The DVD Forum released a preliminary format for a HD DVD-ROM spec for the Chinese market. The version 9.9 spec, unveiled Thurs. at the DVD Forum conference in Japan, mostly parallels the HD DVD-ROM specs for a 12-cm disc with two 0.6- cm-thick platters and a single layer with 15 GB capacity. The major difference is the modulation codec, which for China is 4-to-6 modulation (FSM) (4 data bit/6 channel bit modulation) vs. 8-to-12 (ETM) for other markets. Chinese entities -- including the Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center and China Electronics Technology Group -- sought a different codec to separate the Chinese version from the HD DVD-ROM format used elsewhere. Based on the format, the Chinese group will define a proprietary video format. The China-only format, to be labeled “HD DVD-ROM part 1 Version 10.0 for China Only,” is expected to be available in Dec.
The PS2 version of Madden NFL 07 from Electronic Arts was, in its 6th week, again the #1-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak’s preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended Oct. 1. No new games made the top 10.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing that it is revoking the countervailing (CV) duty order on cut-to-length carbon steel plate from the United Kingdom (ITA case C-412-815, CBP case C-412-209).
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that the Secretary of Homeland Security has said that federal security officials will have "zero tolerance" for port terminal operators who violate cargo search requests. The article notes that new port security funding legislation gives DHS the authority to go after terminal operators who intentionally or mistakenly allow suspicious cargo to leave the docks. (JoC Online, dated 10/03/06, www.joc.com.)
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the final results of an antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review, in order to revoke in part the AD duty order on polychloroprene rubber from Japan with respect to certain types of polychloroprene rubber, as described below.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated a new shipper review for the antidumping (AD) duty order on certain frozen fish fillets from Vietnam with respect to the following producer/exporter and review period:
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated a new shipper review for the antidumping (AD) duty order on stainless steel bar from India with respect to the following producer/exporter and review period:
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty new shipper review of certain frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador for the review period of August 4, 2004 through July 31, 2005.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has published in the September 28, 2006 Federal Register its antidumping (AD) duty order for certain lined paper products (CLPP) from China.
PayPal is paying, making a $1.7 million settlement deal with 28 state attorneys general, resolving consumer complaints about the eBay-owned payment processor’s practices. PayPal also reached a preliminary settlement in a proposed class-action suit. Under the AG pact the company will “shorten and streamline” its user agreement and better inform users of its financial protection programs, the company said, claiming it already complies with “many” agreement provisions. Consumers said PayPal would freeze their funds in any disputes, directly charging their bank accounts without notice. The settlement stipulates that PayPal will ask users before purchases whether they want to pay by credit or debit card or electronic funds transfer. PayPal also must provide “clear access” to its Web pages detailing how its in-house dispute resolution system works compared to consumers’ federally mandated “chargeback rights,” said the Wash. state AG office, one of 4 to pursue PayPal starting in 2003. “Under this agreement, consumers will no longer have to click through multiple hyperlinks to get critical information about their financial transactions,” Wash. AG Rob McKenna (R) said. Other participating states are Ala., Ariz., Cal., Del., Fla., Ga., Hawaii, Ill., Ind., Ia., La., Md., Minn., Miss., Neb., Nev., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Ore., S.D., Tenn., Tex., Vt. and W.Va. The preliminary settlement with proposed class members in U.S. Dist. Court, Brooklyn, which includes a $3.5 million fund minus administrative and plaintiffs’ legal costs, will be evaluated by the court in the coming months, PayPal said. Those customers sued in 2005 alleging PayPal didn’t clearly explain its consumer protection programs. The company admitted no liability in either settlement.