Summary: Apple has turned from somewhat of an underdog nearing bankruptcy into an attack dog and master of mass hypnosis. I explain my concerns about Apple in this ramble.
YouTube: Thoughts on Apple in 2011 – Part 1
Or as Ogg:
[More below...]
Summary: Microsoft is a longtime monopoly abuser and now a major patent aggressor. This video explains my distrust of Microsoft.
YouTube: Thoughts on Microsoft – Part 1
Or as Ogg:
[More below...]
Summary: The GNU/Linux distribution called “Ubuntu” is under scrutiny; it is also said to be declining among distributions. This video is a ramble which discusses what’s going on with Ubuntu this year.
YouTube: Thoughts on Ubuntu in 2011 – Part 1
Or as Ogg:
[More below...]
Summary: A personal perspective on what Novell was before and after its software patents deal with Microsoft
YouTube: Thoughts on Novell – Part 1
Or as Ogg:
[More below...]
A lesser-known GNU/Linux distribution from Argentina.
CIBERLINUX 1.3 – pinguinos
Credit: TinyOgg
Summary: Big Think explains why software patents are bad and the European Patent Office grooms people who want new laws that would bring such patents into Europe
Just as it recently did its propaganda with Vincent Van Quickenborne [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13], the EPO propaganda machine is latching onto Barnier, who is like Vincent Van Quickenborne when it comes to software patenting loopholes [1, 2, 3, 4]. Days ago it wrote:
Interview with EU-Commissioner Michel Barnier, right after the 2011 European Inventor Award ceremony. http://ow.ly/4Z7IZ
This links to their YouTube channel, which almost nobody subscribed to in 3 years. Apparently there is not much interest in EPO’s agenda. The EPO just wants more and more patents, which are equivalent to more EPO business. █
Credit: TinyOgg
Summary: Blast from the past as Microsoft’s CEO is a speaker at Novell’s event (about 20 years ago)
BROUGHT back from the dead some days ago in YouTube was this three-part video of Steve Ballmer speaking at BrainShare [1, 2, 3]. Here is part one.
Eventually, in part thanks to Ron Hovsepian, Ballmer turned Novell into some kind of Microsoft subsidiary. █
Summary: A look at all the recent videos we found which promote software patents
FOR The sake of balance in our "Week Against Software Patents", the non-engineering side is presented here too. It’s mostly lawyers. Seeing how weak their arguments really are may help appreciate the seriousness of this whole situation. Developers are being screwed and even the screw is patented.
As we already know, the Microsoft crowd and the company’s patent lawyers love software patents (the video below is from the Ignite conference in Seattle). It helps them make money. Here is the first video in support of software patents (Ogg only on purpose), courtesy of patent lawyers:
Notice the language. Ouch. He also daemonises GNU, uses the word “stealing”, berates Wikileaks, etc. For a Seattle crowd (near Microsoft) it might be appropriate.
Some years ago we saw South African patent law being distorted by Microsoft and here is another self-professed “IP guru” (Johnny Fiandero) explaining “Why Software Patents are so Controversial”. Watch and see what’s wrong with the arguments he makes:
Criticism of his points would be easy. He makes no compelling arguments, except the mentioning of his “clients”.
Here is how Microsoft uses software patents for anti-competitive purposes.
Here is some more advocacy of patents over copyrights (it gets boring towards the end).
Credit: TinyOgg
Here ends our special video coverage (lasting about a week). Be sure to explain to people why software patents need to be fought against. They hurt all users, not just developers, and among those developers who are hurt there are both free/libre and proprietary software developers. The outrageous patent laws do not make a distinction. The inclusion of software patents in US law is very arcane, out of touch with reality, and it makes as much sense as prohibition of driving and voting for women. The only profession (not company) which benefits from this involves litigation. █
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