Although it was a relatively uneventful week, probably the biggest news item from the past week is Microsoft (anew) using the tried and tested method of a huge patent portfolio to bully other companies into paying them just to go away (Software patents).
On licensing we have some interesting news: Project Harmony just launched 1.0 and CERN just launched its Open Hardware License 1.1 and Open Hardware Repository (both Free Software Licensing).
A interesting and fun find was the Illustrated Law Journal, which uses Free licenses and illustrations to make legal questions more understandable (Other interesting links).
I would again like to thank Natalia for the great help with gathering of these articles and links. oftware Licensing
Project Harmony just launched version 1.0 of its contributor agreement templates. Project Harmony is tackling the tricky ground of contribution agreements and copyright assignments, trying to make these more understandable an easily managable. Since copyright assignments can be quite a touchy subject, some dissenting opinions are also present.
- Project Harmony: Harmony Contributor Agreement Templates [1.0]
- Safe as Milk: Harmony Agreements reach 1.0
- OpenSource.com: The trouble with Harmony: Part 1
CERN launches Open Hardware Repository and Open Hardware License [CERN OHL], granting all freedoms of Free Software, only on a hardware level. It includes a reasonable patent clause as well as copyleft.
- ArsTechnica: For the good of all of us: CERN launches open source hardware effort
- CERN: CERN launches Open Hardware initiative
- CERN: CERN OHL license:
Software Patents¶
Washington Post: Antitrust officials probing sale of patents to Google’s rivals
Debian: Community Distribution Patent Policy FAQ
Electronista: Canada investigating Nortel patent selloff
Slightly Right of Centre: When the sum of the parts is way more than the whole
Microsoft has (again) started to use patents to bully companies who make Android-based devices. Below is a collection of interesting articles, which the light of these recent events reflect upon the importance and implications of (software) patents.
- Forbes: Microsoft’s Android Shakedown
- Tech News World: Microsoft's Monumental Android-Milking, Money-Making Machine
- the H Open: To defend Android…
More news on Oracle vs. Google:
- Groklaw: Oracle v. Google – The Daubert Motion – Final Briefing
- Groklaw: Oracle v. Google – The Daubert Motion – Final Briefing
Government and Free Software Policies¶
The Register: NHS told: freeze all Microsoft spend
Free Software Business¶
The Inquirer: Microsoft open sources code to calm WiFi snooping fears
451 CAOS Theory: The rise, fall and reality of commercial open source
ComputerWorldUK: Investing In Open Source
Copyright and Other Legal Act Reforms¶
ArsTechnica: "Massive infringement" case against CNET dropped
EFF: It's Back: WIPO Broadcasting Treaty Returns From The Grave
Open Standards¶
ArsTechnica: Samsung releases code of WebCL implementation for WebKit
Other interesting links¶
Technollama: The revolution will be webcast
Techdirt: Shouldn't Free Mean The Same Thing Whether Followed By 'Culture' Or 'Software'?
Networkworld: Anti-rantifesto: Why free software and free culture aren't the same
Wobbing: EU: Parliament holds back ACTA documents
Neelie Kroes, MEP: Every woman digital – plugging the ICT skills gap
IP Justice: What does it mean for ICANN to act in the public interest?
hook out → going out for a nice walk with my GF