11.22.10
Posted in Microsoft, Mono, Novell, Red Hat at 10:36 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Now that Microsoft takes part of Novell (by proxy) it becomes apparent that Techrights was on target
ONE common criticism of the “Boycott Novell” project (we have expanded scope to have more projects) is that it targets a rival of Microsoft. Well, today we know that Techrights folks had sufficient insight to realise that Novell’s big bucket of ever-expanding software patents collection (so-called ‘portfolio’ which they bragged about) was nothing but trouble. A consortium oragnised by Microsoft apparently gets them all. Novell’s work is becoming more of an enemy than ever before. In many ways, Boycott Novell becomes a boycott of Microsoft too.
“A consortium oragnised by Microsoft apparently gets them all.”A few months ago we asked Red Hat lawyers to ensure that Red Hat patents become void in case the company get sold. They replied but did nothing at all. There is no legal contract which prevents Red Hat’s patents from being used offensively against Linux, for example. Today, Red Hat has the obligation to take a lesson from Novell’s fate and do something to pull the teeth out of its patents which it never needed in the first place anyway.
So anyhow, does anyone know what happens to the patent bomb called Mono, which some blogs still tactlessly promote [1, 2]? Speculation time is over now that a sale of Novell is finalised and known. What about the SCO case? Please leave some comments or come to the IRC channels, which are very active at this moment, for obvious reasons. █
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Posted in Microsoft, Novell, Patents, UNIX at 10:15 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
“Our partnership with Microsoft continues to expand.”
–Ron Hovsepian, Novell CEO
“[The partnership with Microsoft is] going very well insofar as we originally agreed to co-operate on three distinct projects and now we’re working on nine projects and there’s a good list of 19 other projects that we plan to co-operate on.”
–Ron Hovsepian, Novell CEO
Summary: Novell’s sale marks a special day of Novell coverage, probably the last of its kind
TECHRIGHTS will interrupt its normal flow of news today in order to concentrate solely on Novell. Just over 4 years ago Boycott Novell was launched and today Novell gives up and sells the business. It’s a special day which in many ways provides closure to a struggle I’ve been part of for more than 4 years. Today we all reach a milestone which many of us have been waiting for (not because it’s necessarily beneficial). It’s primarily about software patents, which are the #1 problem software freedom is facing.
Our latest software patents coverage (Microsoft’s last resort) will have to be delayed until later in the week. We reserve lengthy coverage for a later post and instead start with this press release (spin warning). Also see “Novell sold to Attachmate” (at LWN), which has not any comments yet.
Jan Wildeboer from Red Hat has just told me: “check CPTN holdings – they will buy certain IP assets acc to [the press release] [...]”
Separately he wrote: “Seems MSFT spinoff buys Novell “IPR”, rest goes to attachmate.”
Glyn Moody quotes Novell as stating: “sale of certain intellectual property assets to consortium of technology cos organized by Microsoft” (Moody adds: “not good (via @jdub)”).
Wildeboer concludes for the time being with: “So now MSFT own the copyright of UNIX? Interesting” (this was RTed many times in Identi.ca).
We warned about this and explained that Novell had become just a tool of Microsoft. Phoronix chose the headline “Novell’s Finally Sold: Going To Attachmate & Microsoft”. More later. █
WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL), the leader in intelligent workload management, today announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Attachmate Corporation would acquire Novell for $6.10 per share in cash in a transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion. Attachmate Corporation is owned by an investment group led by Francisco Partners, Golden Gate Capital and Thoma Bravo. Novell also announced it has entered into a definitive agreement for the concurrent sale of certain intellectual property assets to CPTN Holdings LLC, a consortium of technology companies organized by Microsoft Corporation, for $450 million in cash, which cash payment is reflected in the merger consideration to be paid by Attachmate Corporation.
The $6.10 per share consideration represents a premium of 28% to Novell’s closing share price on March 2, 2010, the last trading day prior to the public disclosure of Elliott Associates, L.P.’s proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Novell for $5.75 per share and a 9% premium to Novell’s closing stock price on November 19, 2010.
“After a thorough review of a broad range of alternatives to enhance stockholder value, our Board of Directors concluded that the best available alternative was the combination of a merger with Attachmate Corporation and a sale of certain intellectual property assets to the consortium,” said Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of Novell. “We are pleased that these transactions appropriately recognize the value of Novell’s relationships, technology and solutions, while providing our stockholders with an attractive cash premium for their investment.”
Mr. Hovsepian continued, “We also believe the transaction with Attachmate Corporation will deliver important benefits to Novell’s customers, partners and employees by providing opportunities for building on Novell’s brands, innovation and market leadership.”
“We are very excited about this transaction as it greatly complements our existing portfolio,” said Jeff Hawn, chairman and CEO of Attachmate Corporation. “Novell has an established record of innovation, impressive technology and brand assets, and a leading ecosystem of partnerships and talented employees. The addition of Novell to our Attachmate and NetIQ businesses will enhance the spectrum of solutions we can offer to customers. We fully support Novell’s commitment to its customers and we look forward to continuing to invest for the benefit of Novell’s customers and partners.”
Attachmate Corporation plans to operate Novell as two business units: Novell and SUSE; and will join them with its other holdings, Attachmate and NetIQ.
Attachmate Corporation’s acquisition of Novell is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and is also conditioned upon the closing of the proposed sale of certain intellectual property assets to CPTN Holdings LLC. In addition, the transaction is subject to approval by Novell’s stockholders. The sale of the intellectual property assets to the consortium is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and is also conditioned upon the closing of the merger with Attachmate Corporation. Novell currently expects these transactions to close in the first quarter of 2011.
J.P. Morgan is serving as financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal advisor to Novell. Credit Suisse and RBC Capital Markets are serving as financial advisors and Jones Day is acting as legal advisor to Attachmate Corporation.
About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL), a leader in intelligent workload management, helps organizations securely deliver and manage computing services across physical, virtual and cloud computing environments. Novell helps customers reduce the cost, complexity, and risk associated with their IT systems through our solutions for identity and security, systems management, collaboration and Linux-based operating platforms. With its infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology to work as one. For more information, visit www.novell.com.
About Attachmate Corporation
Attachmate Corporation, owned by an investment group led by Francisco Partners, Golden Gate Capital and Thoma Bravo, enables IT organizations to extend mission critical services and assures they are managed, secure and compliant. Principal holdings include Attachmate (www.attachmate.com) and NetIQ (www.netiq.com).
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication, and all oral statements made regarding the subject matter of this communication, contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Novell and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (such as statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should be considered forward-looking statements. Among others, the following risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: (i) the risk that the proposed sale of intellectual property assets and the proposed merger may not be consummated in a timely manner, if at all; (ii) the risk that the definitive merger agreement may be terminated in circumstances that require Novell to pay Attachmate Corporation a termination fee of $60 million; (iii) risks related to the diversion of management’s attention from Novell’s ongoing business operations; (iv) risks regarding the failure of Attachmate Corporation to obtain the necessary financing to complete the merger; (v) the effect of the announcement of the sale of the intellectual property assets or the merger on Novell’s business relationships (including, without limitation, partners and customers), operating results and business generally; and (vi) risks related to obtaining the requisite consents to the sale of the intellectual property assets and the merger, including, without limitation, the timing (including possible delays) and receipt of regulatory approvals from various governmental entities (including any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on these approvals) and the risk that one or more governmental entities may deny approval. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Novell’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at the SEC’s website http://www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by Novell. Novell expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change of expectations with regard thereto or to reflect any change in events, conditions or circumstances.
Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find it
In connection with the proposed merger, Novell intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a proxy statement. Investors and security holders of Novell are urged to read these documents (if and when they become available) and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information about Novell, the proposed sale of intellectual property assets, the proposed merger and the parties to these proposed transactions. Investors and security holders may obtain these documents (and any other documents filed by Novell and Attachmate Corporation with the SEC) free of charge at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed with the SEC by Novell may be obtained free of charge by directing such request to: Novell Investor Relations at 1-800-317-3195 or from the investor relations website portion of Novell’s website at http://www.novell.com/company/ir/. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed merger.
Novell and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Novell’s stockholders in respect of the proposed merger. Information regarding Novell’s directors and executive officers is contained in Novell’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009, its proxy statement for its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, dated February 26, 2010, and subsequent filings which Novell has made with the SEC. Stockholders may obtain additional information about the directors and executive officers of Novell and their respective interests with respect to the proposed merger by security holdings or otherwise, which may be different than those of Novell’s stockholders generally, by reading the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents regarding the proposed merger, when filed with the SEC. Each of these documents is, or will be, available as described above.
SOURCE Novell, Inc.
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Posted in Europe, Intellectual Monopoly, Patents at 12:01 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
(ODF | PDF | English (original))
Resumen: Karel de Gucht, current European Commissioner for Trade y la USPTO (Oficina de Patentes y Marcas de los Estados Unidos) continuan con su carrera por el ACTA, que es un enemigo de la libertad del software, así como muchas otras libertades entre ellas la soberanía de los pueblos.
La semana pasada mencionamos Karel de Gucht[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_de_Gucht], comisario europeo de Comercio, quien cínicamente sostiene falsamente que el ACTA (Tratado Comercial de Lucha contra la Falsificación) no dañará el software libre[http://twitter.com/FFII/statuses/5409097092440064]. Este hombre se convirtió en otro enemigo de los intereses de Europa por la elección para impulsar la iniciativa de EE.UU. conocido como ACTA (que es inconstitucional[http://techrights.org/2009/08/27/hacking-basic-freedoms/]). Su propósito es ayudar a mega-corporaciones ganar más poder sobre la sociedad en todo el mundo. El deslizamiento de la lengua de Karel ha causado Techdirt afirmar que[http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101117/12403111915/as-us-insists-acta-is-not-a-treaty-eu-trade-commissioner-admits-it-s-a-treaty.shtml]:
Los EE.UU. Insiste ACTA no es un Tratado, el Comisario Europeo de Comercio, admite que es un Tratado
“Ya hemos publicado acerca de David Kappos[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kappos] (Subsecretario de Comercio para la Propiedad Intelectual y Director de la Oficina de Patentes y Marcas de los Estados Unidos) no “da respuesta a las preguntas de la legalidad sobre el ACTA, pero en el fondo de la cobertura de KEI acerca de esta historia hay otro punto interesante. ACTA partidarios en los EE.UU. se han doblado hacia atrás para insistir en que el ACTA no es un tratado. Toda vez que alguien la menciona como un tratado en los comentarios aquí, uno de los partidarios del ACTA entre nuestros lectores rápidamente va amonestar por no tener ni idea de la ley y se insiste en que esto no es nada más que un “ACUERDO EJECUTIVO”, que no es necesario la aprobación del Senado. Es uno de los puntos favoritos de conversaciónde los partidarios del ACTA. Por supuesto, hay algunos serias interrogantes constitucionales al respecto.
Sin embargo, mucho más revelador es que muchos partidarios ACTA absolutamente admiten que es un tratado. Ya Hemos señalado que la Alianza Empresarial de Software (BSA[http://www.bsa.org/country/BSA%20and%20Members/Our%20Members.aspx]) lo hizo hace unas semanas (y también se afirmaba falsamente que ya había sido firmado por 37 países).”
Hola, Kappos, me escuchas? Et tu, Alianza Empresarial de Software BSA?
Observe el papel desempeñado por la USPTO (Oficina de Patentes y Marcas de los Estados Unidos) allí. Kappos no sirve de nada[http://techrights.org/2010/03/06/uspto-makes-things-worse/] a causa de sus opiniones sobre el status quo. Los créditos debe ir al brillante Bernard Sanders, cuyas acciones se destacan por KEI en este momento[http://keionline.org/node/1022]:
Carta No-Respondida por David Kappos de la USPTO a los senadores Sanders y Brown Relativa a la Coherencia de ACTA con la Legislación de los EE.UU.
“En un 19 de octubre 2010, los senadores Bernard Sanders (I-VT) y Sherrod Brown (D-OH) escribió a David Kappos, el Director de la USPTO, solicitando una evaluación de los conflictos entre el texto del ACTA octubre 2010, y la ley de EE.UU. . (Que se adjunta aquí).”
KEI también tiene este nuevo documento [http://keionline.org/sites/default/files/ep-prizes-jamie-18nov2010.pdf][PDF] titulado “Innovación Premios Incentivos para reducir los costos, Mejorar la productividad y ampliar el acceso”. Es de hace dos días y el objetivo es Europa. KEI – como nosotros – desea ayudar a los estadounidenses[http://techrights.org/2010/11/20/esp-america-pov/]. Pero lo que es bueno para los conglomerados de América, por ejemplo, no es necesariamente bueno para los ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos. Vamos a exponer a los “buitres” (no las águilas) de la sociedad y exponer sus maliciosa agenda, de auto-servicio que la USPTO (Oficina de Patentes y Marcas de los Estados Unidos) contribuye a perpetuar . La USPTO – como grupo de presión – está ahí para servir a los abogados contraproducentemente y a las grandes corporaciones, por lo que en los EE.UU. “la USPTO” puede ser tan engañosa como en “Nueva Zelanda” la “NZICT” (que aboga por los intereses que son opuestos a Nueva Zelanda)[http://techrights.org/2010/08/25/nzict-and-microsoft-gold-partner/].
Eduardo Landaveri adds (in English):
Another chapter on the fight against software patents.
As I said before India && Europe efforts against software patents are not only their hope for a better future for themselves && their children but the Latin American && African countries hope for a better future. Free from digital colonialism.
“C’mon India && Europe, do not give up against these corporations, give yourselves && to us the gift of Freedom”
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
- Thomas Paine
Or in Spanish:
Como he dicho antes los esfuerzos de India Europa ycontra las patentes de software no son sólo la esperanza de un futuro mejor para ellos y sus hijos, sin lo la esperanza de un futuro mejor para los paises de América Latina y Africano. Libres de colonialismo digital.
“Vamos, India y Europa, no se dén por vencido en contra de estas corporaciones, dense a sí mismos y a nosotros el regalo de la libertad”
“Los que esperan cosechar las bendiciones de la libertad deben, como hombres, sufren la fatiga de apoyarla.”
- Thomas Paine
Eduardo’s translations hopefully broaden the reach of this information. █
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Today’s show ends with “SPARKLE” by Honey Sac (published in SXSW 2009 Showcasing Artists). Marti is working on a new intro for the show and we also hope to have him — as well folks from Mageia — on an imminent episode. We hope you will join us for future shows and spread the word if you enjoy this show. Also 
