I have been following with interest the software patent case of Symbian v Comptroller General for Patents. The Court of Appeals has rejected an appeal by the UKIPO, which seems to move English software patent rulings closer to te EPO Board of Appeals interpretation. As background, Symbian is a UK Read more…
As some of you may have noticed, I’ve been enthralled by the looming financial crisis (is it accurate to call it “looming” after the last few days?) Anyway, here is a gem I found while reading up on the crisis: Pretty much sums it up.
Hiding meaning through obscure language is a long-held tradition, after all, that is what euphemisms are all about. However, avoiding regulated practices by calling them something else is an entirely different matter altogether. Insurance provision is a heavily regulated area for a reason, yet if you do not want any Read more…
Last week I attended an interesting event called Software Cultures Hardware Law organised by Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute. I flew in from the frozen wastelands the same day of the event, so I missed a panel called “Meet the Jurists” chaired by Prof. Johanna Gibson and with the Read more…
I received this on the mail this morning, and felt the urge to share it. Dear Grateful in God: You may be surprised to read this message from me as you do not know me. I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer Read more…
As many other academics, I have come to rely on reference software to keep my bibliographic resources organised. For some time I have been using Endnote because it came installed with University computers, but I have been increasingly frustrated with its lack of interoperability and inflexible interface. EndNote has many Read more…
The third instalment of Gikii (aptly named GikIII) is now over. As with previous years, one is left feeling intellectually stimulated and a bit daunted by the level of smartness emanating from the room. First’s year’s iconic figure was the killer robot, last year’s was the Lolcat, this year it Read more…
One of my favourite times of the year has arrived… It’s Gikii time! If you cannot be here the papers are being uploaded as they are presented to this page.
I would like to declare a moratorium on excessive use of adjectives to describe the current financial crisis. Why adjectivise (is that a word? If not it should be) when onomatopoeia will suffice? Zoom! Fzzzt! Eek! Kapow! Kabbloey! Argh! There, the credit crisis easily explained in one line. Seriously though, Read more…
An interesting cybercrime and politics story came out this week. Sarah Palin’s Yahoo email account was hacked by a group called Anonymous and screenshots were posted in WikiLeaks. Hacking may be too strong a word, what seems to have occurred is more akin to social engineering, as the hackers admitted Read more…