A couple of weeks ago Google announced their WebM project, which provided a free software implementation of their VP8 video codec and a license to exercise the patents the company held on the software.
Read more »Google just updated the license for their WebM Project to make it GPL-compatible.
http://www.fsf.org –
Category: Legal Tags:
Mozilla Says It’s Totally Fine to Ship VP8/WebM, or They Wouldn’t Ship It
http://techrights.org –
Mozilla is not afraid of MPEG-LA and it will calmly support Google's new codec; perhaps so should everyone else
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OOXML/ODF - The Next Stage is Unfolding in Norway
http://www.groklaw.net –
In 2009, Norway decided that ODF was to be used, rather than OOXML, but called for further study and input from the IT industry, and I gather Microsoft put its shoulder to the wheel, and guess what? Now there is a new report (in Norwegian) that compared the two and concludes that neither is suitable, and both should be kept "under observation".
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Google to Make WebM GPL Compatible — Claim
http://techrights.org –
Software patents FUD withstanding, the status of WebM as a Free/open source project is being actively addressed
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Mozilla and Opera call for Google open codec in HTML5 spec
http://www.theregister.co.uk –
One week after Google open sourced its $124.6m VP8 video codec, Mozilla and Opera have called for its inclusion in the still-gestating HTML5 specification. As it stands, the HTML5 spec does not specify a video codec. Browser makers are free to use any codec they like, and the big names are split between the patent-backed H.264 and the open source Ogg Theora.
Read more »Alexandre Oliva Explains Why the Patent Troll Larry Horn (MPEG Cartel) is Bluffing
http://techrights.org –
One possible explanation of why preparatory statements are intended to just cause fear and uncertainty MR. Alexandre Oliva writes: "here's how I know MPEG-LA is bluffing with its FUD against WebM"
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GPL Enforcement in Apple's App Store
http://www.fsf.org –
An iPhone port of GNU Go is currently being distributed through Apple's App Store. However, this distribution is not in compliance with the GNU GPL. The primary problem is that Apple imposes numerous legal restrictions on use and distribution of GNU Go through the iTunes Store Terms of Service, which is forbidden by section 6 of GPLv2.
Read more »Why and how the OpenDocument format can save you a lot of time!
http://freesoftware.zona-m.net –
Beside its openness, there is also one more reason why ODF is great for everybody who must produce a lot of office documents: ODF is really simple to generate or edit automatically. Even if you aren't a professional programmer, it takes very little effort to put together a script that generates or processes in any way texts, presentations or spreadshets in ODF format.
Read more »BitTorrent Inc has announced that its uTorrent Transport Protocol is now available as open source.
http://www.h-online.com –
BitTorrent Inc., the company behind the popular BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing protocol, has announced that its uTorrent Transport Protocol (uTP) code is now available as open source. The uTP protocol is aimed at maximising network throughput while minimising network congestion, providing a better overall experience for both ISPs and end users.
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EU: NoSoftwarePatents and FFII Respond to Google’s VP8 Announcement
http://techrights.org –
Initial announcement, interpretation, and comments about the good news from Google
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Siemens Betrays Germans by Legalising Software Patents in Europe
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The scandalous company decides not only to support Microsoft's "Linux tax" but also to help legalise software patents in Germany
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German Court Effectively Opens The Floodgates By Saying Software Patents Are Legal
http://techdirt.com –
a German court has effectively allowed a wide range of software patents. Previously, you could have very limited software patents only if they involved using "controllable forces of nature" to create a desired effect. Software usually did not qualify.
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Why I Steal Movies… Even Ones I'm In
http://gizmodo.com –
Like a billion other people, I download things illegally. I'm also an actor, writer and director whose income depends on revenue from DVDs, movies and books. This leads to many conflicts in my head, in my heart, and in bars.
...
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IP Innovation v. Red Hat/Novell - The Prior Art They Used at Trial
http://www.groklaw.net –
I know the first thing you wanted to know after you heard that Red Hat and Novell had prevailed and the jury had
found that IP Innovation's patents were worthless was this: did we at Groklaw help when we did prior art searching? The answer is, Yes. It turns out that you did.
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Sony is Now Facing a Total of 3 Lawsuits Over Other OS Renoval
http://www.gofanboy.com –
You shouldn't act surprised to find out that Sony is being sued yet again over its decision to remove Linux support from its PS3 game console. Attorney Rebecca Call was the first lawyer to smell blood and find a disgruntled PS3 owner who was willing to file suit and go along with a class action status.
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