Pinpoint, a company that says it holds several e-commerce patents, recently sued Amazon.com for allegedly violating its business-method patents.  The suit also named six of Amazon's affiliated retail partners, including Borders Group, Target, Toys "R" Us and CDNow. The lawsuit claims that Amazon violated Pinpoint's personalization technology patents which allow e-commerce retailers to recommend related products or newer items to shoppers based on their purchase history at the site.

Recently introduced legislation in the U.S. Congress would make uploading a file to a peer-to-peer (P2P) network a felony with penalties of up to $250,000 in fines and five years in prison. The bill is aimed at closing loopholes in current copyright legislation and more effectively dealing with crimes that are already against the law.  The proposed legislation targets computer users who upload files to popular P2P networks and makes uploading a single file a felony with the possible penalty of severe fines and jail time.

Experts agree that marketing-automation technology is a crucial component of CRM that enables users to analyze data and map out cost-efficient business strategies.  In fact, analysts expect marketing automation to emerge as the next major area of CRM spending as both the market and the technology evolve because economic arguments can be made for marketing automation since it is fairly easy to demonstrate return on investment (ROI) through reduction of marketing costs or cost per campaign.  Analytics is the foundation of enterprise marketing management, essential for consolidating information on customer demographics, psychographics, transactions and interactions and for providing a panoramic view of customers.  The need to track costs and manage the process of campaign planning, design and implementation is important to all marketing organizations.  Also, collaboration between corporate marketing and branch or field marketing and sales managers is becoming more important to organizations. 

DEFCON, the world's most notorious computer hacker convention, kicks off August 1-3 in Las Vegas with presentations ranging from philosophical discussions on hacking to detailed information on the latest security holes in desktop computer operating systems. A remarkable mix of security professionals, talented amateurs and government officials turn out to exchange information on the latest security techniques.  The Wi-Fi long-distance competition, inspired by a Guinness World Record set last year in Sweden, has five categories ranging from commercial off-the-shelf equipment to homemade antennas with enhanced power. Wardriving activities, derived from the original practice of methodically dialing up phone numbers looking for modem tones, are also very popular.  In a DEFCON event, up to 12 teams will drive around Las Vegas in a designated area in two-hour blocks with the team that logs the largest number of wireless access points and most unique wireless access points winning. More information on DEFCON events can be found at defcon.org.

Wal-Mart Stores recently announced that it is accepting electronic checks for online purchases, becoming the latest retailer to widen Web payment options in an effort to boost sales. It is allowing shoppers to use encrypted checks for purchases at its Web site; customers will be required to provide personal information as a safeguard.  Previously customers were allowed to use only major credit cards and Wal-Mart store cards to make online purchases. Online retailers are becoming more comfortable with offering electronic checks as an alternative to credit cards, third-party payment services and bank debit cards in making online payments.   Wal-Mart plans to continue accepting debit cards, credit cards and Wal-Mart store cards for online purchases although electronic checks allow customers to issue payment a day or so before the funds come into their account to cover the check, thereby "floating" a check, while online debit card payments draw down a customer's checking account immediately. Recently, Visa USA found that 35% of its e-commerce transactions are conducted with a debit card. 

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:

Federal Funding Opportunities
Department of Defense (DoD)
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate/Power Division is soliciting proposals to develop, demonstrate and improve upon key power and thermal technologies supporting air and space applications in four areas — power generation, power management and distribution, energy storage, and subsystem integration. A total of approximately $49 million is expected to be available during the solicitation's seven-year period (FY 2003-09). Multiple awards are anticipated. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Proposals are due by September 2, 2003. More information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/BAA%2D03%2D05%2DPRK/listing.html

The Marine Corps Systems Command is soliciting white papers for a Marine Airborne Command and Control Communications Capability (MAC4), which is intended to offer frequency-hopping capability. The MAC4 should provide the latest command and control communications technology in a lightweight and portable package that may be mounted aboard several airborne platforms. A single award is expected to be funded under the program's $1 million budget. Full and open competition is encouraged. White papers are due by September 16, 2003. More information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/USMC/M67854/M67854%2D03%2DR%2D9025/listing.html

Foundation Funding Opportunities
Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management
The Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University (Calif.) is accepting applications for the Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation, a $25,000 award given to a nonprofit organization in recognition of an innovative, existing program that has made a difference in the lives of the people it serves. The selected program must do each of the following: further the mission of the organization; have specific and measurable outcomes; exemplify innovation by demonstrating a new dimension of performance; have made a demonstrated difference in the lives of the people it serves; and serve as a model that can be replicated or adapted by other organizations. Nonprofit organizations that were launched no earlier than January 1, 1998, are eligible to apply. Applications are due by August 22, 2003. More information is available at: http://drucker.cgu.edu/InnovationAward/

U.S. Israel Science and Technology Foundation (USISTF)
USISTF is accepting proposals to fund projects in Information, Communication and Electronic Technologies and Dual Use technologies. This includes the disciplines of software, hardware, IT applications, appliances, mobile communications, optics, electronics miniaturization, nanotechnology, process optimization, remote sensing and surveillance technologies, imaging technologies, continuous monitoring technologies, secure cyber infrastructure, chemical and biological sensing and diagnostic equipment, and bioinformatics fields. Approximately $1 million is expected to be available to fund multiple awards of up to $150,000 each. Preference will be given to applicants who match up to 50 percent of their grants. Eligible grantees include institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and commercial companies, consultants and other accredited entities or individuals with a presence in the U.S. and/or Israel. Proposals are due by September 30, 2003. More information is available at: http://www.usistf.org/RFP.html

Low-income Communities to Benefit from New Markets Tax Credit Program
The Department of the Treasury recently announced the second competitive round for the allocation of tax credits under the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program, a program designed to stimulate private sector investment in the economic development of low-income communities.

Established by Congress in 2000, the NMTC Program permits taxpayers to receive a credit against federal income taxes for making Qualified Equity Investments in Community Development Entities (CDEs). Substantially all of the investment must in turn be used by CDEs to make qualified investments in low-income communities. The credit provided to the taxpayer totals 39 percent of the cost of the investment and is claimed over a seven-year credit allowance period.

Successful CDEs will be allocated NMTCs after a competitive application and review process, which is administered by Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. With the publication of the Notice of Allocation Availability in the Federal Register on July 18, the CDFI Fund invites CDEs and entities seeking CDE designation to submit an application to compete for tax credit allocations.

During the second round, allocations of up to an aggregate total of $3.5 billion in qualified equity investments in CDEs will be made. This $3.5 billion in allocations represents the combined total for 2003 and 2004, as legislation permits.

The allocation application deadline is September 30, 2003. For more information, visit the CDFI Fund's website at: http://www.cdfifund.gov.

Source:  SSTI Weekly Digest Phone: (614) 901-1690     Fax: (614) 901-1696   Email: ssti@ssti.org     Website: http://www.ssti.org