08.13.10

FFII in More Disagreements With NoSoftwarePatents Founder, James Gosling Foresaw Java Lawsuit

Posted in Java, Oracle, SUN at 10:34 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Summary: As the Oracle vs. Google case is being analysed, the FFII further distances itself from Florian Müller; James Gosling speaks out

Florian Müller may have started a Web site called NoSoftwarePatents (and FFII took over his site/project/initiative later on), but this does not mean that Müller’s opinions in any way overlap or intersect with the FFII’s. In fact, as we noted in this previous post about Oracle vs. Google (case filing accessible here), the lawsuit is being used by ‘Team [Microsoft] Apologista’ to promote C# (Novell employees communicate the issue with anonymous agitators). Yes, the Microsoft boosters are celebrating this lawsuit and it seems like Novell/Ximian does this too, along with Müller in the sense that he defends Microsoft.

We have already shown several examples where the FFII publicly disagrees with Müller and his attitude. Estranged or ostracised? Either way, here is the latest argument involving those two (where “fosspatents” is the Microsoft apologist who uses Vista 7, not FOSS)

[ffii] @FOSSpatents FFII does not endorse your anti-corporate moralism but supports legal steps to reduce risks http://stopsoftwarepatents.eu/

“FFII does not endorse your [Müller's] anti-corporate moralism but supports legal steps to reduce risks”
–FFII[fosspatents [Müller]] @FFII We’re in sync that no software patents means no patent lawsuits, no patent royalties. Then why do you partner with patent aggressors?

[ffii] @fosspatents FFII defends your right to code without patent threats, promotes a less-risk ecosystem for small medium-sized innovators

[ffii] @fosspatents FFII promotes an inclusive Free Information Infrastructure. We oppose #FOSS discrimination, other orgs advocate #FOSS models.

[ffii] But #FFII provides a #foss discussions list http://lists.ffii.org/mailman/listinfo/floss/ #freesoftware

[ffii] …then why does he beat his wife? #ubertroll #oracle

[ffii] #Oracle’s #Android case quickly examined http://carlodaffara.conecta.it/?p=478 #scoracle

[fosspatents] I’m so with you on the question of patentable subject matter. But that’s not the issue. I meant your standards lobbying alongside OFE.

[schestowitz] @ffii he doesn’t seem to mind so much when Microsoft sues, just saying Microsoft does not exclude like “evil IBM”

[fosspatents] @schestowitz Please get real and recognize the fact that I distinguish between failed attempts to license that go to court, and others.

[ffii] #Gosling about #Scoracle http://nighthacks.com/roller/jag/entry/the_shit_finally_hits_the #google #java

[zoobab [FFII president]] Any idea where to download the source code of Dalvik VM? Time to ask national courts everywhere in Europe for non-infringement #fuckoracle

[zoobab] Florian Mueller promotes the usage of the undefined RAND term: http://ur1.ca/149dt

We are not defending Oracle by the way; in fact, it’s possible that Oracle will also attack Mono by suing Novell. Advogato.org is rightly concerned about Oracle’s attitude.

Seems Oracle bought Sun to become a java patent troll. Trying to destroy the alternative free java implementation that is part of android. Sun used to be agnostic towards Free Software in the past, then became a huge fan on java liberation day. Now that Oracle is in control and starts its quest to destroy the free java world, we are back to the dark ages. So, now what?

Watch what Java’s father has to say:

Oracle finally filed a patent lawsuit against Google. Not a big surprise. During the integration meetings between Sun and Oracle where we were being grilled about the patent situation between Sun and Google, we could see the Oracle lawyer’s eyes sparkle. Filing patent suits was never in Sun’s genetic code. Alas….

I hope to avoid getting dragged into the fray: they only picked one of my patents (RE38,104) to sue over.

In better news, the EFF is saying that it “Staffs Up in Patent, Copyright, and Trademark Law”

EFF is pleased to announce the hiring of our newest staff member: staff attorney Julie Samuels. Julie will be working on intellectual property issues, with a focus on stopping abuse of software patents.

Gene patents ought to be tackled too [1, 2] (although these are not electronic as in “Electronic Frontier Foundation”). “20% of the Genes in Your Body are Patented,” says this new blog post. [via Glyn Moody]

Here’s a disconcerting thought: for the past thirty years, genes have been patentable. And we’re not just talking genetically modified corn – your genes, pretty much as they exist in your body, can and have been patented. The US government reports over three million gene patent applications have been filed so far; over 40,000 patents are held on sections of the human genome, covering roughly 20% of our genes.

Upset? You’re not alone. Critics argue that the patents stifle potential research into disease, keep new treatments off the market, and bring in serious money to Big Pharma – all by exercising property claims that shouldn’t exist. After all, genes aren’t inventions, which are patentable – they’re discoveries, which aren’t. As Luigi Palombi noted recently at the Open Science Summit, “You can’t patent Mount Everest; why can you patent a gene?” Here, we review the history of genetic law, the current state of affairs, and interview David Koepsell, an attorney and author of a recent book on gene patenting, Who Owns You? The Corporate Gold Rush To Patent Your Genes.

Humanity is just hurting itself using patents, which are about greed (for power), not documenting one’s inventions. █

“I would much rather spend my time and money and energy finding ways to make the Internet safer and better than bickering over patents.”

–Dean Drako, Barracuda’s CEO

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