Open Source Hadoop Book

Apache Hadoop is a well known name with great utility. Apache Hadoop is an open-source software framework that supports data-intensive distributed applications, licensed under the Apache v2 license. The Apache™ Hadoop® project develops open-source software for reliable, scalable, distributed computing.

The Apache Hadoop software library is a framework that allows for the distributed processing of large data sets across clusters of computers using simple programming models. It is designed to scale up from single servers to thousands of machines, each offering local computation and storage. Rather than rely on hardware to deliver high-availability, the library itself is designed to detect and handle failures at the application layer, so delivering a highly-available service on top of a cluster of computers, each of which may be prone to failures.

To make this experience even better, Mark Kerzner and Sujee Maniyam have released an open source Hadoop book for Hadoop fans. The book is titled "Hadoop illuminated” and it can be read in multi page and single page formats.

The authors want to make learning about Hadoop and its ecosystem fun and engaging. The book is accompanied by its project on GitHub. The book is work in progress and is in alpha stage. The authors will be updating and adding to it.

The feedback of various stakeholders is welcome.

Nursery Admissions In Delhi: High Court To Delivery Judgment Today

Nursery admissions in Delhi are a good source of black money for schools in the form of donations and seats purchasing that are otherwise available to general public. The right to education act of India has failed to curb this evil practice of schools and schools in Delhi are openly flouting the norms and laws of India.

To a greater extent the nursery admissions process in Delhi can be compared to a legalised education mafia in Delhi. There are many schools that are following and not following the norms laid down by the directorate of education, Delhi.

We hope our Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Delhi are taking note of these negative developments and would come to the rescue of helpless parents. We have also started an online petition and protest campaign against the defaulting schools.

We have also contacted Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Delhi and Shashi Tharoor and are waiting for their official response.

Meanwhile the Delhi High Court may pronounce its judgement/order regarding the point’s criteria presently adopted by schools in India.

The present point criterion is a breeding ground for corrupt practices and schools are openly misusing the same to mint money.

It would be a good decision on the part of Delhi High Court to quash the present point system and suggest a better point system so that justice can be done to the children and right to education act.

Source: Cjnews India.

Nursery Admissions: Online Petition And Protest Against Corruption In Schools Of Delhi

An online movement is taking a big shape in New Delhi where some of public spirited colleagues and members of legal fraternity have joined hands to fight against corruption existing in the schools of Delhi.

The aim of this movement is to consolidate the hardships faced by parents during seeking admission at schools in Delhi. The education lobby of schools is too powerful that even our government needs hard push to take legal action against them.

Our online movement is primarily requesting the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Sheila Dikshit and Hon’ble Delhi High Court and Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to interfere and punish the guilty schools and their management and the corrupt individuals.

To consolidate the work that we have already done in this regard, we are providing the links of the following articles:

(1) Right To Education: A Successful Failure Of India

(2) Nursery Admissions: Schools In Delhi Are Openly Flouting Laws And Norms

(3) Nursery Admissions In Delhi-The Legalised Education Mafia

(4) Education Mafia In New Delhi: Are PM Manmohan Singh And CM Sheila Dikshit Listening?

(5) Schools In Delhi That Do Follow And Do Not Follow Laws And Norms

Some of these articles are also available at here, here and here and we would keep on updating the list from time to time.

We hope parents would come forward to share their experience, good or bad, with us so that we can provide a holistic picture to our government and courts.

We also expect our justice oriented courts to take notice of the development happening in Delhi and take suo motu action against the guilty schools and individuals.

We also request the Delhi High Court to consider the averment and material made available in this article as part of the ongoing public interest litigation (PIL) as the court has powers to do so.

Source: Cjnews India.

Schools In Delhi That Do Follow And Do Not Follow Laws And Norms

Harassment at the hands of school authorities is very common in Delhi. Even our government is well aware of this harassment but it has failed to take any action against the defaulting schools and their managements.

We have started an online campaign against corruption in Delhi schools. We have been covering about this aspect at our online platforms and inviting the opinions and views of public, including legal experts, media professionals, parents and other individuals.

As background information about our initiative, please see the following articles in this regard:

(1) Right To Education: A Successful Failure Of India

(2) Nursery Admissions: Schools In Delhi Are Openly Flouting Laws And Norms

(3) Nursery Admissions In Delhi-The Legalised Education Mafia

These articles are also available at here, here and here.

We have also started an online movement that is primarily requesting the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Sheila Dikshit and Hon’ble Delhi High Court and Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to interfere and punish the guilty schools their management and the corrupt individuals.

Please see Education Mafia In New Delhi: Are PM Manmohan Singh And CM Sheila Dikshit Listening? and give your valuable contribution. 

In this article we are covering the positive as well as negative acts or/and omissions on the parts of various schools in Delhi.

(1) Schools In Compliance: The following schools are prima facie complying with the laws and norms laid down by Indian government and directorate of education:

(a) Bal Bharti Public School, Ganga Ram Hospital Marg (1st List released)

(b) Hans Raj Model School, Punjabi Bagh (1st List awaited)

(2) Schools At Default: The following schools are prima facie not complying with the laws and norms laid down by Indian government and directorate of education:

(a) APJ School, Pitampura

(b) Bal Bharti Public School, Pitampura

(c) Bal Bharti Public School, Rohini

(d) DAV Public School, Pushpanjali Enclave

(e) Dwarka International School

(f) Lancer’s Convent

If you are a Parent who believes that any particular school, whether in the list already covered by us or otherwise, is complying with or not complying with the laws and norms applicable in Delhi, please feel free to contact us at ram.ok@rediffmail.com with your comments. 

If you are a School/School management, whether in the list already covered by us or otherwise, and you believe that you are complying with the laws and norms applicable in Delhi, please feel free to contact us at ram.ok@rediffmail.com with your comments. 

We will keep on updating this list as the developments unfold from time to time. We would also provide the legal basis, based upon legal suggestion by lawyers, upon which we have formed the opinion that a particular school is complying with or flouting the norms and applicable laws while submitting our petition to Hon’ble Delhi High Court, Hon’ble Supreme Court, Prime Minister of India and Chief Minister of India.

Source: Techno Legal Thoughts.

Nursery Admissions In Delhi-The Legalised Education Mafia

When right to education act was introduced by India, I was very optimistic that education related vices would be curbed to a greater extent in India. Now the recent events have proved me absolutely wrong.

Take the example of the present nursery admissions in the schools of Delhi. The schools are openly flouting the laws and norms in Delhi and the Indian government and Delhi government is silently watching the show. 

For instance we analysed the first lists issued by various schools in the Pitampura region like Bal Bharti Pitampura, Bal Bharti Rohini, APJ Pitampura, DAV Pushpanjali, Lancer Convent, etc and none of them have mentioned the points earned by the selected students in a single list. Now how would parents analyse whether their wards have been excluded genuinely or deliberately from the first list.

The selection procedure has been deliberately kept in dark and unfair so that corrupt practices can be undertaken. If Schools like Bal Bharti, APJ, DAV, Lancer etc are neither conducting draws in front of parents nor providing the details of points earned by each applicant how can the fairness and transparency be ensured?

The right to education act has, in effect, legsalised the irregularities and wide spread corruption existing in the education segment of schools. Schools are openly engaging in unethical and illegal admission procedures and the Delhi government has kept its eyes closed and mouth shut.

The legal experts have rightly pointed out, the net result of the Right to Education Act is to give “Full Leverage” to Schools, imposing “Obligations” upon the Parents and “Abdicating” the Constitutional Duties on the part of the State.

We are in the process of obtaining views and opinions from legal luminaries, media experts, aggrieved parents, etc. If you have something to share with us in this regard, please contact us at ram.ok@rediffmail.com.

Source: Ground Report.

Transfer Pricing Order Issued Against Vodafone India

Tax related regulatory affairs are in limelight in India these days. The chief among these issues is the transfer pricing laws of India that are claimed to be violated by many multi national telecom companies in India.

For instance, Shell India has received a transfer pricing order from Indian tax authorities. Similarly, Nokia has been accused of violating income tax and transfer pricing laws of India. So much so that forensics analysis of Nokia’s computer used to download software in India has been undertaken by tax officials.

See Corporate Laws In India for more.

Transfer Pricing Laws In India

Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s Techno Legal Base (PTLB) have provided a research report titled Global Taxation and Anti Competition Regulatory Issues In 2012 And Projections Report for 2013 by Perry4Law that is discussing these issues. The report highlights global taxation issues including the recent allegations of tax avoidance labeled against Amazon, Google and Starbucks regarding UK Tax Laws.

Even the foreign direct investment (FDI) are strict actions have been initiated by Indian government. After canceling the telecom licenses of many telecom companies, now Indian government would ascertain beneficiary in Walmart probe to ascertain possible violation of Indian laws. The Competition Commission of India (Procedure in Regard to the Transaction of Business Relating to Combinations) Regulations, 2011 have also been formulated by the Competition Commission of India in 2011 to regulate anti competition combinations. The same may be pressed more frequently in the year 2013.

Perry4Law and PTLB hope this research work would prove useful to all concerned.

See Corporate Laws In India for more.

Shell India Received Transfer Pricing Order From Indian Tax Authorities

Transfer pricing laws of India are frequently invoked by Indian income tax department these days.

Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s Techno Legal Base (PTLB) believe that the transfer pricing laws and valuation of the unlisted company needs further clarification from our legislature. Otherwise, litigations would keep on surfacing unnecessary.

In a listed company, the valuation is based on Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) formula, which is the average of six-month or two-week share price, whichever is higher. But in unlisted companies, the valuation can be based on fair market price, or book value, or returns on share based on a certification by an independent valuer.

See Corporate Laws In India for more.

Objection And Dispute Resolution For ICANN’s New GTLDs Registrations

Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s Techno Legal Base (PTLB) have been sharing their views about the proposed new GTLDs by ICANN. Some of our views pertain to legal rights objections under ICANN's new GTLD program,  legal rights objection assistance for new GTLDs by Perry4Law,  trademark and brand protection under new GTLDs registration by ICANN, is your brand and trademark violated by new GTLDs, etc.  

It has been now notified by ICANN that the objection period has been extended to 13 March 2013. Once the objection filing period closes, all objections received will move through a dispute resolution process which will take approximately five months to resolve in most circumstances.

If you need professional legal services for making or defending various objections and disputes under the new GTLDs process, you may contact them if you deem it appropriate.

See: IPRs Services In India.

Nokia Accused Of Violating Income Tax And Transfer Pricing Laws Of India

Transfer pricing laws of India and income tax provisions are in limelight these days in India. Related issue like foreign direct investment (FDI) is also raised from time to time. Indian government would ascertain beneficiary in Walmart probe to ascertain possible violation of Indian laws.

In a significant and related regulatory development, the Competition Commission of India (Procedure in Regard to the Transaction of Business Relating to Combinations) Regulations, 2011 have also been formulated by the Competition Commission of India in 2011 to regulate anti competition combinations. The same may be pressed more frequently in the year 2013.

Vodafone is already managing a tax dispute with Indian government. In fact, Vodafone may invoke arbitration for fresh tax demands by India. Similarly, recently Shell India received a transfer pricing order from Indian tax authorities. Now Nokia has been accused of income tax and transfer pricing laws of India.

Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s Techno Legal Base (PTLB) have provided a research report titled Global Taxation and Anti Competition Regulatory Issues In 2012 And Projections Report for 2013 by Perry4Law that is discussing these issues. The report highlights global taxation issues including the recent allegations of tax avoidance labeled against Amazon, Google and Starbucks regarding UK Tax Laws.

See Corporate Laws In India for more.

Legal Issues Of Entertainment And Media Industry In India

Media and entertainment industry of India is heading towards a big growth rate. Entertainment and media industry growth and challenges in India are also well known. Legal frameworks in this regard are in the process of improvement and modification in India.

Legal issues of media and entertainment industry of India are too diverse and wide to be discussed in a single article. This piece is covering some of the basic level legal issues of media and entertainment industry of India.

Indian media and entertainment industry may face the legal challenges of Intellectual Property rights (IPRs) laws and cyber law of India. IPRs laws like copyright, trademark, etc may be frequently violated and occasionally invoked to redress IPRs violations of media and entertainment industry in India. Similarly, online IPRs issues like domain name disputes may also be agitated in the future. Similarly, media and entertainment industry must keep in mind the mandates like “cyber due diligence” and other provisions of Information Technology Act, 2000.

Media and entertainment industry will also face technological challenges in future. For instance, the issues pertaining to digital preservation of entertainment industry products may assume significance in future.

Dispute resolution of media and entertainment industry is of paramount importance in India. With the growth of media and entertainment industry in India there are also increasing cases of disputes as well. A majority of these disputes pertain to intellectual property rights (IPRs) issues.

Disputes prevention and resolutions in the film and media industry of India is still evolving. We have to device methods like Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in this regard.

Surprisingly, Asian Film and Media Industry are not considering utilising the Services of WIPO in this regard. Asian companies prefer to utilise tradition litigations methods instead of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) or online dispute resolution (ODR).

Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) has opened a techno legal ODR platform where ADR and ODR is used for resolving all sorts of commercial and civil disputes that can be resolved using ADR and ODR. PTLB would cover this issue subsequently in its other posts.

Source: IPRs Services In India.

Forensics Analysis Of Nokia’s Computer Used To Download Software In India

Nokia has been accused of violating income tax and transfer pricing laws of India. In order to strengthen its allegations and prove its point, the income tax department officials paid a visit to Nokia India’s factory at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, along with Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) officials from Hyderabad.

The idea was to verify and analyse Nokia India’s computers using cyber forensics methodologies that are suspected to be used for downloading software from parent company.

Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s Techno Legal Base (PTLB) believe that this is the right approach to gather digital evidence. The experience officials from the CFSL would consider all the aspects of cyber forensics, e-discovery, etc. Further, paper evidence scanning and e-discovery legal issues in India and optical character recognition (OCR) legal issues India should also be kept in mind by the CFSL officials.

See Cyber Forensics In India for more.

Dispute Prevention And Resolution In The Film And Media Industry

Film and Media Industry of India is heading towards a great growth. At the same time Film and Media Industry is also facing issues of Piracy, Copyright Violations, etc. The traditional methods of Litigation in India are not very encouraging. We have to device methods like Alternative Dispute resolution (ADR) and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). We must also encourage use of E-Courts in India.

Surprisingly, Asian Film and Media Industry are not considering utilising the Services of WIPO in this regard. They are still taking their disputes before traditional Courts.

At Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s Techno Legal Base (PTLB) they are very particular of these considerations and they Draft various Film and Media Industry related Agreement accordingly.

However, WIPO’s Mediation and Expedited Arbitration for Film and Media initiative cannot succeed till it is a part of “Holistic Effort” comprising of Law Firms and Professionals spread all over the globe.

Source: ICTPS Blog.

Direct Tax Benefits Issues Relating To Export Of Computer Software

The Government of India, through its Ministry of Finance/ Department of Revenue/ Central Board of Direct Taxes, has issued a clarificatory Circular No. 01/2013, F. No. 178/84/2012-ITA.I, dated 17th January 2013 pertaining to issues relating to export of computer software and corresponding direct tax benefits.

Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s Techno Legal Base (PTLB) are hereby discussing the Direct Tax Benefits Issues Relating to Export of Computer Software for our readers. We hope all the stakeholders would find this discussion useful.

See Corporate Laws In India for more.