In the licensing section, the FSF has updated its license recomendation guide.
The biggest item in the Free Software business is the update on the Microsoft interoperability trial in front of the European General Court. Then there is also the issue of Skype (after MS' acquisition) will stop working with Asterisk.
As for software patents, there's patent trolls Lodsys that's suing Apple and Paul Allen who's suing around everyone he can. Also on TechFlash an ex-MS employee writes a nice lenghtly post about why software patents being a distraction.
In the EU the European Commission publishes its "blueprints" for changing and unifying patents, copyright etc. Incidentially there was also a G8 meeting in France and there were talks between the G8 and the biggest few Internet players talking about the future of the Internet. Both were being criticised for sacrificing too much digital rights. Also the EU cookie directive adoption was due.
The US Department of Defence has published a guide about Free Software policy. Also across Europe there has been some nice improvements in that field.
There's big things regarding ODF going on, so be sure to read it in the open standards section. Although Google adds its open image format WebP to its Picasa, Mozilla rejects it.
And be sure to check out the Docracy project amongst other interesting links!
Free Software Licensing¶
FSF publishes a new license recomendation guide, which includes Apache 2.0 as the prefered permissive non-protective license.
Groklaw: A CLA By Any Other Name – Updated
Free Software Business¶
The legendary European Commission vs. Microsoft interoperability case has just had yet another hearing. Again with FSFE and Samba were on EC's side. It is very likely that by the end of the year we will see the European General Court decide in favour of interoperabily and condemn Microsoft.
- FSFE: Microsoft case: FSFE in European Court of Justice hearing
- FSFE: FSFE in Samba case: Microsoft's defiance backfired
- Karsten on Free Software: Samba case hearing: How Microsoft’s gamble backfired
- Netzpolitiki.org: Microsoft vs EU: Zu hoch gepokert
- Financial Times: Microsoft in ‘final’ antitrust fray with Brussels
the H Open: Software AG acquires open source caching experts Terracotta
the Var Guy: Has Canonical Convinced Linux Users to Pay for Applications?
the H Open: Time for Amazon to pay its dues to open source?
the H Open: Xamarin: Novell's former open source strategist to become CEO
Amongst first issues after Skype got bought by Microsoft, Skype for the popular VoIP solution Asterisk will not be available anymore.
- Digium: Skype for Asterisk will not be available for sale or activation after July 26, 2011.
- the Inquirer: Skype severs its ties with Asterisk
OpenJDK: Community Bylaws Q&A;
the Inquirer: Intel pushes Meego
the Inquirer: Nokia will support Symbian until 2016
Software Patents¶
Ars Technica: Apple asks patent troll Lodsys to leave iOS developers alone
Ars Technica: Patent troll Lodsys also threatening Android devs
the Next Web: Android developers could be next target for patent firm Lodsys
TechFlash: Guest Commentary: Software patents are a distraction
ComputerWorld UK: Peer to Patent in the UK: Worth a Punt?
Groklaw: Oracle v. Google – A judge grounded in the real world
Groklaw: Paul Allen v. World – The world kicks back
Copyright and Other Legal Act Reforms¶
European Parliament: Network Neutrality: Challenges and responses in the EU and in the U.S. [PDF]
EurActiv: EU copyright policy smacks of censorship, argue critics
The European Commission shows its plans for a EU-wide reform and unification of trade marks, patents, copyright and enforcement – "A Single Market for Intellectual Property Rights". European Commissioner Michael Barnier posted a collection of related material alongside with the EC's proposal. La Quadrature du Net criticizes its possible lessening of digital rights. This is something we'll have to look at harder.
- Michel Barnier, EC: Boosting Creativity and Innovation: Commission Sets Out a Blueprint for Intellectual Property Rights
- La Quadrature du Net: EU Commission Sticks to Flawed Copyright Repression
- EurActiv: EU asks mediator to untangle copying levies
- EDRi: Press Release On EU IPR Strategy
- Music 4.5: The European perspective on the Hargreaves Report
- Europa RAPID: Orphan works – Frequently asked questions
- Europa RAPID: Commission sets out "blueprint" for Intellectual Property Rights to boost creativity and innovation
- IPtegrity.com: Red alert! Europe's IPR Blueprint threatens Internet surveillance
- the Inquirer: EU wants to turn ISPs into copyright cops At the e-G8 Forum at the G8 the most powerful eight governments sat down behind closed doors with some of the most powerful companies on the Internet (and only those!) and discussed the future of the global Internet. In general they agreed that the internet should not be censored, that there should be more optical fibers, governments should provide open data etc. But as always the devil is in the details and as many have later commented, it seems that all conclusions are not that rosy. Especially worth concern are that some (with French president, Nicolas Sarkozy at their front) see the Internet as the wild West that needs taming with superinjunctions etc.
- G20-G8 2011 France: G8 Declaration: Renewed Commitment for Freedom and Democracy
- TechDirt: Sarkozy's Attempt To Woo The Digerati Foreshadows The Coming Conflict Between Technology & Regulations
- La Quadrature du Net: Civil Society Statement to the e-G8 and G8
- La Quadrature du Net: G8 Leaders Give In to Special Interests, Fail to Commit to Freedoms
- Jillian C. York: The e-G8: Promises and Problems
- FT Blogs: Secret G8 memo reveals outbreak of internet harmony
- Neelie Kroes, EC: The World’s Most Powerful Join the Digital Revolution
- paidContent.org: UK PM To Resist French Internet Regulation Plans
- the Guardian: Only a fool or Nicolas Sarkozy would go to war with Facebook
- TechDirt: Can We Kill Off This Myth That The Internet Is A Wild West That Needs To Be Tamed
- Ars Technica: Copyfight: EFF co-founder enters e-G8 "lion's den," rips into lions
- G8 vs. Internet
- Ars Technica: G8 summit: laws apply on Internet just like "everywhere else"
- Ars Technica: France attempts to "civilize" the Internet; Internet fights back
Ars Technica: French "three strikes" anti-piracy software riddled with flaws
The EU member countries should have adopted the EU cookie directive by 25th of May. Most haven't.
- Open Rights Group: Ed Vaizey says cookie directive is in effect meaningless
- the Register: Almost entire EU now violating Brussels cookie privacy law
GigaOM: The Netherlands To Enact Law That Ensures Net Neutrality
Information Policy: Hungary: New constitution is serious threat to right to information
A new ACTA text and the EU Commission urges for it to be signed, while the European Parliament remains sceptical.
- ACTA Blog: FFII calls upon European Parliament to resolve uncertainties regarding ACTA
- ACTA Blog: New version of the ACTA text
- IPtegrity.com: EU Commission says sign ACTA – Parliament not so sure
Government and Free Software Policies¶
The US Department of Defence has published a guide regarding its experience with policy and adoption of Free Software. The 451 Group has a nice short analysis of it.
- Guide [PDF]: EU Commission says sign ACTA – Parliament not so sure
- 451 CAOS Theory: Need open source policy? Ask the DoD.
ComputerWorld UK: Caution on that "Call for Caution on Open Source"
OSOR: UK: Leeds NHS Trust to introduce an open source portal for patient records
OSOR: EU/GR: Initiation of collaboration of the Free Technology Academy and Greek LUG
OSOR: EU/UK: FSFE appeals for information on OSS deployments
OSOR: SE: Framework agreement increases use of open source
OSOR: RO: Minister: 'Open source recommended wherever appropriate'
OSOR: EU: PEPPOL and the European Commission: First electronic transaction in production
OSOR: MK: Public involved in finalisation of national Open Source policy
OSOR: MT: Government support is crucial for the proliferation of OSS, MITA chairman says
Open Standards¶
OASIS OpenDocument TC successfully defined how to store and exchange recalculated formulas in office documents.
- David A. Wheeler: OpenFormula Success! The Document Foundation – the foundation leading LibreOffice (the community fork of OpenOffice.org) – has published an update on its organisation and plans. Amonsgst others, the members of the Engeneering Steering Committee.
- the Document Foundation Blog: Updates On The Foundation Ars Technica: Mozilla rejects WebP image format, Google adds it to Picasa
Other interesting links¶
Christian Engström, MEP: EU study on net neutrality
FSF: Work on a free software GPRS/EDGE stack
Docracy – a Free Software project (and website) where users can share and sign legal documents is emerging. This could prove very handy indeed!
- TechCrunch: Hackathon Winner Docracy Is A GitHub For Legal Documents
- Docracy: Hackathon Winner Docracy Is A GitHub For Legal Documents TechDirt: Please Help Us Figure Out How Much The Public Has 'Lost' Due To Overprotective Anti-Copy Laws
the Next Web: HTC Considers Lifting Android Bootloader Lockdowns
Glyn Moody takes a look on ICC's Building a Digital Economy report.
IP Justice: IP Justice Comments on ICANN Policy Proposal for Trademarks & New GTLDs
Neelie Kroes, EC: Big day for better EU telecom services approaching
Ars Technica: Judge: don't bring me any more anonymous file-sharing lawsuits
Ars Technica: New "ShaperProbe" tool detects ISP traffic shaping
ZDnet: Can an open-source backer thrive inside Microsoft? This one says no
Google Code: Spring cleaning for some of our APIs
BT: BT and TalkTalk appeal Digital Economy Act judgment
Armed and Dangerous: The Smartphone Wars: HTC rejoins the good guys
EDRi: Commission Plans To Present Flawed, Illegal PNR Proposal As "Fait Accompli"
ConsortiumInfo.org: Here We Go Again: How to Tell a Bubble When you See One
Ars Technica: DNS filtering: absolutely the wrong way to defend copyrights
Ars Technica: Doctors and dentists tell patients, "all your review are belong to us"
451 CAOS Theory: If you tolerate this… the commercial open source window of opportunity
hook out → woohooo, Python rules :]