More Yahoo Woes, Net Neutrality, and The Pirate Bay Back in Action

It's a wild, wild world out on the web, and if you don't believe us, just ask the people behind today's tech headlines.

The story-of-the-month continues to be the Microsoft takeover bid, with the latest chapter focusing on desperate dealings between Yahoo and News Corp. Backup the Murdochmobile, however, say the analysts, as it's hardly likely to produce anything as comprehensive as the Microsoft bid. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country some shareholders are so anxious to become Microsoft drones that they're suing their way in, asking a Michigan court to force the Board into the deal. We're thinking someone should probably test the water around there...

Across the pond they're facing their own internet standoff, with the Danish courts facing down uber-Torrent site The Pirate Bay. The count seems to be Bay 1, Court 0, as last week's order to block the site has been easily outmaneuvered with a new domain and the help of OpenDNS. No updates yet on the four founders charged in Sweden, but the way things are going so far, we like their chances.

Back on American soil, the subject of downloading is equally hot, with a new bill introduced in Congress to ban discriminatory network practices by ISPs, in the wake of Comcast's brazen defense of its anti-filesharing antics. The measure — if adopted — would prevent ISPs from interfering with their customers' access to information, and would put the FCC in charge of making sure they play by the rules. The FCC is already giving Comcast the what-for over their prejudicial practices, and here's hoping Congress will get it together and give them the ammo the need to make it a good thwacking.

Lastly but not least-ly, don't forget that today is Valentine's Day — if you haven't gotten your hi-tech honey something nice, you'd better get moving. For our part, we're out to pick up something to go with a sexy Tux e-Card and a bouquet of Ubuntu LiveCDs, but we'll be back this evening with some special tech-love just for you.

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