--Government official
PEOPLE who reportedly leave Microsoft aside tend to 'reappear' in other places. Bill Gates, for example, is actively fighting against Free software, albeit behind the scenes [1, 2]. Possession of governments enables this [1, 2] and pet charities can help too.
Public documents describe the new Gates entity -- bgC3 LLC -- as a “think tank.” It’s housed within a Kirkland office that the Microsoft co-founder established on his own after leaving his day-to-day executive role at the company this summer.
“Microsoft has actual engagements in the writing of national rules that affect it.”Keeping an eye on Gates is important because he is still fully dedicated to helping Microsoft, largely using political means and diplomacy. Some time ago we also wrote about the departure of Todd Bishop, but we wondered where he would land? Well, it turns out that he never vanished; rather, he relocated.
Tracking the movement of key people is important in order to understand decisions that are made by companies. Novell, for example, may be oozing IBM influence [1, 2] and IBM seems like one of the main forces behind OIN and the Linux Foundation. It is a sad thing that OIN, just like IBM, does not participate in attempts to eliminate software patents. This has just been confirmed by Roberto Galoppini.
Initiatives like the world day Against software patents, or the stop software patent initiative, are definitely a good thing. Not the ultimate answer to the problem though, I am afraid.
Keith Bergelt, Open Innovation Network’s new appointed CEO, was clear telling me that OIN won’t collaborate with FFII or similar organizations to fight against software patents in Europe. OIN cares just about Linux, so far. That is a pity, considering that they are lobbying around Europe now.
GM: Typically, patent trolls don't have any products, so they are unlikely to be infringing on any of your patents. Isn't that a problem for the OIN approach?
JR: Very clearly there's not much we can do with regard to patent trolls. On the other hand, it's my belief that patent trolls go where the money is. They're after the big dollars. That's probably why they haven't, and not for a long time will, go after the open-source movement - that's not where the money is. Could it become a problem in the future? The answer is, sure it could.
Comments
Betto
2008-10-24 01:17:27
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1006161&cid=25491761
See below for context:
http://slashdot.org/~SockDisclosure/journal/214377
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-24 01:20:43
You obviously scrape the bottom of the barrel trying to find something with which to discredit or shoot the messenger. It won't work.
Betto
2008-10-24 02:49:50
Your definition of "scraping the bottom of the barrel" must be an interesting one, considering your current company. Crapflooding Slashdot discussions and operating 14 accounts there (that are known), pretending that he is other people, referring to himself in the third person, etc. That is scraping.
And if he does that on Slashdot, who knows what he does here? On Digg? On Usenet? On any number of internet forums that you routinely link to to support your arguments?
Needs Sunlight
2008-10-24 07:35:37
Yes, he's probably correct in assessing risk of patent troll attacks being higher for closed source. Linus Torvalds, among many others, pointed that out years ago.
However, the bit of disinformation JR is spreading has to do with who is affected. Patents affect *users* You use it, you're infringing. It's not a development issue and it's a disservice to let MS boosters, or any one else, propagate that error further.
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-24 08:02:15
@Betto: You can't judge me based on the actions of somebody else. Period.
lyle howard seave
2008-10-27 00:24:32
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-27 00:43:01
it seems to be one of those stalkers who harass advocates.
http://slashdot.org/~twitter/journal/74211. http://slashdot.org/~twitter/journal/180709
"I agree there's a huge amount of astroturfing going on here. They're doing their best to stifle you."