04.22.11
Posted in Deception, Intellectual Monopoly, Patents at 10:08 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Surrender to software parents or people will die?
Summary: Monopolies on algorithms are advocated by yet another attorney who taxes science using patent monopolies and the associated bureaucracy
Steven Lundberg, somewhat of a lobbyist for software patent policies who has a blog fully dedicated just for this purpose, is still at it. The firm he is in, Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, apparently agrees with these actions of his because its name is put near it. Does that make him, Mr. Lundberg, a representative? “Here’s a Question for Opponents of Software Patents” says his new bit of deception (in the National Law Review), which goes like this: “Ok, here’s a question for the opponents of software patents: If software patents are such a drag on the software industry, why don’t the countries with weak or non-existent software patents, or at least countries with relatively few software patents, have the most innovative software industries? Perhaps they do, but I have never seen any stats supporting that proposition. It is well known and irrefutable that countries that had little or no protection for pharmaceuticals also had virtually no ethical (innovative) pharmaceutical companies. Is not the same true for software patents?”
“Microsoft and the rest of the US software industry had no patents when it was building its empire. So that answers your question right there.”
–Pamela Jones, GroklawDue to matters of scarcity and the process which may be involved in stepping inside a patent, these two are not comparable. Moreover, it’s a disingenuous attempt to compare the question about software patents to a life or death situation/dilemma. Someone asked us to address the subject today and it is probably quite timely, especially because there are Mono thugs who falsely try to suggest that I endorse patents (they spread this lie today); people in academic settings who apply for patents or receive grants from pharmaceutical companies such as AstaZeneca (their role then typically becomes to push the grant giver’s agenda in peer-reviewed journals or corrupt publications like Elsevier’s, where bribe money buys placements, e.g. Merck’s, but that’s another subject) sometimes apply for patents, but I do not and I never will; to attribute to me the preferences of some other academics is absolutely ridiculous and unfair. It’s a gross generalisation. When universities amass monopolies or even funding from companies (I am funded by the ERC by the way, so no such conflict arises), then it’s another matter altogether. It’s really dodgy stuff sometimes and I rarely restrain my scepticism.
But let’s go to the subject matter (pun intended), which is patents on drug-making. We actually addressed this subject on numerous occasions before, especially around 2009 when we also shared videos that debunk these commonly-repeated myths (e.g. patents as life savers). A few hours ago I had a one-hour conversation with a fellow professor who had researched this field for decades and he too is cynical about it. Today he explained how the vast majority of the pharmaceutical companies’ output [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] is not effective or hardly effective but because they stick together like a cartel, they can carry on selling drugs and making massive profits which they then funnel into bonuses and a lot of marketing that affects perception, not effectiveness of treatments. It’s a sure way to make money, which is what they’re all about. Patents to them are often means for excluding competitors (e.g. generics) and hiking/elevating prices to the point where the customer can barely bear it. So these patents too have their room for doubt, as we explained very recently. There is still no justification for comparing these to software development, which someone can do while traveling on the train. It is the old trick of improper analogies to support one’s weak case. Groklaw responds to Lundberg by writing: “First, it’s a mistake to compare pharma with software. The development model is too different. Second, Microsoft and the rest of the US software industry had no patents when it was building its empire. So that answers your question right there. And as for being a drag, Gates himself said if there had been patents allowed on software when he was starting Microsoft, he would have failed. And even Justice Breyer in the Microsoft v. i4i oral argument indicated an awareness that there are problems from issued patents, so it’s too late to pretend that nothing bad happened from allowing patents on software. If you continue to deny reality, you will allow incumbents to destroy Linux and other FOSS software, which is a very foolish economic decision on your part, since it benefits only a convicted monopolist.”
One need not expect Steven Lundberg to be persuaded or to change his mind. He is in it for the money, not the science, but it is important to ensure he cannot bamboozle scientists into thinking he is on their side. Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner is not the voice of reason. █
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Posted in GNU/Linux, Microsoft, Novell, OIN, OpenSUSE, Patents at 5:43 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: “Novell sold out the community,” explains the editor of Groklaw, who proceeds to warning about other vassals of Microsoft that infiltrate the Linux community to change its goals Kamikaze-style
Yesterday we wrote a couple of posts about Novell and the OIN [1, 2], noting quite rightly based on the evidence that Novell is betraying the OIN and turning its back on the GNU/Linux community by giving software patents to Microsoft.
For reasons we explained many times before (and provided supporting examples), Novell’s role in the Linux Foundation was also somewhat dubious. Novell was Microsoft’s bridge into the Linux Foundation (see the LF-Microsoft banner at the top, as we used it in this context a couple of years back).
“After Novell sold out the community, the Linux Foundation wants another Microsoft partner to join up and participate in groups working on legal topics?”
–Pamela JonesThe Linux Foundation now opens its doors to a Yahoo! which is occupied by Microsoft folks and Groklaw is concerned. “After Novell sold out the community,” explains Pamela Jones, “the Linux Foundation wants another Microsoft partner to join up and participate in groups working on legal topics? I can’t imagine how anyone could imagine that would work out well. Why not just let Microsoft join, then, if they are going to get the news almost that fast, conceivably, anyway?”
Well, maybe put Elop in there too? That’s already done because Nokia is a Gold Member and the Microsoft executives-occupied VMware, for example, is a Silver Member. Still far from entryism, but still…
It was only yesterday that we wrote about Microsoft’s and Elop’s (a Microsoft mole inside Nokia) sense of urgency in sealing the deal, with the possibility causing problems to Android, using patents too. Here is what Tim wrote amid the signing and the profits slump:
To me, this early signing shows that its crunch time. Microsoft in my view has realized its now or never and it’s got to be quick. Do I think this will make any difference to the acceptance of WP7? – No. Do I think the WP7 will be Ballmers final stand? – Yes. Do I think that everything concerning the WP7 is too little too late? – Yes.
Nokia has already given hints that it may use patents. Maybe it will even sell some to Microsoft if it cannot sue Android directly (it would be frowned upon by the Linux Foundation, even though SCOracle and Google were not secured by common membership in the OIN, for example). Novell “changes patent sale terms” to enable Microsoft to receive its patents, reports AP (via BusinessWeek). There too one can sense urgency:
The Justice Department said CPTN has altered the patent deal in a number of ways. Microsoft will sell back to Attachmate all of the patents that it would have received. But it will keep a license to use those patents as well as the patents that the other companies are purchasing and any patents that Novell keeps. EMC will not receive 33 Novell patents and applications that are related to visualization software.
In addition, all of the Novell patents included in the CPTN deal will be subject to open-source licenses for the GNU and Linux operating systems. CPTN won’t have the right to limit which patents are available under the Linux license and neither CPTN nor its owners will attempt to influence or encourage Waltham, Mass.-based Novell or Attachmate to change which patents are available under the Linux license.
As legal people in Groklaw point out, comparing patents to matters of copyrights (GPL) hardly makes sense as that’s like mixing apples and oranges, then comparing them. Additionally, they refer to GPLv2 and not “or later” (GPLv3 contains language that addresses software patents). “I’m not sure what this means,” wrote Groklaw initially, “that the patents would be “subject to” the GPL. I’ll try to find out.” Groklaw also explains that AttachMSFT and Unxis are unlikely to make any case which jeopardises Linux because there is no copied code. To quote parts of the very interesting new article (“SCO’s nemesis announces her retirement”):
Unxis is holding a busted hand if it has dreams of threatening to sue Linux users over copyrights again. “As for any hopes people have about suing others with the copyrights that the court ruled SCO didn’t get, my analysis is that it won’t work. The court ruled that Novell didn’t transfer them,” PJ said.
Even Attachmate, which is buying Novell and therefore might end up with the AT&T Unix copyrights, will find it very difficult to sue Linux users over those copyrights, PJ thinks. “If you know the history of Unix, you know, as pointed out in the USL/BSDi case in New Jersey, that for a long time AT&T relied on trade secret, not copyright, protection. Back then you had to register your copyright or you lost out and had to rely on trade secret instead. And that is precisely what AT&T did.”
There is still no sign of commitment from AttachMSFT to OpenSUSE, which barely generates any news anymore, with few minor exceptions [1, 2]. What Novell truly left the Linux community with is Mono and Moonlight infestation which might take a very long time to clean up/wash away. Boycott Novell to defend Linux and GNU. Avoid Novell products like Mono. █
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Posted in Apple, Vista, Windows at 4:49 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Apple’s latest blunder is its practice — either intentional or not — of eavesdropping on users, which leaves people’s entire travel history on any computer the “iDevices” synchronise with (even the police’s)
Apple, the anti-Linux aggressor (e.g. with software patents), is in hot water right now. In response to its ridiculously pathetic lawsuit against Samsung it is now being sued itself:
Samsung Electronics Co. said it sued Apple Inc. (AAPL) claiming patent infringement, a week after the iPhone maker filed a complaint in U.S. federal court alleging the South Korean company copied its products.
Samsung submitted complaints to courts in Seoul, Tokyo and Mannheim, Germany, alleging Apple infringed patents related to mobile-communications technologies, Suwon-based Samsung said in an e-mailed statement today. Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Apple, declined to comment and referred back to the company’s complaint filed last week.
However, the very latest blunder Apple found itself in has a lot to do with privacy, or lack thereof. Groklaw has assembled some links that include self-explanatory quotes:
-
Following widespread attention drawn by a file embedded on Apple iPhones and iPads that keeps a detailed log of the devices’ location, Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has sent Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs a letter asking him to explain the purpose of the file.
-
The Michigan Police Force has denied the unlawful use of a device that can extract all your cell phone information, the same technology that is embedded in many of our cell phones.
The data extraction devices (DED) are manufactured by CelleBrite and can quickly extract mobile data, such as contacts, photos, and deleted text messages, from your SD card. CelleBrite counts Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and other major carriers as customers; the technology is used to transfer data to a new phone when you upgrade.
-
The Michigan State Police have a high-tech mobile forensics device that can be used to extract information from cell phones belonging to motorists stopped for minor traffic violations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan last Wednesday demanded that state officials stop stonewalling freedom of information requests for information on the program.
ACLU learned that the police had acquired the cell phone scanning devices and in August 2008 filed an official request for records on the program, including logs of how the devices were used. The state police responded by saying they would provide the information only in return for a payment of $544,680. The ACLU found the charge outrageous.
-
Can police steal information from your cell phone? That’s the charge against the Michigan State Police by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.
The ACLU says the MSP is dodging its requests to disclose information on data extraction devices.
Police say they’re complying with the law and that the ACLU is stirring up controversy.
The ACLU of Michigan says the Michigan State Police is withholding information about its data extraction devices that can store all the information on your cell phone.
Mark Fancher, ACLU of Michigan Racial Justice Project staff attorney says, “The only thing that we have been asking is that they confirm for us by producing documents that demonstrates that they are complying with constitutional requirements.”
The Michigan State Police says turning over all of the documents would cost more than half a million dollars.
-
“If it’s true that this information is being collected, and it is being done without the approval and knowledge of the users, then it is definitely a violation of German privacy law,” Mr. Kranig said.
Separately, Groklaw posted a link to the following new item from Schneier, which ought to remind people of COFEE (Vista and other versions of Windows include surveillance bits):
-
Increasingly, chains of evidence include software steps. It’s not just the RIAA suing people — and getting it wrong — based on automatic systems to detect and identify file sharers. It’s forensic programs used to collect and analyze data from computers and smart phones. It’s audit logs saved and stored by ISPs and websites. It’s location data from cell phones. It’s e-mails and IMs and comments posted to social networking sites. It’s tallies from digital voting machines. It’s images and meta-data from surveillance cameras. The list goes on and on. We in the security field know the risks associated with trusting digital data, but this evidence is routinely assumed by courts to be accurate.
Here again is the Jobs video that we posted last night. Listen to what he says about privacy at Apple. Considering how secretive the company is, privacy at Apple applies only to its members of staff. For everyone else, Apple is just Big Brother software. What we need now is a free (as in liberty) phone platform and independent carriers that do not log calls/locations using signal triangulation. █
Steve Jobs on privacy, Steve Jobs at the D8 Conference (Video)
For context, see the “Privacy” links at the top. How foolish he must look now.
Credit: TinyOgg
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Posted in Apple, GNU/Linux, Google at 4:33 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Another firm which tells people what to think of market share (and is paid by Microsoft) belittles Android
A report which gets quoted widely heralding the power of Apple is actually severely flawed and its source, ComScore, is one that we criticised before for spinning figures in favour of Microsoft after being paid by Microsoft several times. Such firms are choosing methods that decide what to count in order to get the required FUD — an endemic problem for sure and one that we remind readers to keep in mind. Neil Richards has just explained why this “comScore Report That Apple iOS Has Beaten Google Android Seems Flawed!” Here is part of his explanation:
I don’t understand this comparison as Android doesn’t even compete in the portable music player segment of iPod Touch. I also wonder if comScore took into account the ‘devices’ and not just the smartphones running on Android. I would very much like to know if comScore included Android-powered devices like Barnes & Nobel’s NOOK which hold a huge market share in the eBook segment.
In general, GNU/Linux market share figures (not just on the desktop) are a commonly abused area of statistics. Look at what Gartner is doing. One radical example are the flawed figures from IDC, which insists on counting revenue as “market share” rather than actually count boxes. Gartner and IDC too are both paid by Microsoft. █
“Lies, damned lies, and statistics”
–Benjamin Disraeli
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Posted in Bill Gates, Deception at 4:15 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Domination of media and public perception a greater concern when an entity masquerading as a charity buys the news
IT IS common practice for plutocrats to create an investment arm masquerading as a charity for exemptions from tax. Many rich families are doing it and the word “foundation” — like the Rockefeller or Gates Foundation — is a commonly used one. Such foundations are relying a great deal on controlling the press and changing public opinion in favour of the super-wealthy, spreading a perception of benevolence and dependence (nation upon the ruling class). Gates is probably becoming a leader (if not a monopolist) in that regard by spending a million dollars per day just buying praise from the press (not doing actual work, just advertising it). We wrote about this before and so have many others, who are clearly concerned about Gates’ acquisition of news sources. According to this new list of Gates’ portfolio, he is also investing in more media companies, not just giving them money to cover the ‘news’ the way he wants them to: [via Groklaw]
Which Stocks Are in Bill Gates’ Portfolio? Part 2
[...]
# Groupo Televisa S.A. (TV): This Mexico-based media company specializes in television broadcast and publishing both domestically and abroad. The company hit a 52-week high of $26.67 on January 4, 2011, and as of last trade, their stock price was at 23.95. Their trailing P/E is currently $2,998.75, and their forward P/E is $17.77.
Some of the following companies from part 2 of the list we have already covered before. For instance:
BP plc (BP): Coming up on the year anniversary of their massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP is still in a recovery period. At last trade, their stock was at $46.65, a considerable increase from its 52-week low of $26.75 in June of 2010. The company’s dividend yield is 3.70% and their forward P/E is $7.02. Gates isn’t the only major investor sticking with BP. Investment Underground’s look into T. Boone Pickens’ portfolio revealed he recently added to his shares of the company.
Monsanto’s patent monopolies are also in Gates’ financial interests:
Monsanto Company (MON): Monsanto provides agricultural products to farmers in the U.S. and abroad. The company recently entered into a deal with the Germany-based BASF to collaborate on a cropping system that will help with weed control and crop safety. Their current stock price is 71.23, and their dividend yield is 1.60%. Monsanto’s trailing P/E is $34.58, and their forward P/E is $21.19.
And lastly, the company which causes hunger (for profit):
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS): New York–based Goldman Sachs Group specializes in investment banking, securities and investment management. Their stock is currently at 157.81, and their forward dividend yield is 0.90%. Currently, Goldman Sachs’ trailing P/E is 11.98 and their forward P/E is 8.44.
The Gates Foundation’s main function is investment. It manages to do that without taxation which applies to most investors as long as the foundation can paint itself as “philanthropic” (which explains the publicist part of it). A lot of other foundations use the same trick and the same loophole and it is a problem which needs to be addressed. The world’s richest people just don’t pay tax and at the same time they bemoan the poor economy (which hasn’t treated them too badly) and advise on these matters ‘on behalf’ of the poor. █
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Posted in Microsoft, OSI, Patents at 3:41 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
(ODF | PDF | English/original)
Resumen: Michael Tiemann dice que Florian Müller “procede a emitir insensateces” después de insultar a la Open Source Initiative (OSI), respecto a la defensa del Free/Open Source.
MICROSOFT esta lascivamente deseando las patentes de Novell y Microsoft Florian[http://techrights.org/wiki/index.php/Florian_M%C3%BCller] sigue lamiéndose los labios sobre la posibilidad de que Microsoft y otros obtengan algunos de las llamadas “patentes de FOSS Free Open Source Software” para amenazar con Linux. Es más transparente basado en lo que escribe, especialmente se regodea (e insulta) en su cuenta de Twitter. No es el único sin embargo.
Jon Brodkin de IDG, a quien conocemos por sus esfuerzos de blanqueo de Microsoft (de los que recientemente dio ejemplos [1[http://techrights.org/2011/03/21/wp7-dissed-by-mobile-industry/], 2[http://techrights.org/2011/03/03/idg-microsoft-whitewash/], 3[http://techrights.org/2010/08/30/microsoft-foss-deception-again/]], y él también habla con Florian), dice que “EE.UU. Defensa de la Competencia revisará Microsoft/Novell venta de patentes por 30 días más[http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/72127]“. Florian mientras tanto difunde desinformación, tratando de apurar el juicio o inyectar un poco de desinformación mientras que Florian engaña a la gente (hay un informe CPTLN inexacta en ZDNet Reino Unido, tal vez como resultado de esto[http://techrights.org/2011/04/16/zdnet-uk-censorship-debate/]), cuando en realidad incluso su amigo en línea Maureen O ‘Gara se da cuenta de que no hay liquidación[http://www.sys-con.com/node/1795207]. Brodkin, un blogger de Microsoft, lo está girando como en defensa de Microsoft (“Escudo de las demandas …”) [1[http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/224751/novell_patent_sale_to_shield_microsoft_apple_emc_and_oracle_from_lawsuits.html], 2[http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/040811-novell-patents.html]], es sin duda este título[http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/novell-patent-sale-raises-concerns-but-still-likely-to-proceed] que lo convierte en un fan de la oferta, al igual que Florian. El acuerdo de patentes es atroz (FSF y OSI están de acuerdo e incluso trabajan en conjunto en contra de ella, de una manera sin precedentes), mientras que los boosters de Microsoft están anunciando o prediciendo su éxito incluso antes de que sea aprobado. ¿Están tratando de influir en la decisión mediante la generación de afirmaciones falaces? A decir verdad, hemos escrito sobre esto antes[http://techrights.org/2011/04/10/all-software-patents-are-bad/]. Dado que la multitud a favor de Microsoft está tan ansiosos por ver esas patentes caer en los brazos de Microsoft, sabemos con certeza que la FSF y OSI están en lo correcto y para citar una respuesta de “Barney”[http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2011-04-11-001-41-PS-0000], destinado a apuntar a Brodkin de (título es “La Venta de Patentes de NOvell un Escudo de Microsoft, Apple, EMC y Oracle en contra de Demandas “):
Escudo? no querrá decir espada.
Yo realmente no veo Microsoft, Apple, ni Oracle sean pasivos en lo que respecta a la utilización de esas patentes y a mi modo de ver, se utilizarán para reducir la tecnología productos basados en código abierto (también conocido como Linux).
Sólo hay una respuesta[http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2011-04-11-001-41-PS-0001] y una que no tiene en cuenta la actitud de las empresas ante a la competencia y cómo utilizan las patentes. Ellos son los agresores. Mientras tanto, la maquinaria de propaganda de Microsoft Florian se pone en marcha otra vez y responde el jefe de la OSI[http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2011-04-08-011-41-OP-LL-0000]:
Florian Mueller acusa que la OSI esta soltando tonterías, y luego procede a emitirlas él mismo. Le estoy llamando la atención por ello.
La FCO ha manifestado claramente las condiciones en las que pueden y cuando el acuerdo debe ser bloqueada, que es cuando cuando la transacción CPTLN crearía o “reforzaría una posición dominante de uno o varios inversores CPTLN-en los mercados en que actúan.” Florian piensa que es una barrera imposiblemente alta, porque según él, no hay realmente ninguna manera que los reguladores puedan para hacer su trabajo. Rechazo esa conclusión cínica. Y me siento satisfecho de que los reguladores en los EE.UU. y la UE están leyendo cuidadosamente tanto los requisitos legales y los hechos y la evidencia de la transacción. Ya hemos visto un gran cambio en la estructura de la transacción CPTLN, lo que indica que hubo claramente algunas cuestiones muy graves con la primera estructuración.
En el mundo del código abierto, un parche rechazado nunca es aceptado automáticamente por el mero hecho algunos cambios fueron hechos al azar y presentado de nuevo el parche. El parche debe abordar las cuestiones de fondo, y debe hacerlo de una manera que sea aceptada por la comunidad. Se acepta que el *mantenedor* dice que es bastante bueno, no cuando el presentador dice que es lo suficientemente bueno.
La transacción propuesta revisada CPTLN se refirió a una de las muchas preocupaciones planteadas por la OSI, pero deja a la mayoría de los problemas sin resolver. La FCO solicitó nuestro aporte-como miembros de nuestra comunidad y nos han dado respuesta. Debemos dejar que el FCO hacer su trabajo, y no más allá que su autoridad, su capacidad o su integridad.
Como el siguiente comentarista señaló[http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2011-04-08-011-41-OP-LL-0002]:
Ojalá este resumen, como la mayoría en Linux Hoy en día, había identificado al autor del artículo. Esta es una importante pieza de información que yo uso a la hora de decidir si deseo o no hacer clic para leer un artículo.
Y el siguiente después de él[http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2011-04-08-011-41-OP-LL-0003l]:
Gracias por ese post informativo, Michael. Cuando ví que el vínculo era con el “Software Libre de Patentes”, decidí evitar hacer clic.
Barnie pregunta[http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2011-04-08-011-41-OP-LL-0004]: “Florian – ¿Alimentas que las ofertas de patente de Microsoft están justificadas?
En los últimos años hemos visto que Microsoft ocupa (al parecer por amenazas de acciones legales) extrajo ofertas de patentes con empresas de la talla de HTC, TomTom y muchos otros.
¿Cree usted que alguna de estas ofertas están justificados y que creen que el sistema actual está funcionando?
Florian aparece un par de veces en este tema, sólo para insistir en el mismo giro y la distorsión de los hechos (su táctica principal, también en contra de mensajeros que no está de acuerdo con, por ejemplo, Groklaw y Techrights). Rainer Weikusat cierra la conversación con:
> 1) Si fuera por mí, las patentes de este tipo
> No se concederían en el primer lugar.
.
Pero no es “hasta que”, es decir, cualquier declaración sobre
esta de su lado es puramente hipotética: No
“Test de realidad” de su veracidad nunca ocurrirá
y en el contexto de la cuestión real, también es
completamente irrelevante.
.
> No creo que es razonable conceder
> Monopolios de 20 años en las ideas relacionadas con el software. Este
> es independiente de si estamos hablando de
> FAT de Microsoft multitouch, Apple, Oracle virtuales máquina
>, Amazon un solo clic o patente Google Doodle
> (Sí, patentado que uno y fue la patente
> Concedido recientemente, y en mi opinión es más
> Absurda en esta lista).
.
Es por lo menos sobre una invención original,
frente a alguien con tareas de diseño e implementación
una manera de agregar “nombres de archivo largos” a un directorio de DOS
de una manera que no moleste el software escrito para
uso de nombres 8.3 ‘(algo que cualquier programador decente
ser fácilmente capaz de) y, a continuación el resultado de las patentes
de este trabajo con el fin de obstaculizar independientes,
implementaciones interoperables.
.
> 2) Teniendo en cuenta que este tipo de patentes existen, sin embargo,
> Es el curso normal de los negocios de ese derecho
los titulares de> querer usarlos. Si la concesión de licencias en
> Condiciones razonables, que es infinitamente mejor que cualquier
> Uso estratégico de exclusión de las patentes
.
La pregunta interesante, sin embargo, es lo que precisamente
que constituye una “manera razonable”. Por ejemplo, legalmente,
Linux está prohibido de ser completamente interoperables
con sistemas de creación de sistemas de archivos a través del “nombre largo
método de adición “patentado por Microsoft, con la excepción
en la medida en propiedad de los módulos del kernel de dudosa legalidad
el estado se utilizan. Y en mi opinión, esto es “estratégica,
el uso excluyente de las patentes “: Si bien la licencia de uso
esta “invención” puede estar disponible para ‘empresas’ que
sólo se concede a condición de que dicho
las empresas no participiate en gran escala
de colaboración de desarrollo los esfuerzos de Microsoft considera
a ser potencialmente perjudicial para su negocio en marcha
éxito. Esto también convenientemente ignora el hecho de que
“Desarrollo” una gran cantidad de no se hace por «empresas»
producción de software, debido a “valor de venta” de su (y
por lo tanto, capaz de pagar derechos de autor).
La legitimidad de Microsoft Florian en los círculos del software libre del que pretende ser el campeón, está en su punto más bajo de todos los tiempos. Cualquier cosa que se puede atribuir a él en el pasado está siendo reemplazada por el engaño inaceptable y su hostilidad hacia la libertad del software, incluyendo su lenguaje y comportamiento grosero. Florian el autor no es Florian el lobbyist y él admite que nunca escribió FOSS.
La Vergonzosa Defensa de Ofertas de patente de Microsoft Florian se detalla aquí.
–Comentario por Twitter—
Preface
He incluido este comentario de Twitter por que explica detalladamente la actitud propagandista del empleado de Microsoft: Microsoft Florian, como siembra desinformación, ataca a los que lo desemascaran y a todo aquel que proteste por la manera como quiere justificar como Microsoft utiliza las patentes asi como las que quiere obtener de CPTLN para destruir Linux. No nos olvidemos, MS Florian es un empleado de Microsoft es lo que explica la manera que actúa.
Florian ha tenido éxito en jugar a Slashdot. Sus insultos a Groklaw y Techrights que siguierón de cerca el anuncio del retiro de PJ me molesto por lo que me decidí a ver lo que Florian Mueller ha estado diciendo a Slashdot[http://slashdot.org/~twitter/journal/263284]. Se las arregló para inyectar su opinión 16 veces en el último año, sobre todo FUD en contra de los competidores de Microsoft. Cada uno de los 16 artículos Slashdot representa muchas más publicaciones de prensa de Microsoft. Compare la calumnia prolífica en contra de Red Hat, Google, IBM, RMS, la Free Software Foundation y otros a su falta de preocupación por Microsoft. Buscando en su blog podemos encontrar:
No se hace mención de Intelectual Ventures[http://slashdot.org/~twitter/journal/263284]
No se hace mención de Nathan Myhrvold[http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site%3Afosspatents.blogspot.com++%22nathan+myhrvold%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=]
Menciona Microsoft Abogado de patentes 4 veces[http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&ei=K0OqTaWGFeWR0QGeoKT5CA&ved=0CBYQvwUoAQ&q=site%3Afosspatents.blogspot.com+gutierrez&spell=1], sobre todo para llevar a la gente a leer la opinión de Microsoft.
Una vez le pregunté si leyó mi Línea de Tiempo de Microsoft Extorsión de Patentes[http://techrights.org/2010/11/14/msft-extorsion-es/]–un deber leerla para entender la real actitud de Microsoft uso de patentes-, y le pregunté por qué no persiguió a Microsoft y sus evidente ataques en contra de GNU/Linux y el Software Libre. Se quedó en silencio en aquel momento. Ahora veo que produjo esta pobre excusa[http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2010/08/microsofts-use-of-patents.html] de “el enfoque cooperativo de Microsoft en cuanto a las patentes[http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html].” En su defensa de Microsoft, rechaza las acusaciones de que él es un lobbyst de Microsoft en el que no se puede confiar. Entonces, nos dice[http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2010/08/microsofts-use-of-patents.html],
Microsoft no utiliza sus patentes en una forma destructiva. No sólo se sientan en sus patentes sin hacer nada, pero son un soporte de cooperación de derechos que no los utilizan para eliminar a la competencia. … Los desarrolladores, sin embargo, en general, les gusta el software libre FOSS. Así que no puedo ver cómo Microsoft iría a la guerra en contra de la comunidad. … Hay una buena posibilidad de que la coexistencia pacífica de Microsoft con el software libre seguirá y cada vez más fructífera. … Microsoft no tiene ese tipo de problemas [de lavar sus acciones]. … Es más realista esperar un titular de una patente que hacer es la concesión de licencias en condiciones “equitativas”, “razonables” y “no discriminatorias” (FRAND[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#RAND]). … Las ofertas de licencia son generalmente una buena noticia … Microsoft sólo demandó a esas empresas porque no estaban absolutamente dispuestos a hacer un acuerdo de licencias. En cada uno de los casos, … La clave para mí es que todas esas demandas se podrían haber evitado fácilmente. Si Microsoft sigue usando sus patentes en la forma cooperativa, razonable que los ha utilizado hasta ahora, entonces no creo que haya una amenaza a los proyectos de software libre o las empresas.
Esta es una vergonzosa defensa de la estrategia de Microsoft contra el software libre. Según el correo electrónico de Microsoft expuestas en el Microsoft vs Comes caso antimonopolio, está claro que el objetivo de Microsoft era imponer costes externos, los “riesgos” y el miedo a los usuarios de GNU/Linux y las empresas. El ataque fue planeado en 2002, ejecutado en 2004 y continúa hasta nuestros días[http://slashdot.org/~twitter/journal/219107]. Microsoft se jacta de que han anotó docenas, si no cientos de contribuyentes de licencia, las empresas que utilizan software de Microsoft que no posee. Florian describe esta extorsión judicial como “cooperativa”, “justa”, “razonable” y “no discriminatoria”. Me pregunto si él sentiría lo mismo si yo tuviera que decirle que tengo una patente sobre FUD, pero yo no quiero que deje de escribir FUD, yo sólo quiero mi parte justa de compensación, el 25% es suficiente, de lo contrario lo voy a atar en el tribunal por la próxima década, embargo de sus escritos en los EE.UU. y la UE y crear una serie de redes para trabajar en su reputación a través de mi extensa red de publicaciones técnicas, empresas de relaciones públicas, abogados y lobbysts. Tan pronto como se tome la molestia de pagar, voy a establecer una media docena de servidores proxy después de él. Cuando eso es la realidad de otra persona, eso está bien con él.
Su reciente trabajo ha costado mucho a su reputación. La gente se percató de que era la fuente de la FUD de los derechos de autor de Android y pensarón mal de él. Los ataques en contra de “Groklie”, PJ, probablemente le costarón más. En la manera típica de matón de Microsoft, está culpando al golpe a su reputación a PJ y a otros que se han dado cuenta de lo que está haciendo. █
Translation produced by Eduardo Landaveri, the esteemed administrator of the Spanish portal of Techrights.
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Posted in News Roundup at 3:26 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Contents
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I’m tired of everybody cringing in the corner apologizing for GNU/Linux and FOSS. I’m tired of these submissive little floor-kissers scurrying around to rush to the frat-hazing list of demands presented by the troll community. I’m tired of Linux being the only platform that is always under attack.
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Server
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IBM continued to build momentum around its mainframe hardware, as Novell introduced extended Linux support for the big iron platform while Big Blue itself said it had snagged a significant competitive win for System z from Hewlett-Packard and Oracle.
Novell said it would for the first time add SUSE Linux on System z to its Long Term Service Pack Support program. Under LTSS, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server customers get three years of additional support, mostly covering access to new service and security packs, in addition to seven years of general support.
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Google
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You may or may not have seen the news about the Google Chrome production notebooks floating around the web today. Ariotech reports that “Google product manager Sundar Pichai said, Google were still fixing some bugs and improving compatibility with devices such as digital cameras on Chrome OS.” and that they expected the company to release the devices during “Summer 2011.”
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Kernel Space
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Dissatisfied with the Qemu code, the developers have created a simple emulation tool for KVM. The latest drivers for Intel graphics chips improve the kernel’s support for the video components of various current processors; a wealth of new long-term and stable kernels fix bugs and security holes.
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Applications
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Instructionals/Technical
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Games
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With Linux matching Windows and Mac head-to-head in almost every field, indie developers are ensuring that gaming on Linux doesn’t get left behind. We’ve covered various types of games that are available for Linux, from the best MMORPGs to the top action-packed First Person Shooters. While most of these games are free, there are a few paid games that have come out for Linux.
[...]
In the free world of Linux and Open-source, many people argue that if everything is ‘free’, why should I pay for a game? Of course, the Linux world is free but free doesn’t mean free as in ‘free beer’, the word free implies freedom. Most of the popular games for Windows, now come with SecuROM and other such DRM restrictions that restrict one’s fair-use rights. This means that the user will only be able to use the software on one machine, sometimes requiring constant activations.
Games and other software developed in the FOSS world don’t have such absurd restrictions. Users are free to use and distribute the game, and yes there’s none of that activation or cd-key nonsense. While these games respect the user’s freedom, keeping them free (as in free beer) is not a viable option because developers have to devote a lot of time and money in making these games. So, shelling out a few dollars for these games will help the indie developers pay their rent as well as come up with many new games for this emerging gaming platform.
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I’m only mentioning this so readers will hopefully stop emailing me regarding the references that have been discovered within Valve’s Mac OS X launcher to their new Portal 2 game regarding Linux support.
It’s already been mentioned on the Phoronix Forums, Valve Forums, and elsewhere, but I’ve now received at a dozen or two e-mails, Facebook messages, etc of readers informing me about the Linux checks within Valve’s Mac OS X Portal 2 client. They keep flowing in and in hopes of them stopping, I’m posting this message now.
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To help kick off what’s sure to be one of our smallest game reviews ever, allow me to ask two simple questions. First, has Valve ever released a less-than-stellar game title? And second, could Portal 2 really be the one to stray from the pack? On second thought… don’t answer those. It’d totally negate the need for a review, wouldn’t it?
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Desktop Environments
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The third major installment of the Gnome desktop released earlier this month and I am sure many users found themselves shell shocked with more than a few of the changes. Some will adjust, some will stick with Gnome 2 (or the classic desktop), and I am sure more than a few will go looking for something else to use as their desktop of choice. Bruce Byfield recently did an overview of seven alternatives to the Gnome 3 desktop and the second one he lists is the Enlightenment desktop.
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Unity, KDE 4.6, Gnome 3 … are they all improvements, if they’re requiring the same amount of time, but more powerful hardware?
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K Desktop Environment/KDE SC)
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What actions can be configured? Any of the following:
* No Action.
* Show Dashboard.
* Show Desktop.
* Lock Screen.
* Prevent Screen Locking.
* Present Windows — All Desktops.
* Present Windows — Current Desktop.
* Desktop Grid.
* Desktop Cube.
* Desktop Cylinder.
* Desktop Sphere.
* Flip Switch — All Desktops.
* Flip Switch — Current Desktop.
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GNOME Desktop
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I have been using Fedora 15 for several weeks now and while I normally use Xmonad as my main desktop environment I have been using GNOME 3 so that I can work on Fedora Docs with a better understanding of the new system.
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Red Hat Family
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There are several critical questions we need to answer now. Is Scientific Linux any good? Yes, it is. It is a very robust, very decent, very capable desktop distro, with lots of great things. However, it requires some extra work to get fully configured.
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Fedora
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I haven’t had time to poke around with all the new features yet. I’ve only been running the Beta for a few hours. I don’t have any complaints so far.
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Debian Family
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Canonical/Ubuntu
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Ubuntu Natty Beta 2 is out and this is the last Ubuntu Natty beta before the official release on April 28th. So what’s new in this beta? Well compared to the previous beta 1 there aren’t many visible changes except for lots of bug fixes and improvement in the stability of unity.
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Moving to Natty is not mere upgrading some code or some software packages. Moving to Natty needs us to change, to learn and to de-learn. You can’t move to Natty unless and until you ‘quit’ the Ubuntu you knew. Otherwise you will continue to struggle with trying to drag and drop applications on the top menu. Quit Ubuntu, if you want to move to Natty! Like it or not, that’s true.
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Canonical confirmed that it will ship Ubuntu 11.04 (“Natty Narwhal”) on April 28, and announced a new online trial version of the Linux operating system. The U.K.-based company also announced some new details of its server edition, including easier provisioning and a fully certified J2EE stack.
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Do you use Windows not because you like it or there’s some specific Windows-only application that you must use but because it’s what came on your PC? If that’s you, Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, wants you to try their soon to be out Ubuntu 11.04 Linux desktop.
When I talked with Canonical marketing manager Gerry Carr, I hadn’t expected him to say that. Over the last few years, Linux desktop vendors haven’t really tried to take on Windows head-on. Oh, to be certain, I think the Linux desktop is great. I’m writing this story on Mint 10, an Ubuntu variant, and I use openSUSE 11.4, Fedora 14, and MEPIS 8.0 on other PCs and laptops. But, I know most people are content to use Windows because that’s what comes on their PCs. Carr thinks though that with Ubuntu 11.04’s new desktop interface and a few other tricks up Canonical’s sleeve, Ubuntu can win over “casual Windows users.”
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I just returned from a trip to the Scottish Highlands in search of the Loch Ness Monster and the Bonnie Prince. While I’m sad to report that both remain elusive, I did spot Ubuntu in use by a small business where I least expected it. Here are the details.
I took advantage of a few free days after a conference in London last week to travel up to Scotland, a gorgeous country which I’d never seen. After stops in different parts of the Lowlands, I made my way to Inverness, the rugged Highlands’ only real city. It’s a short drive from Loch Ness, which needs no introduction, and from Culloden, where the last attempt of the lawful sovereigns of Great Britain to recapture the throne from usurping foreigners ended in disaster in 1746.
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If you have nothing better to do next Thursday after stuffing yourself full of Easter lamb or ham on Sunday, you might want to wander over to Canonical, get a slice of “Natty Narwhal”, and chew on a bit of Ubuntu Server 11.04.
The Natty Narwhal release is based on the Linux 2.6.38 kernel, which came out in mid-March with lots of interesting performance enhancements. One of the important ones is transparent huge pages (THPs), which boost the memory page size from 4KB to 2MB and considerably speed up database, virtual machine hypervisor, and guest operating system performance.
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When Canonical releases the latest version of its Ubuntu Linux operating system on 28 April, it’s ready to take on Windows. At least that’s what Director of Communications Gerry Carr told PC Advisor in an exclusive interview to promote Ubuntu 11.04 ‘Natty Narwhal’.
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The April 28 release of the open-source operating system update may be the most exciting yet for Ubuntu Linux. Here’s an advance tour of the features, including the Unity desktop and the Compiz window manager.
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Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu version of Linux, is making a new push for a larger slice of the PC market with a series of changes in the next version of the operating system, scheduled for release next week. The upgrade, Ubuntu 11.04, comes with a new interface that takes its cues from the worlds of smartphones and web search.
The company plans seize the opportunity to promote Ubuntu 11.04 as a viable alternative for existing Windows PC users. PCWorld calls it “perhaps the most widely anticipated Linux release ever.”
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The Chinese Academy of Sciences demonstrated a quadruped robot intended to test gait control and locomotion — and eventually mimic the movement of a triceratops. The flexibly jointed, 3.1-foot FROG-I robot runs Linux on an Intel Xscale PXA270 processor, communicating via Wi-Fi with a host computer, while lower-level functions are controlled by two Texas Instruments DSPs.
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Enea announced a major upgrade to its embedded Linux development environment, incorporating Timesys’ LinuxLink development software. The newly renamed Enea Linux PlatformBuilder is initially available in a “ELPB-NE” version for NetLogic Microsystems’ MIPS-based multicore XLP, XLR, and XLS processors and combines Enea’s former Eclipse-based framework with the LinuxLink configuration and build system, says the company.
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So, I don’t see any problem with small, cheap computers running Linux and ARM moving into the desktop space. Maybe it won’t be a tidal wave this year, but next year when Cortex A15 is out, watch out!
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Tablets
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Toshiba announced that its 10.1-inch Android 3.0 tablet will ship in Japan in June for $723 under the name “Regza AT300.” But despite rosy long-term projections for Android tablets, early problems — high cost requirements, an unstable Android 3.0, and Japanese component shortages — some vendors are delaying or sticking with with Android 2.x, say industry reports.
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Events
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The conference will bring together experts in the fields of agile project management, open source, web2.0, and all the elements which contribute to the production of a stable and marketable product.
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Web Browsers
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Mozilla
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Mozilla, the developer of the popular Firefox web browser, will open its first San Francisco office this summer, bolstering the city’s growing renown as a technology hub.
Mayor Edwin Lee will announce this afternoon that the Mountain View nonprofit has signed a 15,000-square-foot lease at 2 Harrison St. in the South of Market district, providing space for up to 125 staff members and volunteers.
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Oracle/Java/LibreOffice
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Kaminsky and Dormann only offer conservative interpretations of their results. Kaminsky says that, in his view, the situation has improved considerably. Neither of the researchers makes a statement about the potential reasons for their findings. With Microsoft, the introduction of the Software Development Lifecycle is likely to have played a major role, as the vendor has established specific processes and tools for increasing its product security in this context.
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With the last months the community around LibreOffice and The Document Foundation worked hard to establish policies, processes, infrastructure and all the things you need to deliver a high quality software. One of our basic principles is that we will acknowledge this merit and allow all the contributors to become official members of our community. All members will have the right to run for a seat in the Foundation’s Board of Directors, elect the board and drive the future of our projects.
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Government
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Policy staffers at the Greens/European Free Alliance are offering MEPs and their staff better access to their email, using a server built with free and open source software. The staffers want the EP to increase its use of free and open source software solutions, saying the EP should rid itself of vendor lock-in.
The alternative server synchronises with the proprietary system currently in use at the EP, yet allows MEPs to access their email using more than a single proprietary email client, more than just one proprietary web browser and access their email using more than one proprietary smart phone system.
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Openness/Sharing
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Open Data
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Google has invited “citizen cartographers” to refine the U.S. map for Google Maps and Google Earth.
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One of the goals of GeekWire’s “Geek of the Week” feature is to shine a light on extraordinary people in the Pacific Northwest technology community. Yaw Anokwa, a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at the University of Washington, certainly fits that profile — from his Open Data Kit research project to his work as a co-founder of the group Change at the UW.
Continue reading for more details through his answers to our questionnaire — including some great advice for better efficiency in work and life, and a particularly interesting answer to the question of what he would do if someone gave him $1 million to launch a startup.
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Programming
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The Rails project has announced that Rails 3.1 is going to support HTTP streaming, aka chunked responses. fxn has posted a detailed blog about this. fx starts off with explaining what is HTTP streaming, which you can read here.
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Finance
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Barack Obama raised a record-shattering $750 million on his way to winning the 2008 presidential election. But that stunning flood of cash has triggered an investigation by the Federal Election Commission, which is taking a detailed look at the campaign’s records and transactions.
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This afternoon at Facebook headquarters in Silicon Valley, following the President’s national town hall on Shared Responsibility and Shared Prosperity, I’ll join a group of entrepreneurs for a livestreamed panel on Startup America, the White House-led initiative to encourage and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship across the country.
This initiative is a top priority for President Obama. Entrepreneurship is a key ingredient to economic growth. Startups all across the country play a crucial role in job creation, since these companies generate the lion’s share of net new jobs. Startups are also responsible for developing breakthroughs in industries such as information technology, biotechnology, and clean energy that will allow the United States to compete and win in the global economy.
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Censorship
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Freedom House’s Sanjay Kelly and Sarah Cook just released a new report: Freedom on the Net 2011: A Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media. According to the report, two electoral democracies – Turkey and South Korea – engage in substantial political censorship.
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DRM
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PS3Crunch, which apparently has ties to Egorenkov, detailed the page’s closure: “If you are wondering why some of the pages have been removed at grafchokolo.com, then you need to know how Sony Computer Entertainment Europe are forcing us to remove them or graf_chokolo will be fined 250,000 Euros or worse, 6 months time in prison.”
The closure extended to all development blogging, documentation and Git repositories, though the site maintains they hold back-ups to everything. The only thing still live is Egorenkov’s legal donation page, which was set up in March.
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Intellectual Monopolies
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Copyrights
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The nation’s largest book publishers are facing increasing pricing pressure on the digital front as the number of cheap, self-published digital titles gain popularity with readers seeking budget-minded entertainment.
Hackers part18
Credit: TinyOgg
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