I have been surprised by the coverage given to a small comment by a member of the EU Commission with regards to a question with regards to software patents. The full answer from the Commission can be found here. Most of the press reports are inaccurate, as usual. Yours truly Read more…
We have received this email from Hugh Hancock, forwarded by Prof. Hector MacQueen: Just thought you might be interested to hear about what I suspect is the largest Creative Commons project in Scotland, if not the UK as a whole. BloodSpell is an independent animated series, made using Machinima technology, Read more…
The Consortium for studying, evaluating, and supporting the introduction of Open Source software and Open Data Standards in the Public Administration (COSPA) has made available a series of documents and resource listings of open source, open data and open standards tools and projects in Europe. I’m in Spain this week Read more…
(Thanks to Jean-Pierre Wack for the link). This is a link to a conference taking place this week on synthetic biology. Arti Rai will from Duke’s Centre for he Public Domain will speak on “Synthetic Biology: Caught Between Property Right, the Public Domain, and the Commons”. It seems like this Read more…
One of the main arguments against software patents is that it reduces innovation and generates unnecessary litigation. Microsoft has been suffering considerably from software patent litigation, perhaps because they are the largest and juiciest target for patent trolls and for patent owners interested in reducing MS market power. Symantec is Read more…
In my youth, cheating used to be done by whispers and written notes in cuffs (I’m aware that makes me sound ancient). Nowadays, cheats have embraced new technologies. There is the case of the student that loaded all the notes in their palm pilot. Another one that photographed the questions Read more…
The site for the VI Computer Law World Conference has been updated. The registration is now open, and there is a list of accepted papers, some accomodation information and other assorted goodies. Come to Edinburgh this September and enjoy a top level and truly global conference.
After two days of presentations by governments and industry the last day begins with discussion on how the ACE should proceed. Different groups take the floor to make suggestions for the next agenda. CPTECH has taken the floor and offered a sobering message that there should be care with regards Read more…
It may be because this is an enforcement meeting, but the feeling in the meeting is pretty much pro-owner. Seems like everybody is singing from the same sheet (with very few exceptions). The rhetoric seems to be quie stronger against all sorts of piracy. Some noteworthy comments: Malaysia: Counterfeiters must Read more…
The long-awaited U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the patent dispute between eBay and MercExchange has finally been decided. This case is of importance because it rules on the strength of the injunction power awarded to patent holders in the United States. In this particular case, MercExchange held business method patents Read more…