proposals for funding under the Advanced Technological
Education program, which focuses on the education
of technicians for the high-technology fields, with an emphasis
on two-year colleges. Proposals may aim to affect either specialized
technology courses or core science, mathematics and technology
courses that serve as prerequisites or corequisites for specialized
technology courses. Approximately $38 million is expected to
be available in FY 2005 to fund 65 awards. The categories of
proposers identified in the Grant
Proposal Guide are eligible to submit proposals. Preliminary
proposals, which are required for some projects, are due April
21, 2004; full proposals are due Oct. 8, 2004. More information
is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04541
Public
Health Service (PHS)
The calendar year 2004 PHS Phase I Grant Solicitation
for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small
Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs and
updated instructions for Phase II SBIR/STTR Grant Applications
are now available as document number PHS 2004-2. Part I of PHS
2004-2 includes the program information, grant application instructions
and preparation requirements. Part II includes the NIH, Centers
for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration Program
Descriptions and Research Topics. Eligibility is limited to small
businesses. Phase I Awards normally are for $100,000. Applications
may be submitted by any of three deadlines in 2004: April 1,
Aug. 1 and Dec. 1. More information is available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm#sbir
Source: SSTI
Weekly Digest
A Publication of the State Science and Technology Institute
SSTI, 5015 Pine Creek Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43081
Phone: (614) 901-1690 Fax: (614) 901-1696
Email: ssti@ssti.org Website: http://www.ssti.org
Department
of Defense (DoD)
The
Air Force Materiel Command invites white papers that seek to
develop, integrate and demonstrate advanced computing
architecture technologies and applications. These architectures
should possess greater capacity and sophistication for addressing
dynamic mission objectives under constraints imposed by C2, ISR
and strike systems in order to establish, maintain and exploit
information superiority. A total of approximately $24.9 million
is expected to be available over fiscal years 2004-08. Individual
awards ranging between $100,000 to $1.5 million per year for
up to 30 months may be made. All potential applicants are eligible.
For the current fiscal year, white papers are due July 1, 2004;
however, white papers will be accepted until Jan. 6, 2009. More
information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/Reference%2DNumber%2DBAA%2D04
%2D03%2DIFKA/listing.html
Source:
SSTI www.ssti.org
The following
postings appeared on www.eps.gov
GSA - Federal
Technology Service (FTS)
Acquisition
Services Division (6TS-A)
70
-- GENERAL PURPOSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/FTS/ASD6TSA/6TSA%2D04%2DJMT%2D0045/listing.html
DOJ - Justice
Management Division
Procurement
Services Staff (PSS)
D --
Computer-Assisted Legal Research (CALR)
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOJ/JMD/PSS/DJJD04RFP0267/listing.html
ODA - Defense
Threat Reduction Agency
Defense
Threat Reduction Agency
R --
Advisory and Assistance Services to Support the Mission of the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DTRA/DTRA01/Reference%2DNumber%2DBDA040000378/
listing.html
DHS-DR -
United States Coast Guard (USCG)
Commanding
Officer (fp), USCG Integrated Support Command Boston R -- ICS
200/300/400 TRAINING
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DHS%2DDR/USCG/COUSCGISCB/DTCG24%2D04%2DQ%
2D16A658/listing.html
NASA - Stennis
Space Center
Office
of Procurement
R--E-COMPLEX
ELECTRICAL DATABASE INTEGRATION & UPGRADES Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/NASA/SSC/OPDC20220/4200047677/listing.html
TREAS - Internal
Revenue Service (IRS)
Field
Procurement Operations, Midstates Area (OS:A:P:F:MS)
U --
Computer Audit Specialists Training
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/TREAS/IRS/IRSMPBAPFMS/TIRMS%2D04%2DR%2D00004/
listing.html
USDA - Natural
Resources Conservation Service
Information
Technology Acquisition Team
D --
Microsoft Premier Support Services
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/USDA/NRCS/ITAT/AG%2D82TS%2DS%2D04%2D0004/listing.html
