RIAA files yet more suits, some on campuses
The Recording Industry Association of America has brought the war against illegal file sharing to colleges across the country. The RIAA has filed a slew of new lawsuits against 532 alleged file-sharers, of which a reported 89 used university networks to obtain the files. The suits against music fans at 21 universities mark the first time the RIAA has directly targeted university networks. In spite of university administrators’ efforts to comply with RIAA mandates and educate students about copyright issues, students have repeatedly turned to illegal means to download music files. This might be due to a combination of students’ low cash funds and campus-provided high-speed internet connections. However, the users were not casual file-sharers; each was sharing an average of 837 songs. The subscribers are currently known only by internet addresses, but through the use of a cumbersome legal process the RIAA will determine users’ identities.

Jacko says internet wacko's selling his stuff
Michael Jackson is embroiled in more legal trouble, but this time, he’s not the accused. The king of pop has sued New Jersey resident Henry Vaccaro for more than $10 million, claiming Vaccaro is illegally selling private property belonging to Jackson and his family via the internet. The lawsuit claims that Vaccaro got letters, pictures, song lyrics and other items belonging to the pop star through a bankruptcy sale involving Jackson’s parents and has no right to sell them. Jackson’s attorney said Vaccaro, an operator of several New Jersey-based businesses and web sites, should have never been able to claim Jackson’s property because the entertainer was not part of the bankruptcy.     

TiVo reaches out to advertisers with new toy
TiVo has become advertisers’ worst nightmare by allowing TV watchers to pre-record shows and fast-forward ads at the touch of a button. Now TiVo is reaching out to those same advertisers by showcasing the many benefits that digital video recorders can give to them. The company has high hopes that its latest gizmo, known as video-to-video, will strike a chord with the ad business. Viewers will be able to click a button on their remote control that activates a 3-minute video, which describes products and services that might appeal to them. The clips are marketed through icons that appear onscreen as viewers skip ads.

Chinese gov't says web bad for kids' heads
China has been forced to close down any internet cafes in residential areas or within 200 meters (660 feet) of a school to protect children’s “mental health.” The strict order was made by the General Administration for Industry and Commerce (GAIC), China’s market watchdog. GAIC said that many internet cafes in China, especially those lacking licenses, admit juveniles in violation of regulations and allegedly spread unhealthy online information. The GAIC said they have brought harm to the mental stability of teens and obstructed school teaching, which the public has not taken to warmly. The government has since launched a nationwide effort to keep minors out of internet cafes. The GAIC said any that fail to comply would face rigid, severe penalties.