Free Software Business¶
Nokia said it will transfer 3,000 employees to Accenture by the end of 2011 and that they will work on the Symbian operating system and eventually Nokia's implementation of Microsoft's Windows Phone OS.
- Nokia: Nokia to transfer Symbian software activities to Accenture
- the Inquirer: Nokia outsources Symbian development and support to Accenture
the Inquirer: Red Hat Linux enjoys bumper growth
Software Patents¶
Long analysis about why software is mathematics and why neither should be covered by patents. (I haven't read it yet, but by skimming through it looks very thorough and like a must read.)
the Inquirer: Barnes & Noble claims Microsoft Nokia patent pact is illegal
Google has lost a patent infringement suit which, according to Techno Lllama, could have serious consequences on Free Software in USA.
the Inquirer: Samsung countersues Apple
Ars Technica: Samsung continues barrage against Apple with new lawsuit in the US
the Inquirer: Attachmate completes its acquisition of Novell
Copyright and Other Legal Act Reforms¶
European Commission responds to the EU's academics that the EC still sees no problem with ACTA. I beg to differ.
In New Zeland a stricter copyright reform is planned.
Opensource.com: The FTC weighs in on patent reform
More dirty secrets revealed about ACTA this week.
- Knowledge Ecology International: Senator Wyden releases redacted version of October 29, 2010 CRS report on ACTA
- Knowledge Ecology International: Confirmation that Obama Administration was "lone hold out" for releasing bracketed ACTA text to the public in Summer of 2010.
- Michael Geist: US Department of Homeland Security: ACTA Sweetheart Deal for IP Owners
- TechDirt: CRS Report Withheld By USTR Confirms That ACTA Language Is Quite Questionable
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the defense of copyright protections is a “categorical imperative,” and he hopes that the actions of the HADOPI will “continue its deployment on a large scale.”
- ZeroPaid: French Pres Reaffirms Commitment to “Three-Strikes”
- Netzpolitik: Frankreich: Hadopi 3.0?! [german]
Government and Free Software Policies¶
the Inquirer: [UK] MP is determined to get digital policy right
OSOR: EU: Free software advocates want procurement rules improved
OSOR: DK: Study reveals financial benefits of re-using IT system elements as open source
OSOR: DE: Munich and Interior Ministry to present at LinuxTag Berlin Open Standards
17 organisations who make use of WebM founded an initiative to share patents relevant to the WebM technologies between themselves on a royalty-free basis. Things are looking up for WebM as a trully open standard, but I'm still missing an explicit patent license to end-users.
- WebM Blog: Introducing the WebM Community Cross-License Initiative
- Ars Technica: Google builds WebM patent pool of its own to fight back against MPEG-LA
- WebM Community Cross-License
Other interesting links¶
Make: If You're Going To Kill It, Open Source it!
Morning Star: WSJ(4/25) Michael Dell Looks Beyond PC Business
The Next Web: South Africa’s broadband capacity set to double as West Africa Cable System lands
the H Online: Kernel comment: Perseverance pays off
Open…: Do Creatorless Creations Deserve Copyright?
TechDirt: Big Patent Holders & Big Patent Law Firms Bring Judges To Belgium For Boondoggle…
Opensource.com: Is the future of Pharma open source?
Network World: Need IPv4 addresses? Get 'em here 26th of April was World Intellectual Property Day. As its critique at the same time a World Sharing Day manifesto was written.
Razor Fast: Dropbox Attempts To Kill Open Source Project
Social Sciences Research Network: Legal, Economic and Cultural Aspects of File Sharing
Open…: The Not-So-Great Firewall of Europe
It is highly likely that the Microsoft anti-trust deal with the US government will not be prolongued and therefore expire soon.
- The Next Web: Microsoft antitrust deal set to expire
- ComputerWorld UK: Is This the Start of Microsoft Anti-Trust 2.0?
- Ars Technica: Department of Justice's long oversight of Microsoft to end
the Register: Apple breaks location-storing silence
Ars Technica: The gadgets police use to snarf cell phone data
Ars Technica: Money flowing into "open courseware" on college campuses
Google, Microsoft, Apple and others have been questioned by the US House Energy and Commerce Committee over the use of tracking technology in mobile phones that might breach users' privacy.
- Ars Technica: Apple, Google summoned to Senate hearing on mobile device privacy
- the Inquirer: Google, Apple and Microsoft questioned on data tracking
the Inquirer: Microsoft admits that Windows Phone 7 collects location data
Ars Technica: Amazon responds to Apple: "app store" is generic, toss the suit The security breach of Sony's PlayStation Network was has also stirred up some electronic ink.
- Michael Geist: Sony Security Breach Among the Biggest in History
- the Inquirer: Customer details stolen in Sony Playstation Network debacle
- the Inquirer: Sony is working with law enforcement on the Playstation Network hack
- the Inquirer: Sony hacker denies Playstation Network exploit
the Inquirer: Tomtom admits navigation data was used by police for speed traps
hook out → finished early this week, so I can have some weekend off :3