A new week and we're back on track.

Yet again, I would like to thank Natalia for the great help with gathering of these articles and links.

Amongst the things I would like to point out for you this week is an interesting find by the 451 Group that lately many companies are omitting "open source" as the term to describe their business (see Free Software Business section). Why this is so they might (try to) explain in the near future.

As there really seems not a week can pass without software patent disputes, I would like you to check out the newest happenings in the Oracle vs. Google case and who won the bid of Nortel's massive patent portfolio (both in Software Patents section). While you're at it, I would warmly suggest that you also read Bessen's Generation of Software Patents.

ACTA and it's successor TPPA were also present this week as you can see below in the Copyright and Other Legal Act Reforms section.

If you've ever wondered how the law in another country handles Free Software and related issues, look no further. The great experts who are doing the IFOSSLR journal, have written (and are continuing to write!) the IFOSSLB book – this should be a handy reference to anyone who has to do with legal aspects of Free Software (Free Software Licensing section).

Free Software Licensing¶

As you probably have already known, the same people who thought of the IFOSSLR have also published the IFOSSLB – an e-book that gives a clear yet thorough analysis of Free Software legal matters by different legal systems, written and maintained by local experts, and by inviting everyone to assist in improving or expanding the content.

Free Software Business¶

Interesting post about how in the past year many companies have stopped using the term "open source" to identify themselves with it.

451 CAOS Theory: The decline of ‘open source’ as an identifying differentiator

Rumour has it a first serious Android-based OS is getting started in China.

TechNode: Rumor: Baidu MobileOS Coming By Year-End

Software Patents¶

Groklaw: SCO v. Novell: Oral Argument at the Appeals Court

Interesting balanced compilation of literature on software patents.

Groklaw reports more information on the Oracle vs. Google patent case re Java-like code in Android. In short, the number of patent claims has been narrowed down, as well as (a lower) cap on damages is being negotiated. Glyn Moody analyses these recent events with the help of the above-mentioned Bessen's paper.

The bid for Nortel's vast patent portfolio (including new wireless technology) has been won by a group consisting of Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, RIM and Sony. Reuters offers a nice review of how the bidding went. A joint hearing of U.S. and Canadian courts will be held on 11th of July which will either approve or disapprove the winning bid.

In the messy patent battle between Apple and Samsung, Samsung decides to drop one of its countersuits

New Zealand OS Society: No Opposition to Software Patent Exclusion from NZ Software Companies

Open Standards¶

H-online: The rise and fall and rise of HTML

Government and Free Software Policies¶

Mark Mcguire: NZ Government adopts Creative Commons licences

OSOR: OSOR forge now hosts nearly 2500 projects for public administrations

OSOR: CH: Geneva abandoning its open source email and office strategy

OSOR: NL: Half of all public administrations have open source strategy

After quite some FUD lately, it's refreshing to hear again positive press about its endavour. I'm quite confident you already know this, but just in case it bares repeating, that Munich is not just switching to Free Software and Open Standards, but at the same time cleaning its basement of all unneeded cruft, legacy solutions, updating the infrastructure and unifying it. Now, that's a lot to chew on, and from what I hear, they're doing just fine.

OSOR: PT: Consensus among political parties on open source and open standards in the Public Administration

OSOR: Swiss MP wants administrations to dispel misconceptions open source

EY, Switzerland: Publication 'Open source software in mission-critical applications' [German]: