DIGITAL COPYRIGHT LISTSERV - To meet the developing application of copyright
laws in the online environment, The Center for Intellectual Property is proud to announce
the new listserv Digital-Copyright, a discussion group that provides a forum for the
analysis of topics such as copyright law and policy, technologies and federal information
law and policies that impact higher education, particularly digital distance education. In
addition to ongoing discussion of critical and theoretical issues, the list will contain:
postings on upcoming conferences, calls for papers, legislative news announcements and
many other matters which should be of interest. To subscribe go to:
http://www.umuc.edu/distance/odell/cip/listserv.html

MERGERS IN THE LEARNING WORLD - Mergers in the learning world is a theme
in early 2002. Keep your eyes open for a wide range of mergers and acquisitions in the
next eight weeks. There are a number of serious discussions underway between learning
vendors which will lead to mergers or buyouts. Some have already taken place, being
driven by a shortage of cash in the banks of some learning startups. Others are natural
combinations of players in the field. The two most recent are: 1) Element K acquired
the intellectual property of Mentor Technologies http://www.elementk.com and
2) Blackboard announced acquisition of Prometheus from The George Washington
University: http://www.blackboard.com (TechLearn Trends, #226, 8 Jan 02)

2002 CODIE AWARDS ANNOUNCED - The Software & Information Industry
Association (SIIA) has picked finalists for its 2002 "Codie" awards, honoring excellence
in software products and services. The awards will be announced at the SIIA annual
conference on April 15 and are the only peer-recognition awards in the software industry,
says SIIA, which represents 1,200 companies.

In the category of "Best Post-secondary Instructional Solution," the finalists were:
- Blackboard 5.5 from Blackboard Inc.
- EndNote V5, from ISI Research
- LexisNexis Current Issues Universe, from LexisNexis
- Mobile Mentor Software from Palm Inc.
- Office HoursLive.com, from HorizonLive

In the category of "Best Educational Total Comprehensive
Solution," finalists were:
- Campus Pipeline 3.0 Web Platform from Campus Pipeline
- McGraw-Hill Learning Network from McGraw-Hill Inc.
- Netschools Orion from Netschools Corp.
- Plateau 4 Learning Management System from Plateau
- SchoolNet, from SchoolNet Inc.

In the category of "Best New Education Solution,"
finalists were:
- academic.com from Academic Systems
- KnowledgeBox from Pearson Broadband
- SchoolNet, from SchoolNet
- www.classroom.com, from Classroom Connect
- www.learning.com, Learning.com
For more information, visit: http://www.siia.net. (Syllabus News, Resources, and
Trends, 31 Dec 02)

EXCEEDING DISABILITY STANDARDS - Courseware developer eCollege said the
software it will release this month will exceed Section 508, the federal accessibility
standard for information technology. The company said its software targets student users
as well as disabled faculty authoring online courses. It will also provide a support staff
trained in assistive technologies. The software will be available without requiring a new
version purchase, upgrade or implementation, the company said. Mike Gibson,
coordinator of the Professional Training in Adaptive Technology Program at the
Colorado Center for the Blind, said, "working with an e-Learning company that is
proactive in understanding and meeting the needs of the blind helps us to change what it
means to be blind." (Syllabus eNews, Resources, and Trends for 11 Dec 0