Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 18:39:34 -0500 (EST)
From:"Linux Pipeline Newsletter" <tw@update.techweb.com>
To:mswier@YAHOO.COM
Subject: [LPN] Linux Pipeline Newsletter - 01-11-05 - Big Blue's Big Deal Linux Pipeline Newsletter | Big Blue's Big Deal | 01.11.2005
Linux Pipeline Newsletter
www.LinuxPipeline.com
Tuesday, January 11, 2005


In This Issue:
  • Editor's Note: Big Blue's Big Deal
  • Top Linux News
        - EU Lawmakers Take Aim At Software Patents
        - Chinese Linux Developer Joins Open-Source Group
        - Opera Rolls Out Linux Browser Beta
        - More News...
  • Editor's Picks
        - Teach Firefox A Few New Tricks
        - The Future Ain't What It Used To Be
        - IBM's Patent Grant: Gift Horse Or Trojan Horse?
        - More Picks...
  • Voting Booth: Does Wal-Mart Love Linux?
  • Get More Out Of Linux Pipeline
  • Manage Your Newsletter Subscription


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    Editor's Note: Big Blue's Big Deal

    The European Union is currently debating legislation that could have a profound affect both at home and abroad: whether to legalize the use of software patents. In recent years, software companies have filed tens of thousands of these patents in Europe, in spite of the fact that they may be illegal and impossible to enforce.

    As I've mentioned here previously, pending EU legislation would legalize software patents once and for all. Given the chance, companies will rush to file many thousands of new software patents and aggressively enforce existing ones. Not surprisingly, mega-corporations such as IBM and Microsoft already hold a huge number of European software patents, and they're chomping at the bit to lead any future intellectual property land-grabs.

    But a funny thing happened on the way to the corporate trough: European legislators, open-source developers, small-business owners, and even ordinary citizens are organizing to kill the patent measure. Some opposition leaders have already discussed the impact an IBM "patent tax" would have on European technology firms, especially open-source software companies; others are asking why Europe should tailor its intellectual property laws to suit wannabe monopolists like Microsoft.

    Today, however, IBM added an interesting twist to this story. The company says it will provide free and open access to 500 key open-source software patents; the deal applies to any company, person or organization using open-source software.

    There's more than one facet to this story. IBM has cultivated a broad, far-reaching, and very sincere partnership with the Linux and open-source community in recent years. In fact, minus its money-pit PC manufacturing operation, Big Blue is likely to stake its very future on the growth of Linux in the enterprise. IBM's announcement could also be the first step in bringing Linux and open-source software under its protective patent umbrella, making Microsoft think twice before launching any long-rumored lawsuits against an OSS organization or Linux vendor.

    Yet IBM has also benefited immensely from U.S. patent law, probably to the tune of many billions of dollars. The company would dearly like to see Europe grant it a similar license to print money, yet its efforts to re-start the stalled EU patent legislation have been curiously tepid so far.

    Could this finally be the opening salvo of a European charm offensive intended to make software patents look like a Linux developer's best friends? We'll soon find out, but I'm betting that's the case.

    Have a good week.

    Matthew McKenzie
    Editor, Linux Pipeline
    mattcmp@sonic.net
    www.LinuxPipeline.com


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    Top Linux News

    EU Lawmakers Take Aim At Software Patents
    European Parliament members petition to send legislation sanctioning software patents back to square one--an effort to assist opponents of the increasingly unpopular measure.

    Chinese Linux Developer Joins Open-Source Group
    Red Flag, China's leading developer of Linux software, has joined the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and will participate in several of the organization's Linux working groups.

    Opera Rolls Out Linux Browser Beta
    The Norwegian software company begins beta testing a Linux version of its 8.0 browser release.

    Linux Among Top 10 E-Business Trends For 2005
    Research aggregator eMarketer predicts nagging security concerns over Microsoft Windows will spur continued, rapid growth for Linux.

    Survey Says: Internet Doomsday Within A Decade
    Count on at least one devastating attack on the Internet within the next 10 years, say two-thirds of the experts surveyed by a major research firm.

    Donors Warned Of Tsunami Relief Scams
    Organizations funding tsunami relief efforts see a windfall from individual donors, while con artists see a lucrative new target for their scams.

    Open-Source Conference Adds Keynote Speaker, Sponsor
    CEO Rob Glaser of RealNetworks has been added as a keynote speaker, and AMD signs on as a sponsor at the Desktop Summit Linux conference.

    Report: Blog Readership Shoots Up 58 Percent
    The company is positioning its product as an open-source alternative to products such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino.

    MPEG LA Unveils Patent Pool Plan For Digital Rights Scheme
    The MPEG LA licensing agency unveils a licensing scheme to cover essential patents for the Open Mobile Alliance's digital rights management scheme.


    Editor's Picks

    Teach Firefox A Few New Tricks
    Wish you could build the perfect browser? Here are some ways to make Firefox do the job for you.

    The Future Ain't What It Used To Be
    What will 2005 bring for Linux and open-source software? We have no idea, but we'll share our predictions anyway, as well as revisit last year's predictions.

    IBM's OSS Patent Grant: Gift Horse Or Trojan Horse?
    IBM's offer of free access to 500 key open-source patents could affect Europe's debate over legalizing software patents. Is that the point?

    Microsoft Shows Its IBMness
    Firefox could rekindle genuine competition in the desktop software market--if enterprise IT organizations are willing to do their part and work to deploy the open-source browser.

    Open And Shut
    Open-source software has built a solid enterprise presence in recent years, yet in the booming analytics market, open source products have lagged surprisingly far behind.


    Voting Booth:

    Cast Your Vote Now!
    Will Sun's 'Linux Killer' Draw Blood?

    Sun has high hopes for its planned open-source release of Solaris 10. In fact, the company hopes not just to slow but to derail Linux in the enterprise market. Will Solaris grant Sun's fondest wishes, or will both the open-source development community and enterprise IT organizations greet Sun's bold moves with a collective yawn? Let us know what you think, cast your vote!


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