This week, Dutch journalist Brenno de Winter published a leaked draft for a new version of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF). The current version of the EIF, from 2004, has been referenced around the world as a prime example of how public administrations can make use of Open Standards and Free Software in order to Read more »
This incident goes to show that not even the biggest companies with
the largest armies of lawyers can consider themselves safe from the
damage that software patents do.
The Swiss Administrative Court has effectively stated that
Switzerland’s public administration depends on Microsoft to work
properly.
The Spanish IT competence centre CENATIC has published a detailed report on the use of Free Software in the Spanish public administration. It has lots of example cases, as well as analysis of legal aspects and a look at strengths and weaknesses. Should make an interesting read. As far as I can see, Spain is Read more »
The talks about a broadcasting treaty at WIPO have collapsed for now. But I bet this wasn’t the last time we’ve heard of it. The South Centre has just published a research paper (.pdf, 350 kB), looking at the broadcasting treaty from the perspective of developing countries. Here’s what it says in a nutshell: The Read more »
Last week brought truly good news. After two years of negotiations, it looks like the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) may finally turn into an organisation that works for the interest of society at large, rather than just those of a small group of major holders of intellectual monopolies. Last week’s meeting of the “Provisional Read more »
It’s been a harrowing day, and I’m not even near Geneva, where the negotiations on a WIPO broadcasting treaty went through some ups and downs today. After yesterday’s session, it looked as if the treaty would be gone for good, as numerous delegations had piled in to make new demands just before closing time. Today, Read more »
Marcus Dapp has managed to return the Microsoft Windows and Works licences for his new Dell laptop, and to get the money refunded. Apparently, it was quite simple, with only a couple of emails back and forth. Congratulations! Read the story in English or German, and feel free to use his mails to get your Read more »
At Dellideastorm.com, the computer seller is running a forum where people can post what they would like Dell to offer. At the top of the list are — you guessed it — computers with GNU/Linux pre-installed. So what’s the second-most popular idea, then? OpenOffice pre-installed. Also in the top ten are a laptop working 100% Read more »
The BBC is asking the "commercial sector, industry bodies, interests groups and BBC management" and — gasp — even "licence fee payers" (shouldn’t they put them first? After all, it’s where a bunch of their money comes from) for input on how they’d like new BBC services to be implemented. One of those services would Read more »