𝕿𝖊𝖈𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘 Bulletin for Tuesday, March 16, 2021 ┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅ Generated Wed 17 Mar 02:40:04 GMT 2021 Created by Dr. Roy Schestowitz (𝚛𝚘𝚢 (at) 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚣 (dot) 𝚌𝚘𝚖) Full hyperlinks for navigation omitted but are fully available in the originals The corresponding HTML versions are at 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈 Latest in 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒕𝒙𝒕 and older bulletins can be found at 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒕𝒙𝒕-𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 Full IPFS index in 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒊𝒑𝒇𝒔 and as plain text in 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒊𝒑𝒇𝒔/𝒕𝒙𝒕 Gemini index for the day: gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/ ╒═══════════════════ 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐒 ════════════════════════════════════╕ Previous bulletins in IPFS (past 21 days, in chronological order): QmP4sJsHWybFCR6L9YwJ4D9c4ty548pLdtooQKSTcnsvBj QmTJDPW4SySqJM91re39cWCksjMPCgmn9cidUgKb9EK8oY QmSw9S6gbPuCY6EoCWq13EveMmEX357wVLwTQEQyXkXLTn QmRLg7W2bYpr1JiQ6rXJd3frzGWwDsyWcVgiT5DQhV2Ma7 QmXwactwdWFj2TLvAXdStVi238in5okXcVFgsCkGsqexMZ QmcSwMjzRJLVJJk1ktjRc1CEDJ92YWeVn9qVE8ATewiQty QmcR4sVbAs9c71Bh9t9M8xCk5YQJAHUKEK9hpNtc3ZUxnk Qmf4okseUL3sX9QU1gV324WnMKDmVEvoX2vboMhRWAVa9A QmW4WcUNmujGK5kcyYfeyVfYpji6GmKLMaxty6WdhcgNhU QmWJmmXoWSvDVv1GXCBeefymKQ4ous4fqKHL8U96jvMRWM QmZABDo4xMH4KexrW2Lkih6fAve7ujxsBUWpbp6uCF4KY7 QmVqgUwgy82Dv9wbRCHDf8Az5JAxCfFrTdgSmUg7JHckhG QmbwY85pQ1AiuwtWfdbNfv9gxDga5UyiXJrZ1QHd6hbsj7 QmWp121r1GXcbyqSwDPppCeSNezNLzAkSn1ouaS1a1jokb QmdoZcf4iwb2ztjbdiuYHAC9yqNAxqjJ7bLxyu4mWe3eir Qmeh8C9MD58oRRQTZMdxXzz1fPnkNNkZLDGMUBXUZtfYcA QmQwVB9CHJEF8FeK5qE4nVrEt3T4j18queqDGsX1tco7Hu QmbvjnjBPkV9NuX5KzgE4i1MMMvJAtyqXZsxGtid1PSaxN QmR4biofPhoiD3JC7c8mnGqxWSMBkqoxwCBZQ7dT7pthDc QmSA9tsJUQyqpRRdqkKF9RwzKJcTetjDtoCFf54WRpJzdT QmVcJzDwydxRsdrBEoE7ieprrcQgWHRfbAN6LkeYP2GLno ╒═══════════════════ 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐗 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⦿ The ’Hey Hi’ of António Campinos Will Survive This | Techrights ⦿ Why We Don’t Expect the Media or Patent ’News’ Sites to Cover or Even Just Mention EPO Data Scandals | Techrights ⦿ EPO and Microsoft Collude to Break the Law - Part X: The Spectre of GDPR… | Techrights ⦿ EPO and Microsoft Collude to Break the Law - Part XI: Close Encounters With the Trust-busters… | Techrights ⦿ EPO and Microsoft Collude to Break the Law - Part IX: Know Your Vendor… | Techrights ⦿ Microsoft Breaking European Privacy Laws While Distracting the Public: The Evidence (a Formal 91-Page Report) | Techrights ⦿ IRC Proceedings: Monday, March 15, 2021 | Techrights ⦿ Meme/Teaser: Lipstick on EPO in the ’Cloud’ | Techrights ⦿ EDPS Documents About Microsoft’s Privacy Violations and Much More to Come Regarding the EPO’s Privacy Scandals | Techrights ⦿ EPO Promoting Illegal Software Patents Under the Guise of NET/Hey Hi | Techrights ䷼ Bulletin articles (as HTML) to comment on (requires login): http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/campinos-will-survive/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/epo-data-scandals-and-the-media/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/epoleaks-report-march-2021-part-10/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/epoleaks-report-march-2021-part-11/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/epoleaks-report-march-2021-part-9/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/formal-report-microsoft-violations/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/irc-log-150321/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/lipstick-on-epo/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/microsoft-privacy-violations/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/software-patents-guise-ai/#comments ䷞ Followed by Daily Links (assorted news picks curated and categorised): http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/gstreamer-1-18-4/#comments http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/libreelec-10-beta/#comments ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 75 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/campinos-will-survive/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/campinos-will-survive/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ The_‘Hey_Hi’_of_António_Campinos_Will_Survive_This⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Humour, Patents at 1:14 pm by Guest Editorial Team /videos/Campinos-Will-Survive-Video.mp4 Summary: “Currently topping the charts at the EPO,” said the person who sent us this smash hit by EPO President António_Campinos “Dance, peasants!” 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇Sattriya Dance⦈ Photo credit: By_Sattriyadance_critic – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⣀⡀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣴⠞⠙⠛⠛⠛⢿⣿⣤⣄⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣰⣿⣯⣤⣄⣀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⡻⡿⣿⣶⣬⣿⡿⣿⣿⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣻⣾⣿⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⢿⣿⣿⣾⣋⣍⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡓⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⠛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣶⣤⣤⣶⣶⣷⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣰⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣤⣀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣦⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⣉⣡⣾⣾⣶⣿⣿⡴⠄⠬⣾⣾⣿⠻⣷⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢻⡏⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠾⠇⣾⣿⡏⠀⢻⢹⡇⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⢟⣫⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡔⢠⣽⣿⣷⠤⣈⣾⣿⣎⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣾⣿⣿⣿⠟⠋⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠸⣿⣿⣿⡓⣺⠸⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣋⣩⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⣗⢀⣻⣿⣿⣿⣯⠈⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⠄⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡧⢧⢿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣷⡞⠊⢯⢿⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠙⠙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠘⣞⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⡎⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠘⡹⣞⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡐⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⣡⣻⣻⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⢻⣡⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣄⣋⣏⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠘⣏⣧⠿⣿⢿⣿⣯⣍⡁⠐⢹⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⢿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠛⠋⡉⢩⣉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣇⣽⢻⢟⢷⡇⡯⠟⠋⠉⠠⠀⠚⠒⠚⠿⠛⠛⣛⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⠈⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠻⠿⠿⠻⠿⠟⠿⠛⠋⠃⠈⠈⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠢⠚⡯⠃⣎⢵⡨⣤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣠⣤⣤⣤⣶⣤⣴⣶⣶⣶⣿⣷⣯⣼⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣦⣤⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣗⣲⣯⠉⠈⠁⣀⣔⣥⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 166 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/epo-data-scandals-and-the-media/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/epo-data-scandals-and-the-media/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ Why_We_Don’t_Expect_the_Media_or_Patent_‘News’_Sites_to_Cover_or_Even_Just Mention_EPO_Data_Scandals⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Patents at 10:31 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz EPO spreads ‘candy’ to hacks and media operatives in ‘journalist’ clothing… 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇EPO and FTI⦈ Summary: The EPO’s corruption of the media (or subversion of journalism) is an ongoing and unresolved problem; they’ve meanwhile proceeded to also bribing scholars, so critics are rare and barely visible IT should be no secret that the EPO has much of the media which covers patents in its back pocket (as the old saying goes). To some degree, the same is true regarding corporate media, especially in Europe and with focus on Dutch and German media (media where EPO is physically based). Money was paid. We saw the ‘receipts’. There were strings attached to this money. There’s potential for more money. Over the years we too came under financial pressures to obstruct our publication; some of them we’ve covered here before… To give just one example (alluded to in the image above), EPO management is paying IAM via PR firms such as FTI Consulting (IAM even admitted that FTI Consulting had paid it). IAM isn’t alone! “Hopefully, perhaps some time soon, they will also run out of immunity.”The sad thing is, publishing houses are dooming their own credibility by sucking up to António_Campinos in exchange for “access” (like softball ‘interviews’). They constantly pretend that Benoît_Battistelli is a resolved problem and everything at the EPO is more or less fine now. For those who wonder about “Merpel”, don’t blame Jeremy or Birgit or any of the original ‘Kats’. They too had come under pressure, but the sad thing is that they sort of gave up and left the blog in hands that slap down comments, especially those which allude to EPO corruption. “Reunion with Alexandre Benalla and Nicolas Sarközy is definitely a possibility when impunity is over and investigations begin.”EPO is a classic example of Mafia-like institutions that have so much to hide that they’re willing to engage in Mafia-like tactics to silence the media (or any potential critic/ exposer for that matter). Microsoft does the same thing (we’ve been covering many examples over the years). Please keep the input (or the leaks) coming. We’re not afraid of the EPO’s “Mafia” and they have virtually no control over us. They’ve tried all sorts of dirty tricks. They’re running out of ideas. Hopefully, perhaps some time soon, they will also run out of immunity. Reunion with Alexandre_Benalla and Nicolas Sarközy is definitely a possibility when impunity is over and investigations begin. █ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣶⣦⣤⣤⣤⣴⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣹⣭⣀⣩⣉⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⣿⡿⠿⡿⠿⢿⣿⣿⠉⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⣿⠋⠉⢀⠀⠀⣄⠀⠘⡇⠀⣤⡄⡀⠹⠏⠀⡺⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠋⢀⠦⠈⠘⡆⠀⢹⡄⠀⢿⠀⠀⠀⠐⠛⠃⠀⠠⠀⢀⠃⠀⣰⠀⠙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠉⣀⣠⣽⠏⠀⠾⠃⠀⠘⠠⠤⣷⣶⣾⣶⣶⠀⠁⣷⣶⣶⣧⣄⣈⠀⢰⡟⠈⠀⠁⠀⣀⠉⢻⣿⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠀⠻⡿⠁⢰⣤⣄⣶⠏⠠⠶⠿⡿⡿⢭⡯⢿⣿⠿⢿⠇⣿⢿⡿⠛⣿⡿⢦⣤⣇⠀⢾⡟⠀⠀⡿⠁⠀⢠⣤⣦⣤⣄⡀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣤⣀⣠⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⡿⢀⣶⡇⠼⠁⢞⠠⡷⡺⢀⡆⠸⡃⠼⡃⢮⢴⣿⣿⣦⣄⣀⣠⡾⠁⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠗⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⣫⣭⠻⠞⠃⠛⠛⠙⢻⣿⢻⢻⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠻⡻⠻⣟⣛⠛⠙⠛⠿⢿⣿⡏⠁⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠉⠛⠟⠛⠃⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⡭⠀⠀⠀⡽⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⣁⡄⢀⠙⠈⠰⡁⠀⢀⠀⣀⣳⢧⣀⡈⢩⣽⣭⡅⢀⠀⢈⣁⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠆⢀⡏⠀⣶⣴⣾⣼⢤⡀⠺⣧⢀⣷⣾⣷⡘⣴⣴⢤⡦⠹⣩⡈⠛⣗⠢⠖⣿⣯⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⠀⠠⠄⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠂⠀⠀⣶⣶⠶⠷⠶⠾⠶⠾⠿⠿⠿⠿⠾⠷⠶⠾⠶⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠷⠾⠿⠷⠿⠿⠿⠶⠾⠾⠿⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⡇⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄⣤⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢀⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠋⣹⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⣀⠁⠸⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⡀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡂⠤⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⡿⡾⢶⡼⣼⢦⢼⣦⠼⡴⣤⣦⢦⢴⣶⡼⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣷⣷⣶⣷⣾⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣾⣶⣶⣾⣯⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣗⣚⡒⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⡄⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡿⣽⢾⠫⠝⡯⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⢰⣮⢤⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢨⣛⣋⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣟⢻⠇⠀⠀⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 266 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/epoleaks-report-march-2021-part-10/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/epoleaks-report-march-2021-part-10/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_X:_The_Spectre_of_GDPR…⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Microsoft, Patents at 8:57 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz Previous parts: * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_I_(Intro):_A_Fresh_Data Protection_Scandal_Brewing_at_the_EPO? * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_I_(Start_of_Series): Enter_the_“Cloud_of_Unknowing…” * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_II:_Steve_Rowan Announces_Microsoft_“Outlook_Migration” * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_III:_The_PATRIOT_Act and_Mass_Surveillance * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_IV:_The_US_CLOUD_Act Passes_Without_Public_Debate * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_V:_The_EU_GDPR * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VI:_A_Not-so-safe Harbour * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VII:_Lipstick_on_a_Pig… * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VIII:_The_Aftermath_of Schrems_II_in_Europe * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VIII_Addendum * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_IX:_Know_Your_Vendor… * YOU ARE HERE ☞ The Spectre of GDPR… 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GDPR and Microsoft⦈ More about Microsoft’s run-ins with European data protection authorities Summary: António_Campinos and his friends may have put the EPO in legal “hot water”, having already outsourced EPO data to a serial GDPR violator with a notorious track record in other aspects, too In April 2019 it_was_reported that “the Spectre of GDPR” continued to haunt the hallowed halls of Redmond, this time in the shape of an_investigation_ordered by_the_EU_Data_Protection_Supervisor (EDPS) into Microsoft products used by EU institutions. The move by the EDPS was prompted by the outcome of the Data Protection Impact Assessment which had been commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security in 2018. “The move by the EDPS was prompted by the outcome of the Data Protection Impact Assessment which had been commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security in 2018.”The EDPS noted that any EU institutions using the applications investigated by the Dutch authorities would face similar issues including “increased risks to the rights and freedoms of individuals”. The report of the EDPS on the “Outcome_of_own-initiative_investigation_into_EU institutions’_use_of_Microsoft_products_and_services” was published on 2 July 2020. The EDPS identified a number of serious issues calling for further action, including the following: • The licensing agreement between Microsoft and the EU institutions was formulated in loose manner that effectively permitted Microsoft to act as a data controller which the EDPS found inappropriate. • The lack of control by EU institutions over which sub-processors Microsoft used and the lack of meaningful audit rights presented significant issues which needed to be addressed. • EU institutions were unable to control the location of a large portion of the data processed by Microsoft. Nor did they properly control what was transferred out of the EU/EEA and how. There was also a lack of proper safeguards to protect data that left the EU/EEA. • EU institutions had few guarantees at their disposal to defend their privileges and immunities and to ensure that Microsoft would only disclose personal data insofar as permitted by EU law. According to the EDPS, the EU institutions lacked sufficient clarity as to the nature, scope and purposes of the data processing carried out by Microsoft and the risks to data subjects for the purpose of complying with their transparency obligations towards data subjects. The EDPS recommended that all EU institutions perform tests using a revised and comprehensive approach in order to monitor and stem the flow of personal data generated by Microsoft products and services and sent to Microsoft. “The EDPS recommended that all EU institutions perform tests using a revised and comprehensive approach in order to monitor and stem the flow of personal data generated by Microsoft products and services and sent to Microsoft.”It remains to be seen whether or not the EDPS’ beef with Microsoft will be resolved in an amicable manner or whether it will result in the imposition of GDPR fines which, in serious cases, can be as much as 4% of a company’s worldwide annual revenue. Microsoft has also had its fair share of grief with the data protection authorities in the EPO’s main host country, Germany. Back in July 2019 it_was_reported that the data protection authority in the state of Hesse had issued a ruling that Microsoft’s Office 365 could no longer be used by schools following the closure of a German data centre which had been used by Microsoft to provide cloud services. This ruling came after several years of domestic debate about whether German schools and other state institutions should be using Microsoft software at all. To allay German privacy concerns, Microsoft had invested millions in a German cloud service, and in 2017 Hesse authorities agreed that local schools could use Office 365 as long as German data remained in the country. But in August 2018 Microsoft decided to shut down the German service which meant that, once again, data from local Office 365 users would be transmitted across the Atlantic. “…in August 2018 Microsoft decided to shut down the German service which meant that, once again, data from local Office 365 users would be transmitted across the Atlantic.”In view of the changed circumstances, the data protection commissioner decided that there was now an unacceptable risk that users’ data could be accessed by US authorities. More recently, in October 2020, it_was_reported that at the Conference of German Federal and State Data Protection Supervisory Authorities, a majority of Germany’s regional data protection commissioners supported a finding that Microsoft Office 365 did not comply with GDPR standards. They also made clear that changes were urgently needed to comply with the CJEU Schrems II judgment on cross-border data transfers. Once again, it’s too early to say whether this matter will be resolved in an amicable manner or whether it will result in the imposition of GDPR fines. However, for some time now German lawyers have been warning their clients about the potential financial risks of using non-GDPR compliant software, including many widely used Microsoft products. For example, one Hamburg-based law firm published the following advice in July 2020: “…for some time now German lawyers have been warning their clients about the potential financial risks of using non-GDPR compliant software, including many widely used Microsoft products.”“Using MS-Teams, Skype and other Office 365 services violates data protection law and may result in million Euro fines. That’s the conclusion of two papers recently issued by the Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information. There is urgent need for action in many companies now.” Time will tell whether or not such warnings are justified. However, based on past experience Microsoft is unlikely to be given an easy ride by the German and other European data protection authorities and this may well have some unpleasant fallout for commercial users of its services and products. In the meantime German scepticism about Microsoft has surfaced in the European Parliament. In February 2020, Klaus Buchner – a university professor, physicist, and MEP for the green-conservative Ecological Democratic Party – submitted the following question to the EU Commission: Subject: Microsoft Windows 10 in European local authorities IT is part of our critical infrastructure, and in European local authorities as well IT means Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. It is as if European drivers could only buy cars made by one US manufacturer. As a result, European local authorities and European industry are totally dependent on a foreign monopoly supplier and are required to kow-tow to a foreign legal system and comply with foreign court judgments, which apply to Microsoft in the EU as well. To make matters worse, Windows 10 systematically transmits personal data to Microsoft. Little is known about how that data is used. The upshot is that local authorities may find themselves facing legal action for breaches of the data protection rules and the German Industrial Constitution Law. Background: ‘[...] The Data Protection Officers of the Federal Government and the Länder see little scope for using Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system in accordance with the law […]’ Instead, standard programmes could be developed at EU level and made available to local authorities free of charge. This standard software could also be hosted in regional data centres in the EU and interested local authorities could transfer their IT operations to those centres. Of course, each local authority would be required to tailor the standard programmes to local needs and operate them independently, either from their own data centres or in an EU cloud. 1. Are there alternatives to monopoly costs and data protection problems? 2. Does the Commission see any scope for offering greater support for the use of free openware such as Linux and OpenOffice / LibreOffice? The answer which came back from EU Commissioner Thierry Breton was for the most part the usual hot air which didn’t really address the elephant in the room. “In the meantime German scepticism about Microsoft has surfaced in the European Parliament.”However, Breton took advantage of the opportunity to plug the Commission’s ongoing efforts to promote an “EU_cloud_initiative” which would “offer credible European alternatives to non-EU providers”. And with that, we conclude our potted history of Microsoft’s long-running and continuing problems with European data protection authorities. In the next part we will take a look at some “close encounters” between the software behemoth of Redmond and other regulatory authorities, in particular the trust-busters on both sides of the Atlantic. █ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠋⢉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⡉⠛⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠋⣠⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣈⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⢁⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣿⣿⣿⣭⠡⢩⣿⣿⣿⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⢉⣉⣉⡉⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠋⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣨⣱⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣆⣺⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡄⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⣰⣿⣿⣿⡿⢙⢿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⠉⠉⠉⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿⣟⢏⠻⣻⣿⣿⡿⢡⣶⣌⣻⠀⣶⣌⢻⡧⣶⣦⢹⡇⣶⣦⢹⣿⡟⢰⣏⣠⠈⣁⠌⣏⡄⢹⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣧⣽⣿⣿⣿⠁⣼⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣵⣮⣿⣿⣿⣧⢸⣯⡍⢹⠀⣿⡿⣺⡗⣭⣥⣾⡏⣤⡄⢾⣿⣷⠘⣿⡧⣾⡯⢴⣿⢤⡿⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⠋⠀⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠀⠘⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢻⣿⣿⣿⣷⣤⣶⣿⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣿⣿⣼⣿⣿⣧⡈⠻⠿⣿⣿⠿⠛⣁⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢸⣿⣿⣷⢖⡁⣾⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⢰⣾⡦⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣷⣆⡃⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⣶⣦⣤⣤⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢋⡙⢻⠟⣉⠻⡟⢙⡉⢛⡉⢻⡏⣋⠙⣿⢸⡇⢺⢛⣉⢻⡏⢋⡙⣿⠛⣉⠻⡟⣉⠛⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⢻⣿⣿⣿⡛⣜⣻⣿⣿⣄⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣿⣿⣟⢫⣟⣿⣿⣿⣇⠸⠿⢺⠘⠿⠃⡇⢸⡇⢸⣿⢸⡇⠿⠇⣸⢸⡇⢼⠡⠤⢸⡇⣿⡇⣿⠸⠿⢚⡀⠤⠤⣿⣿⠇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⢻⣿⣿⣷⣷⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣾⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣿⣷⣶⣾⣷⣾⣷⣾⣿⣾⡇⣶⣾⣿⣾⣷⣿⣶⣶⣶⣷⣿⣷⣿⣷⣶⣾⣿⣶⣶⣿⠏⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣯⢱⢭⣿⣿⠿⠏⠿⣿⣿⡭⡤⢽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣬⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⢉⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣄⣈⠙⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠉⣁⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠉⠈⢻⣿⣿⠏⠉⢹⡇⢈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⢠⡼⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣇⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣿⣿⣿⠀⢀⠈⣿⠏⢀⠀⢸⡇⢨⡟⠉⣀⣀⣹⠀⢈⣀⠋⢁⣀⡈⠹⡏⠁⣀⣸⠟⠁⣀⡀⠙⣀⠀⣀⡀⠀⣀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⡆⣿⣿⣿⠀⢸⡄⠘⠀⣼⠀⢸⡇⢸⡅⠐⣿⣿⣿⠀⣾⣿⠀⢺⣿⡇⠀⣧⣄⡈⠹⠀⠸⣿⡿⠀⣽⠀⢸⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣀⣸⣿⣀⣸⣿⣀⣸⣇⣸⣷⣄⣀⣀⣼⣀⣻⣿⣦⣀⣀⣠⣼⣇⣀⣀⣴⣧⣄⣀⣀⣴⣿⣀⣸⣿⣄⣀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣟⣛⣛⣛⣛⣃⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 533 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/epoleaks-report-march-2021-part-11/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/epoleaks-report-march-2021-part-11/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_XI:_Close_Encounters_With the_Trust-busters…⠀✐ Posted in Antitrust, Europe, Law, Microsoft, Patents at 9:17 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz Previous parts: * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_I_(Intro):_A_Fresh_Data Protection_Scandal_Brewing_at_the_EPO? * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_I_(Start_of_Series): Enter_the_“Cloud_of_Unknowing…” * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_II:_Steve_Rowan Announces_Microsoft_“Outlook_Migration” * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_III:_The_PATRIOT_Act and_Mass_Surveillance * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_IV:_The_US_CLOUD_Act Passes_Without_Public_Debate * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_V:_The_EU_GDPR * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VI:_A_Not-so-safe Harbour * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VII:_Lipstick_on_a_Pig… * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VIII:_The_Aftermath_of Schrems_II_in_Europe * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VIII_Addendum * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_IX:_Know_Your_Vendor… * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_X:_The_Spectre_of_GDPR… * YOU ARE HERE ☞ Close Encounters With the Trust-busters… 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇Microsoft_antitrust⦈_ Summary: A look some of the confrontations between Microsoft and anti-trust regulators Microsoft’s run-ins with European data protection authorities are only half the story. Over the last three decades, the company has also been scrutinised by anti- trust authorities around the world, including the following: • US Federal Trade Commission / Department of Justice (1994) • Brazilian Board of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (1998) • European Commission (2004) • Japanese Fair Trade Commission (2004) • South Korean Fair Trade Commission (2005) The most high-profile of these investigations were those conducted by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the European Commission. In the US the Microsoft_anti-trust_case started rolling after an inquiry by the Federal Trade Commission in 1991 as to whether Microsoft’s conduct constituted an abuse of monopoly on the PC operating system market. The investigation was closed after the voting in the Commission ended in a tie. However, the US DoJ opened its own investigation in the same year. This resulted in a settlement on 15 July 1994, in which Microsoft agreed not to tie other products to the Windows operating system. Microsoft still remained free to provide “features” alongside the operating system. “The most high-profile of these investigations were those conducted by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the European Commission.”The real action started when the DoJ and the Attorney Generals of twenty states sued Microsoft in 1998 for unreasonably restraining competition by expanding and abusing its monopoly position and for breaching the 1994 settlement, by tying its web browser, Internet Explorer, to the Windows operating system. On April 3, 2000 Judge Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling that stated that Microsoft had violated sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. Judge Jackson ordered the break-up of Microsoft into two separate units, one to produce the Internet/WWW browser and one to produce the operating system. The case dragged on through the appeal courts until 2001 when the DoJ and Microsoft reached a settlement which enabled Microsoft to avoid the threatened break-up of its operations. 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇Microsoft_monopoly⦈_ Microsoft’s anti-competitive activities also attracted the scrutiny of the EU Commission Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, the European Commission started its own investigation_into_Microsoft’s_activities after receiving a complaint from Sun Microsystems in 1998 asserting that Microsoft refused to supply interoperability information. “The case dragged on through the appeal courts until 2001 when the DoJ and Microsoft reached a settlement which enabled Microsoft to avoid the threatened break-up of its operations.”During the course of its investigation, the Commission broadened the scope of its inquiry to include, amongst other things, Microsoft’s conduct in relation to its Windows Media Player. That investigation resulted in a preliminary finding, issued in August 2001, stating that Microsoft had abused its dominant position by hindering the interoperability between its operating system and third-party workgroup server operating systems and by tying its Windows Media Player to the Windows operating system. In March 2004, the EU Commission ordered Microsoft to pay € 497 million (USD 794 million), the_largest_fine_ever_handed_out_by_the_EU_at_the_time, in addition to the previous penalties, which included 120 days to divulge the server information and 90 days to produce a version of the Windows operating system without Windows Media Player. Microsoft initiated an unsuccessful action for annulment with the Court of First Instance (CFI) which rendered its final judgment on 17 September 2007. A compliance agreement between the Commission and Microsoft was reached on 22 October 2007. 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇Microsoft_fines⦈_ EU fines for anti-trust violations were small potatoes for cash-rich Microsoft To put things into perspective here, it’s worth recalling that, according_to the_Wall_Street_Journal in a report published in 2006, the total amount of the fines imposed on Microsoft by the EU was around USD 0.97 billion, a relatively small amount in comparison to the USD 4.93 billion paid out by Microsoft to major rivals, such as Sun Microsystems and IBM, in order to persuade them to drop other anti-trust claims. Both of these amounts are in turn dwarfed by Microsoft’s massive cash reserves, estimated at USD 34.8 billion in 2006. “That investigation resulted in a preliminary finding, issued in August 2001, stating that Microsoft had abused its dominant position by hindering the interoperability between its operating system and third-party workgroup server operating systems and by tying its Windows Media Player to the Windows operating system.”In March 2009 it_was_reported that the EU was scaling back its monitoring of Microsoft’s adherence to the 2004 antitrust ruling because “the company’s good behaviour meant that full-time supervision was no longer needed”. Since then Microsoft has for the most part managed to stay off the radar of anti-trust authorities although there have been occasional complaints filed against it for allegedly anti-competitive behaviour, for example the complaint filed_by_Moscow-based_cyber_security_firm_Kaspersky_Lab in 2017 which was subsequently withdrawn following an amicable settlement. More recently in July last year news_broke of a fresh anti-trust complaint against Microsoft filed with the European Commission by Slack Technologies. “Unless an amicable settlement is reached – which seems unlikely in this case – it could well be that Microsoft’s controversial “software bundling” practices will be back in the headlines again.”The essence of Slack’s grievance is that Microsoft has illegally tied its Teams product into its market-dominant Office productivity suite, force-installing the software for millions, blocking its removal, and hiding the true cost to users. Slack has called for Teams to be separated from Office 365 and for a market rate to be charged for the service. Unless an amicable settlement is reached – which seems unlikely in this case – it could well be that Microsoft’s controversial “software bundling” practices will be back in the headlines again. In the next part we will see how the US DoJ’s scrutiny of Microsoft has not been limited to the investigation of anti-competitive practices but has extended to alleged infractions of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. █ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⣯⣽⣿⣿⣿⡗⣠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣄⠀⣠⡀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣶⣆⢠⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⡋⠙⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠷⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣍⣴⡽⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠩⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣋⣿⣿⣿⡟⡟⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⢿⣷⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣼⣿⣟⣠⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠺⢿⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⡅⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠀⠛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠔⣡⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢈⣼⢻⡿⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⠻⠙⠋⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢘⠞⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠵⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⢀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣌⣸⣿⣛⣉⣻⣿⣃⣀⣀⣤⣀⣀⣀⣠⣬⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣥⣤⣤⣄⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⢈⣼⣿⣁⣀⡀⢠⣿⣇⠀⣈⣀⠀⠀⢉⣩⣭⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⢽⣿⣿⣖⢙⣷⣴⣿⣿⣿⣇⣬⠀⠀⠀⠒⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠚⡉⢯⠈⣿⢁⣾⣿⡿⠀⣿⡥⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡈⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣥⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠀⠁⠀⠻⣿⣿⣿⠿⠇⠀⠿⠶⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⡀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠠⠤⠤⠤⠤⢦⠤⠤⠤⠤⠬⣤⣼⡿⠧⠤⠤⠤⠤⠤⠤⠤⠽⠿⠿⠿⢾⠿⣿⣿⣶⠧⠤⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠧⡤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡷⠶⠶⠤⠤⠤⠤⠤⠤⠤⠤⢼ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⢨⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡿⡟⡿⣿⣆⡀⠀⠘⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣥⣀⡱⢼⡏⢡⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠋⠗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣆⠱⣻⢿⣿⢦⡆⢀⣻⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠀⢹⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⢛⢿⠀⠘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣷⢦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⢀⣼⣿⣷⣌⢋⡠⡙⢫⢾⣽⢷⢽⣻⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣿⣿⡇⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡯⠍⣿⣿⣹⣯⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣻⠛⣻⠿⡻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⡿⢿⣿⡷⣼⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠿⠉⠹⠿⠿⠉⠹⠯⠼⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⡿⢿⡿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠁⠶⠟⠻⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡁⣝⢛⢶⡿⠦⠭⠥⠀⠤⠠⠔⠃⠔⠊⠙⠲⠄⠈⢐⠀⠘⣯⣭⣭⣿⡐⠀⢐⠀⡂⠘⠁⡀⠀⡃⢀⠁⣒⡐⡀⠀⡂⠁⣐⣀⠀⡂⠀⠀⠃⢠⣶⠀⠀⠀⠒⠆⠰⠾⠯⠽⠩⠿⠝⠫⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢙⢟⡏⢸⠐⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣟⡅⠐⠀⠁⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣿⣀⣰⣟⣨⣇⡸⠆⠙⠛⣧⣠⣿⣄⣙⢛⣠⣟⠓⣀⣧⣈⠛⣀⣾⡀⣿⣄⢘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣷⣿⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠐⠛⠅⡨⢈⢿⣿⣿⣿⣛⢻⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣀⣀⣀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣀⠀⠀⠐⣿⣿⡿⣷⣿⣺⠇⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⡛⣛⣛⡉⣾⣟⣻⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⣀⣶⣿⣛⠛⢟⣙⣛⣛⣛⣛⢛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⢛⣛⣛⣛⣀⣀⡀⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣛⠿⡵⡀⣿⣿⣟⢯⣿⡿⣇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣏⣿⣗⡉⣿⣿⠟⠃⣼⠿⠿⡿⢏⣀⢘⣿⡟⣾⣟⣻⣻⢿⣷⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⢀⢇⠀⢄⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⠇⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠰⠿⣧⠐⠃⠠⠿⠵⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠯⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠸⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢐⡛⠄⡀⣾⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⡄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠄⢀⣀⣤⣄⣀⡀⠀⣄⠀⠀⠠⢀⣀⠠⠊⣿⣤⣤⣀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣠⣀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣤⣀⠀⠀⣀⡄⠀⢠⣀⠀⠀⢀⣀⡀⠀⢩⣶⣻⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢪⠒⠂⠁⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⢀⣿⣦⠀⠀⣨⣾⣧⢠⡟⠋⠁⠈⠙⢿⡆⣿⡷⣤⡠⢸⣿⢠⡿⠋⠁⠈⠙⢿⡄⢸⡧⠉⢹⡷⢰⡿⠍⠁⠈⠙⣷⡄⣿⡇⠀⠀⠙⢷⣅⣾⠃⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠂⠉⡜⠁⠃⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⢸⡿⠙⢷⣴⠟⢸⣷⠘⢷⣔⡀⢀⣠⡾⠃⣿⡇⠌⠛⢾⡷⠘⢷⣄⡄⢠⣠⡾⠃⢸⡟⠛⠋⠁⠸⣷⣈⡀⢀⣠⡿⠃⣿⣇⣀⣀⡀⢠⡿⠃⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢐⠊⠂⠀⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠘⠃⠀⠈⠃⠨⠈⠛⠀⠈⠙⠛⠛⠋⠁⠂⠛⠃⠠⠀⠀⠉⠀⠈⠙⠛⠛⠋⠅⠀⠘⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠛⠛⠋⠐⠄⠛⠛⠛⠛⠁⠛⠇⠂⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⠀⠀⢏⠂⡆⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⡆⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⡶⢶⢰⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄⢪⠑⠀⠇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠗⣺⣭⣿⡻⢿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠉⢻⣿⡟⣵⠶⣿⣛⢻⢛⡛⣟⢻⢻⠻⢻⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣛⣋⠽⣀⡮⠕⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢛⢘⠀⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡁⡅⢚⣛⢚⣞⣿⣷⣏⡽⠀⠀⢒⠆⣶⠀⠀⢻⣷⣝⣻⣯⣲⣸⣸⣇⣿⣼⣔⣲⣓⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣎⣯⢝⡳⠏⠁⣛⣽⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣄⡑⠀⣇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⡙⠶⢿⣻⣯⡿⣤⣨⣷⡀⠀⠉⠾⡶⠀⠀⣾⣟⢐⢛⡛⡟⣻⣧⢻⢁⢻⢰⢺⢛⣻⢟⡃⡟⣛⣻⢻⢻⡟⢛⣛⣿⢧⣼⣟⣳⠿⠝⣛⣩⢸⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠉⠙⠿⣿⣗⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡗⣿⣿⣶⣦⣈⡙⠿⢯⣿⣿⣦⣀⣴⣂⣰⣮⣿⣿⣸⣘⣃⣇⣿⣿⣎⣿⣄⣿⣸⣸⣿⣈⣃⣇⣛⣹⣄⣇⣸⣓⣼⡿⠟⣁⣡⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣆⢄⡀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡞⠀⣖⣿⡧⣸⢭⣿⣶⣮⣭⣙⣛⠿⢛⣯⣽⢿⣯⣯⣹⡽⣯⣩⡭⣿⣭⣍⣹⠿⢙⡩⢹⣿⢯⣽⡛⠽⣛⣋⣭⣿⣿⣿⡏⣋⡋⣈⣉⠉⣿⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⡆⣩⢸⣩⢽⢹⣿⣿⣿⣷⣟⣿⣿⣟⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣭⣙⡋⠿⢦⣛⣳⠀⣛⣲⣑⣂⣠⣈⡾⠾⠉⣋⣭⣴⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢨⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠆⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣳⡿⣿⡈⢽⢸⠀⣿⢸⣿⡯⣿⣿⢿⣽⣷⣻⣟⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣍⣛⠣⠦⠽⠛⣋⣤⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⢯⣻⡻⡽⣿⣿⢘⣿⣿⣿⣻⣷⣆⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣯⣟⣸⠠⠺⠸⠯⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠷⠾⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠩⠽⠫⠾⠻⠿⠿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⠛⣛⢻⠿⢿⠿⢿⣿⢛⠻⠿⢿⠛⡿⠿⠛⡟⡿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ 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03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_IX:_Know_Your_Vendor…⠀✐ Posted in Deception, Europe, Microsoft, Patents at 4:26 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz Previous parts: * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_I_(Intro):_A_Fresh_Data Protection_Scandal_Brewing_at_the_EPO? * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_I_(Start_of_Series): Enter_the_“Cloud_of_Unknowing…” * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_II:_Steve_Rowan Announces_Microsoft_“Outlook_Migration” * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_III:_The_PATRIOT_Act and_Mass_Surveillance * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_IV:_The_US_CLOUD_Act Passes_Without_Public_Debate * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_V:_The_EU_GDPR * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VI:_A_Not-so-safe Harbour * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VII:_Lipstick_on_a_Pig… * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VIII:_The_Aftermath_of Schrems_II_in_Europe * EPO_and_Microsoft_Collude_to_Break_the_Law_—_Part_VIII_Addendum * YOU ARE HERE ☞ Know Your Vendor… 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇A big brother-like spy⦈ The never-ending saga of Microsoft’s run-ins with European data protection authorities Summary: Microsoft is one of the world’s worst offenders when it comes to privacy, but vendor assessment by the EPO conveniently overlooks the law Even before GDPR came into effect in May 2018, data protection regulators in some European countries were starting to have their doubts about whether Microsoft’s flagship product, its Windows operating system, was compliant with European data protection standards. The first national authority to kick into action was the French National Data Protection Commission (CNIL). Following an investigation which concluded in June 2016, CNIL issued Microsoft with a formal notice to comply with French data protection regulations. CNIL also ruled that the decision should be made public, given the scale of the violations in question. “Following an investigation which concluded in June 2016, CNIL issued Microsoft with a formal notice to comply with French data protection regulations. CNIL also ruled that the decision should be made public, given the scale of the violations in question.”No fewer than six violations of the French Data Protection Act were identified by CNIL, including continued transfer of data based on Safe Harbor principles despite the fact that the Safe Harbour Agreement had been invalidated by the CJEU in October 2015. Microsoft was given three months – until 30 September 2016 – to end the identified violations of French Data Protection law or else face the prospect of a fine of up to €150,000. In June 2017, it_was_reported that Microsoft had scaled back the volume of data it collected from Windows 10 PCs by “almost half”. This led CNIL to announce that Windows 10 was no longer in breach of the country’s data protection laws and that it had decided to close the case. But that was only the first chapter in the never-ending saga of Microsoft’s run-ins with European data protection authorities. “Microsoft was given three months – until 30 September 2016 – to end the identified violations of French Data Protection law or else face the prospect of a fine of up to €150,000.”A few months later in October 2017, it_was reported that the Dutch data protection authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) had come to the conclusion that Microsoft was in breach of Dutch data protection law due to the way it processed the personal data of Windows 10 users. According to the Dutch data watchdog, Microsoft made it impossible for users to give their valid consent to their personal data being processed due to the multiple ways in which that data might subsequently be used. The Dutch regulator noted that Microsoft had promised to end its “violations”, but warned that a failure to do so could lead it to impose a sanction. After some back and forth with the regulator, Microsoft submitted a revised version of its software in April 2018. However, in the course of testing the revised version the Dutch agency found fresh grounds for concern, discovering what it called in a press release “new, potentially unlawful, instances of personal data processing”. “After some back and forth with the regulator, Microsoft submitted a revised version of its software in April 2018. However, in the course of testing the revised version the Dutch agency found fresh grounds for concern, discovering what it called in a press release “new, potentially unlawful, instances of personal data processing”.”In the meantime GDPR had entered into force, and this_led_the_Dutch_data_protection_authority_to_refer_its_concerns_to_the competent_lead_EU_privacy_regulator under the new regulations. This was the national data protection authority where Microsoft’s regional HQ for the EU is located, namely the Irish Data Protection Commission. And so the_seriously_under-resourced_Irish_DPC added the Microsoft GDPR non- compliance case to an already long list of files concerning the cross-border data processing activities of multiple tech giants which had accumulated on its docket since the GDPR came into force in May 2018. According to the_most_recently_available_reports from May 2020 the Microsoft case is still pending before the Irish Data Protection Commission. The situation in the Netherlands became even hotter for Microsoft with the decision of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security in 2018 to commission a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to be carried out on a range of Microsoft products, including Office 365. “The situation in the Netherlands became even hotter for Microsoft with the decision of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security in 2018 to commission a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to be carried out on a range of Microsoft products, including Office 365.”The DPIA was commissioned because this was a clear-cut case of data_processing_on_a_large_scale_(by_300,000 government_employees) which involved personal data, including data that could be potentially used to track the activities of employees. The aim of the exercise was to assess the extent to which Microsoft’s Office Online and the Mobile Office Apps could be deployed in a GDPR-compliant manner by Dutch government organisations. The scope of the investigation included the five most commonly used Office 365 applications – Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel and Microsoft Teams – in Office Online and the Mobile Office apps, in combination with the use of cloud storage services. The final_report [PDF], which was published_in_November_2018, identified a number of serious data protection risks, in particular the following: • Loss of control over the use of personal data; • Loss of confidentiality; • Inability to exercise rights; • Re-identification of pseudonymised data; • Unlawful (further) processing. It was noted that effective risk mitigation was outside of the users’ control and could only be carried out by Microsoft. “It was noted that effective risk mitigation was outside of the users’ control and could only be carried out by Microsoft.”The investigation found an unacceptable lack of control by users over the processing of personal data by Office 365 mobile applications. Because of this government organisations were advised to create policies for their employees stating that they were not to use mobile Office 365 applications. As we shall see in the next part, the investigation by the Dutch authorities into the GDPR-compliance of Microsoft products prompted the European Data Protection Supervisor to announce its_own_investigation_into_Microsoft_products used_by_EU_institutions. █ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠛⠋⠉⠙⠛⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⡀⠂⠂⠀⡀⠀⠀⠄⠤⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠌⠀⠀⡀⠂⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠢⡀⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢟⢁⣦⡀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠁⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⡻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⢁⣴⣿⡟⠀⠉⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣶⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣄⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠄⡀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠈⠉⠉⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⢀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣷⣦⣀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣦⠀⠀⠀⣠⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢾⣿⡷⢠⣾⣿⣿⣷⣤⡀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠊⠁⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣾⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠀⢨⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣷⡆⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣥⣀⠀⢉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡿⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠋⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠈⣿⣿⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠇⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠁⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢀⡇⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⣼⠏⠉⠉⣿⣿⣿⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠉⠙⣿⠛⣽⣯⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠛⠉⣏⣩⡽⠿⢿⣿⣿⠇⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠶⠿⠯⠭⢥⣤⠀⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣬⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⠇⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⡿⢂⠀⠀⠀⢀⡕⡄⠀⢐⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡹⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡀⠀⢰⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡟⠀⠀⢀⣿⡟⣸⡇⠀⠀⠀⡀⠘⢄⠑⠐⠠⠂⢠⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⠤⣤⣶⣿⠇⠀⢸⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡾⠁⠀⠀⢸⡿⠁⣿⠁⠀⠀⡴⢃⠀⠀⠑⠀⢀⣀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠀⠿⣿⣿⠀⠀⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⠃⠀⠀⠀⣾⣃⣰⣿⣶⣄⠀⠉⡀⠈⠂⢀⠀⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣱⣾⣿⣖⣿⣶⣿⣤⣄⣉⣽⣀⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣆⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣃⣀⣀⣀⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⣰⣦⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1006 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/formal-report-microsoft-violations/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/formal-report-microsoft-violations/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ Microsoft_Breaking_European_Privacy_Laws_While_Distracting_the_Public:_The Evidence_(a_Formal_91-Page_Report)⠀✐ Posted in Deception, Europe, Microsoft, Patents at 6:02 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz “This latest attack marks a return to Microsoft’s longtime practices. And it’s no coincidence that Microsoft’s newfound interest in attacking us comes on the heels of the SolarWinds attack and at a moment when they’ve allowed tens of thousands of their customers — including government agencies in the U.S., NATO allies, banks, nonprofits, telecommunications providers, public utilities, police, fire and rescue units, hospitals and, presumably, news organizations — to be actively hacked via major Microsoft vulnerabilities. Microsoft was warned about the vulnerabilities in their system, knew they were being exploited, and are now doing damage control while their customers scramble to pick up the pieces from what has been dubbed the Great Email Robbery. So maybe it’s not surprising to see them dusting off the old diversionary Scroogled playbook.” –Google’s_Official_Blog_this_week Video_download_link http://techrights.org/videos/microsoft-privacy-nl-report.webm Summary: Today’s video examining the report, which includes hard evidence, of Microsoft’s privacy violations (never mind privacy failures due to security breaches, which have become more than routine) THE NINTH part of the ongoing series has_just_been_published. Cited in this part was this_report [PDF] from/for Dutch authorities. We’ve made a local copy of this report and produced an HTML_version (it’s long!) as we typically do when it comes to historically significant documents. They tend to vanish after less than a decade (not just broken links but lack of copies anywhere except the Internet Archive). It is no secret that Microsoft keeps breaking the privacy laws, it keeps losing control of its data (due to security reasons, not just deliberate neglect and law-breaking), and it always gets away with it, somehow, owing to political clout. Look no further than yesterday’s report about those billionaires grifting_billions_of_dollars (taking away money from taxpayers in the name of “relief”), this time because of their very own failures at security. It’s incredible, isn’t it? It’s just about as ridiculous as that sounds; they’re being rewarded for breaking the law and making bad products at the expense of the public, which shoulders the cost induced by corporate failure (some might call this “communism”). Here’s a quick reminder that Microsoft’s total incompetence is being_excused_using_racist_tactics (based on claims later disproved) and a new article entitled “Microsoft_could_reap_more_than_$193m_in new_US_cyber_spending” by Joseph Menn, Christopher Bing and Raphael Satter. To quote: Microsoft stands to receive nearly a quarter of Covid relief funds destined for US cybersecurity defenders, angering some lawmakers who don’t want to increase funding for a company whose software was recently at the heart of two big hacks. Congress allocated the funds at issue in the Covid relief bill after two enormous cyber attacks leveraged weaknesses in Microsoft products to reach into computer networks at federal and local agencies and tens of thousands of companies. One breach attributed to Russia in December grabbed emails from the Justice Department, Commerce Department and Treasury Department. Notice the attempts to blame nations rather than the company that makes faulty products. 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇NL Report⦈ Either way, the EPO has outsourced to a vendor notorious for security failures. Azure was recently cracked, Microsoft’s own systems and network got breached (they belatedly admitted this), and just about everyone deploying Exchange for E-mail got pale in the face. Trillions of E- mail messages are floating everywhere, waiting for yet-unknown victims of espionage, blackmail and so on. The video discusses what it means for António_Campinos to outsource the EPO’s data, including data associated with EPO staff and stakeholders, to Microsoft. This Microsoft iscandal is a lot worse than Benoît_Battistelli‘s Microsoft scandal (giving preferential treatment for Microsoft, which lobbies the EPO for illegal European_software_patents). Part 10 of the series will be published later today, focusing again on the GDPR. We’ve meanwhile noticed that in Twitter the FFII and Mr. Schrems talk about the series. There are already consequences, which is why the_EPO_was_fast to_issue_face-saving_communications_to_all_staff. █ Image credit: the Dutch_report_on_Microsoft’s_privacy_violations [PDF]. Notice “ActiveX” in there. ⢹⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠻⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠈⣾⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣾ ⢸⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣸⣿ ⢸⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⡏⠭⣉⠙⡙⣙⠋⢛⣻⣙⢙⣛⡛⢛⣛⣟⡛⣛⣛⡛⣛⡙⣉⢛⠛⣛⣋⣛⣛⣛⣛⣋⢛⣋⣙⣛⡛⢋⠉⣙⣛⣙⣟⣛⣛⣻⢛⣋⢛⢋⣛⢛⡛⡛⣋⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣧⣥⣁⣩⣥⣄⣡⣈⣈⣀⣉⣇⣬⣤⣤⣨⣇⣠⣭⣨⣍⣩⣭⣱⣨⣭⣭⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠻⠛⠛⠛⠛⢻⠀⣿⣇⣒⣄⣉⡇⣤⣌⣨⣈⣭⣉⣋⣈⣇⣤⣬⣨⣉⣭⣩⣩⣬⣡⣥⣅⣁⣈⣭⣼⣭⣉⣍⣡⣈⣧⣡⣁⣬⣍⣠⣸⣈⣀⣹⣌⣉⣍⣅⣈⣍⣩⣩⣉⣍⣉⣇⣅⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⠿⠿⠾⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⠿⢧⣶⢶⢶⣶⢶⣶⢿⡿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⡿⠿⡿⡿⠿⠿⠿⣿⡿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣶⡶⡲⡶⠶⡦⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠾⢴⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣷⣶⣾⣴⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣠⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⡗⠲⠶⠖⠔⠶⠶⠶⠲⢶⠾⠿⠿⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⡟⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⡿⠿⠻⠟⠿⠿⠿⠟⠿⠿⠿⡿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣉⣙⣉⣉⡉⣉⡉⣙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡗⠂⠚⠒⠒⠐⠚⠒⣗⠛⠒⠂⠒⠆⠀⠓⠚⠒⠚⡖⠒⢲⢒⠒⠓⠐⢒⠐⠒⢓⠌⠀⠒⠚⠓⠚⠒⠒⠐⠒⡓⢒⠂⠓⠲⠒⠒⠂⠚⠐⠒⢳⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⠛⠛⠟⠛⠟⡛⠛⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣍⣍⣍⣉⣹⣩⣡⣩⣁⣉⣉⣩⣈⣁⣏⣉⣩⣉⣉⣍⣩⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⠿⣿⣿⣿⢿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⡏⢙⡏⠛⠙⡋⠙⠛⠛⠛⢻⠛⠛⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣶⣶⣶⣤⣾⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣙⣛⣛⣋⢙⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣋⣏⣙⣋⡙⣛⣫⣉⣉⣉⢏⣉⣉⠛⣻⣉⣉⣉⣏⡙⣛⣉⣉⣙⣋⣛⣙⣋⣋⣙⣫⣁⣉⣉⣋⡏⣛⣉⣋⣉⡉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠸⠤⠬⠄⠭⠭⠤⠤⠬⠈⠽⠿⠿⠿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⡤⡤⡤⠀⠧⢤⠀⠤⠤⠼⠤⣥⣥⣤⣬⣤⣦⣤⣠⣄⣧⣤⣤⣬⣥⣌⣤⣥⣤⣯⣨⣤⣬⣤⣤⣥⣤⣥⣤⣤⣥⣤⣧⣤⣤⣤⣤⣡⣤⣼⣬⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣴⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢰⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⠀⣿⣿⠛⠛⠹⠛⠻⠛⠛⠋⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1137 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/irc-log-150321/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/irc-log-150321/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ IRC_Proceedings:_Monday,_March_15,_2021⠀✐ Posted in IRC_Logs at 2:53 am by Needs Sunlight 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇H 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇HTML5_logs⦈_ #techrights_log_as_HTML5 #boycottnovell_log_as_HTML5 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇H 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇HTML5_logs⦈_ #boycottnovell-social_log_as_HTML5 #techbytes_log_as_HTML5 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇t 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇text_logs⦈_ #techrights_log_as_text #boycottnovell_log_as_text 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇t 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇text_logs⦈_ #boycottnovell-social_log_as_text #techbytes_log_as_text Enter_the_IRC_channels_now =============================================================================== § IPFS Mirrors⠀➾ CID Description Object type IRC log for  QmRZvfMYP15D2F1mfBWmPJtm3UViX6ELU1euLkcZyqcKkd #boycottnovell 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #boycottnovell  QmWk6bcHonDbM6hAso3Yt4PibAG9gbZausjf4DSPbyBpKJ (full IRC log 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ as plain/ASCII text) IRC log for #boycottnovell-  QmVkAWBzjCDDkxUgVj9XuqbLckaEbaRys99d3V6cbfEQEj social 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #boycottnovell-  Qmd8wnHDQa7KQticDy9STWhRVpVVf61tS7Huuo53XVe9qs social 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ (full IRC log as plain/ASCII text) IRC log for  QmVAMWTRRc3mEa15f8s9oHRpN2xt1fSgvKSAHB8kVNxdkq #techbytes 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #techbytes  QmdNpMX3Gb3fFP12NUeAS3AdqapJXvUwYhECgkMVQyBidV (full IRC log 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ as plain/ASCII text) IRC log for  QmVDQTsr41NiUJiQiUVNGUQd5edBvE4zyusD1K98tj8R6M #techrights 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #techrights  QmeSmkN7riAaCF1QxEz1K9iqroMofWWaQqeex2mJE4tpYu (full IRC log 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ as plain/ASCII text) 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇IPFS logo⦈ § Bulletin for Yesterday⠀➾ Local_copy | CID (IPFS): QmVcJzDwydxRsdrBEoE7ieprrcQgWHRfbAN6LkeYP2GLno ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1251 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/lipstick-on-epo/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/lipstick-on-epo/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ Meme/Teaser:_Lipstick_on_EPO_in_the_‘Cloud’⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Patents at 6:54 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇Clouds Hanging Above the EPO⦈ Summary: The EPO‘s secrets (such as lies about privacy) will come out from beneath the cloud this month and next month Photo: “Clouds_Hanging_Above_the_EPO” ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⡞⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣵⣷⢙⣿⣿⣹⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣼⣿⢿⣡⣿⢠⣽⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣣⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣇⢻⣇⣿⣿⠄⠷⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠁⢹⢿⣿⡼⡽⡀⠍⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢻⣿⣿⣿⡟⢰⣿⣿⣷⣼⣿⡿⣁⠹⣿⣿⡗⡄⢻⣿⡿⡁⢸⣿⠀⣿⡆⢹⣿⠀⣿⣧⡈⢿⣿⡇⣾⡟⣱⣶⣶⡝⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠔⠴⢶⡙⢷⣭⢡⡄⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣑⣛⡂⢻⣿⡇⣿⡌⠿⣱⡇⢸⣿⠀⣭⣥⣾⣿⢸⣿⡇⣿⣦⠹⡇⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⡇⢸⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣟⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣄⣦⣶⣮⡁⣙⣿⡧⠇⠃⠤⠶⢾⡿⠿⠶⢤⢄⣈⡉⣻⣿⣦⣭⣿⣽⣿⣥⣿⣿⣿⣤⣿⣧⣿⣷⣴⣿⣃⣸⣿⣀⣿⣿⣿⣟⣘⣿⣇⣿⣿⣷⣄⣿⣧⣙⠿⢟⣡⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣴⠿⣿⣿⣿⡫⢯⢦⠠⠆⣠⣠⣰⣶⣤⣠⣰⡾⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣯⣺⣿⢸⣿⣯⢿⣏⣿⣿⣏⣿⣿⣯⢿⣿⡿⣿⣿⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠣⢹⣿⣿⣿⠇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡜⡞⢀⠐⣿⣶⠛⠛⢺⣿⣿⠃⠀⢠⣾⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣿⣿⣿⣀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡸⠈⣰⣿⣇⣤⣴⡄⠸⢿⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⡧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠰⡤⣠⣤⣤⣠⡄⣠⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⢰⡿⢕⣿⣿⣿⣾⡟⣴⠀⠀⡽⠋⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠶⠴⢤⡤⢀⣤⢄⣤⣉⣀⡀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⡋⡙⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡿⢿⡟⠛⠛⠛⠇⠘⣢⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢷⡿⡇⡀⢁⠀⠀⠀⢀⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠦⠶⢠⡆⣠⡤⣤⣤⣡⢉⣅⡀⠸⢿⣿⣿⡅⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠃⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠉⠠⠀⠈⠐⡁⠈⠀⠈⣿⣦⡀⣸⠛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠶⠆⠤⠆⣠⠤⡄⣬⢠⣈⡉⠁⠀⠀⠉⠇⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⢿⡏⡏⣿⢽⢹⡏⣽⢹⣏⢯⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠓⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣷⣯⣾⣼⣷⣿⢼⣿⣵⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠟⠉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⠙⠻⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠉⣿⣿⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1296 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/microsoft-privacy-violations/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/microsoft-privacy-violations/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ EDPS_Documents_About_Microsoft’s_Privacy_Violations_and_Much_More_to_Come Regarding_the_EPO’s_Privacy_Scandals⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Law, Microsoft, Patents at 8:43 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇PHP code⦈ Summary: More details or an in-depth look into Microsoft’s privacy violations, which the abusive monopolist has been hoping to distract from by funnelling enforcement resources into other companies FURTHER TO Part_X of the ongoing series, which touches a sensitive subject to be covered well into spring, we’ve decided to produce HTML versions of the respective PDFs from EDPS. First there’s this_press_release [PDF], entitled “EDPS investigates contractual agreements concerning software used by EU institutions” and available as_HTML_here or as_text_here. There’s also the report [PDF], shown as an EDPS_HTML_presentation/slides/pages_here or as_text here. Later today we plan to publish Parts XI-XII, which themselves have some associated documents. “As for part 9-15,” an associate saw the parts explained, “Microsoft has successfully steered the EU’s limited anti-trust resources away from itself and onto Google/Alphabet via its proxies. Now that the EU has begun against Google/Alphabet, it has no time or money to investigate Microsoft ongoing crime.” “Later today we plan to publish Parts XI-XII, which themselves have some associated documents.”We’ll have more than those 15 parts and there are future series on the way as well. “In parts 1-8,” the associate noted, “the ‘audit report’ alluded to would be of great value, but probably does not actually exist.” It’s even worse! Stay tuned… 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇Very private⦈ The EPO is meanwhile clogging up the media with pure fluff. As noted in our latest Daily Links, Juve is producing EPO_puff pieces, joined by some “Establishment”_press_in_Germany and Chinese_media. Some of the comments on this_latest_post_from_AstraZeneca_Kat are also noteworthy. One person (comment) asks: “Should the President of the BoA self-recuse: Who selects the actual members of the EBoA handling the referral? The business distribution scheme seems to be “flexible enough” to select the actual members according to the desired outcome of the referral…” (more of the same here). This is about ViCo oral proceedings, including privacy aspects (violations). Given past_experiences, we ought not expect real answers. Just affirmation of the will of the Office President… Later today we’ll come back to covering the privacy aspects. █ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣶⣿⣟⣿⣷⣼⣿⠃⠀⠀⣀⣤⣦⣿⣿⣿⣿⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣿⣷⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠀⠉⠀⣁⣤⣴⣿⣿⣿⠿⠟⠋⣬⣩⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⡀⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢼⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠟⠛⠁⠀⣠⣤⣴⣿⢻⣿⠿⠟⠋⠁⢀⣠⣴⣿⣏⣿⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣾⣷⣤⣦⣀⣀⣶⣦⣠⣶⣿⣶⡀⠀⠻⠿⠋⠉⠀⢀⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⠀⠁⠀⣠⣴⣾⣾⣿⠘⠛⠁⠉⣤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠃⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠃⠁⢀⣠⣴⣾⣿⣿⡟⠛⠁⠀⣀⣤⣶⡆⣿⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠠⡶ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣅⣠⣴⣦⡄⠀⠹⠿⠿⠉⠉⢀⣀⣴⣾⣿⣿⡿⠟⠃⣤⣄⣠⣶⣿⣿⠟⠛⢁⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⡆⠊⠁⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠋⠁⣶⣀⣶⣿⣿⡿⠛⠉⠀⣶⡄⢻⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠖⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣤⣤⠀⠙⠿⠿⠻⠿⣰⣦⣶⣿⡿⠷⠟⠋⠁⢠⣤⣾⣿⠈⠛⠘⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡄⠠⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡄⠇⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⣛⠁⢀⣤⣴⣿⠹⠟⠃⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢺⡀⡷⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⡠⢤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⡖⠾⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣤⡌⠿⠛⣁⣀⣤⣿⣟⢿⠿⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⡴⡾⠼⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡄⢧⠸⠀⠀⠀⢀⢀⡆⣒⠘⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣾⣿⣿⠿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡾⠄⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣶⠿⠂⠁⠀⠀⢀⢀⣠⠼⠎⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⠿⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⢀⣀⣻⣾⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣴⠶⠏⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⣰⡄⢧⠛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡠⠔⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⡩⠌ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣄⠀⠀⡠⣶⡈⢷⡼⠏⠃⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⡽⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣴⠾⠃⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢠⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠖⣣⡕⡋⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡣⢿⣿⠻⠟⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡀⡤⡾⠟⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣶⠞⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⠖⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠴⠏⠇⣃⠆⠉⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣵⡏⡡⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⢷⡬⠗⠉⠀⠀⠀⢀⡄⠀⣸⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡤⠶⠟⠋⠀⠀⠀⡀⡄⡆⠋⠱⣊⡇⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣠⣀⡀⣤⡖⠾⠚⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣴⣶⠛⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢠⣴⠶⠓⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⡴⣃⡅⢷⠶⠘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣵⢿⣿⡙⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣴⣼⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⡼⠞⠋⠁⠀⠀⢀⠀⠒⣚⣵⠏⠩⠞⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣸⣠⠄⠇⡄⠂⣤⡦⠀⠉⠀⠀⡀⡰⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣠⣶⠿⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⣤⣾⣽⣰⣿⣿⠟⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡗⣯⣾⣼⣿⣿⡘⠀⡀⠀⢠⣤⡴⡿⠓⠋⠀⢀⣴⣾⠿⠋⢀⠀⢀⣀⣴⣾⣦⣿⣿⣽⣿⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡶⠎⣧⣤⣿⡞⠻⠃⢀⣀⣤⣾⡿⣿⣥⣴⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣮⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣾⣾⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠿⣿⠿⢟⡻⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣽⢿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠠⣙⣿⣿⡿⡿⢛⢝⠏⡗⠋⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 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⡾⣟⣯⣿⡿⣟⣿⣿⡿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣾⡿⣿⣯⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣵⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⢿⡿⣯⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣟⡯⣭⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣟⣛⣭⣥⣤ ⣷⣿⣯⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣻⣿⡿⢿⣿⣽⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣟⣿⣭⣿⣺⡯⠓⠈⣈⡿⠿⢿⣛⣯⣽⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣻⣿⣿⣿⢟⣯⣷⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⢿⣟⣿⣷⣿⣿⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣟⣯⣽⣾⣿⣿⡿⢻⣟⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣻⣯⢽⠊⠍⠉⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠋⠀⢀⣐⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢛⣛⣩⣵ ⢿⣻⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣟⣽⣿⣾⣿⡿⣟⣯⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣷⣾⣽⣿⡿⢿⣻⣯⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣛⣯⢿⣶⣽⣿⣿⣯⡌⠀⠀⠉⠉⣱⣾⣏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⠟⣛⣩⣭⣶⡞⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣻⣿⣾⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⢿⣻⣟⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣦⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣽⡿⠻⣿⣿⠇⠠⠹⢿⣻⣭⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠿⡿⠇⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⡿⢿⡛⢫⣉ ⢿⣛⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣯⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣷⣿⠍⠻⣿⡟⠀⠐⠻⡝⠀⡀⢣⠘⢿⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣶⢸⣶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠨⣟⠛⣯⣉⣷⣬⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣟⡟⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣟⣿⡿⣿⣿⣽⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⡿⣟⡻⠽⠿⣾⣿⣿⡏⠀⠛⢛⣇⠆⠀⠀⠰⠂⠰⠃⠀⠀⠀⠆⠈⣶⣾⣷⠆⠀⠀⠸⣷⠿⣼⡛⣥⣀⣠⣤⣅⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢿⣛ ⡿⣿⣿⣽⣷⣿⡿⣿⣻⣽⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⣯⠿⠾⣿⣿⡧⠀⠐⠀⠉⡽⠁⠀⣰⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣁⣠⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣉⢀⣤⣠⣶⣶⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠟⣻⡟⣿⣍⣛⣲⣾⣷⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠈⢹⡃⠠⠀⠀⠀⠇⠀⠈⣁⣴⣶⢨⣤⡀⣠⣿⡿⠯⠀⢀⣀⣲⣤⣾⣶⣿⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣟⣻⣯⣽⣷⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿ ⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣿⣿⣻⣿⡿⠁⠀⠀⠀⢎⠁⠈⠃⠀⢰⣷⣶⣄⣾⡿⢿⣘⣻⣭⣽⣶⣫⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣟⣭⣭⣭⣶⣾⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢟⣛⣯⣯⣱⣶⣾⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣭⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣟⣇⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⡷⠇⠀⣀⣚⣿⡉⣷⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠿⣟⣻⣿⣿⣷⣾⣿⣷⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣟⣻⣯⣽⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣯⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⡿⣂⢈⣍⣸⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣛⣿⣽⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣟⣻⣯⣽⢿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⣟⣛⣿⣭⣽ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣻⣯⢹⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣯⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡿⠿⣿⣻⣿⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣽⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿ ⢿⣛⣽⣭⣷⣾⣿⣿⡿⢿⣞⣿⡟⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣛⣿⣽⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣟⣻⣽⣽⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⠿⣿⣛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢿⣟ ⣿⠿⢿⣛⣮⣭⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣛⣿⣽⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣿⣿⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⢿⣿⣹⣿⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣶⣾⣿⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⣽⢻⣶⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⡿⢿⣿⣿⣯⣽⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣟⣻⣿⣯⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣭⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⣟⣟⣻⣯⣽⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣟⣛⣿⣭⣭⣿⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⠿⣿⣟⣛⣻⣯⣭⣭⣷⣲ ⣟⣛⣯⣯⣷⣶⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣛⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣯⣿⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣻⣿⣯⣭⣽⣿⣶⣾⣯⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠿⣿⣛⣿⣷⣭⣿⣾⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣞⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣧⣿⡛⣿⡿⣭⣽⣿⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⡿⠿⠿⣟ ⣽⣷⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⢿⣿⣛⣿⣯⣭⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣿⣛⣿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢯⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣭⢭⣽⣛⣷⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿ ⣛⣋⣽⣿⣵⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢿⣟⣟⣻⣿⣿⣭⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣟⣻⣿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢺⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⠿⠿⢟⠟⢛⣿⣭⣍⣵⣶⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢹⣛⣟⣛⣟⣛⣛⣫⡭⡭⢬ ⣆⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢿⣟⣟⣛⡻⢯⣭⣭⣽⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢻⠿⣿⡿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣯⣭⣿⣿⣿⣟⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⢻⣷⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1422 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2021/03/16/software-patents-guise-ai/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2021/03/16/software-patents-guise-ai/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ EPO_Promoting_Illegal_Software_Patents_Under_the_Guise_of_NET/Hey_Hi⠀✐ Posted in Deception, Europe, Patents at 10:00 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz Video_download_link http://techrights.org/videos/swpats-hey-hi-epo.webm Summary: More shameless promotion of illegal software patents under the guise of “emerging technologies (NET) and artificial intelligence (AI)”; when will there be a mass revocation of them all? When judges at the EPO finally_regain their_independence? SHORTLY after António_Campinos had joined the EPO the Office bragged about spreading software patents to other continents and patent offices even though those patents aren’t_even_legal_in_Europe. Don’t they see how much of an embarrassment this is to Europe? Even the US, the ‘home’ of such patents (almost 50 years ago), is pushing hard against such patents. Every day in our Daily Links one can find reports about the Federal_Circuit affirming Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) inter partes reviews (IPRs) that squash software patents, citing 35 U.S.C. § 101/Alice (SCOTUS). Our next batch of Daily Links will be no exception. Even the software patents granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) over the past 20 years are being thrown out, sometimes not by courts but an internal tribunal of the Office. It’s therefore safe to say that the EPO became a lot worse than the USPTO (in that particular regard, quality and compliance with patent law). 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇Got so drunk that I started granting patents on 'hey hi'⦈ Last night the EPO published (warning: epo.org link) another mysterious buzzwords salad, this time accompanying “Hey Hi” (AI) with some more fluff. Whether you call it “hey hi” or artificial intelligence (AI), it doesn’t mean very much. Nowadays almost every computer device or algorithm is being called “Hey Hi” or “Smart”; it doesn’t really mean anything anymore. Anything that does some “logic” is now synonymous with “Hey Hi”. To quote the EPO itself: The IP5 NET/AI task force held its second meeting virtually from 3 to 5 March 2021 to discuss the main elements for a comprehensive IP5 NET/AI roadmap. The roadmap will guide the IP5 Offices’ joint endeavours in response to the challenges and opportunities arising from the increasing use of new emerging technologies (NET) and artificial intelligence (AI). The task force was set up in 2019 to coordinate initiatives and develop a roadmap for possible joint projects in the areas of NET and AI. At its first meeting in early 2020, representatives from the IP5 Offices and WIPO developed a scoping document outlining candidate co- operation areas. The IP5 Heads of Office later endorsed this document in July 2020. The video at the top discusses this. WIPO, which itself has its share of violations, is happy to see endless growth in number of patents irrespective of their impact on society. A lot of the “Hey Hi” reports are from WIPO and this hype has come from WIPO/UN as well. Incidentally, hours ago the EPO admitted_a_decrease_in_the_number_of_patent applications_received_(in_spite_of_lowering_the_bar). (warning: epo.org link) Instead, as usual, they only focus on the cherry-picked parts of the data that suit them better: Statistics published today by the European Patent Office (EPO) show that innovation in healthcare drove patenting activity in 2020: Medical technology was the leading field for inventions in terms of volume, while pharmaceuticals and biotechnology were the fastest- growing areas. Despite the pandemic, the overall number of European patent applications filed in 2020 was nearly on a par with the previous year’s, decreasing by 0.7%. The EPO received 180 250 patent applications in total last year, which was slightly below the record level attained in 2019 (181 532). The EPO’s management, which is clueless, wants the public to think that the sole goal is to increase the pace of patent grants. As if a world in pandemic- induced closures would be miraculously be saved by yet more monopolies. Maybe they think people can also eat patents… █ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠤⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠝⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⢻⣿⡄⣾⡟⣿⡆⠛⣿⡟⠃⠀⣾⡟⣿⡇⣾⡟⣿⣧⠀⢸⣿⡟⣿⡆⣿⡟⣿⡇⣿⣿⢸⣿⢸⣿⣼⣿⢸⣿⣧⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⢴⣶⡆⣿⡇⣿⡇⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠙⢿⣷⡄⣿⡇⣿⣿⠀⢸⣿⡇⣿⡇⣿⡿⣿⡇⣿⣿⢸⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣯⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣼⣿⡇⢿⣧⣿⠇⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⢿⣧⣿⡇⢿⣧⣿⡟⠀⢸⣿⣧⣿⠇⣿⡇⣿⡇⢸⣿⣼⡿⢸⣿⢹⣿⢸⣿⡟⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡄⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣷⣦⣄⡀⠀⢹⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⣿⢿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡿⠛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣼⣿⣿⣿⣶⣦⣤⣬⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣷⣾⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣀⣀⡤⠀⠀⠀⠀⢤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣄⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣤⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡋⠉⢐⣂⡤⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣴⣾⣿⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠯⠀⠀⠀⠠⠼⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠐⠀⠈⠐⠠⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⡿⠿⠛⠂⠀⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠚⠚⠒⠂⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠀⠒⠂⠤⢀⣿⣷⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⢀⣠⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢉⡛⢿⣶⣤⣀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣾⠿⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⡚⠐⢿⠇⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠳⢮⣟⣿⣿⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠞⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡤⠤⠤⠤⠄⠀⠀⠤⢤⠤⣤⣤⢤⣤⠀⠀⠐⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠶⠿⢿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣭⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡗⢹⠀⡀⠀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠸⠀⢈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣼⠇⠀⠀⢀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⢟⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠷⣤⣀⣀⣠⡴⠟⡡⠂⠀⠀⠈⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢐⠀⡀⢠⠢⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠤⠔⠊⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢰⡟⠛⢦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡴⠟⢿⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠈⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⢠⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⡀⠠⣤⣄⠀⠀⠀⣿⠀⣰⡏⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠸⣄⠀⠀⠀⣿⣄⣿⡄⠀⠀⢸⡿⣷⡀⠀⢀⣿⣿⡅⠀⠈⣿⡟⠛⢿⣷⠀⢸⣿⠀⠀⣿⠿⣷⣄⠀⣿⠀⣿⡄⠀⢀⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠈⠛⠃⢸⡇⠈⠙⣷⡀⠀⢸⡇⠘⣷⡀⣼⠃⢻⡇⠀⠀⣿⣇⣠⡾⠟⠀⢸⣿⠀⠀⣿⠀⠘⢿⣦⡿⠀⠙⠿⠾⠛⢠⡟⠃⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠷⠀⣼⡇⠀⠹⣿⠏⠀⢸⣿⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⠀⢀⣿⡀⠀⠀⠙⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡞⠁⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠘⠛⠂⠐⠛⠓⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣔⡀⠄⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⢀⡀⠤⣐⣮⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⠟⠉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠟⢿⡷⣶⣤⣤⣀⣀⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⢄⣀⣐⣒⣦⣬⣥⢶⡾⣿⡛⡇⣯⣿⠿⠋⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⠷⣮⣇⣿⡇⣶⢸⠙⠏⡍⢙⢛⡛⢿⡟⣛⢻⢻⣿⣟⢿⢹⢰⡧⣙⣤⣽⠿⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠙⠛⠚⠾⠶⠷⢼⣦⣥⣾⣧⣭⣼⣼⣿⠿⠾⠞⠛⠋⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⢶⣶⠆⣶⢰⣶⢰⣶⡆⠶⣶⠶⠀⣶⡆⠀⣶⢶⡆⢶⣶⠆⣶⣶⡀⣶⣶⣆⢶⣶⠶⣶⡶⢰⣶⣶⡄⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⠀⣿⢿⣿⣾⣿⣧⠀⣿⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⣛⢷⡄⢸⣿⠀⣿⣻⡇⣿⣿⣏⢸⣿⠀⣿⡷⢸⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠸⠿⠀⠿⠸⠿⠿⠛⠿⠀⠿⠀⠀⠿⠇⠀⠻⠾⠃⠸⠿⠸⠿⠹⠇⠿⠻⠿⠘⠿⠀⠿⠷⠺⠿⠿⢃⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⢫⣽⣭⡩⣭⣭⡝⣩⣭⡍⣭⡍⣭⣭⣭⣭⣥⡄⣤⣠⡄⣠⡴⣤⠀⢠⣤⣤⡀⣤⣤⢠⣤⣤⣤⣤⡄⣤⡄⣤⣤⣤⣤⣠⣶⣄⠀⢠⡴⣤⢠⣬⢩⡍⡏⣭⣭⢠⡍⣭⣭⣭⣬⣭⣩⡭⡛⣭⡍⣭⢩⣭⣭⣭⢹⣿ ⣿⣿⢸⣧⣭⣥⣿⢾⡇⣿⢻⡇⣿⣷⣿⠀⣿⡇⣿⡇⣿⣿⡇⣿⣧⣭⠀⢸⣿⡾⢧⣿⣿⡄⢸⡇⢸⣿⠆⣿⣷⣿⠀⣿⠀⠻⣿⣍⠀⢸⡇⣿⣿⣿⣾⡇⣷⣭⣭⢸⡷⣿⢸⣿⠦⠸⣿⢣⡇⣿⣷⣿⢸⣿⣭⣮⣾⣿ ⣿⣿⡸⢧⠿⠯⠿⠸⠇⠿⠻⠷⠿⠹⠿⡀⠿⢇⠿⠇⠿⠹⠇⠻⣧⠿⠀⠸⠿⠀⠸⠿⠻⠇⠸⠇⠸⠿⠦⠿⠸⠿⠀⠿⠀⠻⣿⠿⣠⡸⢧⡿⠻⠿⠿⠇⣛⣿⣷⠸⠇⠿⠼⠿⠾⠁⠿⢸⣇⠿⠇⠿⠸⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⣤⡴⢀⣀⣤⠶⠒⢈⢀⣀⡤⠔⢒⡀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡠⠀⢂⣤⣴⠶⠖⢋⣁⣵⡶⠞⣿⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1576 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ Links_16/3/2021:_GStreamer_1.18.4,_Git_2.31.0,_and_Microsoft_in_Disarray⠀✐ Posted in News_Roundup at 6:20 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GNOME bluefish⦈ § Contents⠀➾ * GNU/Linux o Distributions o Devices/Embedded * Free_Software/Open_Source * Leftovers * § GNU/Linux⠀➾ o § Audiocasts/Shows⠀➾ # ⚓ Destination_Linux_217:_Hack_Snack_with_Bo_Weaver,_SUSE Targeting_CentOS_Defectors?,_&_More⠀⇛ This week on Destination Linux, we’re going to discuss Google’s involvement in open-source with the Summer Of Code and hiring developers to work on the Linux kernel. We are also introducing a new segment to the show with special guest, Bo Weaver joining us to talk Hacking & Security. We’re also discussing SUSE targeting CentOS defectors with their latest change for openSUSE Leap. Later in the show, we’re going to discussing a SIM of the entire universe, which of course, you can play on Linux. Plus we’ve also got our famous tips, tricks and software picks. All of this and so much more this week on Destination Linux. So whether you’re brand new to Linux and open source or a guru of sudo. This is the podcast for you. o § Kernel Space⠀➾ # ⚓ The_linux.dev_mailing-list_service_launches⠀⇛ There is a new mailing-list server running under the auspices of kernel.org that is meant, over time, to address the problems that have been plaguing vger.kernel.org in recent times. # ⚓ Open-source_team_details_the_complexities_in_bringing_Linux to_Apple’s_M1_Macs⠀⇛ The crowdfunding Asahi Linux project has published the first progress report detailing its effort to port Linux to the Apple Silicon platform with the M1 Macs. Apple’s new processor architecture is creating some difficulties… # ⚓ Porting_operating_systems_to_Apple_Silicon_leagues_harder than_migrating_software⠀⇛ In its introduction of Apple Silicon to developers, Apple has provided assistance to developers to port their Intel-compatible apps over to M1. For developers performing more ambitious feats, such as porting Linux over to Apple Silicon, the task is multiple times harder. In a blog post about the Asahi Linux project, the team discusses its findings in trying to set up an alternative boot kernel on Apple Silicon systems. While most of the feature has been implemented, the lack of support for a command that allows the installation of a non-Apple kernel led to an attempt to document the undocumented system. The main hurdle faced was that Apple Silicon boots differently from PCs, and works “more akin to embedded platforms” like Android or iOS devices. There are differences and a “few bespoke mechanisms” in use, though Apple apparently made the boot process “feel closer” to an Intel Mac. # ⚓ Open-Source_Team_Describes_the_Difficulties_to_Port_Linux on_M1_Macs⠀⇛ Apple introduced the M1-powered Macs last year and the machines received a pretty good rating overall. To be exact, the M1 series flaunted enhanced performance and battery life. While the industry is yet to follow Apple’s footsteps. Apart from software support, developers around the world are working to take advantage of the Apple Silicon. The crowdfunding Asahi Linux project published a new progress report that shares details on the complexities of port Linux on M1 Macs. o § Benchmarks⠀➾ # ⚓ Additional_AMD_EPYC_75F3_/_7713_/_7763_Linux_Performance Benchmarks⠀⇛ Complementing today’s AMD EPYC 7003 series review with the initial testing on the EPYC 7F53, 7713, and 7763 processors, here are some additional raw data points in full for those interested in an even more diverse look at the performance. Now that the embargo has lifted on the EPYC 7003 performance data, data is being uploaded to OpenBenchmarking.org as well as enabling the pre- launch testing I’ve been working on. So moving ahead there you will begin to see the AMD EPYC Zen 3 parts populated on the different pages. # ⚓ The_Third_Time_Charm_Of_AMD’s_Milan_Epyc_Processors⠀⇛ With every passing year, as AMD first talked about its plans to re-enter the server processor arena and give Intel some real, much needed, and very direct competition and then delivered again and again on its processor roadmap, it has gotten easier and easier to justify spending at least some of the server CPU budget with Intel’s archrival in the X86 computing arena. And with the launch of the third generation “Milan” Epyc 7003 processors, it is going to get that much easier. This is the X86 server processor that customers no doubt will wish AMD had delivered many, many years ago. But don’t get confused. Things getting easier does not mean easy, and one need look no further than the financial results quarter after quarter of Intel’s Data Center Group to see that the Epyc comeback has not been as easy as the Opteron offensive a decade and a half ago. Enthusiasm for AMD’s X86 server processors has been tempered by a lot of factors, not the least of which being that Intel is a much larger supplier of compute, networking, and storage here in 2021 than it was back in the heyday of the Opterons back in the middle 2000s. As messed up as Intel’s roadmaps and manufacturing might be in the past few years, it is nowhere near as bad as the decision to make Itanium, a chip not really compatible with the Xeon, its 64-bit computing choice for the future, deprecating the Xeon to 32-bit status and 4 GB memory addressing stasis. That decision, coupled with a very fine Opteron processor with multi-core baked into the design, HyperTransport interconnect for processors and memory, integrated memory and I/ O controllers in the system-on-chip, and 64-bit memory and processor extensions for the X86 instruction set ­– things that are absolutely normal in the Epyc and Xeon SP lines today, gave AMD an opening in the datacenter that frankly was not hard to exploit. o § Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ GStreamer:_GStreamer_1.18.4_stable_bug_fix_release⠀⇛ The GStreamer team is pleased to announce another bug fix release in the stable 1.18 release series of your favourite cross-platform multimedia framework! This release only contains bugfixes and important security fixes, and it should be safe to update from 1.18.x. # ⚓ Diego_Escalante_Urrelo:_packpath:_A_command_line_utility_to upload_Signal_stickers_from_a_simple_config_file⠀⇛ I have been using Signal a lot and, besides the privacy features, I have come to really enjoy custom sticker packs. Naturally, this led me to upload and maintain a lot of them. To keep things under control I wrote packpath, a small command line utility to easily upload and update Signal sticker packs from a simple config file. o § Instructionals/Technical⠀➾ # ⚓ [Old] Using_Estonian_e-Residency_card_for_SSH Authentication⠀⇛ A couple of years ago, inspired by this tiny nation’s impressive level of digitization, I applied for my Estonian e-Residency. I even went a step further and established a company with my two friends. In reality, though, doing a digital-only business turned out to be much more difficult, but that’s a different story… Fast forward two years. My card was still collecting dust when inspired by Radosław’s post I decided to give it a second chance. Why not use it for SSH authentication? # ⚓ A_Child_Of_Twenty_Twenty_One⠀⇛ Around a week ago I wrote about how I’d flipped back to WordPress from Jekyll. In that post I mentioned that I’m thinking about also ditching my personally developed theme in favour of WordPress’ latest theme, Twenty Twenty One. As of a few days ago I have set the new theme live, albeit a slightly customised version of Twenty Twenty One. All in all I added around 230 lines of CSS to my child theme, which does things like removing the mahoosive default titles. I also customised the dark theme (thanks for the tip, Ru) and added support for elements like notice boxes and my newsletter subscribe form. Despite all these changes, the theme is still undoubtedly Twenty Twenty One, and the best part is that my site still qualifies for The 512KB Club. # ⚓ How_to_Switch_Between_Different_Backends_in_Haproxy_Using Hatop⠀⇛ Let’s assume the following setup where we have a HAproxy frontend accepting incoming requests for an app in port 80, and then forwarding those requests to the application’s backend servers (nginx web instances). This would be useful, for example when you would like to upgrade the version of nginx servers hosting your web application’s code to the latest version of nginx with zero downtime ! # ⚓ Ubuntu:_how_to_zip_a_folder_[Guide]⠀⇛ Need to zip up a folder on your Ubuntu PC but don’t know how to do it? If so, this guide is for you. Follow along as we go over ways you can zip a folder on Ubuntu! # ⚓ How_To_Install_PHP_8_on_Manjaro_20_–_idroot⠀⇛ In this tutorial, we will show you how to install PHP 8 on Manjaro 20. For those of you who didn’t know, PHP (recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a popular server scripting language known for creating dynamic and interactive Web pages. PHP is a widely-used programming language on the Web. This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you through the step-by- step installation of the PHP 8 on a Manjaro 20 (Nibia). # ⚓ Using_Certbot_Letsencrypt_With_Nginx⠀⇛ # ⚓ How_to_run_the_Anonsurf’s_Anon_mode_|_FOSS_Linux⠀⇛ Due to technological advancements, there have been increased piracy cases calling upon enhanced protection, and that is where Anonsurf comes in. Anonsurf allows routing of online traffic via the aid of the TOR network. It forces connections to the TOR channel and the i2p network. The program has both the graphical interface and the command-line interface. Anonsurf is a ParrotSec script that involved the following developers; Lorenzo Faletra, Lisetta Ferrero, Francesco Bonanno, and Nong Hoang, who is responsible for the maintenance of the script. Anonsurf has enhanced security since anything you do on your computer is untraceable. # ⚓ How_to_Create_New_Kubernetes_User_Accounts⠀⇛ # ⚓ How_to_Install_SoundConverter_4.0.0_in_Ubuntu_20.04,_20.10 |_UbuntuHandbook⠀⇛ SoundConverter is a nifty audio file converting software for Linux Gnome. Here’s how to install the latest version via PPA in Ubuntu. SoundConverter is a simple and fast Gnome sound conversion software with multi-threading support. It reads anything GStreamer can read, and writes to Opus, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, AAC, and MP3 files. It can also be used to automated re-naming filenames and creating folders according to tags, extract the audio from videos. # ⚓ How_to_patch_kde-plasma/plasma-firewall-5.21.2_for_UFW_in Gentoo_Linux_with_OpenRC_|_Fitzcarraldo’s_Blog⠀⇛ Unfortunately plasma-firewall-5.21.2, a new Plasma frontend for firewalld and UFW, has been written only for Linux installations with systemd. However, I use OpenRC and syslog-ng in Gentoo Linux and wanted to try to get plasma-firewall to work on my laptop which uses UFW. I therefore set about patching plasma-firewall-5.21.2. I did not touch the firewalld part of plasma-firewall, as I do not use firewalld (and the plasma-firewall code for firewalld is more complicated). Below is what I did. # ⚓ How_to_Configure_Static_IP_Address_in_Ubuntu⠀⇛ Typically, the default setting of Ubuntu is to obtain an IP address automatically via DHCP server, which is good for desktop system, because it does not require any changes. However, it is always recommended to assign a static IP address to the Ubuntu servers, as the static IP address will be persistent across the reboots. Ubuntu 17.10 and later uses ‘Netplan’ as the default network management tool. Therefore, configuring the IP address on the Ubuntu 20.04 system is different than the older version of Ubuntu. # ⚓ How_to_Create_a_Symbolic_Link⠀⇛ Are you tired of searching stuffed directories for files that you’ll only use for a second? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to give you detailed instructions on how to create symbolic links on your computer. [...] Creating links between files on all Linux systems, including Ubuntu, runs with the “ln” command. To make a symlink in Ubuntu, run the Terminal and invoke this command with the option -s added next to ln. # ⚓ How_to_Delay_Startup_Application_in_Ubuntu_–_Make_Tech Easier⠀⇛ If you’re using some apps every time you log in to your desktop, you can avoid having to run them manually every time by adding them to the startup list. However, if you set too many apps to autostart, your initial login to your desktop will lag significantly. All apps will be fighting for the same resources while trying to get to your desktop. Thankfully, there’s a solution: add a delay to startup applications. In this tutorial, we show how to optimally delay startup applications in Ubuntu. We do this by adding a delay timer so that it doesn’t run automatically after login. Let’s see how you can do it for the apps you use. # ⚓ How_to_Install_and_Configure_Tmux_for_Linux⠀⇛ If you’re constantly switching between terminals and can’t find the right window when needed, consider using a multiplexer. These are programs that allow users to run multiple terminal sessions inside a single window. Tmux is a popular multiplexer that offers a plethora of amazing features. It makes it easy for you to run different applications in separate sessions and switch between them effortlessly. # ⚓ How_to_install_Steam_on_Linux_Mint_20.1⠀⇛ Today we are going to look at how to install Steam on Linux Mint 20.1. As seen in the video, a person downloads Steam, from the official site, link below. Please keep in mind that you shouldn’t install it directly with Gdebi, but first, save it and then install it with Gdebi which is pre-installed in Linux Mint. After opening the package with Gdebi just follow the easy to install installation wizard as seen in the video. # ⚓ How_to_install_npm_and_nodejs_14.x_on_Kali_Linux_–_Linux Shout⠀⇛ Node.js is a scripting language available to install not only on Kali Linux but for Windows, FreeBSD, macOS, and other common platforms. Whereas npm is a JavaScript programming language package manager that comes along with Node.js. With Node.js, the popular JavaScript language has also found its way into server-side programming. Before Node.js, JavaScript was mainly responsible for the frontend and interaction with the visitor. It is quite flexible which means everything from small CLI (command line) tools to complex programs and independent HTTP servers can be developed using Nodejs. In addition, no additional server is required for a Node.js application, as the application also represents the webserver. The fact that the server and client use the same programming language ( JavaScript ) is certainly another advantage for many users, as the entry barrier is correspondingly low, especially for web developers. # ⚓ How_to_resize_active_root_partition_in_Linux⠀⇛ Have you ever had the opportunity to resize an active root partition in Linux? If not, don’t worry, today, we will be discussing it. Disk partitioning is one of the best topics in Linux. In this article, we will teach you how to resize the active root partition in Linux using the ‘GParted’ tool. Let’s assume you only have 30GB disk and you have configured the entire disk as a single partition while installing the Ubuntu operating system. # ⚓ How_to_remove_legacy_communication_services_on_Linux⠀⇛ # ⚓ How_to_block_users_from_setting_up_their_own_cron_jobs_on Linux⠀⇛ o § Games⠀➾ # ⚓ Building_a_Retro_Linux_Gaming_Computer_–_Part_3:_Installing Red_Hat_Linux_9⠀⇛ My first choice was to run Red Hat Linux 9, for the arbitrary reason that it was the final release of the once dominant distribution before Red Hat switched focus to Red Hat Enterprise Linux and backed the community Fedora Project instead for home use. It was also the second Red Hat Linux release to feature the delightful Bluecurve desktop theme for both Gnome and KDE, a personal favourite of my childhood. Although coming out a little late for the period of the machine, 192 MB was still the recommended amount of memory for graphical use, with 128 MB as the minimum. A 400 MHz Pentium II or better CPU was also advised. I knew then that I was cutting things a bit close, but I still found myself disappointed with the outcome; while the system installed and ran, even at idle Red Hat Linux 9 consumed almost all my memory. As expected my Rage 128 Pro Ultra was recognized by the installer and DRI was loaded on first boot. The only manual configuration necessary was setting the “AGPMode” option in the redhat-config-display utility to “2”, as otherwise the card would run at AGP 1x speed. Both glxinfo and glxgears showed no issues, and the included Tux Racer game ran at an acceptable if not breakneck pace. Things seemed to be going to plan. My next test was installing the Loki Software retail release of Quake III Arena, and the result looked to be promising. While I had to copy my system’s libGL.so.1 file to the game’s install directory in order to get it to launch, once accomplished the performance was impressive. Not only did it seem competitive with Windows 98 but Linux appeared to be outclassing it. Frame rates were more consistent, and it lacked some of the graphical artifacts I had seen under Windows. What was not drawing correctly were the marks left on walls or the shadows under the characters, with them showing up even through solid objects. While unsightly it had no effect on the gameplay, and could thankfully be mitigated by setting both the “cg_marks” and “cg_shadows” variables in the engine console to “0” in order to stop them being drawn. All in all an acceptable compromise for a performance boost in what is a demanding game for a Rage 128 Pro. o § Desktop Environments/WMs⠀➾ # § K Desktop Environment/KDE SC/Qt⠀➾ # ⚓ KDE_Plasma_5.21_on_openSUSE_Tumbleweed_|_Better_Then Ever⠀⇛ The Plasma desktop is, by far, the best desktop experience on any operating system I have ever used. Sure, some desktops may have some features that are not on Plasma that are indeed better but all the features in aggregate are just better in Plasma. The memory usage footprint is generally light on resources but has the capability of being heavy on features. Plasma is forward leaning but not so forward leaning it leaves anyone out. It is truly a personal desktop for anyone. I would say that there are some usability features that need to be enhanced to make new users more comfortable but once that initial bump is traversed, it is pretty much smooth sailing. At least, that is my experience with the last few bunches of people that have giving it a whirl and continue to use it today. Plasma on Tumbleweed continues to be a fantastic experience and I may even say, the best Plasma experience on Linux today. Others are good, but something about the speed and reliability I enjoy on Tumbleweed with the theme integration bits already activated makes for an experience that is not rivaled on other distributions. The care that is taken to making sure all the underpinnings are just right for your experience does not go unnoticed. If you are considering trying out the latest Plasma and like to hop around and try new distributions of Linux, give openSUSE Tumbleweed a spin with the KDE Plasma desktop. Not only do you get a great Plasma desktop but you also get the fantastically reliable openSUSE infrastructure keeping you continually rolling forward. # § GNOME Desktop/GTK⠀➾ # ⚓ Marcus_Lundblad:_Maps_and_GNOME_40⠀⇛ As we have just pushed out the release- candidate before the GNOME 40 release next week I thought it would be appropriate with a little summary of the news for 40. o § Distributions⠀➾ # § New Releases⠀➾ # ⚓ LibreELEC_(Matrix)_10.0_BETA1⠀⇛ LibreELEC 10.0 BETA 1 is released! bringing Kodi (Matrix) v19.0 to LibreELEC users. As discussed in the recent Upcoming Changes blog post it, the 10.0 release is a disruptive and limited hardware release. If you have not read the blog post – please do – because we are not releasing images for all hardware. In summary: this is a stable release for Generic (x86_64 PCs). Stable-Beta for Allwinner and Rockchip. Stable “Alpha” for Raspberry Pi 4 as the code is still very new. RPi 2/3 are still in development targetting an LE10.2 release. RPi 0/1 are discontinued. All others hardware is still in development and not in a state for formal releases. # § BSD⠀➾ # ⚓ The_Call_for_Talk_and_presentation_proposals_for EuroBSDCon_2021_is_now_open.⠀⇛ EuroBSDcon is the European technical conference for users and developers of BSD- based systems. The conference will take place September 16-19 2021 in Vienna, Austria. The tutorials will be held on Thursday and Friday to registered participants and the talks are presented to conference attendees on Saturday and Sunday. The Call for Talk and Presentation proposals period will close on May 24th, 2021. Prospective speakers will be notified of acceptance or otherwise by June 2nd, 2021. # ⚓ New_&_Much_Improved_WireGuard_Implementation_Comes_To FreeBSD_–_Phoronix⠀⇛ Towards the end of last year FreeBSD imported a WireGuard kernel module. That initial WireGuard port to FreeBSD was sponsored by firewall company Netgate but the code quality was found to be poor and made without much involvement from upstream WireGuard developers. That FreeBSD WireGuard kernel code is now in the process of being replaced by a much better implementation. WireGuard lead developer Jason Donenfeld explained the situation today in an email, “Sometime ago, a popular firewall vendor tasked a developer with writing a WireGuard implementation for FreeBSD. They didn’t bother reaching out to the project…Then, at some point, whatever code laying around got merged into the FreeBSD tree and the developer tasked with writing it moved on.” # § PCLinuxOS/Mageia/Mandriva/OpenMandriva Family⠀➾ # ⚓ Homebank_updated_to_5.5.1_»_PCLinuxOS⠀⇛ HomeBank is the free software you have always wanted to manage your personal accounts at home. The main concept is to be light, simple and very easy to use. It brings you many features that allows you to analyze your finances in a detailed way instantly and dynamically with powerful report tools based on filtering and graphical charts. # ⚓ Shotcut_video_editor_updated_to_21.02.27_» PCLinuxOS⠀⇛ Shotcut supports many video, audio, and image formats via FFmpeg and screen, webcam, and audio capture. It uses a timeline for non- linear video editing of multiple tracks that may be composed of various file formats. Scrubbing and transport control are assisted by OpenGL GPU-based processing and a number of video and audio filters are available. # ⚓ Librewolf_browser_updated_to_86.0⠀⇛ LibreWolf is designed to minimize data collection and telemetry as much as possible. This is achieved through hundreds of privacy/ security/performance settings and patches. Intrusive integrated addons including updater, crashreporter, and pocket are removed too. LibreWolf is NOT associated with Mozilla or its products. # ⚓ Strawberry_music_player_updated_to_0.9.1⠀⇛ Strawberry is a audio player and music collection organizer. It is a fork of Clementine. The name is inspired by the band Strawbs. # § SUSE/OpenSUSE⠀➾ # ⚓ Cloud_Computing_in_2021:_What_You_Should_Know_about Public,_Private,_Hybrid,_PaaS,_SaaS_and_FaaS [Ed: Oh, wow! What a buzzwords salad!]⠀⇛ Whether you’re focusing on cutting maintenance, electricity and storage costs, increasing reliability or doing your part to reduce climate impact, there are countless reasons organizations are looking to escalate their cloud migration as fast as they can. Cloud computing is probably the most significant driver of digital transformation over the last decade. # ⚓ The_openSUSE_Virtual_Conference_2021_To_Take_Place June_18-20 ⠀⇛ The openSUSE Conference is the annual openSUSE community event that brings people from around the world together to meet and collaborate. The organized talks, workshops, and BoF sessions provide a framework around more casual meet ups and hack sessions. The call for papers for the openSUSE Virtual Conference 2021 is open until May 4. The dates of the conference are scheduled for June 18 – 20, 2021. Registration for the conference has also begun. The registration period is open March 01 – June 20, 2021 # § IBM/Red Hat/Fedora⠀➾ # ⚓ Fedora’s_New_Logo_is_Finally_Unveiled⠀⇛ In a recent Fedora council meeting (which you can watch in the hero area above or via YouTube if you’re reading from an RSS feed or scraper site) Fedora’s Máirín Duffy talks about the new Fedora Logo, its journey, and the timeline for its roll out. Fervent fans of the distro needn’t panic unduly; the new Fedora logo mark and companion logotype are in-keeping with the iconic “Infinity” logo they are familiar with, but with a leaner, cleaner feel. # ⚓ What_to_look_for_in_Fedora_Workstation_34⠀⇛ As we are heading towards April and the release of Fedora Workstation 34 I wanted to post an update on what we are working on for this release and what we are looking at going forward. 2020 was a year where we focused a lot on polishing what we had and getting things past the finish line and Fedora Workstation 34 is going to be the culmination of that effort in many ways. # ⚓ Fedora_Workstation_34_Should_Be_Very_Exciting_With GNOME_40,_PipeWire_Default⠀⇛ Fedora 34 due out in April is shaping up to be a very exciting feature release as usual with this Red Hat sponsored Linux distribution continuing to live on the bleeding-edge of the open-source software ecosystem. Fedora Workstation 34 in particular is heavy on updates and new features, led by the GNOME 40 desktop. Christian Schaller of Red Hat who serves as the Senior Manager for Desktop provided a lengthy write-up going over some of the changes to find with the upcoming Fedora Workstation 34. Among the items we are excited about are the ongoing Wayland improvements/polishing, PipeWire aims to be the default in place of PulseAudio, improving the Flatpak experience, and yes the big GNOME 40 desktop update. # ⚓ Fedora_Linux_34_Will_Enable_Support_for_Haptics Touchpads,_Incremental_Flatpak_App_Updates⠀⇛ We already know that Fedora Linux 34 is one of the most anticipated distribution releases of 2021, and that’s mostly because it will ship with a vanilla, almost untouched GNOME 40 desktop experience on top of some of the newest GNU/Linux technologies, such as Linux kernel 5.11. But, under the hood, where the magic happens, Fedora Linux 34 will include some exciting new changes. One of these is the enablement of support for haptic touchpads, such as those used on Apple MacBooks, but also on other laptops that will be released throughout 2021. # ⚓ An_introduction_to_Ansible_facts_|_Enable_Sysadmin⠀⇛ Ansible facts are data gathered about target nodes (host nodes to be configured) and returned back to controller nodes. Ansible facts are stored in JSON format and are used to make important decisions about tasks based on their statistics. Facts are in an ansible_facts variable, which is managed by Ansible Engine. Ansible facts play a major role in syncing with hosts in accordance with real-time data. # ⚓ The_Zowe_project:_Build_open_source_with_open_source [Ed: IBM is openwashing its proprietary mainframes by outsourcing some bits of code to Microsoft's proprietary software trap, GitHub]⠀⇛ One of the most exciting open source projects for IBM Z is Zowe, which is part of the Linux Foundation’s Open Mainframe Project. Zowe has a unique characteristic that makes it a very important project: It opens up IBM Z and the z/OS operating system to practically any application or tool. In this blog post, I want to bring your attention to how open source is built based on another open source, how open source works as building blocks, and how Zowe is a great example of how you can innovate and solve problems with open source software. # ⚓ Data_and_AI_applications_with_Palantir_for_IBM_Cloud Pak_for_Data [Ed: IBM tells us it's against racism while working for Palantir and Bill Gates tells us he's caring for the environment even though he's the world's biggest polluter. Facts matter no more.]⠀⇛ Palantir for IBM Cloud Pak for Data enables customers to build no/low-code line-of- business applications using data and AI models from IBM Cloud Pak for Data. Ontology managers can define business-oriented data models integrating data services from IBM Cloud Pak for Data. Application builders can use Palantir tools to create line-of-business applications using these data models and can integrate AI models created by data scientists and deployed by ML operators on IBM Cloud Pak for Data. This blog post explains how to create AI-infused apps using Palantir ontology management and app building tools together with the data and AI catalog, projects, and model deployment spaces on IBM Cloud Pak for Data. It also outlines the underlying integration architecture. # ⚓ Build_Smart_on_Kubernetes_World_Tour:_Back_for 2021!⠀⇛ Kubernetes is one of the fastest-growing open source projects in history, and growth is accelerating. Adoption continues to soar among companies that employ them. In fact, more than 1,500 companies use Kubernetes in their production software stacks. As noted in the recent O’Reilly survey, Kubernetes continues to be popular with developers with 65% of respondents preferring skills related to the underlying open source technologies (such as Linux, Kubernetes, or Istio), compared to 36% preferring skills related to a specific cloud platform. # ⚓ Ben_Williams:_Fedora_Linux_33_updated_Live_isos released⠀⇛ The Fedora Respins SIG is pleased to announce the latest release of Updated F33-20210301- Live ISOs, carrying the 5.10.18-200 kernel. This set of updated isos will save considerable amounts of updates after install. ((for new installs.)(New installs of Workstation have about 1.1GB+ of updates savings )). In cooperation with the Fedora i3 Sig, we are including a i3 spin in this release. # § Debian Family⠀➾ # ⚓ New_Debian-Based_Distribution_Arrives_on_the_Market⠀⇛ New Linux distributions pop up almost weekly, so it should come as no surprise that yet another Debian-based platform has hit the market. And like many others, TelOS aims to be a bit different. How? Outside of being touch-screen friendly (using the KDE Plasma 5.20.5 desktop environment), TelOS is ready to serve as your home theater center, thanks to the inclusion of the Kodi open-source media center software. You’ll also find a mixture of KDE and GNOME apps installed, giving you a sort of best-of- both-worlds on the desktop. On the KDE front, you’ll find the standard software included (such as Dolphin, Konsole, Okular, Ark, KTorrent, K3b, Kazam, KWrite, and KDE Connect). As for GNOME, the developers have added the Cheese webcam viewer, Disks disk utility, the Evolution groupware suite, the GNOME on-screen keyboard, the GNOME Clocks app, and the GNOME Sound Recorder. # § Canonical/Ubuntu Family⠀➾ # ⚓ New_Ubuntu_Linux_Kernel_Security_Updates_Address_Six Vulnerabilities,_Patch_Now⠀⇛ The most important flaw patched in this new Ubuntu kernel security update is CVE-2021- 3178, which was discovered in Linux kernel’s NFS implementation and affects the Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS releases. This could allow a remote attacker to bypass NFS access restrictions and traverse to other parts of the filesystem via READDIRPLUS when there’s an NFS export of a subdirectory of a file system. # ⚓ Ubuntu_Touch_OTA-16_Released_with_Support_for_Samsung Galaxy_S3_Neo+,_Many_Improvements⠀⇛ Coming three months after OTA-15, the Ubuntu Touch OTA-16 update is here to enable stable support for the Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo+ (GT- I930I) smartphone, which will now receive regular updates when new OTA (Over-the-Air) releases are made available. Ubuntu Touch OTA-16 also brings a bunch of improvements to Morph Browser, Ubuntu Touch’s default web browser. These include a revamped Downloads system by replacing the previous full-screen Downloads page with an icon in the headerbar that alerts if a download is in progress. # ⚓ Ubuntu_Touch_OTA-16_released_with_improved_browser, video_recording,_Android_app_support_and_more⠀⇛ The latest update to the Ubuntu Touch operating system for smartphones and tablets is here, and it’s a big update, with changes to more than a third of all binary packages in the operating system. With official releases available for 26 different phones and tablets, Ubuntu Touch OTA-16 includes a number of updates to core features of the operating system as well as improvements to specific applications like the Morph web browser. There are also some device-specific improvements coming to some of the more than two dozen phones and tablets that support Ubuntu Touch stable builds. # ⚓ Mint_20:_Better_Than_Ubuntu_and_Microsoft_Windows?⠀⇛ As a long term user of Microsoft Windows, Fedora, Ubuntu and Linux Mint, I have seen some of the more intricate tantrums a Windows or Linux operating system can throw. My first Mint 20 installation was in early April 2020, even before Mint 20 was released. I have had the unique opportunity to compare it with Microsoft Windows and Ubuntu 20 for day-to- day work and use, and have made some interesting discoveries. Read on to find out. # ⚓ Ubuntu_Wiki_Reboot⠀⇛ It’s time to replace the Ubuntu Wiki. In fact it was probably time to replace it a few years ago, but we are where we are. It should be a reliable and useful resource for the Ubuntu community. It’s failing at that. We have failed here. Aside: There are actually multiple wikis in use in the Ubuntu project. The primary one is wiki.ubuntu.com, which has been in use since forever (in Ubuntu terms). It’s the main topic of this post, but the others are certainly in need of some love too. Most pages are meeting records, specifications, design & technical documents or team and personal pages. A lot of the pages are valuable to someone. I don’t have access to data on how often pages are visited, but the RecentChanges page shows how often they’re edited. The wiki contains somewhere around eightysix thousand pages, and some of those get edited on most days. Over the years a few people (including myself) have looked at what it might take to update the wiki. However, time and motivation was lacking, so everything stayed the same. The Wiki is running MoinMoin 1.9.8 (last I checked) with some tweaks. # ⚓ Stable_Release_Updates_on_Xubuntu⠀⇛ From the moment an Ubuntu release (and flavors) reaches Final Freeze until the release is end-of-life (EOL), updates are released following the “stable release update” procedure, or SRU. This process is documented on the Ubuntu Wiki. However, it can be intimidating for new and long-time contributors and also confusing for users. I’d like to explain this process from a Xubuntu perspective. We currently have two packages going through the SRU procedure for Xubuntu 20.04 and 20.10. After you’ve read this article, consider checking them out and helping with verification. [...] While not an exciting topic, I hope this helped to provide some insight into the inner workings of a stable Xubuntu release. Let me know if you have any questions or if I got something wrong. If you’re working on another Ubuntu flavor or derivative, what’s the post- development release process look like for your team? # ⚓ Ubuntu_Weekly_Newsletter_Issue_674⠀⇛ Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 674 for the week of March 7 – 13, 2021. o § Devices/Embedded⠀➾ # ⚓ JingPad_A_11_inch_5G_Linux_tablet_running_JingOS introduced⠀⇛ The JingPad A1 is an 11 inch Linux tablet running the Linux-based operating system aptly named JingOS. The Linux tablet features support for an optional stylus as well as accessories in the form of a detachable keyboard and comes with options to add 4G and 5G connectivity if desired. # ⚓ PinePhone_Beta_Edition_goes_up_for_pre-order_soon⠀⇛ After shipping tens of thousands of PinePhone Community Edition smartphones to enthusiasts, the folks at Pine64 ended the Community Edition program recently. Soon you’ll be able to buy a PinePhone Beta Edition, which will ship with Manjaro Linux and the KDE Plasma user interface pre-installed. It’s called Beta because the software is still a work in progress. But the hardware is pretty much finalized, and after encountering a series of potential delays due to component shortages, Pine64 says the PinePhone Beta Edition will go up for pre- order within the next week, production should begin soon, and they could ship to customers by late April. # ⚓ Pocket_P.C._handheld_Linux_computer_is_getting_a_price hike⠀⇛ The Pocket P.C. is a handheld Linux computer that looks a bit like an old-school pager, but larger. It has a 4.95 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel IPS LCD touchscreen display with a QWERTY keyboard beneath it for thumb-typing. Designed by the folks at Popcorn Computer, the little computer was unveiled in 2019 and it’s on track to ship soon (after a few delays) to customers who have placed pre-orders. If you haven’t done that yet, you’ve got until March 18, 2021 to reserve one for a discounted price $199 and up. After that time, the starting price is expected to go up to $299, which represents a $50 price hike over the $249 list price. According to the company, the price increase is due to the rising cost of components. # ⚓ Monitor_a_UPS_with_a_Raspberry_Pi_Zero_W⠀⇛ After the recent snow apocalypse that swept through Texas followed by widespread power crisis, I realized that my UPS monitoring strategy needed improvement. One had batteries that were near death and my other two had loads that were not well balanced. I have a few CyberPower UPS units and an old APC UPS. Although CyberPower does offer relatively expensive monitoring cards that puts the UPS on the local network, none of them worked with my 1350/ 1500VA units. However, all of them do have USB serial connectivity and I wondered how I could monitor them more effectively. # ⚓ Why_Librem_Tunnel_is_Leaving_iOS⠀⇛ When we launched Librem One almost two years ago, the goal was to provide a convenient and privacy- respecting suite of services running on open platforms as an alternative to Big Tech platforms. The service launched with Librem Chat, Librem Social, Librem Mail, and Librem Tunnel. We feel everyone deserves privacy and we are not a fan of vendor lock-in, so when we launched, we provided free software Librem One applications for Android and iOS so customers on those platforms could join the party. Recently we’ve been forced to remove Librem Tunnel from iOS due to their unfair policies and in this post we’ll explain why. # ⚓ How_not_to_code:_a_guide_to_concise_programming⠀⇛ # ⚓ Make_your_intercom_smarter_with_an_MQTT_backpack⠀⇛ My intercom is now much smarter! Doorbell notifications make their way to my various devices via MQTT, and I can conveniently open the door from any device, as opposed to rushing to the intercom unit in the hallway. Compared to the previous proof-of-concepts and development installations, I feel more confident in the current solution because it re-uses the intercom unit for the nitty-gritty SCS bus communication details. The overall strategy should be widely applicable regardless of the specific intercom vendor/unit you have. Be sure to buy your own unit (don’t solder into your landlord’s intercom unit!) and test in a separate lab setup first, of course! # § Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ Android_11_begins_rolling_out_for_Moto_G8_and_G8 Power_–_9to5Google⠀⇛ # ⚓ Chromebooks_may_get_a_solution_for_Android_apps_that don’t_play_well_on_big_screens⠀⇛ # ⚓ Best_Android_app_deals_of_the_day:_Volt,_Galaxy Trader,_more_–_9to5Toys⠀⇛ # ⚓ Deals:_TCL_10_Pro_Smartphone_$315,_Anker_Android accessories_from_$11,_more_–_9to5Google⠀⇛ # ⚓ Google_Earth_May_Soon_Add_Time_Machine_Feature_To_The Android_App⠀⇛ # ⚓ Visible_now_supports_5G_on_Android_for_Galaxy_S20, Pixel_5_–_9to5Google⠀⇛ # ⚓ How_to_find_your_iPhone,_Samsung_or_Android’s_IMEI number⠀⇛ o § Free, Libre, and Open Source Software⠀➾ # § Web Browsers⠀➾ # § Mozilla⠀➾ # ⚓ Mike_Taylor:_Slack_is_optimized_for_Firefox version_520⠀⇛ Last week my pal Karl sent me a link to web-bug 67866: which has the cool title “menu buttons don’t work in Firefox version 100”. It turns out that Mozilla’s Chris Peterson has been surfing the web with a spoofed UA string reporting version 100 to see what happens (because he knows the web can be a hot mess, and that history is bound to repeat itself). # ⚓ How_to_replace_onCommit,_onActive,_and onDispose_in_Jetpack_Compose⠀⇛ If you’re looking at some Jetpack Compose code or tutorials written last year, you might see the use of onCommit, onActive, and onDispose. However, these functions are no longer present in Android’s developer documentation. They were deprecated in version 1.0.0-alpha11 in favor of SideEffect and DisposableEffect. Here’s how to use those new functions and update your code. # ⚓ How_one_business_founder_is_brewing_new_ideas for_her_future_after_a_rough_2020⠀⇛ After years of brewing beer at home and honing her craft, Briana Brake turned her passion into a profession by starting Spaceway Brewing Company in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. She was steadily building a following, and things were looking up for 2020, with opportunities bubbling on the horizon when COVID-19 hit. The pandemic set Brake back a few steps, but her ambition and focus remain steady. Drawing inspiration from Afrofuturism, Brake has a vision for the future, the role she plays in it and those she wants to invite into the craft brewing industry. # § Programming/Development⠀➾ # ⚓ Git_v2.31.0⠀⇛ The latest feature release Git v2.31.0 is now available at the usual places. It is comprised of 679 non- merge commits since v2.30.0, contributed by 85 people, 23 of which are new faces [*]. The tarballs are found at: https://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/ The following public repositories all have a copy of the 'v2.31.0' tag and the 'master' branch that the tag points at... # ⚓ Git_2.31_Released_With_Moving_More_Of_The_Bisecting Code_To_C⠀⇛ Git 2.31 is out today as the newest version of this distributed revision control system. Git 2.31 isn’t the most exciting update in recent times but some of the highlights to this new release include: - Continuing to rewrite more of the “git bisect” sub-command in C code. This ultimately should help in faster Git bisect operations when the transition is complete. # ⚓ Getting_started_With_Git_–_A_Simple_Beginner’s Guide⠀⇛ I’ve been using Git for around a year now and over the course of that year, it has become a crucial part of my workflow. But getting started with Git is difficult – there are lots of getting started guides out there, but I’ve found many of them to be too verbose for a beginner. So I decided to write a simple getting started with Git guide that covers just enough for you to get started and no more. Let’s get going, shall we? # ⚓ What_is_Trunk_Based_Development?_A_Different_Approach to_the_Software_Development_Lifecycle⠀⇛ The Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is different at every company. The version control system used, peer review process, code review process, design review process, how they do CI, automated testing, manual testing, and so on, varies greatly depending on where you work. How a company plans, writes, builds, reviews, deploys, and releases software is optimized for their particular use-case, all with their own strengths and drawbacks in mind. I started reading about how different big tech companies run their Software Development Lifecycles (SDLC) and heard the term Trunk Based Development a few times. This is a practice Google follows and I was curious about how it’s different than the way most other companies develop software. # ⚓ Exploring_my_doorbell⠀⇛ I’ve talked about my doorbell before, but started looking at it again this week because sometimes it simply doesn’t send notifications to my Home Assistant setup – the push notifications appear on my phone, but the doorbell simply doesn’t trigger the HTTP callback it’s meant to[1]. This is obviously suboptimal, but it’s also tricky to debug a device when you have no access to it. Normally I’d just head straight in with a screwdriver, but the doorbell is shared with the other units in this building and it seemed a little anti-social to interfere with a shared resource. So I bought some broken units from ebay and pulled one of them apart. There’s several boards inside, but one of them had a conveniently empty connector at the top with “TX”, “RX” and “GND” labelled. Sticking a USB-serial converter on this gave me output from U-Boot, and then kernel output. Confirmation that my doorbell runs Linux, but unfortunately it didn’t give me a shell prompt. My next approach would often me to just dump the flash and look for vulnerabilities that way, but this device uses TSOP-48 packaged NAND flash rather than the more convenient SPI NOR flash that I already have adapters to access. Dumping this sort of NAND isn’t terribly hard, but the easiest way to do it involves desoldering it from the board and plugging it into something like a Flashcat USB adapter, and my soldering’s not good enough to put it back on the board afterwards. So I wanted another approach. [...] But this is on the interface that’s exposed to the cloud client, so this didn’t appear immediately useful – and, indeed, trying to hit the same CGI binary over the local network gave me a 401 unauthorized error. There’s a local API spec for these doorbells, but they all refer to scripts in the bha-api namespace, and this script was in the plain cgi-bin namespace. But then I noticed that the bha-api namespace didn’t actually exist in the filesystem – instead, lighttpd’s mod_alias was configured to rewrite requests to bha-api through to files in cgi-bin. And by using the documented API to get a session token, I could call editcgi.cgi to read and write arbitrary files on the doorbell. Which means I can drop an extra script in /etc/ rc.d/rc3.d and get a shell on my doorbell. # ⚓ How_to_Build_a_Weather_Application_with_React_and React_Hooks⠀⇛ React is a super-awesome front-end library that you can use to build user interfaces. One of the best things about React is that the components we create are encapsulated. In other words, they can’t be seen. Let’s learn more about how all this works by building a weather application using React. # ⚓ How_to_Build_an_Accordion_Menu_in_React_from_Scratch –_No_External_Libraries_Required⠀⇛ There are many ways to use accordion menus, like displaying a list of FAQs, showing various menus and submenus, displaying the locations of a particular company, and so on. In this article, we’ll see how to build an accordion menu in React completely from scratch, step-by-step, without using any external libraries. We will be using React Hooks syntax for building this application in React. So if you’re new to React Hooks, check out my Introduction to React Hooks article to learn the basics of Hooks. # § Perl/Raku⠀➾ # ⚓ Rakudo_Weekly_News:_2021.11_Two_Year_Itch⠀⇛ This week saw the return of not one, but two long time contributors with an extended blog post after a 2 year hiatus: one of them technical, the other more philosophical. It’s great to see these types of blog posts happen again! Yours truly is happy that it didn’t turn out to be a Seven Year Itch! # ⚓ Dancer2_0.301000_Released⠀⇛ The big thing worth pointing out is App::Cmd, which is now not a requirement of Dancer2. A new version of App::Cmd was released with a minimum version requirement of Perl 5.20. We aim to support Dancer2 back to Perl 5.10, which was no longer possible with the current App::Cmd. We had several options to consider in moving forward, and the one we chose was this: If you want to use the Dancer2 CLI, you musy explicitly install App::Cmd. If you have previously installed Dancer2, all is well. If this is a new install and you are on a Perl older than 5.20, you will not be able to use the CLI (dancer2 gen) until you can upgrade your version of Perl, or you can install a version of App::Cmd version 0.331 or older (generally, cpanm App:: Cmd@0.331 will do here). On Perl 5.20 or newer, install App::Cmd if you want to use the CLI and you’re golden. * § Leftovers⠀➾ o ⚓ Making_Mandalorian_Beskar_plus_Giveaway_for_Subscribers⠀⇛ Beskar for Charity: For a $1000 dollar donation to Second Harvest, I will make a Mandalorian Beskar ingot on demand. o § Health/Nutrition⠀➾ # ⚓ Mexico’s_Imminent_Marijuana_Legalization_Law_Leaves_US Lawmakers_Holding_the_Joint⠀⇛ For years now, dozens of pro-marijuana activists have gathered in front of Mexico’s Congressional building on Reforma Avenue in the largest city in the Americas to spark up and tacitly remind lawmakers of a landmark 2012 ruling by the country’s Supreme Court, that declared a ban on recreational marijuana to be unconstitutional. # ⚓ Western_Media_Blitz_Aimed_at_Russia’s_Sputnik_V_Vaccine_May Already_Be_Costing_Lives⠀⇛ new report from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) boasts that, throughout 2020, it worked with other U.S. government agencies to combat the “malign influence” of Russia, Cuba and Venezuela in the Americas. The two examples it cites are “persuading Brazil to reject the Russian COVID-19 vaccine” and pushing Panama to turn down Cuba’s offer to send doctors to fight the virus. o § Integrity/Availability⠀➾ # § Proprietary⠀➾ # ⚓ Ransomware_attack_on_Pimpri_Chinchwad_Smart_City servers_managed_by_Tech_Mahindra [iophk: Windows TCO]⠀⇛ India is the second most impacted by cyberattacks in the Asia Pacific region after Japan, according to a recent study by IBM. About 40% of these were ransomware attacks. # ⚓ Attacks_on_firms_using_Microsoft_email_servers tripled_in_72_hrs [iophk: Windows TCO]⠀⇛ Unaware of the full magnitude of these findings, Microsoft was prompted to further investigate their Exchange server. The investigation uncovered five more critical vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities allow an attacker to read emails from an Exchange server without authentication or accessing an individual’s email account. # ⚓ Microsoft_365_services_take_a_hit_globally_after authentication_update [iophk: Windows TCO]⠀⇛ In a tweet, the Redmond-based software giant said: “We’re investigating an issue for access to multiple M365 services. Please visit the admin centre post M0244568 for more information. We’ll provide additional information here as it becomes available. # ⚓ GitHub_employee_fired_for_saying_‘Nazi’_in_Slack declines_to_take_his_job_back⠀⇛ GitHub fired the employee two days after he wrote “stay safe homies, Nazis are about” to colleagues in Slack on January 6th, as first reported by Business Insider. Approximately 200 of the company’s 1,700 employees signed an open letter asking the company for an explanation, and employees began using the word “Nazi” in Slack to describe the Capitol [insurrectionists]. # ⚓ Microsoft_could_reap_more_than_$193m_in_new_US_cyber spending⠀⇛ Microsoft stands to receive nearly a quarter of Covid relief funds destined for US cybersecurity defenders, angering some lawmakers who don’t want to increase funding for a company whose software was recently at the heart of two big hacks. Congress allocated the funds at issue in the Covid relief bill after two enormous cyber attacks leveraged weaknesses in Microsoft products to reach into computer networks at federal and local agencies and tens of thousands of companies. One breach attributed to Russia in December grabbed emails from the Justice Department, Commerce Department and Treasury Department. # ⚓ Microsoft_customers_locked_out_of_Teams,_Office, Xbox,_Dynamics_–_and_Azure_Active_Directory_breakdown blamed_•_The_Register⠀⇛ # § Security⠀➾ # ⚓ Security_updates_for_Monday⠀⇛ Security updates have been issued by Debian (ca-certificates, flatpak, golang-1.7, golang-1.8, mupdf, pygments, and tiff), Fedora (containerd, golang-github-containerd- cri, mingw-gdk-pixbuf, mingw-glib2, mingw-jasper, mingw-python-jinja2, mingw-python-pillow, mingw-python3, python-django, python-pillow, and python2-pillow), Mageia (git, mediainfo, netty, python-django, and quartz), openSUSE (crmsh, git, glib2, kernel-firmware, openldap2, stunnel, and wpa_supplicant), Oracle (qemu), Red Hat (openvswitch2.11, openvswitch2.13, pki-core, rh-nodejs10-nodejs, rh- nodejs12-nodejs, rh-nodejs14-nodejs, and wpa_supplicant), Slackware (kernel), SUSE (apache2, crmsh, glib2, s390-tools, and slurm_20_11 and pdsh), and Ubuntu (python2.7, python3.7, python3.8). # ⚓ Old_Linux_storage_bugs,_new_security_patches⠀⇛ You may not have used SCSI this decade, but the old storage interface software is still in Linux and security holes have been found, and fixed, within it. # ⚓ Xen_Project_is_now_a_CVE_Numbering_Authority_ (CNA)_–_Xen_Project⠀⇛ The Common Vulnerability and Exposures (CVE) Program’s mission is to identify, define, and catalog publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities. CVE numbers (assigned when vulnerabilities are added to the CVE List) enable two or more people or tools to refer to a vulnerability and know they are talking about the same thing, resulting in significant time and cost savings. Many organizations now require vendors to supply CVE numbers when providing hotfixes or other updates. The XenProject Security Team has been including CVE numbers with publicly disclosed vulnerabilities for many years now. Until now, this has involved submitting each of our Xen Security Advisories (XSAs) to Mitre as they become public, waiting for them to issue us CVEs, and then re-sending the advisories with CVE numbers attached. For the last several years, this has been a very manual process that involves an engineer translating our advisory into a webform (which has captchas to prevent any automation). During this time, the demand for advisories to contain CVEs as soon as possible has grown. # § Privacy/Surveillance⠀➾ # ⚓ Facebook_to_label_all_posts_that_discuss coronavirus_vaccines⠀⇛ Facebook will initially add labels with information from the World Health Organization to posts that discuss the safety of vaccines, Facebook said in a blog post. The labels will state that vaccines go through testing for safety and efficacy before they are approved. The social media giant said it will then roll out labels in the coming weeks for more general posts about the vaccines that will point users to information about them, and plans to add additional targeted labels with subtopics about the inoculations. o § Defence/Aggression⠀➾ # ⚓ Denmark_Bans_Foreign_Funding_of_Mosques⠀⇛ The Danish Parliament has approved a new law that bans foreign governments from financing mosques in Denmark. The measure is aimed at preventing Muslim countries, particularly Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, from promoting Islamic extremism in Danish mosques and prayer facilities. Denmark joins a growing list of European countries — including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland — which have taken varying degrees of action to prevent foreign governments from financing the construction and upkeep of mosques on their territories. # ⚓ Sharia_Alert:_Two_More_French_Teachers_Need_Police Protection_After_Accusations_Of_Insulting_Islam_(Video)⠀⇛ Two University Professors at the Grenoble Institute of Political Studies (IEP) in eastern France have been placed under 24-hour police protection after being smeared as “Islamophobes” and “fascists.” The teachers’ lives are under threat after an Islamo- leftist student group, National Union of Students of France (UNEF), led a dangerous campaign against the professors for simply trying to question the concept of “Islamophobia”. Despite the danger the professors are facing, the radical student union continues to incite violence towards them and is lobbying the school to have them sanctioned. o § Environment⠀➾ # ⚓ Haaland_Confirmed_as_Interior_Secretary,_1st_Native American_Cabinet_Head⠀⇛ Democrats and tribal groups hailed Haaland’s confirmation as historic, saying her selection means that Indigenous people — who lived in North America before the United States was created — will for the first time see a Native American lead the powerful department where decisions on relations with the nearly 600 federally recognized tribes are made. Interior also oversees a host of other issues, including energy development on public lands and waters, national parks and endangered species. # ⚓ Senate_confirms_Haaland_to_lead_Interior⠀⇛ Biden has said that he will not ban fracking and does not support the Green New Deal. # § Energy⠀➾ # ⚓ India_will_reportedly_introduce_bill_to_make_owning cryptocurrency_illegal⠀⇛ The Indian government outlined its plans in January, when it published an agenda for the upcoming legislative session. That agenda included banning “all private cryptocurrencies” in India, with some exceptions to promote the general use of blockchain technology. The goal is to roll out an official government-issued digital currency while outlawing private alternatives like Bitcoin — which reached a record high earlier this month, trading at $59,755. # ⚓ Colorado’s_legal_cannabis_farms_emit_more_carbon_than its_coal_mines⠀⇛ They found that emissions varied widely by state, from 2.3 to 5.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per kilogram of dried flower produced. In Colorado, the emissions add up to around 2.6 megatonnes of CO2e, which is more than that from the state’s coal mining at 1.8 megatonnes of CO2e. “The emissions that come from growing 1 ounce, depending on where it’s grown in the US, is about the same as burning 7 to 16 gallons of gasoline,” says Summers. Most US cannabis is grown indoors, as some states don’t allow outdoor growing and the crops are also at risk of theft. This means that the majority of cannabis production emissions come from climate-control systems and high-powered lights that take the place of the sun. # § Wildlife/Nature⠀➾ # ⚓ Line_3:_Stopping_the_Next_Big_Climate_Threat_Crossing the_U.S.-Canada_Border⠀⇛ o § Finance⠀➾ # ⚓ Stripe_Is_Most_Valuable_U.S._Start-Up,_Worth_$95_Billion: Live_Updates⠀⇛ The payments company Stripe is worth $95 billion after a new round of funding, making it the most valuable start-up in the United States. The San Francisco and Dublin-based company said on Sunday that it had raised $600 million in new funding from investors including Sequoia Capital, Fidelity Management and Ireland’s National Treasury Management Agency. The investment nearly triples Stripe’s last valuation of $35 billion. o § AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics⠀➾ # ⚓ Danish_employers_face_fines_in_connection_with_Swedish employees_working_at_home⠀⇛ The timing of a new law requiring many homebound Swedish-based employees of Danish companies to pay tax in the country of their residence, not their employer, could not be more unfortunate, reports News Øresund. The law, which came into force on January 1, requires Swedes who spend over half of their working week at home to pay tax in Sweden. According to Christin Hjortsberg from Øresunddirekt, the law was not formulated with the effect of the pandemic in mind. # ⚓ Our_ongoing_commitment_to_supporting_journalism⠀⇛ We also believe that this important debate should be about the substance of the issue, and not derailed by naked corporate opportunism … which brings us to Microsoft’s sudden interest in this discussion. We respect Microsoft’s success and we compete hard with them in cloud computing, search, productivity apps, video conferencing, email and many other areas. Unfortunately, as competition in these areas intensifies, they are reverting to their familiar playbook of attacking rivals and lobbying for regulations that benefit their own interests. They are now making self-serving claims and are even willing to break the way the open web works in an effort to undercut a rival. And their claims about our business and how we work with news publishers are just plain wrong. This latest attack marks a return to Microsoft’s longtime practices. And it’s no coincidence that Microsoft’s newfound interest in attacking us comes on the heels of the SolarWinds attack and at a moment when they’ve allowed tens of thousands of their customers — including government agencies in the U.S., NATO allies, banks, nonprofits, telecommunications providers, public utilities, police, fire and rescue units, hospitals and, presumably, news organizations — to be actively hacked via major Microsoft vulnerabilities. Microsoft was warned about the vulnerabilities in their system, knew they were being exploited, and are now doing damage control while their customers scramble to pick up the pieces from what has been dubbed the Great Email Robbery. So maybe it’s not surprising to see them dusting off the old diversionary Scroogled playbook. o § Censorship/Free Speech⠀➾ # ⚓ Privacy_Talks_|_Interview_with_Ruth_Smeeth,_CEO_of_Index_on Censorship⠀⇛ This interview first aired on September 11, 2020. # ⚓ Xi_Jinping_Warns_Against_Tech_Excess_in_Sign_Crackdown_Will Widen⠀⇛ President Xi Jinping on Monday chaired a meeting of the communist party’s top financial advisory and coordination committee, ordering regulators to step up oversight of internet companies, crack down on monopolies, promote fair competition and prevent the disorderly expansion of capital, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Internet companies need to enhance data security and financial activities need to come under regulatory supervision, CCTV also reported. The unusually strongly worded comments from Xi and his lieutenants suggest Beijing is preparing to amplify a campaign to curb the influence of its largest and most powerful private corporations, which has so far centered mainly on Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and its affiliate Ant Group Co. The term platform economies could apply to a plethora of mobile and internet giants that offer services to hundreds of millions, from ride- hailing behemoth Didi Chuxing to food delivery giant Meituan and e-commerce leaders like JD.com Inc. and Pinduoduo Inc. # ⚓ Vimeo’s_Section_230_Win_in_Pastor’s_Discrimination_Suit Affirmed_by_Appeals_Court⠀⇛ U.S. District Judge Stewart D. Aaron in January dismissed the suit, finding Section 230 gave Vimeo immunity from such a suit because it restricted the content in good faith. On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit agreed and affirmed the decision. While there’s been heated public debate about the fairness of protections given to [Internet] service providers sunder Section 230, amid allegations that social media sites selectively police content posted by users, the Second Circuit says this particular situation is clear. # ⚓ Strange_Twitter_bug_bans_users_for_mentioning_‘Memphis’⠀⇛ Several users shared screenshots showing messages from Twitter saying their account was being limited for violating the platform’s rules, after they had tweeted a message which included the word “Memphis.” # ⚓ After_short_consultation,_panel_gives_new_Online_Safety Bill_green_light⠀⇛ A Senate panel has recommended that Australia’s new Online Safety Bill be passed, less than three weeks after it began to examine the bill in-committee and after just one public hearing. # ⚓ Unemployed_man_in_KL_fined_RM10,000_for_insulting_Islam_on Facebook⠀⇛ The Sessions Court here today fined an unemployed man RM10,000 on two counts of insulting Islam through postings on his Facebook. # ⚓ Facebook_strikes_News_Corp_deal_to_license_news_from Australian_media_outlets⠀⇛ In a predictable turn of events, Facebook received its desired concessions, the largest of which involved negating the forced arbitration portion of the bill that Silicon Valley reviled if prior commercial agreements were struck, and the company restored the ability to share news. Australia then passed the law and everyone more or less came out unscathed. Yet part of Facebook’s initial opposition to the law was that it gave the most powerful publishers too much negotiating power, and News Corp is far and away the largest and most pervasive media conglomerate in Australia. # ⚓ Facebook_to_pay_News_Corp_for_content_in_Australia⠀⇛ News Corp Australia controls about 70% of newspaper circulation in Australia with mastheads including The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and The Herald Sun. It also owns news.com.au. It also owns the Fox News-modelled conservative TV network Sky News Australia, which has grown to become the most-shared Australian news brand on Facebook. News Corp already has a different deal with Facebook for its US media titles. It involves the platform paying for stories to include in its Facebook News tab – a product not available in Australia. # ⚓ News_Corporation_strikes_three-year_Facebook_deal_in Australia⠀⇛ In a statement issued from the headquarters of its American division, the company said the deal would cover News Corporation Australia. A report in a Nine newspaper says Nine Entertainment has signed a letter of intent with Facebook, but no details of any deal have been provided. Included in the deal are The Australian, news.com.au, The Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun and The Courier-Mail, plus regional and community publications. The company added that Sky News Australia had also reached a new agreement with Facebook, building on an existing agreement. # ⚓ Facebook_Forges_Multiyear_Deal_With_News_Corp._in Australia⠀⇛ Facebook Inc. reached a multiyear deal with News Corp. in Australia, agreeing to pay Rupert Murdoch’s publishing arm for access to additional stories. The agreement resolves a dispute in the country between publishers and tech giants over payments for news articles. The deal includes content from News Corp.’s national newspaper, The Australian, as well as the Daily Telegraph in New South Wales, the Herald Sun in Victoria and the Courier-Mail in Queensland, the publishing company said in a statement Monday. Sky News Australia also reached a parallel accord with Facebook. # ⚓ Why_the_[Internet]_has_not_freed_China⠀⇛ Party bosses spent the next 20 years proving that, with enough nails, the [Internet] can be hammered into submission. It has been a slog, involving armies of censors, secret police and propaganda officials. Internet firms must employ moderators in their tens of thousands, paid to spot and delete banned ideas and images within seconds. Mr Clinton was not wholly mistaken. The state is less present in many ordinary Chinese lives than before. In some sectors, officials have scrambled to maintain their near-monopoly as providers of approved information. In the news industry, party chiefs have poured resources into staid official news agencies, such as the People’s Daily, encouraging them to create livelier subsidiaries to compete with more commercial outlets. Private citizens occasionally dare to report news on their own initiative, and question official accounts of events. For this they are routinely reprimanded, sacked from jobs, detained or jailed. # ⚓ Britain’s_Academic_Free_Speech_Bill⠀⇛ The British Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, recently set out proposals to strengthen free speech and academic freedom at universities in England. These include: appointing an Academic Freedom Champion with a remit to champion free speech and investigate alleged breaches thereof; stipulating that universities will have to “actively promote” freedom of speech on campus; and introducing a tort that will allow individuals to seek redress for breaches of their rights to free speech and academic freedom. The announcement sparked a lively debate in the British press and on social media, with some commentators welcoming the proposed changes, and others arguing that they are unnecessary and/or actively harmful. As I see it, this debate can be broken down into two key questions. Are free speech and academic freedom under threat at English universities? And if so, are the new proposals worth supporting? In this essay, I will argue that the answer to the first question is an unequivocal “yes,” and the answer to the second question is a qualified “yes.” # ⚓ China_Signal_Users_Report_Difficulty_Accessing_Messaging App⠀⇛ Signal, an encrypted messaging app that competes with the likes of Facebook Inc.’s WhatsApp, appears to have been blocked in China, the latest move by Beijing to crack down on social media platforms. From Monday night, Signal users reported difficulties using the app in China without the help of a virtual private network, or VPN, which allows users to mask their location and access banned foreign communication services like Gmail and Twitter. Previously, no such software was needed to access Signal. o § Freedom of Information/Freedom of the Press⠀➾ # ⚓ Mature_democracy_like_India_must_accept_divergent,_critical views_with_equanimity_and_dignity,_writes_Lt-Gen_Bhopinder Singh⠀⇛ Even international journals like The Washington Post, The New York Times, Guardian, Economist, Time, Foreign Affairs or media houses like BBC, Al Jazeera or CNN, are routinely shrugged off as harbouring ‘anti-India’ sentiments. That the same media houses are at the forefront of forcefully questioning, challenging and holding their own resident or regional governments to account, is of little consequence. In an expansive sweep of logic, these corporate houses can be creatively jeered as ‘Left-leaning’ with ‘champagne socialists’ — but when the do report a positive piece, the same is proudly presented as an affirmation of ‘India Shining’. The casualty, as always, is balance. o § Civil Rights/Policing⠀➾ # ⚓ BREAKING:_Christian_leadership_drags_Nigerian_govt_to_court over_CAMA_Act⠀⇛ Among other provisions, the Act allows the Federal Government to arbitrarily merge a new association with an already registered one; suspend or remove trustees; and take over funds belonging to any association. # ⚓ Boko_Haram_Threat_Complicates_Plans_to_Resettle_Displaced Nigerians⠀⇛ Boko Haram militants have terrorized northeastern Nigeria for more than a decade, driving more than 2 million people from their homes, according to the United Nations. # ⚓ What_it’s_Like_to_be_a_Hindu_in_Bangladesh_After_50_Years of_Independence⠀⇛ In 1988, Bangladesh, under the Presidency of Hussein Mohammed Ershad, declared itself an Islamic state. Islamists were now free to exercise discrimination, bigotry and vitriol towards the few Hindus remaining. Muslim political leaders found easy and quick popularity by Hindu-bashing. # ⚓ “Huge_Victory”:_Black_Farmers_Hail_$5B_in_New_COVID_Relief Law_to_Redress_Generations_of_Racism⠀⇛ A major provision in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill aims to address decades of discrimination against Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian American farmers who have historically been excluded from government agricultural programs. The American Rescue Plan sets aside $10.4 billion for agriculture support, with about half of that amount set aside for farmers of color, and allocates extra federal funds to farmers who were “subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture has faced accusations of racism for decades, but little has been done to address the problem of discrimination in farm loans. John Boyd, a fourth- generation Black farmer and president of the National Black Farmers Association, says the new funds begin to address issues he has been fighting for 30 years. “This is a huge victory for Black farmers and farmers of color,” says Boyd. o § Internet Policy/Net Neutrality⠀➾ # ⚓ Mike_Blumenkrantz:_What_Happened_To_Blogging?⠀⇛ Blogging is hard. There’s a big switch that a brain needs to do in order to go from ramming code into a project at full speed to carefully crafting an internet post that potentially people might want to read, and some days the effort required to make that switch exceeds the available energy. Such is (at least one of) the reason(s) why more graphics driver-y people don’t blog more, since it’s taxing enough for me to try and get posts out and I mostly just post memes. But this time is definitely going to be a return to the normalcy that is posting more than once per week. The key is just to start posting and keep doing it. o § Monopolies⠀➾ # § Patents⠀➾ # ⚓ One_Case,_All_The_Problems:_VLSI_v._Intel_Exemplifies Current_Issues_In_Patent_Litigation [Ed: The biggest enemy of the legitimacy of patent law is Texas]⠀⇛ The scene is the Western District of Texas, Waco Division. The plaintiff is VLSI Technology, a non-practicing entity. The defendant is Intel Corporation, a major U.S. semiconductor and electronics manufacturer and one of the leading semiconductor research companies in the world. VLSI Technology doesn’t make anything—they never did. They didn’t even have a corporate witness testify at trial. They’re actually a subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group. (Yes, the same Fortress whose subsidiary tried to block the sale of certain COVID-19 tests.) Fortress, a private equity firm owned by Japanese holding company SoftBank, has made something of a business of patent trolling—Fortress-backed entities, especially Uniloc, are some of the most litigious NPEs out there. There has been a resurgence in this kind of NPE over the past few years. While the AIA and the Alice decision initially curtailed NPE litigation, the prevalence and cost of NPE litigation has increased steadily over the past few years. Much of this increase appears due to former USPTO Director Andrei Iancu’s NHK Spring and Fintiv precedential decisions, which decreased access to the IPR system—especially for defendants sued in the Western District of Texas’s Waco Division. [...] By filing in the Waco Division, plaintiffs can guarantee that their case will be heard by Judge Albright. And Judge Albright sets a fast trial schedule and has publicly stated that he will not stay his cases pending IPR. As a result, Judge Albright is now overseeing 20 percent of all patent cases filed in the United States. VLSI (and its lawyers, from Irell & Manella) understood that being in front of Judge Albright would provide a benefit—a significant enough benefit that it dropped a case in front of a judge in Delaware to refile in Texas. And indeed, going to Texas paid off for VLSI here. Judge Albright, Intel filed IPRs against VLSI’s patents. Those IPRs were denied not because they lacked merit but because of Albright’s trial schedule. The Fintiv rule is a complete betrayal of the intention of IPR—which is probably why it’s currently being challenged in court, and why Director Iancu’s attempt to enshrine it into regulation was shot down by the Trump administration before a rule ever published. And the Intel case shows just how costly those denials can be. Of course, Irell is also the firm that Director Iancu was at before he went to the Patent Office, a nomination that closely coincided in timing with the opening salvo in VLSI’s campaign against Intel. Irell stands to make tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars from this litigation alone—money that may well not have gone to them if not for the Fintiv rule. [...] And even the damages in this case are becoming less atypical. Other recent mega- verdicts have exceeded $1 billion, and damages overall appear to be increasing. And in April, Intel and VLSI will do it all over again—this is only the first in a series of Fortress-backed lawsuits against Intel. The current state of patent litigation doesn’t benefit American companies. In fact, as we’ve seen from this case, it tends to harm them. The only parties that benefit seem to be patent lawyers and hedge fund-backed NPEs. # ⚓ Monday_Miscellany [Ed: IP Kat doing ads for CEIPI, which is run by a_criminal. Also, why would anybody serious amplify extremists like the_Center_for Intellectual_Property_Understanding?]⠀⇛ The Center for Intellectual Property Understanding invites you to attend the Fourth Annual Intellectual Property Awareness Summit on the 28th and 29thof April 2021. This year’s theme is ‘Intellectual property and the lives it touches’. More information on the event is available here. The Research Laboratory of the Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) is organizing an online conference on the theme: “Intellectual Property and Pop Culture”, on 26 April 2021, in the framework of World Intellectual Property Day 2021. More information on the event is available here. # § Software Patents⠀➾ # ⚓ $2,000_for_AML_IP_prior_art⠀⇛ On March 2, 2021, Unified Patents added a new PATROLL contest, with a $2,000 cash prize, seeking prior art on at least claim 1 of U.S. Patent 6,876,979. This patent is owned by AML IP, LLC, an NPE and subsidiary of Dynamic IP Deals, LLC. The ’979 patent generally relates to a system and method for supporting electronic commerce in an environment in which multiple service providers each have associated vendors where a user may maintain an account at a service provider that is different from the service provider associated with the vendor from which a user makes an on-line purchase. AML IP is currently asserting the patent against Blizzard Entertainment, Kongregate, Coinbase, Rebilly, Payment Approved Technologies, and AffiniPay. # ⚓ On_the_Patent_Eligibility_of_Information Processing [Ed: An ever-so-desperate Michael Borella is still trying to come up with bogus logic for software patents, which he's looking to profit from by litigation and pestering]⠀⇛ A computer does just three things: receives information in the form of bits, transforms this information, and provides output based on the information as transformed. The receiving may take place by way of various types of input modalities, such as keyboards, touchscreens, mice, audio microphones, video cameras, network interfaces, sensors, and so on. The transforming may involve a literally infinite number of possibilities in the form of algorithms. The output may also take on various modalities, including images displayed on a screen, audio, storage to volatile or non-volatile memory, and transmission by way of network interfaces, just to name a few. Given the fundamental nature of information processing in computing technology, it would be natural to assume that such endeavors would be protected by patent law — after all, the stated constitutional goal of such law is to “promote the progress of science and useful arts.” But due to how the Federal Circuit has interpreted recent Supreme Court decisions, a ground-breaking information processing invention can be unpatentable even if it is novel and non-obvious. More than a philosophical or legal concern, the Federal Circuit’s narrow (and many would agree, inconsistent) view on what subject matter can be patented causes business and economic uncertainty across the many industries in which computers have become ubiquitous. Differentiating between which types of information processing are eligible and which are not is fraught with danger, and even the most experienced patent attorneys (not to mention judges) can find this area of the law perplexing. As a consequence, many entities are struggling to obtain patents on inventions that involve information processing. # § Copyrights⠀➾ # ⚓ Book_review:_Global_Mandatory_Fair_Use [Ed: If copyright law was to work for society rather than those who rob society and monopolise everything, we must have fair use provisions]⠀⇛ In this book, Aplin and Bently argue that global mandatory fair use already exists, under the provision of article 10(1) of the Berne Convention. Global, because of the reach of Berne Convention and the TRIPS agreement. Mandatory because of the language of the provision and its travaux. It relates to use that is not limited by type of work, act, or purpose. And it is fair because of the conditions of 10(1) and 10(3) of Berne; namely that the work was lawfully made available to the public, attribution, proportionality and fair practice must be satisfied. [...] In view of the arguments built in the previous chapters, chapter 7 turns to consider the consequences of a global mandatory fair use. Unsurprisingly, this new perspective through which to view the copyright exceptions raises questions as to the future of the dominance of the three-step test. The authors consider whether the US Fair Use system complies with Article 10(1) and the need for amendment of national legislation that does not properly implement the quotation exception. In particular, the authors demonstrate how the exceptions of several (mainly) civil law jurisdictions are contrary to Article 10(1) because they restrict the types of purpose of the quotation or impose a quantitative limit of short quotation. Common law quotation exceptions are also found to be problematic where they restrict quotation to the purpose of criticism or review. Moreover, the authors explain the impact of their findings on the judicial interpretation, and how it provides an international basis for the parody exception. Lastly, the authors clarify that industry guidelines are unnecessarily risk averse, using unduly narrow and conservative limits for quotation. [...] It therefore goes without saying that this book is an important read for lawmakers, policymakers, scholars, judges and practitioners with an interest in copyright exceptions, as well as those wishing to make use of the quotation exception, including publishers. # ⚓ Local_arts_and_film_jilted_in_favour_of_foreign streaming_majors_Foxtel,_Netflix,_and_Nine’s_Stan⠀⇛ Beyond its cultural benefits, the combined arts and screen industries provide a huge benefit to the economy. As noted in a recent briefing paper by The Australia Institute “Economic importance of the arts and entertainment sector”, the arts and screen sectors employ 193,600 Australians and create nine jobs for every $1 million in turnover, compared to just 0.25 jobs in the oil and gas extraction sector and a paltry one job in the construction industry. And while the oil and gas industry, which employs just 28,200 people, was given $300 million in subsidies as part of the Coalition’s JobMaker plan, much of the lifeblood of the arts industry was excluded from JobKeeper support because they were employed largely in short-term casual and contract roles. And the Coalition government is piling on the pain to solidify the mainstream media hegemony. # ⚓ Mobdro:_Luminati_Proxy_Service_“Suspended_Service”_To Pirate_App⠀⇛ Last week law enforcement agencies in Europe shut down Mobdro, now described as the world’s largest pirate IPTV app. At least in part, Mobdro raised revenue by giving its users the option to have their devices join the Luminati proxy network. According to Luminati’s CEO, the company was completely unaware of the investigation. # ⚓ Adobe_Goes_After_27-Year_Old_‘Pirated’_Copy_of Acrobat_Reader_1.0_for_MS-DOS⠀⇛ Adobe regularly sends takedown notices targeting pirated copies of its flagship software products but the company doesn’t limit itself to newer releases. F-Secure researcher Mikko Hyppönen has had one of his tweets taken down because it linked to an ‘unauthorized’ copy of a 27-year-old release of Acrobat Reader 1.0 for MS-DOS. # ⚓ Thank_You_for_Speaking_Against_a_Terrible_Copyright Proposal⠀⇛ The “Digital Copyright Act” was the result of a year of hearings in the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. Many of the hearings dismissed or marginalized the voices of civil society, Internet users, and Internet creators. Often, it was assumed that the majority of copyrighted work worth protecting is the content made by major media conglomerates or controlled by traditional gatekeepers. We know better. We know there is a whole new generation of creators whose work is shared online. Some of that work makes fair use of other copyrighted material. Some work is entirely original or based on a work in the public domain. All of it can run afoul of ranking and promotion algorithms, terms of service, and takedowns. The “Digital Copyright Act” would put all of that creativity at risk, entrenching the power of major studios, big tech companies, and major labels. Along with your signatures and letter, EFF submitted our own comments on the DCA. We urged Congress to set aside the proposal entirely, as many of the policies it contained would cause deep and lasting damage to online speech, creativity, and innovation. We do not only want this particular draft to be put in the bin where it belongs, we want to be clear that even watered-down versions of the policies it contains would further tip the balance away from individuals or small creators and towards large, well-resourced corporations. ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 4464 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 03.16.21⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ ✐ Links_16/3/2021:_KDE_Plasma_5.21.3_and_LibreELEC_10_Beta⠀✐ Posted in News_Roundup at 12:29 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GNOME bluefish⦈ § Contents⠀➾ * GNU/Linux o Distributions o Devices/Embedded * Free_Software/Open_Source * Leftovers * § GNU/Linux⠀➾ o ⚓ System76’s_AMD-Only_“Pangolin”_Linux_Laptop_Is_Finally_Here⠀⇛ Designed as a light and fast laptop for everyday use, the Pangolin is not System76’s first AMD-powered laptop, but it’s the most ambitious one since the company known for many great Linux friendly hardware is now delivering an AMD-only Linux laptop that ships with both an AMD CPU and an AMD GPU. Customers can choose between the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor with 6 cores and 6 threads and up to 4.0 GHz clock speed or the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor with 2.0 8 core and 8 threads and up to 4.1 GHz clock speed. Both processors include powerful AMD Radeon integrated graphics. o § Instructionals/Technical⠀➾ # ⚓ How_To_Install_Jellyfin_on_Ubuntu_20.04_LTS_–_idroot⠀⇛ In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Jellyfin on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. For those of you who didn’t know, Jellyfin is a free, cross-platform, and open-source alternative to propriety media streaming applications such as Netflix or Plex. Jellyfin is easy to install and set up and accessible via the browser. It also supports GNU/ Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows operating systems. This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you through the step-by- step installation of the Jellyfin Media Server on Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa). You can follow the same instructions for Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04, and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint. # ⚓ How_to_Install_Suricata_and_Zeek_IDS_with_ELK_on_Ubuntu 20.10⠀⇛ There has been much talk about Suricata and Zeek (formerly Bro) and how both can improve network security. So, which one should you deploy? The short answer is both. The long answer, can be found here. In this (lengthy) tutorial we will install and configure Suricata, Zeek, the ELK stack, and some optional tools on an Ubuntu 20.10 (Groovy Gorilla) server along with the Elasticsearch Logstash Kibana (ELK) stack. # ⚓ How_to_Setup_Apache_with_Let’s_Encrypt_(SSL)_on_Ubuntu 20.04⠀⇛ Enabling secure communication on your Apache web server is one of the first things that you should do while setting it up. This does not have to cost a fortune. As a matter of fact, you can actually obtain SSL/TLS certificates from Let’s Encrypt and you do not have to pay anything. # ⚓ [Old]_How_to_Setup_Auto-Renew_for_LetsEncrypt_SSL Certificates_(Apache)⠀⇛ Did you know that you can quickly configure your Let’s Encrypt certificates to automatically renew themselves by executing a simple letsencrypt auto- renew script? # ⚓ [Old]_How_to_change_the_Hostname_on_CentOS_8⠀⇛ The hostname is also known as a computer, device, or domain name that is given to a computer when it connects with the internet. The hostname has to be unique in the network and is assigned during the operating system installation. It may also assigned dynamically when a virtual machine is created. In CentOS 8, the hostnamectl and nmcli commands can be used to change the hostname of Desktop and Server systems. By using the hostname command, you can see the hostname of your system. The domain or hostname is usually present in the system startup file (/etc/hostname). In this article, you will learn how to change the hostname of your system on CentOS 8 without going to restart the computer system. # ⚓ How_To_Create_a_Startup_Script_using_Crontab_in_Lubuntu Linux⠀⇛ Why do we need to create Startup Script to run after the operating system starts? If you have a home server, or maybe even just a Linux desktop, and you run the same fine-tuning commands each time you restart, running scripts automatically can make your life easier. The main reasons are that there will no longer be starting the server, logging in via SSH, entering a password, getting a root elevation and then manually executing script after script. Instead, we are going to use the power of Crontab and set your system to run these scripts automatically at startup! Here’s how to do it. # ⚓ Three_ways_to_containerize_.NET_applications_on_Red_Hat OpenShift⠀⇛ # ⚓ Use_gdu_for_a_Faster_Disk_Usage_Checking_in_Linux Terminal⠀⇛ There are two popular ways to check disk usage in Linux terminal: du command and df command. The du command is more for checking the space used by a directory and the df command gives you the disk utilization on filesystem level. There are more friendly ways to see the disk usage in Linux with graphical tools like GNOME Disks. If you are confined to the terminal, you can use a TUI tool like ncdu to get the disk usage information with a sort of graphical touch. # ⚓ LFCA:_Understanding_Linux_Operating_System_–_Part_1⠀⇛ The Linux Foundation has unveiled a new pre- professional IT certification known as the Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA). This is a new entry-level certification that focuses on testing fundamental IT concepts such as basic systems administration commands, cloud computing, security, and DevOps. o § Games⠀➾ # ⚓ Heroic_Game_Launcher⠀⇛ Gaming on Linux with Epic Games just Leveled Up with this Launcher! # ⚓ Check_out_the_demo_for_the_upcoming_point_&_click_adventure Lucy_Dreaming_|_GamingOnLinux⠀⇛ Lucy Dreaming is a brand new retro-styled point and click adventure game coming to Linux from developer Tall Story Games. A fully-voiced, pixel-art British comedy in the style of the 90s LucasArts classics like Monkey Island and Full Throttle. In the game Lucy unlocks the secrets to controlling her dreams and journeys through a myriad of weird & wonderful locations in both the dream world and reality. On the way she encounters a cast of extraordinary characters and creatures as she unearths the disturbing truth behind her nightmares. # ⚓ Valheim_is_just_an_incredible_experience_you_need_to_play_| GamingOnLinux⠀⇛ Why is Valheim so popular? People have asked. Well, how we feel about games is always highly subjective and here’s my own initial thoughts on it after many hours lost inside its world. Note: key provided by the publisher. For me, it’s honestly like the first time I discovered and played Minecraft. Seriously, it’s just that good. As someone who regularly burns out on games, it’s just been that transformative of an experience. It’s not trying to be realistic but it has a coherent and good-looking style, mixed with some absolutely fantastic lighting, it’s a gosh darn pleasure to run around in. It blends together the ability to be seriously creative with building like Terraria and Minecraft, and there’s been some ridiculously amazing stuff out there, along with combat that’s actually quite challenging. Valheim isn’t perfect by any measure, it’s still in Early Access and so issues are to be expected but it’s got so many things right that other games don’t necessarily get wrong but Valheim just does better. There’s a hunger system for example but it doesn’t kill you only make you weaker. Get a bunch of food, eat up and see your maximum health and stamina increase but you can’t die from a lack of it. You also don’t need to worry about drinking water. So it’s survival game, that doesn’t force you to survive in the normal sense. # ⚓ Arthurian_legends_mix_with_cosmic_horror_in_The_Hand_of Merlin,_confirmed_for_Linux_|_GamingOnLinux⠀⇛ Something weird this way comes with The Hand of Merlin, blending together elements of Arthurian legends mixed in with plenty of cosmic horror in a turn-based tactical RPG. “The Hand of Merlin is a turn-based rogue-lite RPG in which Arthurian legend clashes with cosmic horror. Recruit a company of up to three mortal heroes and guide them in spirit on a desperate journey from Albion to Jerusalem. Explore a richly- imagined medieval setting on the brink of apocalypse. Trade with merchants, improve your heroes and unearth ancient relics. Search for the lost fragments of your soul, scattered across the multiverse – and save as many worlds as you can.” # ⚓ RollerCoaster_Tycoon_2_reimplementation_OpenRCT2_expands_in v0.3.3⠀⇛ v0.3.3 of the RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 reimplementation OpenRCT2 is out now and it includes quite a lot of enhancements as the community works towards giving the ultimate cross- platform experience. It’s already ridiculously good, with tons of improvements compared to the original game like OpenGL hardware rendering and multiplayer but they keep on adding to it. With version 0.3.3 out now they’ve made it even easier to get running on Linux with direct support for the GOG installer of the original using innoextract. Various gameplay changes made it in too like an enhanced Track Designer with ability to add/remove scenery and footpaths, the Track Designer has a pause button now, there’s a new single-rail roller coaster, terrain surfaces from RollerCoaster Tycoon 1 are now supported, lots of plugin improvements and new API additions, and lots more including plenty of bug fixes to improve the experience further. # ⚓ FunKey_S_is_a_tiny_Linux-powered_retro-gaming_handheld⠀⇛ Do you love retro gaming? How about pocket sized devices, powered by Linux that you can take anywhere? The FunKey S looks like a really sweet bit of kit. Small enough to keep with your keys, powerful enough to play tons of retro games. Funded on Kickstarter back in July 2020 which we completely missed, the FunKey team managed to raise €165,760 and they’ve been taking pre-orders that have proven to be popular so it went out of stock. Powered by Linux and open source, the FunKey S doesn’t use a traditional Linux distribution but instead they built it themselves with Buildroot. o § Desktop Environments/WMs⠀➾ # § K Desktop Environment/KDE SC/Qt⠀➾ # ⚓ KDE_Plasma_5.21.3_Is_Out_to_Improve_the_New_Plasma System_Monitor_App_and_Support_for_GTK_Apps⠀⇛ KDE Plasma 5.21.3 comes just two weeks after KDE Plasma 5.21.2 and it’s here to improve the new Plasma System Monitor app that will finally replace the old KSysGuard system monitor app by default in the upcoming KDE Plasma 5.22 release, due out on June 8th, 2021. These improvements in the new Plasma System Monitor app enable you to move a widget within a page, enable the app to remember its filter text when switching away from the filtered view and then go back, and make the text in table columns to always properly align vertically with all fonts. o § Distributions⠀➾ # § New Releases⠀➾ # ⚓ LibreELEC_10_BETA_1_Released,_Bringing_Kodi_19_To LibreELEC_Users⠀⇛ Kodi 19 “Matrix”, the popular home theater software, was released on February 20, with big changes that affect the majority of LibreELEC users. Now, LibreELEC 10 BETA 1 bringing it for testing purposes to LibreELEC x86_64 PCs users. Above all, do not upgrade! The 10.0 release is a disruptive and limited hardware release. At the moment the LibreELEC developers are not releasing images for all hardware. LibreELEC 10.0 BETA1 is a stable beta only for: - Generic (x86_64 PCs) - Allwinner and Rockchip This release is “Alpha” for Raspberry Pi 4 as the code is still very new. Raspberry Pi 2/ 3 are still in development targetting an LibreELEC 10.2 release. In addition, Raspberry Pi 0/1 are discontinued. # § IBM/Red Hat/Fedora⠀➾ # ⚓ Fedora_34_Feature_Focus:_Updated_Activities Overview⠀⇛ Fedora Workstation 34 is scheduled for release towards the end of April. Among the various changes that it will contain is the soon-to-be-released GNOME 40. This comes with a number of improvements and new features, most notably an updated Activities Overview design. Read on to hear the background behind those changes, and what to expect from the upcoming release! [...] Okay, back to the Activities Overview! Before I talk about the changes themselves, I wanted to briefly touch on the motivations behind them. One of these is that the overview hasn’t received much in the way of design updates since its introduction in 2011. Other aspects of the desktop have evolved (notifications, system status, unlock and login, to name some examples) but the overview hasn’t had much in the way of improvements. Not only did the overview need a refresh, but a number of limitations in its design had become apparent over the years. The GNOME design and development team wanted to resolve these. These limitations included the somewhat unhelpful blank boot state, the lack of coherent touchpad gestures, a sub-par app browsing experience, and the ambiguous nature of some overview elements, in particular the workspace switcher. The goals for the upcoming release were, therefore, to give the overview a welcome refresh and address some longstanding issues, while keeping the basic design and essential features intact. # ⚓ NVMe_vs_M.2:_What’s_the_difference?⠀⇛ If you’ve been around computers, and technology in general, for any amount of time, you’re probably aware of the huge advancements in storage that have been made over the last few decades. I’m a 90′s kid, so I only have a limited scope of experience with some of the older storage mediums. I did get the chance to work with a few companies at my last job that stored off-site data on massive tape drives but the read/write functions to those enormous sloths were less than pleasant. To my knowledge, most of our enterprise storage is probably still done via disk drives (spinning platter drives), commonly referred to as HDDs (hard disk drives). However, solid-state drives (SSDs) have replaced HDDs and are what most people currently use in their personal computers. Previously, SSDs were more expensive. However, lately, those prices have dropped to affordable levels. # ⚓ Technology_preview:_Running_a_container_inside_a container_|_Enable_Sysadmin⠀⇛ I recently published a video covering an overview of Podman in Podman, or in other words, running a container within a container. This is a technology preview feature in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8.3. # ⚓ Automation_and_artificial_intelligence_can_help combat_financial_crime⠀⇛ By any measure, 2020 was a year of change. Combining the shift in working from home with an all-digital commerce model, businesses needed to quickly adjust to a new reality as a means of survival. Increasingly clear is that many of the changes might become a permanent part of our lives. This combinational shift has also been a time where cyber crime has accelerated, with the growing sophistication of opportunists leading many in the payments industry to invest in new technology to better detect and ultimately prevent financial crime in this new environment. # § Canonical/Ubuntu Family⠀➾ # ⚓ Multi_Monitor_and_HiDPI_Setup_is_Looking_Better_on Ubuntu_21.04⠀⇛ Sharing my happy experience using multi- monitor setup with 4k and Full HD screens in Ubuntu 21.04. o § Devices/Embedded⠀➾ # ⚓ The_Raspberry_Pi_Pico_As_An_SDR_Receiver_|_Hackaday⠀⇛ With the profusion of cheap RTL-SDR devices and the ever-reducing prices of more capable SDRs there might seem to be little place left for the low- bandwidth devices we’d have been happy with a decade or more ago, but there’s still plenty to be learned from something so simple. It’s something [Luigi Cruz] shows us with a simple SDR using the analogue-to-digital capabilities of the Raspberry Pi Pico, and since it works with GNU Radio we think it’s rather a neat project. CNX Software have the full story, and and quickly reveal that with its 500k samples per second bandwidth it’s not a machine that will set the SDR world on fire even when pushing Nyquist’s Law to the limit. # ⚓ Raspberry_Pi_CM4_based_mini-PC_offers_M.2,_dual_GbE⠀⇛ OnLogic is prepping a fanless, industrial Raspberry Pi CM4-based mini-PC with dual GbE, 4x USB, micro- HDMI, serial, and M.2 for SATA. In honor of yesterday’s Pi Day celebration, OnLogic has teased an unnamed mini-PC due later this year that runs on a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. The “real industrial Raspberry Pi” appears to be OnLogic’s first Arm-based computer. # ⚓ Onlogic_industrial_Raspberry_Pi_CM4_based_mini_PC_to_offer dual_GbE,_USB_3.1,_M.2_SATA_socket⠀⇛ Yesterday, we covered two Raspberry Pi CM4 carrier boards with dual Ethernet ports, including one from Seeed Studio with dual Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.1 ports, and another from MCUZone with Gigabit + Fast Ethernet ports, USB 2.0 ports, plus a 4G LTE modem. # ⚓ UP_Squared_Pro_SBC_gets_more_I/Os,_3x_M.2_sockets,_TPM_2.0 security_chip⠀⇛ UP Squared Apollo Lake SBC was launched in 2016 via a crowdfunding campaign with a price starting at just 89 Euros for the model with 2GB RAM 16GB storage, and a dual-core Intel Celeron N3350 processor. AAEON has now announced an update simply called UP Squared Pro with many of the same features, but greater expandability and I/O features, for example, to add 5G modules and AI accelerators through one of the three M.2 sockets, as well as improved security via a TPM 2.0 chip. # § Open Hardware/Modding⠀➾ # ⚓ Sparkfun_Thing_Plus_–_Quicklogic_EOS_S3_Arm_eFPGA board_launched_in_Crowd_Supply⠀⇛ Just like QuickFeather, Sparkfun EOS S3 board can run FreeRTOS or Zephyr RTOS, supports TensorFlow Lite and SensiML machine learning software, as well as open-source FPGA tools such as SymbiFlow and Renode. You’ll find links to software resources in our previous post about QuickLogic EOS S3 SoC. The Quick connector will give access to over 150 Qwiic-compatible expansion boards, which are connected through a 4-pin JST polarized Qwiic cable, and daisy-chainable to add two or more Qwicc expansion modules to your project. # § Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ 5_Best_Free_VPN_Apps_to_Use_on_Your_Android_Phone_in 2021_–_Gadgets_To_Use⠀⇛ # ⚓ 5_Android_features_Apple_should_steal_for_iOS_—_and_2 it_should_but_won’t_|_Android_Central⠀⇛ # ⚓ iOS_update_delivery_system_may_take_a_leaf_out_of Android’s_playbook⠀⇛ # ⚓ No,_Your_iPhone_Is_Not_More_Secure_Than_Android, Warns_Cyber_Billionaire⠀⇛ # ⚓ Five_android_phones_with_108_MP_primary_camera_– ​Redmi_Note_10_Pro_Max_|_The_Economic_Times⠀⇛ # ⚓ 3_Ways_To_Measure_Android_Phone’s_Screen_Brightness_– Gadgets_To_Use⠀⇛ # ⚓ These_Motorola_smartphones_are_now_getting_the Android_11_update_-⠀⇛ # ⚓ Google_just_leaked_11_upcoming_Android_phones_— here’s_what’s_coming_|_Tom’s_Guide⠀⇛ # ⚓ Lost_your_phone?_Here’s_how_to_find_your_Android smartphone_and_erase_data_|_Technology_News_|_Zee News⠀⇛ # ⚓ An_upcoming_Android_phone_will_get_three_64MP_cameras |_TechRadar⠀⇛ # ⚓ Signal_allows_wireless_account_migration_in_Android⠀⇛ # ⚓ How_to_Find_Your_Lost_Android_Smartphone_and_Erase Data_Remotely_|_Technology_News⠀⇛ # ⚓ How_Can_I_Wirelessly_Access_My_Android_From_My_PC?⠀⇛ # ⚓ OnePlus_Nord’s_Android_11_update_is_rolling_out again⠀⇛ # ⚓ Oppo_F15_Android_11:_Oppo_F15_starts_receiving Android_11_update_–_Mobiles_News_|_Gadgets_Now⠀⇛ # ⚓ Samsung_One_UI_3.1_(Android_11)_update_tracker:_All we_know_about_this…⠀⇛ # ⚓ OPPO_Reno2_Z_ColorOS_11_(Android_11)_beta registrations_go_live_in_India_–_Gizmochina⠀⇛ # ⚓ HTC’s_budget_Wildfire_E3_has_four_cameras_but_still runs_Android_10⠀⇛ # ⚓ Xiaomi_Mi_11_review:_A_worthy_alternative_to_Android flagships_|_Tom’s_Guide⠀⇛ # ⚓ Walmart_is_about_to_release_its_own_Android_TV streamer_–_9to5Google⠀⇛ # ⚓ Walmart_Onn_Branded_Streaming_Stick_Running_Android TV_10_Spotted_via_FCC_Listing_|_Technology_News⠀⇛ # ⚓ Google_Chrome_on_Android_is_finally_getting_this major_upgrade_|_TechRadar⠀⇛ # ⚓ Google_expands_tile_view_layouts_for_Meet_on_iOS, Android_|_Technology⠀⇛ # ⚓ Google_makes_it_to_easy_for_Android_users_to_check notifications_in_Drive_app_–_Latest_News_|_Gadgets Now⠀⇛ # ⚓ This_new_Android_phone_packs_a_108MP_camera_—_for $900_less_than_Galaxy_S21_Ultra_|_Tom’s_Guide⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android_Nearby_Share_might_allow_sharing_with everyone_–_SlashGear⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android_Phone_Usb_Flash_Disk_Market_Growing_Trends and_Demands_Analysis_forecast_2020_to_2025_–_The Courier⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android_warning:_Google_bans_10_more_apps_from_its Play_Store,_now_you_need_to_act_too_|_Express.co.uk⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android’s_new_Fast_Pair_UI_now_pops_up_for_Fitbit, more_–_9to5Google⠀⇛ # ⚓ Walmart_Android_TV_stick_appears_ready_for_launch⠀⇛ # ⚓ Lilbits_Leaks:_Walmart’s_Android_TV_stick,_Qualcomm’s next-mid-range_laptop_CPU,_Samsung’s_Galaxy_A_phones_– Liliputing⠀⇛ # ⚓ Walmart_prepares_to_launch_its_first_Android_TV streaming_stick_|_Android_Central⠀⇛ # ⚓ Best_Android_app_deals_of_the_day:_Volt,_Galaxy Trader,_more_–_9to5Toys⠀⇛ # ⚓ Outriders_Xbox_Game_Pass_day_one_release_confirmed for_console,_Android_|_Stevivor⠀⇛ # ⚓ Opensignal_report_claims_iPhone_12_is_slower_than almost_every_Android_phone_in_5G/4G_speed_tests_– 9to5Mac⠀⇛ # ⚓ Signal_will_soon_let_Android_users_wirelesly_transfer their_data_|_Android_Central⠀⇛ # ⚓ PS5-style_stock_shortages_could_soon_hit_Android smartphones_|_Express.co.uk⠀⇛ # ⚓ What_wireless_earbuds_or_headphones_are_you_using with_your_Android_phone_right_now?_|_Android_Central⠀⇛ o § Free, Libre, and Open Source Software⠀➾ # § Web Browsers⠀➾ # § Mozilla⠀➾ # ⚓ Data@Mozilla:_This_Week_in_Glean:_Reducing Release_Friction⠀⇛ One thing that I feel less confident in myself about is the build and release process behind the software components I have been working on recently. That’s why I was excited to take on prototyping a “Better Build” in order to get a better understanding of how the build and release process works and hopefully make it a little better in the process. What is a “Better Build”? Well that’s what we have been calling the investigation into how to reduce the overall pain of releasing our Rust based components to consumers on Android, iOS, and desktop platforms. # ⚓ Managing_Multiple_Mozconfigs⠀⇛ Mozilla developers often need to juggle multiple build configurations in their day to day work. Strategies to manage this sometimes include complex shell scripting built into their mozconfig, or a topsrcdir littered with mozconfig- * files and then calls to the build system like MOZCONFIG=mozconfig-debug ./mach build. But there’s another method (which is basically just a variant on the latter), that might help make managing mozconfigs a teensy bit easier: mozconfigwrapper. # ⚓ Working_With_A_Remote_Distributed_Team_(Mozilla Edition)⠀⇛ Mozilla is a distributed community with a lot of different cultures (social, country, education, beliefs) and across all timezones. At Flickr, Heather Champ had a good reminder for the community: “Don’t be a creep.” # ⚓ Bitwarden_Send_is_a_Secure_Way_to_Share Information_and_Documents_[Replacement_of_Firefox Send]_–_It’s_FOSS_News⠀⇛ Bitwarden is one of the best password managers available for Linux. Not just that, it is also free and open-source. # § Programming/Development⠀➾ # ⚓ Get_started_with_edge_computing_by_programming embedded_systems_|_Opensource.com⠀⇛ RTOS is an open source operating system for embedded devices developed by RT-Thread. It provides a standardized, friendly foundation for developers to program a variety of devices and includes a large number of useful libraries and toolkits to make the process easier. Like Linux, RTOS uses a modular approach, which makes it easy to extend. Packages enable developers to use RTOS for any device they want to target. One of RTOS’s most popular extensions is the AT device package, which includes porting files and sample code for different AT devices (i.e., modems). # ⚓ Top_15_Best_DevOps_Tools_That_Every_Developer_Must Know⠀⇛ DevOps is a combination of development and operations. In this process, both the software engineers and operation engineers work as a single entity to deliver service and applications faster than the traditional development process. This pace allows businesses to satisfy their customers better and succeed in the marketplace. DevOps has many benefits. With a DevOps team, the company can deliver its product rapidly, with reliable development, improved collaboration, and security. Several tools have been produced to help the DevOps team. These tools make their work smooth and more accessible. Many of these tools will automate your work and save a lot of time. So, if you are on the DevOps team, you should know about these DevOps tools, which we will be talking about today. # ⚓ Excellent_Free_Tutorials_to_Learn_QML⠀⇛ Qt Modeling Language (QML) is a hierarchical declarative language for user interface layout with a syntax similar to JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). It can bind to C++ objects via Qt’s meta object system and also supports inline JavaScript. It’s much like HTML or XAML but without the XMLness. # ⚓ Qt_Creator_4.15_Beta_released⠀⇛ We are happy to announce the release of Qt Creator 4.15 Beta! # ⚓ 15_Quick_Git_Commands_with_Examples_in_Linux⠀⇛ Git is an open-source distributed version control system and it’s free to use under GNU General Public License Version 2. In today’s context, everyone in software development uses it from small to very large projects because it keeps track of our source code history which adds more flexibility to projects. It’s usually used by developers in the software development process collaborating with the team as it has full control over version tracking of any set of files. Git was developed by Linus Torvalds with the intention of support for distributed, non-linear workflows, the minimal number of complexities, data integrity, and flexibility in the software development. # ⚓ How_to_write_‘Hello_World’_in_WebAssembly_| Opensource.com⠀⇛ WebAssembly is a bytecode format that virtually every browser can compile to its host system’s machine code. Alongside JavaScript and WebGL, WebAssembly fulfills the demand for porting applications for platform-independent use in the web browser. As a compilation target for C++ and Rust, WebAssembly enables web browsers to execute code at near-native speed. # § Perl/Raku⠀➾ # ⚓ Perl_weekly_challenge_104⠀⇛ Here are solutions to this weeks challenges from the Perl Weekly Challenge. # § Python⠀➾ # ⚓ Python_Script_to_Create_CloudFront Invalidations⠀⇛ Amazon CloudFront invalidation feature allows you to remove an object from the CloudFront cache before it expires. It allows you to remove a specific object from cache or use (*) wildcard character to remove multiple objects. You can also invalidate all the objects by using “/*” parameters to invalidation requests. * § Leftovers⠀➾ o ⚓ The_Invisible_Professor⠀⇛ I’d never been invisible before. As the youngest of three children growing up in Forest Hills, Queens, I received extra attention from my parents, or so my sister and brother regularly tell me. In college, at SUNY Albany, I spoke up in class, acted Shakespeare on stage, and flirted at parties. People listened, applauded and recoiled as they would with any visible person. I saw my reflection in mirrors and my shadow on sunny days. In short, I was seen. In graduate school at Princeton, I called professors by their first names and asked them challenging questions in class. That got me noticed, and almost kicked out. And by the time I began teaching art history at Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1984, I was an art critic and aesthete. My knowledge, taste and affectations were like the coat, hat, gloves, sunglasses, bandages and prosthetic nose worn by the character Griffin in H.G. Wells novel, The Invisible Man, and by Claude Raines in the 1933 film by James Whale – they made me conspicuous. o ⚓ Love,_God,_and_Bergman⠀⇛ This is the conclusion of David, father of Minus and Karin. The fourth character in the film is Martin, Karin’s husband. Karin loses her mind as she begins to see God in real life. Her hearing becomes very acute and she becomes aware of things she shouldn’t be aware of, such as the form of God in the real world, and the contents of her father’s diary, which voices inside of her tell her to read. Karin’s father takes the antipodal position on God. He cannot see or feel God in any form but can experience love, and concludes this love must be God. Is this faith? Can faith really be in something one can see, such as love? If we can see God does this mean we have no faith? o § Health/Nutrition⠀➾ # ⚓ Farming:_A_Dirty_Truth⠀⇛ An inflexible Truth: Humans on planet Earth confront a more or less central issue. Heat generating mammals of our sort require regular energy inputs to maintain that Goldilocks-Style 98.6 F body temperature and propel our life functions. So we eat—— regularly if we can. Since there seems to be food in grocery stores currently, questions of food production and the resources required seem….. well….. boring and peripheral. With Oprah’s MeghanLament sucking all the oxygen out of the media room, something as mundane as soil health is unlikely to gain altitude in the Twitter-verse. # ⚓ Cuba_Working_on_a_‘People’s_Vaccine’:_the_US_and_the_world should_get_behind_it⠀⇛ Cuba’s humanist approach  when it comes to health was not new to me. In 2013, I co-directed a documentary on a free hospital in northern Honduras. The doctors there, all from afro- indigenous Garifuna communities, had been trained in Cuba at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) for free. Cuba created the ELAM in 1999 to train doctors from the poorest regions of countries around the world (including the U.S.), providing full scholarships of six years tuition, room, and board, with the hope that these doctors would return and provide accessible and preventative healthcare in their communities. The ELAM was born as a response to the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, and has trained tens of thousands of doctors from over 110 countries since then. Cuba is now poised to play an important role in global efforts to curb the pandemic. New variants in South Africa and Brazil, all with yet unknown implications for vaccine effectiveness, have shown us that any effort to achieve herd immunity is only as good as it is accessible equitably across the globe. Yet, as predicted, the global north is outpacing the global south dramatically in vaccination. # ⚓ More_EU_Nations_Suspend_Use_of_AstraZeneca_Vaccine_Over Blood-Clotting_Concerns⠀⇛ While the WHO maintains the vaccine is safe, Germany’s health minister said Monday the halt “is a purely precautionary measure.” # ⚓ Fighting_covid_with_fire_The_Nikola-Lenivets_Art_Park’s Maslenitsa_festivities,_in_photos⠀⇛ Over the weekend, Russia celebrated the closing of Maslenitsa — an end-of-winter festival that combines elements of folk and religious traditions. For its 2021 festivities, the Nikola-Lenivets Art park, located in a village in the Kaluga region, chose the theme of the coronavirus pandemic. Attendees took in a performance by Moscow artist Sergey Pakhomov (a.k.a “Pakhom”) and the festival ended with the ceremonial burning of a wicker “Vaccination Tower,” which was built to resemble “a giant vial or a covid-cannibal castle.” “As soon as we burn it, the disease will subside and everyone will be healthy,” said the artist who created the tower, Nikolai Polissky, who founded the art park. Here’s an inside look at the celebrations in Nikola-Lenivets. # ⚓ No,_the_mRNA_in_the_Pfizer_and_Moderna_COVID-19_vaccines does_not_cause_cancer_by_targeting_tumor_suppressor_genes⠀⇛ The topic of this post might be a bit niche, but, given my background in molecular biology research, particularly earlier in my career, every so often I like to take on a topic that’s a bit “niche,” particularly if it is relevant to medical misinformation being promoted online, and even more so if it’s relevant to medical misinformation about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines being promoted online. Many have been the times that I’ve mentioned how, with respect to the new COVID-19 vaccines, everything old is new again. At the risk of being repetitive (but also providing the benefit of your not having to click on a link to see what I’m talking about; that is, unless you want to), antivaxxers have falsely spread misinformation and conspiracy theories claiming that COVID-19 vaccines kill; render women infertile; cause autoimmune disease; “reprogram your DNA“; aren’t needed because COVID-19 is not only not a serious disease but is a “casedemic” based on overly sensitive tests; can cause Alzheimer’s disease; can cause prion disease; and/or are loaded with “toxins” (in this case, the lipid nanoparticles that contain the mRNA used in the vaccines). To these old antivax tropes was added the claim that the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines are not really vaccines at all but rather “experimental gene therapy”. (No, they’re vaccines.) Just about the only claim that antivaxxers haven’t made yet about COVID-19 vaccines is that they cause autism, and that’s only because there are as yet no COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in children and babies and no mass vaccination program of children. Just wait until there are, and you’ll see that claim too. I’ll give you a brief preview: Cancer and tumor suppressor genes. o § Integrity/Availability⠀➾ # § Proprietary⠀➾ # § Security⠀➾ # ⚓ WeLeakInfo_Leaked_Customer_Payment_Info⠀⇛ A little over a year ago, the FBI and law enforcement partners overseas seized WeLeakInfo[.]com, a wildly popular service that sold access to more than 12 billion usernames and passwords stolen from thousands of hacked websites. In an ironic turn of events, a lapsed domain registration tied to WeLeakInfo let someone plunder and publish account data on 24,000 customers who paid to access the service with a credit card. # ⚓ Microsoft_Teams,_Exchange_and_more_went_down for_four_hours_on_Monday⠀⇛ Microsoft Teams went down for around four hours on Monday, alongside Azure and other Microsoft 365 services. Microsoft blamed the issues on “a recent change to an authentication system” took some Microsoft 365 services down. A roll back to the change took longer than Microsoft expected, with the company confirming at 12:35AM ET that “impact has been largely mitigated.” # ⚓ Microsoft_could_be_set_for_a_US_government windfall [Ed: Microsoft is being rewarded again for its crimes; taxpayers subsiding_criminals against_their_will]⠀⇛ Nearly a quarter of the Covid relief funds set aside for cybersecurity defenders will be going to Microsoft though some US lawmakers have voiced concerns that they don’t want to increase funding for the company after it suffered two high-profile hacks. As first reported by Reuters, Congress allocated the funds in its new Covid relief bill after two major cyberattacks took advantage of weaknesses in the software giant’s products to penetrate the computer networks of government agencies as well as those at tens of thousands of companies. Not only do these two hacks pose a major national security threat for the US but lawmakers also say that Microsoft’s faulty software is making the company more profitable. # § Privacy/Surveillance⠀➾ # ⚓ Opinion_|_The_Secrecy_and Unaccountability_of_the_Surveillance_State Delegitimizes_the_Government_and_Undermines Trust⠀⇛ This warrantless mass surveillance of people in the United States—often capturing information on millions of innocent Americans, with disproportionate impacts on communities of color—fuels resentment against the government from both ends of the ideological spectrum. # ⚓ DOJ_Says_Encryption_Is_Just_For_Criminals As_It_Goes_After_Another_Secure_Phone Purveyor⠀⇛ The DOJ has indicted another company for supposedly making it easier for criminals to elude law enforcement. The true target, though, isn’t the company whose principals have been indicted, but encryption itself. o § Defence/Aggression⠀➾ # ⚓ As_Saudis_Suck_Up_Weapons,_US_Accounts_for_Over_1/3_of_All Global_Arms_Sales⠀⇛ New analysis shows U.S.-based war profiteers have supplied increased demand by Qatar, Egypt, the Saudi Kingdom, and others in the Middle East over the last five years. # ⚓ Ten_Problems_With_Biden’s_Foreign_Policy_–_and_One Solution⠀⇛ The Biden presidency is still in its early days, but it’s not too early to point to areas in the foreign policy realm where we, as progressives, have been disappointed–or even infuriated. There are one or two positive developments, such as the renewal of Obama’s New START Treaty with Russia and Secretary of State Blinken’s initiative for a UN-led peace process in Afghanistan, where the United States is finally turning to peace as a last resort, after 20 years lost in the graveyard of empires. # ⚓ Opinion_|_The_Bloody_Truth_About_Drones:_We_Need_an International_Convention_on_Drones⠀⇛ Drones are neither as cheap, targeted, or bloodless as advertised. They’re ripe for international arms control.  # ⚓ The_Perils_of_Military_5G⠀⇛ A key aim of the U.S. military is utilizing 5G for “re-targeting” the hypersonic missiles it has been developing—missiles that fly at five times the speed of sound so guiding their trajectories must occur with extreme rapidity. A “5G SpaceX Satellite Protest” is to be held Friday, March 19 at the headquarters of SpaceX in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX, of which Elon Musk is founder and CEO. # ⚓ Martial_Law_Extended_in_Myanmar_After_Junta_Kills_More_Than 50_Protesters⠀⇛ “Junta leaders don’t belong in power, they belong behind bars,” said United Nations special rapporteur Tom Andrews. # ⚓ Myanmar:_a_Defiant_Nation,_Still_Denied_Justice⠀⇛ The army are inveigling and paying villagers and retired military personnel to go and batter anti- coup protesters, in a darkly satirical take on astroturfing straight out of the special playbook run by cash-rich demagogues controlling billions of dollars in illegal and legal assets. Here’s what one well-connected Maqshosh contact, who did not wish to be identified for obvious reasons, told us about the so-called ‘counter- protesters’: ‘These are paid thugs. In some cases they are villagers who have no idea what they are being hired to do. They’re told they’re going to dance rehearsals or a religious ceremony and aren’t told what they’re really doing until they get to the city. In one case, when they found out, some got really embarrassed and started crying. # ⚓ Kansas_City_PD_Presentation_Says_Every_Shooting Investigation_Is_Handled_The_Same_Way…_Unless_It_Involves_A Cop⠀⇛ The Kansas City Police Department has managed to turn a few heads — and not in the good way — with an internal PowerPoint that may as well have been titled “So, You’ve Killed Someone.” The document was obtained during discovery in a wrongful death suit against the KCPD. Back in 2019, Officer Dylan Pifer shot and killed Terrance Bridges, claiming he thought Bridges was trying to pull a gun from his sweatshirt pocket. No gun was found on Bridges. # ⚓ Brother_of_Syrian_deserter_brutally_murdered_by_suspected ‘Wagner’_mercenaries_seeks_criminal_investigation_in_Russia⠀⇛ A Syrian national has filed an application with the Russian Investigative Committee seeking the launch of an investigation into the alleged mercenaries from the Wagner private military company (PMC) suspected of murdering his brother in Syria in 2017, reports the Memorial Human Rights Center.  o § Environment⠀➾ # ⚓ ‘Historic_and_Hopeful_Moment’:_Senate_Confirms_Haaland_as Interior_Secretary⠀⇛ One campaigner called her confirmation “a tremendous win for Indigenous communities, the waters, parks, and lands across our country, and the climate.” # ⚓ Study_Finds_Redlined_Areas_Face_Greater_Flood_Risk_From Climate_Crisis⠀⇛ “Decades of segregation and economic inequality shoehorned many people of color—especially Black Americans—into living in neighborhoods that are more vulnerable to climate change.” # ⚓ World’s_coastal_cities_face_risk_from_land_and_sea⠀⇛ As the tides rise ever higher, the world’s coastal cities carry on sinking. It’s a recipe for civic catastrophe. # ⚓ Opinion_|_A_Tale_of_Two_Cities:_One_Planning_for_the_2050s, the_Other_for_the_1950s⠀⇛ If a climate emergency resolution is to mean anything or is to be taken seriously, it must mean that the government in question puts a halt to the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure expansion within its jurisdiction. # § Energy⠀➾ # ⚓ U.S._Lawyer_Steven_Donziger_Speaks_from_House_Arrest in_NYC_After_Suing_Chevron_for_Amazon_Oil_Spills⠀⇛ Decades of reckless oil drilling by Chevron have destroyed 1,700 square miles of land in the Ecuadorian Amazon, but the company has refused to pay for the damage or clean up the land despite losing a lawsuit 10 years ago, when Ecuador’s Supreme Court ordered the oil giant to pay $18 billion on behalf of 30,000 Amazonian Indigenous people. Instead of cleaning up the damage, Chevron has spent the past decade waging an unprecedented legal battle to avoid paying for the environmental destruction, while also trying to take down the environmental lawyer Steven Donziger, who helped bring the landmark case. Donziger, who has been on house arrest for nearly 600 days, says Chevron’s legal attacks on him are meant to silence critics and stop other lawsuits against the company for environmental damage. “Chevron and its allies have used the judiciary to try to attack the very idea of corporate accountability and environmental justice work that leads to significant judgments,” Donziger says. We also speak with Paul Paz y Miño, associate director at Amazon Watch, who says the new attorney general should conduct a review of the case and the dubious grounds for Donziger’s house arrest. “The real thing that’s going on here is Chevron is attempting to literally criminalize a human rights lawyer who beat them,” Paz y Miño says. # ⚓ Jane_Fonda_Arrives_in_Minnesota_to_Back_Line_3 Opponents⠀⇛ “We’re here to try to stop it,” the famed activist and actress said of Enbridge’s crude oil pipeline. # ⚓ Argentina’s_Illegal_Oil_and_Gas_Waste_Dumps_Show ‘Dark_Side’_of_Vaca_Muerta_Drilling,_Says_Criminal Complaint⠀⇛ The raid on the Argentine waste company Comarsa by the office of Environmental Crimes and Special Laws, a unit under Neuquén’s chief prosecutor, was prompted by a lengthy criminal complaint filed to the office just a few days earlier by a group of environmental lawyers. Within the complaint, the lawyers document what they describe as a decade-long illegal accumulation of toxic fracking waste at multiple sites in the city of Neuquén, the largest city in Patagonia with a population over 300,000. The sites are located within the city and also on the outskirts of Añelo, a small desert town of 8,000 about an hour and a half drive northwest of Neuquén and the unofficial drilling capital of the Vaca Muerta. # ⚓ US_Probe_Underway_Over_Euphemistic_‘Clean_Coal’_That Actually_Increased_Pollution⠀⇛ The outcome of the congressional investigation could influence whether lawmakers vote to renew a multibillion-dollar subsidy, which expires at the end of 2021. o § Finance⠀➾ # ⚓ Opinion_|_A_Bold_US_Infrastructure_Plan_Should_Be_the_Great Economic_Equalizer⠀⇛ To build or not to build? That is the question. # ⚓ The_Stockton_Experiment:_How_a_Guaranteed_Income_Can Actually_Solve_Inequality⠀⇛ Preliminary results from the first year are tantalizing for anyone interested in solutions to address rising inequality in the United States, especially as they manifest along racial and gender lines. Within the first year, the study’s participants obtained jobs at twice the rate of the control group. At the beginning of the study, 28 percent of the participants had full-time employment, and after the first year, that number rose to 40 percent. Sukhi Samra, the director of SEED, explained to me in an interview that although Andrew Yang, the former presidential candidate now running for mayor of New York City, helped popularize the idea of a universal basic income (UBI), the Stockton study of a “guaranteed basic income” (GBI) is subtly different from Yang’s proposal. “Where guaranteed income differs,” said Samra, “is that it’s usually targeted along income lines,” rather than given to everyone. “It’s more often touted as a tool for equity, especially racial and gender equity,” she added. # ⚓ Opinion_|_278_GOP_Lawmakers_Voted_for_Trump_Tax_Scam,_But_0 Voted_for_Covid_Relief⠀⇛ The political lesson is that today’s Democrats can gain political majorities by raising the wages of both middle class and poor voters, while fighting Republican efforts to suppress the votes of likely Democrats.  # ⚓ Opinion_|_The_U.S._Government_Should_Promote_the_General Welfare⠀⇛ After years of Republican governance or obstructionism, it’s refreshing when the U.S. government actually lives up to its promise of promoting the welfare of the entire society, rather than a privileged few. # ⚓ The_Simple_Rules_of_Wealth_Inequality⠀⇛ That needn’t be. Ultimately, economic inequality comes down to the concentration of wealth at the top, and we can explain the dynamics of that concentration in a few simple rules — and one not so simple, but understandable, computation. Rule One: For those at the top, every tax is a wealth tax. # ⚓ Spain_to_Experiment_With_4-Day_Workweek,_‘an_Idea_Whose Time_Has_Come’⠀⇛ One leading advocate says Spain “will be the first country to undertake a trial of this magnitude.”  o § AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics⠀➾ # ⚓ Honor_the_Tribal_Vision_for_Bears_Ears_National_Monument⠀⇛ Ultimately, President Obama’s team lopped off more than half a million acres from the tribes’ proposal in the final designation, including Wilson Mesa, lands between White Canyon and Red Canyon, and the eastern slopes of the Abajo Mountains. These changes were made to appease local concerns, following public meetings senior Obama administration officials held with area residents. In the end, the concessions were fruitless, and the political backlash was immediate. The compromise didn’t buy any goodwill among the staunch anti-federal politicians in Utah. Many locals view nature as a resource to be dominated and exploited for commercial gain, not protected as a national treasure, and have an insular resentment of outsiders who come here for recreation. The compromise intended to build consensus instead stirred up opposition, winning no more allies than if the original tribal proposal had been adopted in the first place. Bears Ears turned out to be a repeat of the Clinton-era designation of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, after which local economies swelled with the influx of tourism, yet anti-environmental resentment remained prevalent. # ⚓ Opinion_|_MAGA_Schadenfreude_101⠀⇛ # ⚓ Russian_lawmaker_Oksana_Pushkina_will_not_stand_for reelection_in_her_district_in_September_State_Duma_race⠀⇛ During this year’s parliamentary elections, lawmaker Oksana Pushkina from the ruling United Russia party will not stand for reelection in her current district, Odintsovo single-mandate constituency No. 122 (Moscow region).  # ⚓ How_a_Colombian_Ex-President_Went_to_Bat_for_Trump_in Florida⠀⇛ Last year, the US got a small taste of its own medicine when several high-profile Colombian politicians from the ruling right-wing Centro Democrático party, including a former president, dipped their toes into the electoral waters of the Sunshine State. It has now been acknowledged in various US, Colombian, and international outlets that, both openly and behind the scenes, Colombian right-wing actors bet heavily on Trump’s campaign in Florida last year, and contributed to his victory in the state, despite Trump’s national loss. The seeds of this effort stretch back several years. Former president Álvaro Uribe (2002–2010), a right-wing leader whom US officials believed had ties to Colombian paramilitary groups responsible for human rights atrocities, has spent years forming extensive contacts with various Repblican politicians in Florida, from Senator Marco Rubio to freshman Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, whom Uribe endorsed during her congressional campaign last year. Senators from Uribe’s Centro Democrático party — including Juan David Vélez and María Fernanda Cabal — openly campaigned for Trump, while Trump’s advisors, including Cuban-American Mercedes Schlapp, took a page from Uribe’s campaign playbook by helping to engineer anti-socialist messaging in an attempt to garner votes for Trump from Cuban, Colombian, and Venezuelan diaspora communities in South Florida. These efforts represent an unprecedented level of intervention by the Colombian Right in US politics and an effort by the Colombian government to expand its foreign policy ambitions by influencing electoral outcomes in other countries throughout the Americas. o § Civil Rights/Policing⠀➾ # ⚓ Iowa_Journalist_Cleared_Of_All_Charges_In_Bullshit Prosecution_Over_‘Failure_To_Disperse’⠀⇛ The good news is that Iowa prosecutors’ attempt to jail a journalist for being present at a protest has failed. Andrea Sahouri — who was arrested while covering a George Floyd protest in Des Moines last summer — has been acquitted of all charges by a jury. But the fact that she was prosecuted at all is still problematic. # ⚓ ‘Tidal_Wave_of_Rage’:_100,000+_Australian_Women_March Against_Sexual_Violence⠀⇛ “Evil thrives in silence,” said survivor and Australian of the Year Grace Tame. “But… it gives me hope because the start of the solution is also quite simple—making noise!” # ⚓ FEMA_Ordered_to_Help_as_Border_Patrol_Holds_3,000_Migrant Children_Over_Legal_Limit⠀⇛ A lawyer who interviewed children at a facility in Texas said that “one of them shared that he could only see the sun when he showered, because you can see the sun through the window.” # ⚓ Opinion_|_US_Policy_Ignores_Palestinian_Human_Rights⠀⇛ Israel operates with impunity, while Palestinian actions have been scrutinized and condemned and their protests ignored or silenced. # ⚓ Omar_Leads_Letter_Urging_Biden_to_End_ICE_Contracts_With Local_Jails⠀⇛ The lawmakers’ letter decried detention abuses including “medical neglect, long-term use of solitary confinement, sexual assault, and lack of access to legal counsel.” # ⚓ Russian_court_confirms_that_Alexey_Navalny_is_in_custody_in Pokrov_penal_colony⠀⇛ Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny is in custody at Penal Colony No. 2 (IK-2) in the city of Pokrov in the Vladimir region. As reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, this was confirmed in a letter from Moscow’s 235th Garrison Military Court, which is set to consider the complaint filed by Navalny’s legal representatives over official inaction with regards to conducting an investigation into his August 2020 poisoning. # ⚓ ‘Our_friendly_concentration_camp’_Alexey_Navalny_confirms that_he’s_in_custody_at_a_notorious_penitentiary_in_Pokrov⠀⇛ On Monday, Alexey Navalny confirmed that he is in custody at Penal Colony No. 2 in the town of Pokrov, northeast of Moscow. His whereabouts were unknown over the weekend after the news broke on Friday that he had been transferred out of a detention center in the nearby town of Kolchugino. Navalny says he’s “doing well overall,” though he described the notorious penitentiary as a “friendly concentration camp.” According to his lawyers, with whom Navalny met on Monday, the opposition politician is set to remain in a quarantine unit for the next two weeks, after which he will be integrated with the prison’s general population. # ⚓ Rewriting_Intermediary_Liability_Laws:_What_EFF_Asks_–_and You_Should_Too⠀⇛ If anyone tells you revising these laws will be easy, they are gravely mistaken. For decades, Internet users – companies, news organizations, creators of all stripes, political activists, nonprofits, libraries, educators, governments and regular humans looking to connect – have relied on these protections. At the same time, some of the platforms and services that help make that all possible have hosted and amplified a great deal of harmful content and activity. Dealing with the latter without harming the former is an incredibly hard challenge. As a general matter, the best starting point is to ask: “Are intermediary protections the problem? Is my solution going to fix that problem? Can I mitigate the inevitable collateral effects?” The answer to all three should be a firm “Yes.” If so, the idea might be worth pursuing. If not, back to the drawing board. That’s the short version. Here’s a little more detail about what EFF asks when policymakers come knocking. What’s it trying to accomplish? o § Internet Policy/Net Neutrality⠀➾ # ⚓ The_Law_Bytes_Podcast,_Episode_80:_A_Roundtable_on_the Canadian_Challenges_of_Delivering_Universal,_Affordable Internet_Access⠀⇛ CBC News, Pandemic Highlights Internet Inequality in Canada # ⚓ Comcast_Lost_$914_Million_On_Its_New_Streaming_Service_Last Year⠀⇛ Despite bottomless pockets and all but owning state and federal regulators for the last four years, telecom continues to stumble with adaptation in the streaming video era. Verizon’s attempt to pivot from curmudgeonly old phone company to sexy new media brand fell flat on its face. AT&T’s plan to spend $200 billion on the Time Warner and DirecTV mergers to dominate the television space has resulted in them losing 8 million pay TV subscribers in just the last four years. In short, pampered telecom monopolies aren’t finding that getting ahead in more competitive markets to be particularly easy. # ⚓ The_House_Has_Proposed_An_Excellent_Broadband_Bill._Telecom Lobbyists_Will_Make_Sure_It_Never_Passes.⠀⇛ Last week the House unveiled (a previous version of this story incorrectly stated the bill had been passed) the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act. The bill, which died last year after Mitch McConnell’s Senate refused to hold a vote on it, includes a lot of great things, including spending $94 billion on expanding broadband into underserved areas. There’s a ton of other helpful things in the proposal, like boosting the definition of broadband to 100 Mbps down (and upstream), requiring “dig once” policies that deploy fiber conduit alongside any new highway bills, and even a provision requiring the FCC to create rules forcing ISPs be transparent about how much they actually charge for monthly service. # ⚓ Sacramento_Might_be_Undergoing_a_Broadband_Policy_Reboot⠀⇛ This blitzkrieg of legislative activity is understandable. California’s broadband market is undergoing a systemic crisis and market failures. More than 2 million rural Californians are trapped with Frontier Communications’ bankrupt lines. More than 1 million California students lack sufficient broadband access during this pandemic, causing a public education crisis that dwarfs most other states—forcing little kids to do their homework in fibered-up fast-food joint parking lots. And low- income Californians are systemically being skipped by incumbent fiber deployments, likely in violation of the state’s video franchise law banning socioeconomic discrimination. Senator Lena Gonzalez, the original author of EFF’s sponsored S.B. 1130, has introduced the next iteration of that effort with S.B. 4. We go into more detail about the legislation here. But, in short, the bill would affirmative embrace the small local government/non-profit model of broadband by creating a state-backed bond financing program that would enable them to take 30- to 40-year, long- term, low-interest loans to finance fiber. The legislation also makes more modest adjustments to the California Advanced Service Fund grant program, with a handful of concessions agreed to after discussions over a previous version of this bill. But, in concert with the bond program, these changes would still yield a powerful formula for ending the digital divide. Companion legislation in the Assembly led by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry (A.B. 14) has also been introduced and indicates a merger of support from both California’s Senate and Assembly on the path forward. This is welcome news, and EFF intends to support both bills as they are brought together. Local governments, particularly in rural California, are eager to take matters into their own hands, having seen the successes of other local governments in states such as Utah. There, 11 local governments banded together to build open access fiber infrastructure to enable local private competition and multi-gigabit services. o § Digital Restrictions (DRM)⠀➾ # ⚓ Amazon’s_Refusal_To_Let_Libraries_Lend_Ebooks_Shows_Why Controlled_Digital_Lending_Is_So_Important⠀⇛ The Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey Fowler recently had a very interesting article about how Amazon won’t allow the ebooks it publishes to be lent out from libraries. As someone who regularly borrows ebooks from my local libraries, I find this disappointing — especially since, as Fowler notes, Amazon really is the company that made ebooks popular. But, when it comes to libraries, Amazon won’t let libraries lend those ebooks out: o § Monopolies⠀➾ # ⚓ Rising_Market_Power—A_Threat_to_the_Recovery? [Ed: IMF warns against Pentagon-connected and taxpayers-subsidised technology monopolists]⠀⇛ The crisis has hit small and medium enterprises especially hard, causing massive job losses and other economic scars. Among these—less noticeable, but also serious—is rising market power among dominant firms as they emerge even stronger while smaller rivals fall away. We know from experience and IMF research that excessive market power in the hands of a few firms can be a drag on medium-term growth, stifling innovation and holding back investment. Such an outcome could undermine the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, and it would block the rise of many emerging firms at a time when their dynamism is desperately needed. # ⚓ Even_Murkier:_Microsoft_Says_Some_Bethesda_Games_Will Indeed_Be_Xbox,_PC_Exclusives⠀⇛ Late last year, we discussed Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda, and what it would mean for the studio’s beloved franchises. At particular issue, given that this is Microsoft we’re talking about, was whether new or existing franchises would be exclusive to Xbox consoles and/or PC. The communication out of Microsoft has been anything but helpful in this respect. First, Xbox chief Phil Spencer and Bethesda’s Todd Howard made vague statements that mostly amounted to: man, we don’t have to make Bethesda games exclusives and it’s hard to imagine us doing so. Only a few weeks later, another Microsoft representative clarified that while the company may have plans to make Bethesda games “first or best” on Microsoft platforms, “that’s not a point about being exclusive.” This naturally led most to believe that Microsoft might have timed release windows on other platforms, but wouldn’t be locking any specific titles down. # § Patents⠀➾ # ⚓ Mr_Justice_Mellor:_‘I_never_had_a_great_desire_to leave_the_bar’⠀⇛ In his first interview since joining the bench, Mr Justice Mellor talks about why patent cases are not letting up, the importance of rounded expertise, and why he left the bar # ⚓ Guest_Post:_The_Open_Source_Hardware_Association’s Perspective_on_GSK_v._Teva⠀⇛ To the Open Source Hardware (OSHW) community, the Federal Circuit’s October opinion in the ongoing appeal of GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva (“GSK”), No. 2018-1976 (Fed. Cir.) was a wolf in wolf’s clothing. Some language in the panel majority’s opinion suggested an expansion of induced infringement liability to transform mere statements of equivalence made on promotional materials into triggers for liability. This language came dangerously close to swallowing an industry extolled for democratizing science and helping the United States overcome its PPE shortage in the heart of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Federal Circuit’s subsequent choice to vacate its initial opinion and re-hear the case signals that crisis may have been averted, but the close call was a reminder of the uphill battle open design faces despite the significant public benefits it creates. We cannot predict exactly what the Federal Circuit’s new opinion will look like, but as advocates for the OSHW community, we hope the panel treads carefully. [...] Contrary to popular belief, legal education does not begin with learning the concepts of offer and acceptance in contracts, negligence in torts, or even well-pleaded complaints in Civil Procedure. No, legal education begins during recess period, when one friend (Charlie) encourages another friend (Skyler) to throw the only kickball over the school fence. When caught in the act, Skyler points the finger at Charlie’s encouragement, and the teacher must engage in a fact-finding mission to determine Charlie’s culpability. Depending on how actively Charlie encouraged Skyler, Charlie too may be spending Saturday morning in detention. The doctrine of inducement infringement in intellectual property law is no different. 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) states “whoever actively induces infringement of a patent shall be liable as an infringer.” Traditionally, § 271 (b) has been interpreted as requiring more than mere knowledge: plaintiffs must show active steps taken by the defendant that encouraged direct infringement. See, e.g., Takeda Pharm. U.S.A., Inc. v. West-Ward Pharm. Corp., 785 F.3d 625, 631 (Fed Cir. 2015) (“Merely describing an infringing mode is not the same as recommending, encouraging, or promoting an infringing use, or suggesting that an infringing use ‘should’ be performed.”) (cleaned up). To further the recess analogy, Charlie might be in trouble for imploring Skyler to throw the ball over the fence, but probably avoids culpability by merely explaining how to throw a ball so high as to clear the fence. The ongoing pharma case GSK v. Teva—chronicled by PatentlyO here and here—has the potential to expand inducement liability to encompass far more than just “active encouragement.” But doing so would threaten the OSHW community, which would have deleterious downstream effects on innovation, crisis response, and the democratization of science. The panel majority’s original opinion found Teva liable for inducing infringement of GSK’s patent on Coreg to treat congestive heart failure (“CHF”). Relevant to the OSHW community, GSK’s patents on Coreg and its non-CHF-related uses had already expired. Nevertheless, relying heavily (as Judge Prost points out in dissent) on evidence that Teva’s promotional materials referred to its generic tablets as “AB rated” equivalents of the Coreg tablets, Teva was found liable for inducing infringement despite only instructing patients and doctors to use its product for off-patent (i.e., non-CHF) uses. The panel majority seemed to assume that doctors and pateints would combine the “AB rating” with instructions GSK (not Teva!) provided on how to use Coreg to treat CHF in finding Teva liable for inducement infringement. The panel majority’s reasoning indicates that a distributor of an unpatented product used for unpatented uses A and B could still be held liable if the product was also capable of being used for patented use C. This would be true even if the distributor of the product made no mention of use C in advertising or educational materials. This broad language lessens patent holders’ burden of proving inducement and could create liability for wholly innocent OSHW developers whose statements of equivalence relate to off-patented uses entirely sepearate from and uninterested in the patented uses. [...] As we hope to have made clear, the open source hardware community spurs innovation and supports the public interest by reducing the cost of scientific research and increasing manufacturing capabilities. Any good intellectual property regime means to serve these interests. # ⚓ EPO_Patent_Index_shows_medical_innovation_driving patent_applications [Ed: More puff pieces from media in the_EPO’s_pockets, saying nothing about corruption, 100% PR]⠀⇛ Today, the European Patent Office has released its annual EPO Patent Index 2020. Given the tumultuous events of the past year, some patent attorneys in the European market expected a downturn in the number of filed patent applications and hearings before the EPO. However, the Patent Index 2020 indicates that the coronavirus pandemic has not had such a bad impact as first assumed. In fact, filed patent applications decreased by just 0.7% during 2020. In 2019, the EPO announced an amendment to its reporting cycle. The office now publishes its patent filing statistics annually every March as the Patent Index. However, in June the EPO will publish its operational results and development updates under its Strategic Plan. This was formerly known as the Annual Report. # ⚓ Health_care_innovations_drive_patent_applications_in Europe [Ed: EPO has managed to even_corrupt_large publishers_like_DW, in order for them to print EPO puff pieces instead of news]⠀⇛ # ⚓ China_files_more_European_patent_applications_despite pandemic [Ed: It is not hard to see how the EPO ‘buys’ (bribes) the media for self-serving puff pieces. The real news is, Europeans are divesting and moving away from the EPO. It’s_foreign_companies_that_take_over.]⠀⇛ # ⚓ BREAKING:_Board_of_Appeal_in_T1807/15_continues_with ViCo_oral_proceedings_referral[Ed: EPO continues breaking_the_law using “pandemic” as pretext; First comment asks: “Should the President of the BoA self- recuse: Who selects the actual members of the EBoA handling the referral? The business distribution scheme seems to be “flexible enough” to select the actual members according to the desired outcome of the referral…” (more of the same here)]⠀⇛ The Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) referral from T1807/15 concerns the legality of oral proceedings conducted via Video Conferencing (ViCo) without the consent of all parties (IPKat). There was some doubt as to whether the referral would actually go ahead, given that the party requesting the referral had already withdrawn their request. The Board of Appeal interlocutory decision in T1807/15 reveals that the Board of Appeal (3.05.02) has determined to continue with the referral. All eyes will now be on the EBA, and on whether they will accept the referral as admissible. In the meantime, until the issue of the legality of ViCo oral proceedings is clarified, parties anxiously waiting for their case to be heard by the Boards of Appeal could face further delays. [...] Patentees generally have more to gain than Opponents from delaying a final decision on the substantive issues of a case before the EPO. It might therefore have been expected that a request for a referral on the issue of ViCo would come from a Patentee as opposed to an Opponent. Surprisingly, however, the party requesting the referral in this case was the Opponent. Although, admittedly, both the Opponent and Patentee had previously indicated that they did not think the case suitable for ViCo oral proceedings. The Opponent requested the referral at the hearing on the grounds that mandatory ViCo oral proceedings violated their right to be heard. The Opponent also raised the general point of whether oral proceedings by ViCo was compatible with Article 116(1) EPC. The Opponent argued that “[t]he concept underlying Article 116(1) EPC was that the parties involved have the right to be physically present in a courtroom so that the Board members could get an immediate personal impression of the pleading parties”. Furthermore, it was argued that changes to the RPBA could not be used to amend the EPC (i.e. Article 116(1) EPC), given that revision to the EPC should be via a Diplomatic Conference (in arguments very reminiscent of G 3/19 (Pepper), IPKat) [...] So will the EBA accept the referral? Currently, all bets are off. However, even if the EBA side steps the issue in the particular instance of T1807/15, it seems highly likely that the question would be referred in another case, either because of genuine concerns with the ViCo format or as a strategy to delay a final decision on a patent. Finally, it seems to this Kat that the EPO has an interest in settling this matter as soon as possible, if they are to avoid the backlog of Board of Appeal cases growing even further. We can therefore predict a relatively speedy decision from the EBA. # § Software Patents⠀➾ # ⚓ $2,000_for_Trinity_Info_Media_prior_art⠀⇛ On March 2, 2021, Unified Patents added a new PATROLL contest, with a $2,000 cash prize, seeking prior art on at least claim 1 of U.S. Patent 9,087,321. The patent is owned by Trinity Info Media, LLC f/k/a Trinity Intel Media LLC, an NPE. The ’321 patent generally relates to a system that provides an on-line network of friends that are determined through polling each of the users. It is currently being asserted against Hornet Networks, Raya App, The League App, Covalent, and Coffee Meets Bagel. # § Copyrights⠀➾ # ⚓ Her_Story:_Transforming_Open_Through_Feminism⠀⇛ Our hope is that these conversations will inspire you to reflect on your own stories and ideas. We also hope it will motivate you to think about how you can help make open sharing more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Put simply, we want to make sharing better—to do that, we need your help. # ⚓ Linking_after_VG_Bild-Kunst_…_in_a_table⠀⇛ A week ago, The IPKat reported and commented on the important decision of the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in VG Bild-Kunst, C- 392/19. In that judgment, the CJEU admitted the possibility for rightholders to restrict linking by contract, provided that any such restrictions are imposed and/or implemented through the adoption of effective technological measures, in accordance with Article 6(1) and (3) of the InfoSoc Directive. According to the CJEU, this requirement – which, as I wrote, might raise questions of compatibility with the no formalities rule in the Berne Convention – is prompted by the need to “ensure legal certainty and the smooth functioning of the internet”. Readers may be aware that, over the past few years, I have developed IP and study aid materials (they can all be accessed here) primarily aimed at my students. Among them, there was a table – first published on The IPKat here – summarising the treatment of linking after the seminal CJEU decision in GS Media [Katposts here]. ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ ¶ Lines in total: 6806 ➮ Generation completed at 02:41, i.e. 92 seconds to (re)generate ⟲