Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
On 14/06/07, Mark Harrison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > It's worth remembering in all this that Canonical has some huge > advantages in NOT being based in the US. > > There are three massive differences between Patent law in the US and > Patent law in Europe. One of them is that there are a whole bunch of > things (software mainly) that ARE patentable in the US, but cannot be > patented in Europe. > I agree with the rest of what you said, Mark, but software can be patented in Europe. The circumstances are much more limited than in the US, but it's not a definite 'cannot'. Just FYI. Hwyl, Neil. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Michael wrote: > Chris Jones wrote: > >> (FYI, despite my address, this is all my own opinion - it's just easier >> to keep all the ubuntu lists in one account :) >> >> > I don't know of any sysadmin who doesn't speak his own mind ;) > > I know many... Those NT servers don't look after themselves, you know :-) :-) :-) M. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Chris Jones wrote: > (FYI, despite my address, this is all my own opinion - it's just easier > to keep all the ubuntu lists in one account :) > I don't know of any sysadmin who doesn't speak his own mind ;) Best, Michael -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Hi Michael wrote: > When CNR technology gets incorporated into Gutsy, I take it that Ubuntu > and Ubuntu alone will be responsible for the content of the servers. I don't think any details have been announced yet as to how it will be arranged, nor the legal implications wrt the Microsoft deal with Linspire. (FYI, despite my address, this is all my own opinion - it's just easier to keep all the ubuntu lists in one account :) Cheers, -- Chris Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.canonical.com -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Chris Jones wrote: > Hi > > Lee Tambiah wrote: > >> I hope Ubuntu never signs a deal like this either, but I think we are safe, >> I don't think Mark Shuttleworth is that gullable. >> > > From: http://mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=6672 > > "So you wouldn’t do a deal? > No, absolutely not." > > Cheers, > As I live and breathe, it's a talking weasel! "I know the drafters of GPLv3 are well intentioned, and perhaps feel they are dealing Microsoft, Tivo, the film studios, and others, a serious blow with the new language, but we could end up cutting off our own nose to spite our face. By limiting how Linux can be used, we could actually slow down the adoption of Linux, thereby assisting competing operating systems in keeping their sizable leads." -- Kevin Carmony, 'GPLv3 - Unforeseen Consequences?', June 5th, 2007 [http://www.linspire.com/linspire_letter_archives.php?id=47] -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Michael wrote: > I only ask because according to LinuxDesktop.com's account of the patent > deal [http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9642338710.html], or at least > the earlier draft pasted up on Ubuntu Forums, there's an EULA involved: > > "According to sources, customers of Linspire's Linspire Linux > distribution who wish to take advantage of the newly licensed Microsoft > technologies for VoIP, multimedia, and TrueType fonts will be required > to signify their acceptance of a Microsoft patent license, much as when > users install Adobe's PDF Reader or other proprietary software on Linux. > Presumably, the patent license will also contain language that offers > Lindows users protection against possible infringement of Microsoft > patents by Linux." > [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=2842006] > It's worth remembering in all this that Canonical has some huge advantages in NOT being based in the US. There are three massive differences between Patent law in the US and Patent law in Europe. One of them is that there are a whole bunch of things (software mainly) that ARE patentable in the US, but cannot be patented in Europe. I do think that the US is shooting itself in the foot on its attitude to Intellectual Property. While its legal regime helps a few large companies, it seriously hinders many time that number of smaller ones - and most (90%+) economic growth and new job creation in the last 10 years has come from small businesses, not big ones over there. Regards, Mark Oh, and the other two big differences: - In Europe ANY disclosure of the invention other than under NDA counts as prior art and invalidates any subsequent patent application. In the US, an inventor may disclose the invention, and then has a year's grace period in which they may make a patent application without their disclosure (or anything derivative) counting as prior art. (To be fair, Europe does have a free "initial filing" scheme that sort of replicates this, but the basic deal is you HAVE to talk to the patent office first.) - In the US, only registered Patent Attorneys may file applications. Net result, typical patent filing costs including legal fees - $10,000 minimum, $100,000 typical. In the UK (and, I believe, in most other countries in Europe) anyone may file a patent. Patent agents can give advice and improve on the legalese, but anyone may send in a 1/77 to the Patent office and establish an initial filing date. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Chris Jones wrote: > Hi > > Lee Tambiah wrote: > >> I hope Ubuntu never signs a deal like this either, but I think we are safe, >> I don't think Mark Shuttleworth is that gullable. >> > > From: http://mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=6672 > > "So you wouldn’t do a deal? > No, absolutely not." > > Cheers, > When CNR technology gets incorporated into Gutsy, I take it that Ubuntu and Ubuntu alone will be responsible for the content of the servers. I only ask because according to LinuxDesktop.com's account of the patent deal [http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9642338710.html], or at least the earlier draft pasted up on Ubuntu Forums, there's an EULA involved: "According to sources, customers of Linspire's Linspire Linux distribution who wish to take advantage of the newly licensed Microsoft technologies for VoIP, multimedia, and TrueType fonts will be required to signify their acceptance of a Microsoft patent license, much as when users install Adobe's PDF Reader or other proprietary software on Linux. Presumably, the patent license will also contain language that offers Lindows users protection against possible infringement of Microsoft patents by Linux." [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=2842006] -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Hi Lee Tambiah wrote: > I hope Ubuntu never signs a deal like this either, but I think we are safe, > I don't think Mark Shuttleworth is that gullable. From: http://mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=6672 "So you wouldn’t do a deal? No, absolutely not." Cheers, -- Chris Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.canonical.com -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Linspire are windows wannabe's anyway I guess its great to be involved with Microsoft for them! But with now three distros joining the MS Corp they don't seem to have much faith about Linux not violating patents. These distros are sending out the wrong message and actually believe the FUD. I hope Ubuntu never signs a deal like this either, but I think we are safe, I don't think Mark Shuttleworth is that gullable. Lee On 6/14/07, Sean Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Not impressed... it's the completely wrong direction to be going in... What's next? A Linux distro that prevents you installing any software written by non-US citizens? I recall Micro$oft playing the cheap "Open Source is a danger to National Security" card a few years ago... cheap tricks appear to be a speciality of theirs. Sean -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ -- " linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste" -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Linspire and MS deal
Not impressed... it's the completely wrong direction to be going in... What's next? A Linux distro that prevents you installing any software written by non-US citizens? I recall Micro$oft playing the cheap "Open Source is a danger to National Security" card a few years ago... cheap tricks appear to be a speciality of theirs. Sean -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
