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Zombie Problem: Stop Dancing On The Grave
Apparently the Communications Data Bill is dead. I wonder for how long? It's a zombie bill that has been killed before...
by Simon Phipps
In a welcome move at the end of last week, Nick Clegg announced his opposition to the communications data bill (CDB). His article in the Telegraph listed five reasons why CDB went “too far” in its attempted legislation. Among those...
May 1, 2013 1:58 PM Read Full Post
Hosting Companies Shouldn't Be Parasites
A hosting company calls for hosting companies to support the open source software that makes them successful
by Simon Phipps
Hosting companies don't exactly have the friendliest of reputations. This was highlighted again for us by the recent attempted name grab against the Python community by a UK based hosting company. Which is why an open letter asking hosting companies...
April 23, 2013 2:44 PM Read Full Post
Read Any Law Journals Lately?
That may not be your idea of fun, but there's a law journal specifically for open source that you might actually enjoy
by Simon Phipps
Are you aware that among the large body of international law research there's some dedicated solely to the legal issues surrounding free and open source software? The International Free and Open Source Software Law Review covers topics ranging from licence...
April 18, 2013 8:58 AM Read Full Post
Python Settles Trademark Dispute
Community pressure helps small hosting provider see sense.
by Simon Phipps
The Python Software Foundation (PSF) have announced they have reached a settlement with POBox Hosting Ltd of the UK over their trademark application for the term 'Python' in connection with cloud hosting and their application for a figurative trademark incorporating...
March 19, 2013 1:18 PM Read Full Post
Leveson Regulation To Impact Social Media?
The hidden dimension of the Royal Charter discussions post-Leveson is they quietly create a big new stick to punish social media users. Revenge on whistleblowers?
by Simon Phipps
Alec Muffett points out that the new Royal Charter being rushed through the UK Parliament includes some drafting that appears to drag blogs, Twitter and other social media into the penalty net. This is an extremely worrying development that needs rapid response...
March 18, 2013 3:45 PM Read Full Post
Copyright: A Modest Proposal
Maybe if we stopped saying "copy" everywhere we'd find a way to fix copyright?
by Simon Phipps
Why is a song that I play digitally or a book I read electronically subject to extensive controls that are not considered appropriate to records or books? It's because they are subject to licenses that can't be applied by...
March 7, 2013 2:13 PM Read Full Post
Python Trademark Filer Ignorant Of Python?
How could the company trying to file a trademark for "Python" have been unaware of the open source programming language?
by Simon Phipps
English: Python logo Deutsch: Python Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)The Bat-Signal - or probably a snake-signal - hit the clouds last Friday, when the Python community appealed for help with challenging a trademark application. As Glyn explained in more detail, the...
February 19, 2013 9:15 AM Read Full Post
Unitary Patent A Threat To Small Business
Given President Obama thinks patent trolls are a problem, why does Vince Cable want to make their life easier?
by Simon Phipps
A short article in today's Independent on Sunday looks uncritically at the single European patent and thinks the new patent rules coming in Europe will help small business. The article seems to start from the idea that patents are good, thus...
February 17, 2013 8:47 PM Read Full Post
CDB: Not Dead Yet
While things may seem quiet, the Snoopers' Charter (the Communications Data Bill) is by no means dead. Here's an update on this week's developments.
by Simon Phipps
After the Joint Select Committee slammed the Home Office for the poor quality and unjustified over-reach of the Communications Data Bill (CDB) or Snoopers' Charter, things seemed to go very quiet. We heard a little from the Home Office...
February 7, 2013 6:48 PM Read Full Post
Open Source Nexus You Can Visit
FOSDEM is the most important meeting ground for the world's open source developers, and you can attend free of charge. Will you be there?
by Simon Phipps
February each year may be gloomy and cold, but there's one guaranteed bright spot for software developers in the form of the Free and Open Source Developers' European Meeting - FOSDEM. Held in Brussels on the first weekend in February,...
January 24, 2013 9:15 AM Read Full Post
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