Linux in Business [LWN.net]

Coalition Asks European Parliament to Vote Against Data Retention

A coalition of 40 civil liberties organizations from 15 countries have sent the European Parliament an open letter which strongly recommends that Members vote against general data retention of communications by law enforcement authorities. There is also a petition that can be signed by those opposed to increased surveillance.

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SOT, MySQL and EFFI Team up to Oppose Software Patents

SOT has joined forces with MySQL AB and local lobby group Electronic Frontier Finland (EFFi) to file a statement to the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industrial Affairs opposing the proposed EU directive that could allow software patents within Europe.

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Notes from the BPDG conference call

FSF Executive Director Bradley Kuhn took part in a recent conference call held by the Broadcast Protection Discussion Group; here are his notes from the conversation. "I spoke for the FSF, stating that: (a) BPDG's recommendation would retroactively declare existing Free Software as "Covered Products", and (b) since we cannot, as a matter of ethics, add features to such Products that 'frustrate user modifications', we are at a complete impasse. BPDG must take seriously the concerns of Free Software."

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RealizationEngine 1.0 Released to Open Source Community

Realization Systems, Inc has released version 1.0 of their web-based RealizationEngine communication tool. "By employing a dual-licensing model, we will be able to offer this great project to most people at no charge, but still allow companies to build proprietary products on our code if they choose to purchase a non-GPL License."

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Oracle delivers 'Unbreakable Linux'

Here is Oracle's press release on the availability of Oracle9i for Linux. "The release includes new high availability, business intelligence and XML features, as well as numerous manageability improvements. Oracle's unique approach to database clustering in Oracle9i Database has enabled enterprise customers to reduce the cost of deploying and managing the database." This is the product the company is calling "unbreakable Linux," which will always prove to be a hard claim to live up to.

See also the joint press release from Oracle, Red Hat, and Dell on their collective commitment to the Linux platform, and this one from Oracle and Red Hat on how the two have worked to improve the Red Hat Advanced Server product.

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German government moves to IBM Linux

The German government announced that it will be working with IBM to move a number of its government agencies to the Linux platform.

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Sherwin-Williams to deploy Linux in 2500 stores

Sherwin-Williams (the largest U.S. paint retailer) has announced that it has contracted with IBM to deploy 9700 Linux systems in its 2500 stores. The systems will run paint tinting and color matching applications, as well as the occasional "manager's workstation." They will be running Turbolinux.

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PHP: most popular server-side Web scripting technology

Zend Technologies Ltd. announced that as of April 2002, PHP, the open-source software phenomenon, has surpassed Microsoft's ASP as the most popular server-side Web scripting technology on the Internet.

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Zend issues new rev of Studio, PHP Development tool

Zend has issued a new release of the PHP development package, Studio 2.5. "Highlights of the new release include a new customization user interface, class browsers for projects and files, variable code completion, bracket matching, integrated function documentation engine and new 'smart' installer."

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Opera Gives Back to the Community

Opera Software unveiled its new Global Donations Program, giving registered versions of Opera away for free to organizations for the physically challenged, schools grades kindergarten through the 12th grade, as well as Web designer schools or individual programs.

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Mandrakesoft Increases Revenue, offers more stock

MandrakeSoft has put out a release describing its recent financial performance: for the six months ending in March the company lost EUR 3.7 on revenue of EUR 2.33. Also announced is a new stock offering; existing shareholders have the first chance to buy more shares from the company. There is a registry for those who do not currently own shares, but who would like to participate in the new offering. If all the new shares are bought, the outstanding shares of MandrakeSoft will increase 33% to 5.1 million, and the company will raise about EUR 3.6 million.

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