Microsoft files lawsuits against "cybersquatters"
Seattle: Microsoft Corp. has filed two lawsuits against "cybersquatters" or "typosquatters" who use the company's product names to profit illegally from online advertising.

Microsoft said the explosion in online advertising in recent years had given rise to the illegal registration of Web site domains containing trademark Microsoft phrases or common brand name misspellings. With billing for the ads determined by number of clicks, such sites can drive up traffic and ad revenue. The sites exploit the ignorance of surfers who type in a non-Microsoft Web address like "freemsnhotmail.com" in search of a genuine Microsoft Hotmail e-mail account.

Microsoft said registering trademarked Microsoft names violates the 1999 Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, a law that calls for a fine of up to $100,000 for anyone who registers a domain name that is identical, similar or derived from an existing trademark with an intent to profit.

Microsoft said it filed a suit against three individuals who together registered 324 domain names targeting Microsoft. It also filed a suit against a California man who registered 85 domain names targeting Microsoft, according to the company.
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Survey: Blair's foreign policy has made Britain target of attacks
London: Tony Blair's foreign policy has made Britain more of a target for terror attacks rather than making it safe, a survey found. The survey published in The Guardian newspaper, 72 per cent of those polled believe the threat from terrorists has increased due to the foreign policy of the Labour government. One per cent of those polled thought the intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq and the subsequent war on terror made Britain a safer country the survey said.

72 per cent of polled said they were sure that the ministers exaggerated the threat from Afghanistan and Iraq while only 20 per cent believed that the government has been telling the truth.
The poll also rated the support for the ruling Labour party at a 19-year low of 31 per cent while the main opposition Conservative party led by David Cameron rose to 40 per cent.
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