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2005 predictions

2005 predictions

Posted Dec 22, 2005 1:44 UTC (Thu) by zorgan (guest, #4016)
Parent article: A 2005 retrospective

I will also raise a glass to our grumpy editor's pretty much
spots-on predictions at the start of this year. Well done Jon! (You have
set the bar high for next year :)



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2005 predictions

Posted Dec 22, 2005 6:19 UTC (Thu) by BrucePerens (subscriber, #2510) [Link]

Jon, few or none of the pooled patents so far are usable for defensive purposes. First, the pledges in general only allow use of the patents by Open Source and do not provide ownership of the patent or a right to prosecute infringement of the patent. Second, the entities that are donating patents to purportedly defensive pools are widely cross-licensed, including with most of the bad guys who would go against us. Third, an attack on Free Software would be a proxy attack, just like last time, with a small troubled company standing in for the real aggressor. That company would be operating as a patent troll.

Bruce

2005 predictions

Posted Dec 22, 2005 9:58 UTC (Thu) by cventers (subscriber, #31465) [Link]

Bruce,

I don't know that I'm sufficiently educated or briefed on this issue
to really comment on how helpful the pools may actually be. I just wanted
to say that as someone who cares very much about free software and Linux,
the patent pooling projects - even if they may marred by half measures
and partial commitments - indicate to me that there is a big community
out there that really does care.

When news of patents and DRM began to boil over, the future of our
practice seemed to be at grave risk. We still have many battles to fight,
but I for one will sleep a bit easier at night knowing that we have some
of the world's best on our side.

- Chase

2005 predictions

Posted Jan 1, 2006 15:40 UTC (Sun) by mepr (subscriber, #4819) [Link]

> I will also raise a glass to our grumpy editor's pretty much
spots-on predictions at the start of this year.

And to the readers, for the most excellent combination of editorial review and continuing reader/editor feedback

The one subscription website worth the money, for this poor hax0r

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