Web Week

Pay for right to party: The recording industry is trying to make an example of individuals it suspects are downloading copyright music. America's record industry association charged four students with copyright infringement for sharing copyrighted music online, and the issue has been settled out of court. Each student has to pay at least US$12,000 ($20,920). One of them is unhappy and calling for donations through his web blog.

Shedding light on matter: It pays not to bother to ask why some odd things work on the net, because they just do. Like the thousands who are flocking to add photos to the Mirror Project, "a growing community of like-minded individuals who have photographed themselves in all manner of reflective surfaces".

Virus buster: Since its introduction last July, Xtra's anti-virus filter has blocked 10 million instances of virus attacks - an average of around 25,000 a day. About 400,000 people are connected through Xtra's mail servers, sending and receiving about 2.7 million email messages daily.

The net is back on: The Iraqi who was filing a regular online web blog from Baghdad but vanished during the US invasion is alive after all. The person (who calls himself Salam Pax) has resumed his fascinating column. He describes the Baghdad markets as resembling a William Gibson novel. "Heaps of cheap RAM (stolen, of course) is being sold beside broken monitors next to falafel stands and weapons are available. Fights break out and knives come out from nowhere." Is this guy for real?

Sailing away: P&O Cruises has launched a local site for those not put off the idea of travelling in a terrorism and Sars-affected world

But wait, there's more: Those annoying pop-up ads are enough to drive you crazy. America's interactive advertising bureau is trying to standardise advertisements on websites but don't hold your breath that they'll will vanish.

Jesse Jordan to pay the RIAA $12,000

The Mirror Project

Xtra's anti-virus protection

Web blog from Baghdad

P&O Cruises

Interactive Advertising Bureau