Writing Software? Setting Up A Website? How Many Patents Do You Violate?
Grok Headline matches for Writing Software? Setting Up A Website? How Many Patents Do You Violate?
Kansas City Website Designers and
Software Programming Firm Launches KC
Website Design Resource Website
Kansas City Website Designers and
Software Programming Firm Launches KC
Website Design Resource Website
12/24/2004 12:26 PMVectorVision, one of Kansas City, Missouri's leading Web design firms
and software developers is pleased to announce the creation of
http://www.KC-web-design.com a Missouri web site showcase and Missouri
web site designers resource center. [PRWEB Dec 24, 2004]
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 AMCory 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!)
Microsoft patents automated "to-do" list
for code writing
Microsoft patents automated "to-do" list
for code writing
06/09/2004 06:08 AMEarlier in the week we reported that Microsoft had patented the famed
double-click, and now it looks like the company has also patented what
could be called an automated to-do list.
Microsoft Patents Writing Windows Apps
Using HTML
Microsoft Patents Writing Windows Apps
Using HTML
12/09/2003 05:03 PMtheodp writes
"If you think coding
around that Eolas patent might be tough, you ain't seen nothin'
yet. The USPTO awarded a patent to Microsoft Tuesday for Writing Windows Applications Using
HTML, which covers the authoring and execution of HTML that runs
in its own window outside of the browser. Ironically, Microsoft occupies two seats
on the W3C HTML Patent Advisory Group that's fighting the Eolas
patent." Certainly seems like something that is pretty damn
obvious, and not quite patentable. There must be prior art examples
of people writing HTML applications outside the browser window? If
this patent stands, though, it certainly sounds like Google's new
desktop toolbar is in violation.
Writing Content for Your Website
Writing Content for Your Website
07/21/2004 10:54 AM
So, you've got a great design and everything is visually correct --
now how do you write content for your new web site that actually gets
your message across before people hit the "back" button?
Fortunately, Sitepoint has a great guide to
copy
writing for the web designer.
"
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: AN
ANALYSIS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S
PATRIOT ACT WEBSITE"
"
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: AN
ANALYSIS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S
PATRIOT ACT WEBSITE"
11/01/2003 09:36 AMSetting the Record Straight: An Analysis
of the Justice Department's PATRIOT Act
Website October 27, 2003
Setting the Record Straight: An Analysis
of the Justice Department's PATRIOT Act
Website October 27, 2003
10/31/2003 02:59 PMSetting The Record Straight: An Analysis Of The Justice Department's
Patriot Act Website .. point for point rebuttal .. The full
article
cdt.org/security/usapatriot/031027cdt.shtml
track this
site | 4 links
Setting the Software Inventory Sleep
Interval
Setting the Software Inventory Sleep
Interval
07/08/2004 02:12 AMWriting Quality Software: A Primer
Writing Quality Software: A Primer
12/15/2003 10:30 AM
Okay, so you have a respectable handle on syntax, and you are
proud of yourself for getting that far. And, truth be told, you should
be. But, knowing syntax is not the same as mastering syntax in such a
way that builds quick, efficient web software. This article takes a
look at not just writing software, but writing quality software.
DevShed: Writing Quality Software
DevShed: Writing Quality Software
12/17/2003 08:28 AMNew to writing code? Wondering if there's a "standard" way to really
write the large application you're dreaming about? Well,
DevShed.com just might have an
answer for you in their latest article.
No EU Software Patents
No EU Software Patents
12/17/2004 06:33 PMMunich, 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 PMPatent 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 |
FFIIRead full story...Writing A Software Technical Reference
Manual (part 2)
Writing A Software Technical Reference
Manual (part 2)
02/13/2003 05:29 PMWith the groundwork out of the way, this concluding part
examines the standard components of a technical reference manual,
explaining what goes into each section and why. It also discusses the
process by which such a manual should be reviewed and vetted prior to
delivery to a customer.
Writing a Software Technical Reference
Manual (part 1)
Writing a Software Technical Reference
Manual (part 1)
02/05/2003 06:23 PMFor most developers, writing code is the easy part - it's
explaining it to a customer that's the tough bit. In case you need to
create a technical manual explaining how your software works, take a
look at our handy two-part cheat sheet, whcih should help make the
process a little less intimidating.
Writing Software for Worldwide
Distribution Proves Difficult
Writing Software for Worldwide
Distribution Proves Difficult
08/19/2004 09:45 AMRMS On How To Fight Software Patents
RMS On How To Fight Software Patents
09/11/2004 06:37 PMEU Moves Toward Software Patents
EU Moves Toward Software Patents
05/07/2004 08:29 PMU.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 AMEuropean 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 software patents: how the vote was
won
EU software patents: how the vote was
won
05/19/2004 05:53 AMNo hanging chads, but still a close call
Software Patents Off The Agenda In The
EU
Software Patents Off The Agenda In The
EU
12/22/2004 01:16 AMThis isn't a huge surprise given
events
of the last month, but the question of software patents has been
removed from the
agenda of the latest EU Council meeting, at the request of the
Polish representative. It sounds like, hopefully, this issue is dying
out in the EU, though, it's likely that supporters will keep pushing
for it next year.
"Software patents under attack"
"Software patents under attack"
07/05/2004 02:40 PMSoftware patents under attack
Software patents under attack
07/05/2004 06:25 AMEFF goes after ten most wanted
Battle brews over Web software patents
Battle brews over Web software patents
01/27/2003 11:05 PMInternational Herald Tribune Jan 27 2003 9:31PM ET
EU gives green light to software patents
EU gives green light to software patents
03/14/2005 04:52 PMWithout a clear mandate from its members, and in the face of outright
opposition from a few of them, the EU finally acts in the US software
industry's best interests and pushes forward software patents.
PwC: software patents threat to Europe
PwC: software patents threat to Europe
09/15/2004 05:53 AMFew prepared for consequences
Patents Harming Software Innovation
Patents Harming Software Innovation
09/02/2004 11:47 AMIt appears that there's a common theme emerging from those who
understand how the patent system works. Lots of people have said it
before, but here's yet another opinion piece explaining
how software
patents are killing innovation, by making it nearly impossible to
build any new software product, without a huge liability risk. It
points out, again, that true innovation isn't in coming up with the
idea, but the application of the idea. Limiting the application to a
single company that claims they got their first kills off many
creative approaches to innovation, slowing down innovation and harming
the overall economy. What's scary is that, for all the talk
explaining this problem, almost nothing is actually being done to
reform the patent system in the right direction.
Software patents 'threaten Linux'
Software patents 'threaten Linux'
01/23/2004 02:19 PMOpen source advocate Bruce Perens says the real threat to Linux is not
from SCO, but from software patents.
Creative Pressures id Software With
Patents
Creative Pressures id Software With
Patents
07/28/2004 11:26 AMMore on the Microsoft v. EU Decision on
Software Patents
More on the Microsoft v. EU Decision on
Software Patents
12/24/2004 12:35 PMUK firm patents software downloads
UK firm patents software downloads
06/16/2004 03:56 AMBTG in talks 'with several firms'
Software patents and rebel MEPs
Software patents and rebel MEPs
06/08/2004 06:04 AMLetters Voting record doesn't follow party line
How to fight software patents - singly
and together
How to fight software patents - singly
and together
09/09/2004 12:21 PMSoftware patents are the software project equivalent of land mines:
Each design decision carries a risk of stepping on a patent, which can
destroy your project.
EU Software Patents Directive Delayed
Once More
EU Software Patents Directive Delayed
Once More
09/24/2004 04:17 PMA controversial software directive in the EU has been delayed once
more. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-president of the Greens/EFA Group, told
ElectricNews that "Officially, the council has experienced
translation difficulties with the new official languages of the EU. In
reality this file is returning to Coreper in order to allow the
technical discussions between experts from the member states to
continue."
The patent directive, part of the Lisbon agenda, was initially
intended to form part of a frame work to make the EU the most
competitive economic zone in the world by 2010. Intended to "tidy
up" the EU's messy patent laws, the directive has became twisted
from its original form. In its previous state, it would have allowed
patenting of software and algorithms. Proponents of the directive
argue that this is necessary to protect both big and small companies
from competitors stealing their IP.
However, many others argue that the directive would stifle competition
and cause more problems than it solved. If allowed/enacted, the
directive would bring the EU into line with the US where the practise
has caused dismay amongst software developers. Amazon's patenting of
"one-click" buying is often cited as a good example of why
the legislation is a bad idea.
View:
More @ ElectricNewsRead full story...An Insider's View of Software Patents
An Insider's View of Software Patents
08/01/2004 08:02 PMGermany to Vote Against Software Patents
in the EU
Germany to Vote Against Software Patents
in the EU
05/16/2004 02:22 AMEU software patents directive delayed -
again
EU software patents directive delayed -
again
09/24/2004 05:47 AMLess action, more talk
Demonstration Against Software Patents
in Europe
Demonstration Against Software Patents
in Europe
04/10/2004 01:56 PMEU Ministers Approve Software Patents
EU Ministers Approve Software Patents
05/18/2004 04:12 PMIn a move that is likely to cause a lot more harm than good, the
European Council has
approved a
dreadful plan to allow for software patents. The language of the
plan has apparently
removed an amendment that would have made
the idea more palatable to open source supporters. ZDNet UK
has more details. It's not a done deal yet, as it still needs
to be voted on by the European Parliament - but it will be much more
difficult to change the policy now. This is, once again, a case of
people making political decisions rather than ones that will generally
help the economy. Software patents will only tie up the patent and
legal system and will do plenty to slow down innovation, rather than
speed it up. Being able to invent something and being able to
successfully sell it to the market are two completely different
things. By saying that only those who invent a concept are allowed to
sell it to the market, they are slowing down the ability for companies
to successfully get new, useful products to market. With software
patents, this is especially troublesome because it's very difficult to
determine what in the software is actually patentable and very broad
concepts that should never be locked up under a government granted
monopoly end up that way.
NewsForge On U.S. Advice To EU On
Software Patents
NewsForge On U.S. Advice To EU On
Software Patents
06/09/2004 05:40 PMGrok Description matches for Writing Software? Setting Up A Website? How Many Patents Do You Violate?
GrokA matches for Writing Software? Setting Up A Website? How Many Patents Do You Violate?
Writing Software? Setting Up A Website? How Many Patents Do You Violate?
