An ITU-R working party is developing channel arrangements for fixed service systems in the 92 to 95 GHz band, we've learned. The arrangements in the draft text will likely become a draft recommendation, but they may become more generic if they're to also cover 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz. All three frequency ranges are used for fixed broadband wireless applications in some countries. Frequencies between 92 and 95 GHz are viewed as ideally suited to short-range digital radio links in high-density networks, we've learned, but different licensed applications may require different channel arrangements and bandwidths. Channel arrangements for both time and frequency division duplex systems are covered in the preliminary work.
The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of its antidumping duty administrative review of hand trucks and parts thereof from China (A-570-822) for the period of December 1, 2007 through November 30, 2008.
Progress toward a single European telecom market is “disappointing,” Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said Tuesday. The 15th annual European Commission report on the state of the electronic communications sector showed consumers and businesses are missing out on the benefits of a unified and competitive market because telecom rules are applied inconsistently, the EC said. There are also questions about the independence and effectiveness of some national regulators and major differences in wholesale and retail prices across Europe, it said.
Progress toward a single European telecom market is “disappointing,” Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said Tuesday. The 15th annual European Commission report on the state of the electronic communications sector showed consumers and businesses are missing out on the benefits of a unified and competitive market because telecom rules are applied inconsistently, the EC said. There are also questions about the independence and effectiveness of some national regulators and major differences in wholesale and retail prices across Europe, it said.
Adult publisher Perfect 10 suffered another setback in a copyright infringement case. But its target, German download service RapidShare, got unwelcome news from the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, too. Judge Marilyn Huff denied Perfect 10’s motion for a preliminary injunction, saying it hadn’t shown that it was likely to win the case. Perfect 10 has accused RapidShare of complicity in hosting thousands of its photos, which Perfect 10 makes available for a $25.50 monthly fee. But Huff said there were several important differences between RapidShare and other download services, notably the lack of a search function for uploaded files. RapidShare uploaders get a link to their files that they can share with others. “The public cannot enter rapidshare.com and browse through a catalog for desired materials” as library patrons could in another precedential case dealing with the “making available” argument, Huff said. RapidShare is not like the original Napster in that it doesn’t index hosted files, she said. Although RapidShare had “actual, specific knowledge of direct infringement,” from Perfect 10’s takedown request, it doesn’t provide the “site and facilities” for direct infringement as Napster did, she said: Perfect 10 “must show something more” than RapidShare’s “mere existence” that materially contributes to infringement. Though the service said it couldn’t locate and delete files based simply on the images, provided by Perfect 10 in the takedown request, it has identified files in which download links were visible in the photo and removed them, and it has searched third-party sites that index RapidShare files to find others that infringe Perfect 10 copyrights. Perfect 10 hasn’t shown that RapidShare isn’t taking “simple measures” to stop infringement, Huff said. RapidShare also said it canceled its cash reward program for affiliates after it became concerned the program was promoting infringement, and Huff said she didn’t have enough information about the “scope” of its remaining rewards program -- giving users “points” for sharing files to make charitable donations -- to issue an injunction. Perfect 10 hasn’t shown that RapidShare is guilty of inducement, considering that RapidShare showed that its download service was used for legitimate purposes, such as hosting free antivirus software for the German edition of PC World, Huff said. And the publisher hasn’t taken “simple, available measures to protect its property,” such as giving RapidShare a list of links to its infringing files, using a “takedown tool” the service offered to Perfect 10, or bringing its suit far earlier, since there’s evidence Perfect 10 knew in 2005 that its files were on RapidShare, Huff said. RapidShare was rebuked by Huff for not having a designated agent registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, a condition for DMCA protection. It can’t get safe-harbor protection until it has one, she said.
An overview of a number of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted to CBP's Web site, along with the case number(s), period covered, and CBP message number, is provided below. (Note that the complete message is only available at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.)
The International Trade Administration has made a final affirmative antidumping determination that prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from China is being, or is likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value (A-570-945).
The International Trade Administration has made a final affirmative determination that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from China (C-570-946).
The International Trade Administration has issued an amended final antidumping duty determination for certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from China (A-570-943).
The World Trade Organization has circulated a communication from the panel examining "China - Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials" brought by the U.S. (DS394), European Union (DS395) and Mexico (DS398). The panel has issued a preliminary, partial determination on its terms of reference in the dispute. (Document - may have to attempt to open twice for proper viewing, posted 05/18/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org:80/DDFDocuments/t/wt/ds/398-8.doc)