[4157] in linux-announce channel archive
Linux-Announce Digest #449
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Digestifier)
Wed Jun 18 21:13:07 2003
From: Digestifier <Linux-Announce-Request@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu>
To: Linux-Announce@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu
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Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 21:13:03 EDT
Linux-Announce Digest #449, Volume #4 Wed, 18 Jun 2003 21:13:03 EDT
Contents:
NEWS: Patent vote fails Europe's software programmers ("Frederick Noronha (FN)")
Links from the Gulf... an interesting story (long) ("Frederick Noronha (FN)")
ANNOUNCE Plattsburgh Linux User Group (NY) (DDrider)
LINUX NEWS UPDATE: (Sanspeak)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: NEWS: Patent vote fails Europe's software programmers
Date: 18 Jun 2003 17:15:05 GMT
Thanks to Lawrence Liang lawrenceliang at vsnl.net for routing this. FN
http://www.greens-efa.org/en/press/detail.php?id=1445&lg=en
Bruxelles/Brussel, 17 June 2003,
Patent vote fails Europe's software programmers
Unlimited patents will be disastrous for the European software industry
and SMEs
The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament today adopted a
report that allows for the unlimited patenting of software which will,
in one swoop, entrench the market dominance of multinational companies,
force small software firms out of business and bring to an end the
European free software movement.
With precise briefing from the Commission - where the bureaucrat
responsible is a former employee of the UK patents office, and by the
European Patent Office (EPO) - which pockets money on every patent it
grants, the rapporteur, British socialist Arlene McCarthy, has defended
a confused report that is full of contradictions. In doing this she has
a strong backing from Conservatives but fierce criticism from her own
political group.
UK and German MEPs, in rejecting amendments to the report, have ignored
the opinions of the Economic and Social Council, the Industry committee,
the Culture committee, 140,000 people and 30 leading software scientists
who signed two petitions to the Parliament, as well as the 95% of the
European citizens who took part in a European Commission public
consultation.
The EPO has been illegally granting patents for computer programs for
two decades. This practise completely contradicts the Munich convention,
which in 1973 established the EPO and decided that computer programs and
other rules of organisation and calculation were not patentable
inventions under European law.
Dany Cohn-Bendit MEP (Greens - Fr) Co-president of the Greens/EFA group
and chairman of a conference earlier this year on software patents and
SMEs, said: "This patent report is an insult even to the principle of
free trade. Pretending to protect inventors and their inventions, it
instead allows multinationals to lock up the market."
Mercedes Echerer MEP (Greens - A), member of the Culture Committee,
said: "It is truly regrettable that some of my colleagues are so
confused about the nature of information technology. Ideas and
algorithms are already protected under copyright. A computer program, on
the other hand, is like a kitchen recipe - all that is needed is a
pencil and paper to write it down. Patents already protect technical
inventions - there is no reason to extended them to cover software."
"This legalisation, as it stands, represents the death of the European
software industry, and the death of the free and open-source software
industry which, by more than a coincidence, is primarily a European
sector. If implemented, it would conclude the transfer of our
data-processing control to the US. You can be sure that the report will
have a very bumpy ride when it goes to plenary in September with one
third of committee members in opposition."
Neil McCormick MEP (EFA - Scotland), member of the Legal Affairs and
Internal Market Committee, said: "This is a matter of great public
concern. It is important to give incentives to inventions, but this does
not and should not cover the essentially logical and mathematical work
of software development. There is a real danger that legal development
of the kind favoured by the majority in the Legal Affairs Committee will
hinder innovative development by small firms, not protect it."
For further press information:
Helmut Weixler
Head of Press Office
The Greens in the European Parliament
Tel: (Bxl) +32 2 2844683
phone: 0032 475 671 340
fax: 0032 2 2844944
mobile phone: 0032-475-67 13 40
hweixler@europarl.eu.int
THE GREENS/EFA in the European Parliament
--
=========================================================================
Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net
Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org
http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com
http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks
=========================================================================
T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436
=========================================================================
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From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: Links from the Gulf... an interesting story (long)
Date: 18 Jun 2003 17:15:15 GMT
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 08:55:29 +0400
From: "GSC Prabhakar \(R\)" <prabhags@goldensun.com>
Subject: OOT -Copy of the FAX sent to BSA for their
Hello Friends,
Following is the copy of the Fax which I sent to BSA .
Regards,
Prabhakar
COPY of the FAX sent to BSA Chairman.
====================================
6th May 2003
Mr. Jawad Al Redha
Chairman
Phone : 8004828
Business Software Alliance
Fax: 04-3811948
Post Box 9275
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dear Mr. Jawad,
I happened to see your faxes signed by you sent to our organization asking
for details of software installed at our company and also informing that
your records (?) currently do not show that our company as having purchased
any software ( in all these years of our operation?!) . We would be glad to
respond and enlighten BSA on various methods and alternatives available to
curb software issues and initiate best alternative solutions available to
all the software users in the middle east.
Before we respond to your queries please fax the following information to
04-2728320
1. Your trading license and list of personnel involved in the software data
collection.
2. Copy of the authorization letter obtained from the appropriate
government ministry to collect this data from companies.
3. We know that BSA is working with Microsoft, functioning from Microsoft
premises, Dubai, I would like to know whether your people have verified
before sending the fax about the details about our company from your
co-tenant Microsoft regarding the Software licenses obtained for our company
? It seems that proper data was not verified before sending faxes, signed by
you. Unfortunately they have not even verified whom to send the fax.
4. I have a question, If we have more licenses but less number of computers
which would use the software can you help us get the refund for the
unutilized part of the licenses from Microsoft and other BSA members?
5. May we also know your Computer configuration, network security setup,
Anti-virus software , other productivity and database software which you use
, so we can get enlightened on the various software available for productive
use. By the way can we get your phone number ( not the anonymous voice mail
8004828 number ), so we can call and get your advice or various matters ?
6. I appreciate your assistance for managing our valuable software licenses.
As a matter of reciprocating your kindness we are glad to offer FREE
awareness programs by Educating and Training BSA personnel and also to the
companies which you recommend in HOW TO ACHIEVE ZERO PIRACY IN COMPUTERS.
This would greatly help fighting Software Piracy. Please let us know when we
can schedule this FREE awareness program.
7. I am glad to invite you and your friends to my office to have a cup of
tea with us and know about us.
We are with you in fighting Software Piracy though we use another effective
method, which I would like to share with you soon.
Regards,
GSC Prabhakar
Chief Executive Officer
GoldenSun Internet Consulting & Research
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/News.asp?ArticleID=90419
=============================================================
Anti-piracy watchdog prod irks free software promoters - GULF NEWS 17th
June 2003
Dubai | By Jay B. Hilotin | 17/06/2003
Proponents of freeware and Open Source in the UAE have been incensed by
repeated warnings and veiled threats of raids from the Business Software
Alliance (BSA), a global software anti-piracy watchdog funded by giants
such as Microsoft.
Open Source, a consortium composed of software publishers that promote
zero piracy through 'freeware' and full access to application source
codes, offers alternatives to what they call 'proprietary' programmes
for which companies and individual users must pay to legally use a
software.
Dr G.S.C. Prabhakar James, CEO of GoldenSun Internet Consulting and
Research, refused to submit an inventory of software used in his company
to the BSA, saying that the alliance has no authority to demand private
corporate information.
"We're not questioning the anti-piracy drive. We are for the protection
of intellectual property rights. Open Source actually helps to achieve
zero piracy by giving the source codes away for the basic applications.
"We think BSA's behaviour is arrogant, pestering companies for
information on the software they are using. They need to be more polite
and professional in their communication to the companies in the UAE. BSA
is asking other people to do their homework for them," he told Gulf
News.
Source codes are the slew of commands that enable software programmers
to customise or debug applications according to their requirement. The
Open Source community encourages enhancements to be open for further
developments.
"What is the assurance that when companies submit a list of their
software assets, the information won't be misused?" asked Prabhakar, an
ex-Microsoft employee who currently considers himself an Open Source
proselytiser.
"These warning letters are a form of bullying. Even government
departments in the UAE don't employ this strong-arm tactics when they
ask for specific information from companies. They assure people the
information will be used only for a specific purpose. The BSA is not
even a government organisation but is trying to act as one."
BSA-Middle East on its part said in a letter posted to companies in the
UAE that it will not disclose any information concerning software
inventory of customers who cooperate with them, except to the concerned
members in order for them to offer support, upgrades, and promotional
offers.
The letter, signed by Jawad Al Redha, the alliance's co-chairman in
Middle East, urges companies to fill out a software asset management
form, along with newspaper clippings of raids conducted by UAE
authorities in conjunction with the alliance.
"This is something that we've been doing for many years now," said Al
Redha. He maintained that such reminders are part of their regular
campaign to curb software piracy.
The letter says: "Because our records do not currently show your company
as having purchased any software licenses, it could well be that the
software in your possession has been installed without appropriate
licenses and perhaps even without your knowledge."
The form asks for a list of software applications, along with the copies
of licenses. BSA also reiterated that for every copy of software being
used, companies must purchase a user license. Therefore, a company that
has 10 computers must have purchased 10 licenses.
The group said that the campaign helps companies that use legal software
own an inventory that can assist them in keeping tabs on software
assets. It also help them identify upgradation requirements for the
system.
"The campaigns give users of illegal software a chance to benefit from
the discounted rates offered by BSA members, in addition to saving time
and money through free audits."
Says Prabakhar: "If BSA has proper authorisation, they are welcome to
check my software assets anytime."
Another Open Source user is unfazed. "The tribe (of Open Source users)
is growing," he said, pointing out that Apache, a freeware product
developed by the Open Source community, now accounts for over 62 per
cent of the market for Internet servers, while Microsoft accounts for 27
per cent.
BSA reiterated that the campaign is just a request to customers to show
that they are complying with the country's copyright laws. The campaign,
which began in April 2003, ran for two months. According to BSA, the
compliance rate will only be available after data from the current
campaign has been collected.
"Even if 99 per cent of the companies send their private data to the
BSA, I won't comply with their demand, simply because of one basic
principle: they have no right to demand so," said Prabhakar.
He pointed out that there are many Open Source users now in the UAE, and
he is willing to offer a free course on the subject to the BSA members
here. "Even banks and government departments are now starting to migrate
to use Open Source applications."
C Al Nisr Publishing LLC - Gulf News Online
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------------------------------
From: ddrider@aol.com (DDrider)
Subject: ANNOUNCE Plattsburgh Linux User Group (NY)
Date: 18 Jun 2003 22:25:01 GMT
Creating PLUG in Plattsburgh NY. If interested, please visit
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PLUG-NY/ or http://lug.cf-media.com and follow
instructions to be put on mailing list
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------------------------------
From: sanspeak@rediffmail.com (Sanspeak)
Subject: LINUX NEWS UPDATE:
Date: 18 Jun 2003 22:25:05 GMT
LINUX NEWS UPDATE:
Get my views & links to all the stories on what's happening with
LINUX, LINUS TORVALDS, SCO Vs IBM legal battle and please provide your
valuable comment on the same.
Click <a href="http://sanspeak.blogspot.com/2003_06_01_sanspeak_archive.html#105592407610649562">
HERE</a>
+ SanSpeak +
Santoshkumar
http://sanspeak.blogspot.com,
<a href="http://sanspeak.blogspot.com">Sanspeak</a>
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