are these dead pixels?

http://i54.tinypic.com/2ltin7r.jpg

are these dead pixels?

Try testing with Dead Pixel Buddy.

Could just be stuck - do they stay on one colour? Hard to tell from the picture.

Give the screen a very gentle tap over the area and see if that helps.

If they are black (no colour) they are dead. If they are coloured but don't change they are considered stuck.

Either way check your monitor's warranty for dead pixels/stuck pixels and send it back if you can for replacement.

Try a different monitor with the system to see if you can still see them. Do they constantly appear, or come and go?

I had a monitor with one red dot that you could only see when you click the start menu or any other white background, but you couldn't see it with any other colour background (light or dark).

Was told I needed 3,5 or more (cant remember) dead pixels to get it exchanged under warranty.

As I said I would be looking for a warranty swap if your screen is still under warranty.

I'm more worried about the marks around the red line, which look more like small cracks than smudges.

It may just be a flash or something highlighting them (if you used one), and clearly the monitor is still working in that area (which it wouldn't normally be with cracks), but they do look like them.