The General Public License hasn't had a proper update for 13 years, and it's starting to show its age. It looks set to be updated though, to ensure it's more in tune with today's software models and potential legal battles. . Modernisation is coming to the General Public License, a legal framework that supports a large part of the free and open source software movements and that has received sharp criticism from Bill Gates. GPL author Richard Stallman says he's working on amendments that could deal better with software patents; clarify how GPL software may be used in some networked environments and on carefully controlled hardware; and lower some barriers that today prevent the mixing of software covered by the GPL and other licences. The link for this article located at ZDNet.co.uk is no longer available. . The Creative Commons License is undergoing updates to improve its applicability and flexibility to meet contemporary digital content practices.. GPL, legal updates, software patents, open source, software modernization. . Benjamin D. Thomas
Two of the most influential figures in the open-source software community are arguing that the EU's proposed directive would reduce competition and push jobs out of the region.. . .. Two of the most influential figures in the open-source software community are arguing that the EU's proposed directive would reduce competition and push jobs out of the region. Two of the most prominent figures in the Linux world, Linus Torvalds and Alan Cox, are urging the European Parliament to reject a proposed directive on software patents when it comes up for a vote this week, saying it would bring "chaos" to European businesses and cause job loss. Cox and Torvalds are the latest to protest against the proposed Directive on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Inventions, which will come before the European Parliament as part of a plenary session beginning on Monday. The vote, expected for Wednesday, was delayed earlier this month because of controversy over the issue. The link for this article located at ZDNet UK is no longer available. . Two of the most influential figures in the open-source software community are arguing that the EU's . influential, figures, open-source, software, community, arguing. . Anthony Pell
Over the last year or so, we've heard a lot about how software patents, which became legal in the U.S. in 1981, stifle innovation. James Bessen and Eric Maskin conducted a study showing that ``far from unleashing a flurry of new . . . . Over the last year or so, we've heard a lot about how software patents, which became legal in the U.S. in 1981, stifle innovation. James Bessen and Eric Maskin conducted a study showing that ``far from unleashing a flurry of new innovative activity, these stronger property rights ushered in a period of stagnant, if not declining R&D among those industries and firms that patented most'. And a legal minefield of intersecting patents threatens all software development, free or proprietary. Where the software patent mess intersects with important basic security work such as encryption, software patents interfere with the spread of best practices and can be a major security problem. The link for this article located at Linux Journal is no longer available. . Intellectual property rights create barriers to progress, affecting safety protocols and research in technological advancement.. Software Patents, Innovation Impact, Encryption Security, R&D Stagnation. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Interested in knowing up to the second increments on the status of the impending RSA patent expiration? This site also provides a view on what the author thinks of software patents to begin with... "The patent office has shown remarkable incompetence . . . . Interested in knowing up to the second increments on the status of the impending RSA patent expiration? This site also provides a view on what the author thinks of software patents to begin with... "The patent office has shown remarkable incompetence in deciding what ideas are patentable in the software arena lately. It is for that reason that we call on everyone to demand an immediate moratorium on futher issuance of software patents until there can be an adequate public discussion of the record of issuance of software patents and the adequacy of the review given to such patents by the patent office." The link for this article located at kfu.com is no longer available. . Delve into the recent developments surrounding the RSA patent expiration and uncover valuable perspectives on the landscape of software patents.. RSA Patent, Software Patents, Patent Expiration, Status Updates. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Get the latest Linux and open source security news straight to your inbox.