Australia to Get Software Patents and Anti-Circumvention Laws

Grok Headline matches for Australia to Get Software Patents and Anti-Circumvention Laws

AT&T patents anti-spam circumvention
technique

AT&T patents anti-spam circumvention
technique 11/18/2003 01:19 AM
The Register Nov 18 2003 0:07AM ET

US Exports DMCA, Software Patents To
Australia

US Exports DMCA, Software Patents To
Australia 08/03/2004 02:17 PM
While most of the press is focused on other aspects of the free trade agreement between the US and Australia, the tech world is noticing that this agreement exports plenty of the bad aspects of US intellectual property law, including software patents and DMCA-like anti-circumvention clauses. It's amusing that the talk about the bill from President Bush includes claims about "reducing restrictions" when the intellectual property parts of the bill are clearly building up restrictions and barriers to innovation. Of course, since it's such a big bill including all sorts of trade issues, most politicians are more focused on other complaints, which is why these innovation harming parts will mostly slip by unnoticed.

Software patents are bad for coders like
literary patents would be for writers

Software patents are bad for coders like
literary patents would be for writers 06/22/2005 01:49 AM
Cory Doctorow: Richard Stallman, creator of the Free Software movement, has written a tremendous essay for the Guardian on the risks of software patents. Richard undertakes a gedankenexperiment about "literary patents" and the impact they would have had on Victor Hugo as he sat down to pen Les Miserables.

Now consider this hypothetical literary patent: Claim 1: a communication process that represents, in the mind of a reader, the concept of a character who has been in jail for a long time and subsequently changes his name...

These patents would all cover the story of one character in a novel. They overlap, but they do not precisely duplicate each other, so they could all be valid simultaneously - all the patent holders could have sued Victor Hugo. Any one of them could have prohibited publication of Les Misérables.

You might think these ideas are so simple that no patent office would have issued them. We programmers are often amazed by the simplicity of the ideas that real software patents cover - for instance, the European Patent Office has issued a patent on the progress bar, and one on accepting payment via credit cards. These would be laughable if they were not so dangerous.

Link (Thanks, Phil and Eloisa!)

AT&T patents anti anti-spam technology

AT&T patents anti anti-spam technology 11/19/2003 03:54 AM
DoubleClick Nov 19 2003 3:21AM ET

Secure Resolutions Upgrades Their
Anti-Virus Engine to Include
Anti-Spyware, Anti-Adware, Anti-Dialers,
Anti-Hoaxes, Anti-Jokes, and
Anti-Hacking Tools

Secure Resolutions Upgrades Their
Anti-Virus Engine to Include
Anti-Spyware, Anti-Adware, Anti-Dialers,
Anti-Hoaxes, Anti-Jokes, and
Anti-Hacking Tools 06/05/2005 11:14 PM
Secure Resolutions desktop security (Resolution Antivirus™) automatically detects and eliminates all types of viruses, worms, Trojans Horses, dialers, hoaxes, jokes, and hacking tools within a managed desktop security solution. [PRWEB Jun 2, 2005]

No need for anti-spyware laws —
FTC

No need for anti-spyware laws —
FTC 04/21/2004 08:57 AM
User clean thyself

Anti-spam laws now in force in the UK

Anti-spam laws now in force in the UK 12/12/2003 04:35 AM
PublicTechnology.net Dec 12 2003 3:14AM ET

Anti-spam laws baffle UK.biz

Anti-spam laws baffle UK.biz 05/07/2004 05:00 AM
The Register May 7 2004 9:11AM GMT

UK Anti-Spam Laws Criticised

UK Anti-Spam Laws Criticised 06/13/2004 04:21 AM

Blair pledges more anti-yob laws

Blair pledges more anti-yob laws 07/06/2004 04:47 AM
Prime Minister Tony Blair pledges further action on anti-social behaviour if new laws are not working.

US, UK and Australia sign anti-spam act

US, UK and Australia sign anti-spam act 07/02/2004 11:26 AM
Think global, act global

Should anti-terrorism laws be changed?

Should anti-terrorism laws be changed? 04/23/2004 03:04 PM
The Home Secretary David Blunkett is to ask Parliament to change the law, after a terrorist suspect was freed on bail from prison. Do you agree with him?

Pentagon: 'U.S. Not Bound By
Anti-Torture Laws

Pentagon: 'U.S. Not Bound By
Anti-Torture Laws 06/07/2004 11:52 PM
Free Internet Press Jun 8 2004 3:51AM GMT

Anti-Spam Laws Sound Nice, But Won't Do
Much

Anti-Spam Laws Sound Nice, But Won't Do
Much 12/09/2003 02:31 PM
The press is going spam crazy now that Congress has finally agreed on a single spam bill, which will soon be signed into law by the President. However, the people who actually understand the spam problem are slamming this law, and a new UK anti-spam law, both of which will do little, if anything, to stop spam. In some cases, both laws can be seen to legalize certain forms of spam - which will be exploited as a loophole by just about every spammer with at least a few functioning brain cells. As the article points out, both laws are great if you believe that spammers are law-abiding, honest people. Otherwise, they're terrible. However, with all the talk (good and bad) about these spam laws, how come no one is asking how we're going to measure the success or failure of these laws? Everyone just assumes that they'll work (or they won't). Shouldn't we have a built in way to check up on the results six months from now and (more importantly) shouldn't there be a plan B in the likely event that these laws do nothing to slow the spam problem down?

USA, UK, Australia Sign Anti-Spam
Memorandum

USA, UK, Australia Sign Anti-Spam
Memorandum 07/05/2004 11:25 AM

Anti-terror refugee laws 'needed'

Anti-terror refugee laws 'needed' 09/23/2004 06:07 PM
Terrorists should not be allowed to hide behind asylum and refugee laws, the UK foreign secretary tells the UN.

European anti-spam laws lack bite

European anti-spam laws lack bite 04/28/2004 08:46 AM
European laws to limit spam will have little or no effect warn researchers.

EU discusses action against those
flouting anti-spam laws

EU discusses action against those
flouting anti-spam laws 01/27/2004 06:39 AM
PublicTechnology.net Jan 27 2004 10:30AM GMT

RIAA being sued for violating
anti-racketeering laws

RIAA being sued for violating
anti-racketeering laws 02/18/2004 11:58 PM
One target of the RIAA has decided to counter-sue the RIAA, alleging that this practice is tantamount to racketeering as prohibited by Federal law-law designed to attack organized crime.

Anti-spam laws bite spammer hard

Anti-spam laws bite spammer hard 04/01/2005 07:06 AM
Legal action has driven one of the net's biggest spammers to declare bankruptcy protection.

Chinese anti-trust laws don't faze
Microsoft's Gates

Chinese anti-trust laws don't faze
Microsoft's Gates 07/02/2004 03:04 AM
Financial Post Jul 2 2004 7:28AM GMT

Rogue cop invents anti-WiFi laws, shakes
down man-of-cloth

Rogue cop invents anti-WiFi laws, shakes
down man-of-cloth 08/22/2004 11:28 PM
Cory Doctorow: A copper outside of the Athenaeum in Illinois shoook down the Reverend AKMA -- the bloggin' theologian -- who was using the library's WiFi from out front of the building. The incident that unfolded is flabberghasting, with the cop inventing whole new laws and then insisting that AKMA was violating them:

"Sir, you can't use the Internet outside the library."

I said, "What?" (I'm pretty clever under pressure.)

The officer in question (whose conduct was entirely professional, firm, and calm behind those mirrored shades) solemnly assured me that in order to use the library's open wireless signal, I had to be seated within the library. The officer then wandered on back to the nearby police station.

I dutifully, if reluctantly, turned off the power to my Airport card and, since I had only been on the bench a few minutes, began working -- offline -- on what turns out to be this post. I had noticed two other weak but open signals in the area, and I figured that I could post this perplexing moment via one of the other open signals, then scuttle back to the studio. As I was writing, the officer returned and -- as the officer walked straight for me -- I held up my TiBook, pointing to the zero lines in the Airport icon, and showed the officer that my card was off.

"Why don't you just close that up, sir, or use your computer elsewhere?'

I closed the computer in order not to constitute a threat to established order, but engaged this peace officer in a discussion of the complexities of the topic. "I did notice several other open signals in the area -- am I allowed to connect to them?"

"Maybe if you had permission it would be all right, but it's a new law, sir; 'theft of signal.' It would be like if you stole someone's cable TV connection."

Link (Thanks, AKMA!)

AT&T patents anti-antispam technology

AT&T patents anti-antispam technology 11/18/2003 08:57 PM
CNET Nov 18 2003 8:32PM ET

AT&T patents anti-antispam
technology

AT&T patents anti-antispam
technology 11/18/2003 08:58 PM
Citing an "arms race" in the ongoing spam wars, the company defends its patenting of a technology to thwart antispam filters.

Three ad trade groups press for passage
of federal anti-spam laws

Three ad trade groups press for passage
of federal anti-spam laws 11/15/2003 05:30 AM
InternetRetailer.com Nov 15 2003 4:07AM ET

Microsoft's Gates unfazed by possibility
of Chinese anti-trust laws

Microsoft's Gates unfazed by possibility
of Chinese anti-trust laws 07/01/2004 05:12 PM
AFP via Yahoo! Jul 1 2004 7:39PM GMT

Anti-Piracy Patents for Cell Phones
Pooled

Anti-Piracy Patents for Cell Phones
Pooled 01/06/2005 12:05 PM
A film and music technology firm says it has grouped together all the patents needed to protect digital film and music on mobile phones against piracy, the first time digital rights have been pooled.

Network Associates patents anti-spam
technology

Network Associates patents anti-spam
technology 06/03/2004 06:57 AM
ZDNet UK Jun 3 2004 10:15AM GMT

Anti-Piracy Patents for Cell Phones
Pooled (Reuters)

Anti-Piracy Patents for Cell Phones
Pooled (Reuters) 01/06/2005 12:41 AM
Reuters - A film and music technology firm said on Thursday it had grouped together all the patents needed to protect digital film and music on mobile phones against piracy, the first time digital rights have been pooled.

People’s Opinion Project Launches Its
First Internet Petition - ‘Anti Torture
Laws Negotiable? Never - Undo the
Gonzales Memo’

People’s Opinion Project Launches Its
First Internet Petition - ‘Anti Torture
Laws Negotiable? Never - Undo the
Gonzales Memo’ 06/24/2004 05:04 AM
The People’s Opinion Project (POP) launched on June 22, 2004 an email campaign that will send President George Bush a clear message that the people of America are not willing to use torture as a means of securing liberty. The POP is an organization committed to encouraging and informing dialogue around American policy in the Middle East. [PRWEB Jun 24, 2004]

Software Doesn't Break Laws...
(washingtonpost.com)

Software Doesn't Break Laws...
(washingtonpost.com) 08/20/2004 10:48 AM
washingtonpost.com - What do file-sharing companies and the National Rifle Association have in common? A common legal argument, that's what.

ACT first to pass open source software
laws

ACT first to pass open source software
laws 12/11/2003 03:51 AM
ZDNet Australia Dec 11 2003 2:57AM ET

New software, laws push some spammers to
log out (USATODAY.com)

New software, laws push some spammers to
log out (USATODAY.com) 05/06/2004 07:20 AM
USATODAY.com - Erb Avore used to torment companies with spam. Now, the vegan activist, who changed his legal name, says he's starting a call center in India.

No EU Software Patents

No EU Software Patents 12/17/2004 06:33 PM

Munich, Germany (23 November 2004). The three most famous European authors of open-source software have issued an appeal against software patents on NoSoftwarePatents.com. Linus Torvalds (Linux), Michael Widenius (MySQL) and Rasmus Lerdorf (PHP) urge the EU Council, which will convene later in the week, not to adopt a draft directive on software patents that they consider "deceptive, dangerous, and democratically illegitimate". They also call on the Internet community to express solidarity by placing NoSoftwarePatents.com links and banners on many Web sites.

It would be nice if someone with some serious design credentials would knock up some more aesthetically pleasing banners.

Software Patents Out, For Now

Software Patents Out, For Now 02/05/2005 09:46 PM
Patent legislation is one step further away from being passed in the European Union today. The Legal "Affairs Committee (JURI) said that the commission should re-submit the controversial directive. The Computer Implemented Inventions Directive" failed to receive backing from the government's elected MEP's.

The <a href="http://www.ffii.org/index.orig.en.html">FFII</a& gt;, a EU pressure group, described the decision as "a powerful statement from MEPs that the current Council text, and the logjam of concern it has caused, is simply not a sustainable way forward." FFII board member Jonas Maebe went on to say "The Commissioner can jumpstart the constructive dialogue by submitting a new and more balanced proposal to the European Parliament this time. By taking into account the countless new facts that have surfaced since the start of this procedure in 2002, the Commission has a great opportunity to reinvigorate the Lisbon strategy."

Poland had previously blocked the directive from coming in to being. It's opposed by groups who want to keep the EU free of copyrights on software, something common to the USA. They argue that rather than helping businesses protect their intellectual property, they act to stifle innovation. Supporters of the directive argue that EU legislation on copyrights is out dated and needs bringing into line with the US system.

The road ahead is un-clear; the commission has a variety of options that it can pursue. The most likely outcome with be a re-evaluation in a few months time. Critics of the directive say the extra time will allow countries more debate over the issue and give them another chance to fully assess its implications.

View: Previous coverage | FFII

Read full story...

EU software patents: how the vote was
won

EU software patents: how the vote was
won 05/19/2004 05:53 AM
No hanging chads, but still a close call

U.S. to EU on software patents: "We sold
out, you should too"

U.S. to EU on software patents: "We sold
out, you should too" 06/09/2004 10:26 AM
European free software advocates, Green Party activists, Socialists, economists, small business owners, and other radicals are working to keep the European Union from instituting U.S.-style software patents. But don't give up hope. The U.S. government and some of the biggest U.S. software vendors are working to bring those backward Europeans into the modern world, where software development can eventually be limited to responsible companies instead of being done by any-old-body with a computer and a good idea.

EU Moves Toward Software Patents

EU Moves Toward Software Patents 05/07/2004 08:29 PM

RMS On How To Fight Software Patents

RMS On How To Fight Software Patents 09/11/2004 06:37 PM

Grok Description matches for Australia to Get Software Patents and Anti-Circumvention Laws
GrokA matches for Australia to Get Software Patents and Anti-Circumvention Laws

Australia to Get Software Patents and Anti-Circumvention Laws

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