ODF accepted as Croatian national standard
,----[ Quote ]
| Today, after a four hour meeting, Croatian CSI accepted ODF as a national
| standard.
`----
http://www.oddparity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=1#usercomments
Here comes another reason to ban OOXML from government policy. From the
Microsoft press:
Microsoft's Open Course
,----[ Quote ]
| Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation, says Microsoft simply
| fails to go far enough to indemnify developers who hope to write software
| based on Microsoft's opened intellectual property (IP). He complains that
| protections often exist only for what Microsoft terms "non-commercial
| developers."
|
| "Unless it addresses the entire supply chain, it doesn't make a lot of
| difference," Zemlin says, arguing that ill-defined boundaries of legal
| protection under the Microsoft scheme may expose open source developers to
| threat of litigation.
|
| "Think of it like ant poison. People who are non-commercial developers
| think, 'I'm safe.' They then integrate a patented protocol into the upstream
| code they're working on. Then that code somehow gets into the downstream,"
| Zemlin explains. "Well, that's like taking poison back into the [nest]. What
| happens is, inadvertently, an open source developer brings insecticide with a
| patent license requirement into an open source project."
`----
http://reddevnews.com/features/article.aspx?editorialsid=2448
Related:
Microsoft trying to delay ODF adoption in Croatia
,----[ Quote ]
| In April 2007. Office for e-Croatia (governmental body responsible for all
| things e-related) proposed introduction of ODF format as a national standard.
|
| [...]
|
| However, in this particular case, Microsoft announced objections shortly
| before the deadline, thus delaying the resolution of the proposal, and maybe
| even forcing rejection of the proposal. Due to the secrecy that shrouds the
| work of CSI, I can't tell what the objections are, nor whether Microsoft has
| majority of its business partners as members of the panel (although it is
| very likely so), but the last minute objections are confirmed.
|
| [...]
|
| Even if things don't turn out that way, there's the possibility that
| Microsoft might force OOXML acceptance by sheer voting power within the
| panel, although I believe that in the case of OOXML failing ISO approval,
| Microsoft would not dare to display such power over entire nation, at least
| not while in the limelight.
|
| [...]
|
| What does, however, is the fact that Microsoft and business partners are
| clearly abusing CSI panel for their own selfish interests, where they as
| members should think only of the benefit for the people of Croatia.
`----
http://www.oddparity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=1
Digitally Free Schools
,----[ Quote ]
| Marco Fioretti started new personal initiative which will hopefully make lots
| of parents and teachers understand why they cannot ignore FOSS and Free
| Culture anymore in the interest of their own children. He's going to publish
| a directory of Digitally Free Schools, that all parents may check when
| choosing a new school for their children.
`----
http://kost.com.hr/blog/index.php?title=digitally_free_schools&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
Croatian government defined open source policy
,----[ Quote ]
| Today, Croatian goverment specified how to handle open source in
| government offices, ministries and agencies. Document is called Open
| source policy and it gives good push to open source implementation
| in government bodies.
`----
http://kost.com.hr/blog/index.php?title=croatian_government_defined_open_source_&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
Croatian government adopts free software policy
,----[ Quote ]
| Basically it feels that proprietary software leads to too much dependence on
| suppliers, which can damage the market competition.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33120
Croats embrace open source software
,----[ Quote ]
| The Croatian government has decided to dump proprietary software and
| move entirely to Open Source.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33860
Corrupt countries were more likely to support the OOXML document format
,----[ Quote ]
| Is this just a random coincidence? The median of the CPI index of the above
| mentioned 70 countries is 3.95. Of the most corrupted half (CPI index less
| than 3.95) 23 or 77% voted for approval (approval or approval with comments)
| and 7 or 23% for disapproval; 5 abstained. Of the least corrupted half (CPI
| index more than 3.95) 13 or 54% voted for approval and 11 or 46% voted for
| disapproval; 11 abstained - see the table below.
`----
http://www.effi.org/blog/kai-2007-09-05.en.html
Microsoft accused of more OOXML standards fiddling
,----[ Quote ]
| However the 11 new countries are refusing to say how they will vote. These
| include Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Ecuador, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malta, Pakistan,
| Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela. Most people seem to think
| that these have been put there by Vole to make sure the standard gets pushed
| through.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=42106
Developer’s Beware: OOXML – IPR: Minding the Gaps and Why They Matter
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft has a patent promise, the Open Specification Promise (OSP) and a
| Covenant Not to Sue, relating to OOXML. If you want to implement OOXML with
| confidence that you are not infringing on any intellectual property rights
| (IPR), these coverages are not adequate. They have gaps.
`----
http://www.odfalliance.org/resources/IssueBriefIPR.pdf
IP Issues with OOXML (DIS 29500)
,----[ Quote ]
| Out of all the free and open source licences which are available, there are
| two which are disproportionately chosen by FOSS developers when licensing
| their software. Those two are the GPL and the LGPL. Of these, the GPL is
| disproportionately favoured over the LGPL.* If there are issues with GPL
| implementations then there are IP issues with OOXML. Any assurance that
| excludes implementation under these licences is just cause for the FOSS
| community to voice concern.
|
| [...]
|
| If there are issues with GPL implementations then there are IP issues with
| OOXML. Microsoft implicitly concedes there are issues with GPL
| implementations.
`----
http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/ip-issues-with-ooxml-dis-29500/
By Metes and Bounds
,----[ Quote ]
| But you might say, "Please Rob, you can't be serious. Who would try to get a
| patent on laying out a footnote? That just doesn't happen in the real world."
|
| But consider for Microsoft's patent application "Method and computer readable
| medium for laying out footnotes" (US20060156225A1). I'm not saying that
| application matches the above feature in the standard, but if it did, is
| there anyone who will argue that the Open Specification Promise would not
| apply in this case?
`----
http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/02/by-metes-and-bounds.html
Defensive Patents, Other Fairy Tales
,----[ Quote ]
| "Defensive patents" make as much sense as leaving a loaded gun around the
| house. Like a home robbery, it is more likely it will be used against the
| home owner then the intruder.
`----
http://krow.livejournal.com/578868.html
Microsoft patents by Brian Jones
,----[ Quote ]
| For fun we just did a quick search of published US patent applications
| with "Brian Jones" as an author, and "Microsoft" as the assignee.
|
| [...]
|
| Some of these, like the packing ones, seem to apply directly to OOXML. What
| isn't clear to us is why Microsoft would pursue patent protection for patents
| rights that their are promising that they won't assert over users of OOXML.
`----
http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-35323/microsoft-patents-by-brian-jones
Wishful Spinning
,----[ Quote ]
| OOXML gets adopted. More and more projects are started. Let's see which of
| these would survive without funding. Meanwhile a spin factory sends out
| success stories that most bloggers find worthless to discuss. It is possible
| to get the Krauts on board that are supposed to review OOXML but would OOXML
| survive a review by the crowds?
`----
http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-35292/wishful-spinning
Digging in the Comments: Patents
,----[ Quote ]
| Patent licensing is probably the most important aspect for all third parties
| that want to implement or use the Open XML specification. Unfortunately the
| Ballot Resolution Meeting cannot discuss these aspects because only technical
| and editorial issues would get resolved.
|
| [...]
|
| When you have a patent which covers Open XML and you refuse to license it,
| the standard process gets stalled. Large companies in the standardization
| process are reluctant to use that nuke option. Given the ambush that the
| software patent practice means today it is quite possible that Open XML
| infringes a patent and all parties eventually have an obligation to license
| it.
`----
http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-31491/digging-in-the-comments:patents
Patent threat looms large over OOXML
,----[ Quote ]
| "If OOXML goes through as an ISO standard, the IT industry, government and
| business will encumbered with a 6000-page specification peppered with
| potential patent liabilities" said NZOSS President Don Christie.
|
| "Patent threats have already been used to spread doubt amongst organisations
| keen to take advantage of the benefits of open source. No one knows whether
| such claims have any merit, but it is calculated to deter the development and
| use of open and alternative toolsets."
`----
http://nzoss.org.nz/node/179
Cyberlaw OOXML Seminar 14 December
,----[ Quote ]
| However, this raises the issue - what assurance does a developer have that
| such a large specification is not the subject of third party patent claims?
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| The pedigree of the specification is certainly no reason for hope, Microsoft
| has been the target of third party patent claims for some time now including
| some high profile losses in patent suits. The fact that the specification has
| been developed behind closed doors and on a fast track means that there has
| been no adequate opportunity to evaluate the likelihood of third party patent
| claims against the specifications. The sheer size of the document suggests
| there will be at least a couple hiding in there somewhere.
`----
http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/cyberlaw-ooxml-seminar-14-december/
ISO warned about possible patent violations of DIS29500 (aka OOXML)
,----[ Quote ]
| I have just send the following email to ISO members (you can find some of
| their email addresses on the INCTIS website) to warn them about the possible
| patent ambush...
`----
http://jeremywang67.blogspot.com/2008/01/iso-warned-about-possible-patent.html
Microsoft's Great Besmirching
,----[ Quote ]
| Writing to MEPs (if you’re European) or to Neelie Kroes, the European
| Commissioner for Competition, (if you’re not) is one obvious action we can
| all take to press for an independent, transparent inquiry into possible
| irregularities during the OOXML voting process in Europe. But I think there’s
| something just as important that we need to start doing immediately.
|
| It is striking that some parts of Microsoft have been making soothing noises
| to the open source world, speaking of their desire to work alongside free
| software projects and to ensure “interoperability” - a favourite concept at
| the moment - between the open and closed worlds. Those voices have become
| increasingly seductive to some, especially in the open source business world,
| who would rather work with than against the Seattle behemoth, and who seem to
| believe that Microsoft is genuine in its offers. But if the whole sorry OOXML
| saga shows anything, it is Microsoft’s deep and utter contempt for the whole
| idea of an open, collaborative process based on mutual respect and consensus.
| Henceforth, members of the open source community must view with deep cynicism
| all - not just some - offers by Microsoft to work more closely with the free
| software world. If they don’t, they could find themselves used and abused
| just like the once famous, and now former, International Standards
| Organisation.
`----
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/microsofts-great-besmirching
|
|