Tag Archive for 'software patents'

The Open Source Road Ahead - About Put an End to Vendor Lock-in

OSI logoFew days after my blog post about OSI’s possible future,  OSI wrote a second statement on the CPTN transaction, somehow reaffirming my concerns about a maybe too narrowed view on software patents. Now that even Groaklaw gave up with software patents  - rightly in my opinion - leaving it to IT giants and patent-trolls, will OSI fight software patents as a whole?

While waiting to understand how OSI will behave in this respect, we might move on other topics, like how OSI could fulfill its mission.

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OSI: The Open Source Road Ahead

Having been interviewed recently, among other topics, about my take on how FSF and OSI might rethinking their roles in the next future, I want to share some thoughts around how OSI could move in the years to come.

OSI logoChanging OSI is now possible, and I am personally taking the chance by joining the OSI Governance working group, chaired by Simon Phipps. While the  future governance of the OSI is still under discussion, here I’d like to throw some ideas around on what OSI could do about things like raising funds, software patents and “Open Core”.

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Software Patents are Back: Software AG

Software AG released a survey carried out by the Technical University of Darmstadt, stating that, among other practical recommendations, software patents are needed to protect innovation.

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European Software Patents: the War is Over

The Software Patents war is finally over, glad open source cluster technology made it possible.

Brussels & Munich, 1st April 2009 — After years of confidential work, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) today announce a radical way to improve software patent quality: Binaries-As-Prior-Art, or BAPA. BAPA combines a database of billions of compiled computer programs (”binaries”) with a powerful Cloud search engine that can find any invention in microseconds.

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Intellectual Property Harmonization: TACD Recommendations, a Difficult Convergence

The Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue last week hosted a conference entitled “Patents, Copyrights and Knowledge Governance: The Next Four Years”, gathering IP lawyers and economists from all over the world.

What should the US and EU governments do in terms of international norm-setting on copyright, in terms of patent reform, R&D, and standards is covered by policy recommendations from the speakers.

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Intellectual Property Conference: TACD Conference, Washington, 12-13 January

The Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue - a forum of US and EU consumer organizations - is organizing the “Patents, Copyrights and Knowledge Governance: The Next Four Years” conference in Washington, 12-13 January 2009.

Europe, WIPO and USA are all discussing IP policies, TACD now that the new US Administration is about to take place in Washington wants to bring some interested parties at the table.

Both the United States and the European Union are facing demands to modify policies on patents, copyrights and other forms of intellectual property protection, coming from different perspectives. There are high profile right-owner lobbying efforts directed at higher standards and tougher enforcement of intellectual property rights, and growing interest among consumer groups, academics and many innovative businesses to protect the public domain and retain or even expand user rights. There is also much interest in exploring newer approaches to the support of creative and inventive communities, that do not rely on notions of exclusive rights.

With the organisation of this event, the TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue calls for two days of discussion on the assessment and on the prospective of the American and European political and policy Agenda on intellectual property practices and policies.

Registration available on TACD’s website (Facebook group also available).


About the Editor

Roberto Galoppini on Open Source Software
Roberto has over 20 years experience in the computer industry, and has spent the last 10 years working in the intersection of open source software and business development. Roberto has taken an active interest in different open source projects and organizations, he also served on some advisory boards, and helped large IT vendors, open source vendors and customers to design and deploy their open source strategies. He works at SourceForge, and opinions expressed here don't necessarily represent employer's positions, strategies, or opinion.