Linux Format forums

OMG. What software patents?

normanHLinux — Wed May 15, 2013 7:46 pm

Author: normanHLinux

Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:46 pm

guy wrote

Quote:

Can anybody explain to me how software embodying my algorithm is supposed to differ from a mechanical or electronic device embodying that same algorithm?

Yes, this is an area for copyright not patent.

With a patent you are registering/protecting a tangible object tht does something. Copyright protects the specific expression of an idea.

For example, Edgar Allen Poe's 'Murders in the Rue Morgue' is frequently cited as the first detective novel (Wilkie Collins' fans claim 'The Woman in White').

If patents can be applied to an idea in software, why not in a novel? In which case nobody else would be allowed to write a detective novel without paying fees to Poe's estate.

This is what the Americans have done to software with the ridiculous application off patents to something that was sufficiently protected by copyright - especially as the US led the way with their Mickey Mouse extension to the life of copyright while Cliff Richard et al are trying to extend it ludicrously here as well.

New LUG

heiowge — Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:31 pm

Author: heiowge

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:31 pm

I came. That's about it.

Latest issue available now

towy71 — Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:56 pm

Author: towy71

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:56 pm

Our awesome subscribers can now access issue 169 online (slightly) before it goes on sale: http://t.co/dHzkyLtmu6

I pinched this from Twitter, don't know why it wasn't posted here too

Death is reaping on Linux

flashman_andy — Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:25 pm

Author: flashman_andy

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:25 pm

For those still interest in this game, it has just been endorsed by 3 British studios, 22 Cans, Hello Games and Media Molecule.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jWLneoVNSkE

Death Star goes open source

Rhakios — Thu Feb 07, 2013 7:09 pm

Author: Rhakios

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 7:09 pm

Really? While the joke is mildly amusing (as indeed was the US government's published decision not to fund its own Death Star), I don't think it's worth even �1, let alone the �10 or more that 715 people (at the time of writing) have offered. Bizarre.
Personally, I'd be worried that there might just be enough idiots out there to reach the �20,000,000 target, and then I'd be out of pocket.

Liverpool Linux User Group Meeting - Weds Feb 6th 2013

Ram — Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:47 pm

Author: Ram

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:47 pm

Would love to attend but it a bit to far for me to travel.

AFAIK my closest LUG is about a 100 mile round trip.

LinuxCon in Edinburgh

johnhudson — Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:44 pm

Author: johnhudson

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:44 pm

Just seen this announcement:

http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/linuxcon-europe

21-23 October 2013 Registation is already open.

Android Play Store ver LXF & existing subscribers can't

Dutch_Master — Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:29 pm

Author: Dutch_Master

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:29 pm

Does that include the ad's then?

Linux System Admin Training

johnhudson — Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:00 pm

Author: johnhudson

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:00 pm

I'd rather wish you competent trainers - they will make a real difference - unless you only get them by luck

Minino v 2

M-Saunders — Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:31 pm

Author: M-Saunders

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:31 pm

I still can't believe that a computer with 1GB of RAM is considered "old". When I think of what I did with 2MB on my Amiga 1200...

Maybe this just means that I'm getting old

Mike

Mint finally has GIMP 2.8

heiowge — Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:41 pm

Author: heiowge

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:41 pm

Woohoo! Linux Mint ideas page. A month ago I asked:

"Could we please have Gimp 2.8 in the repos.

I've had to reinstall a few times recently and had to add an external repo to get it. Ta."

Today this idea was changed from "under review" to "implemented"! Sweet.

Fields of Fresh -A New Epic RPG- KickStarter- Goal reached!

theweirdn8 — Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:43 pm

Author: theweirdn8

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:43 pm

Linux gamers, we made it!

Check out Update #11, if you can please.

Let's move onward to stretch goals and usher in a new era of Linux Gaming together!

THANKS to everyone who made it all possible.

If you haven't backed, fear not. It's not too late. Campaign ends tomorrow.

UK Gov ditches FRAND for interoperability

guy — Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:19 pm

Author: guy

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:19 pm

"... rights related to implementation of a standard should be licensed on a royalty free basis that is compatible with both open source and proprietary licensed solutions."
...
"Where standards define interfaces to support interoperability we have concluded that royalty free standards are likely to be more appropriate..."

See Open Standards Consultation - Government Response page 11.

See also Open Standards Principles

Slackware 14

Paradigm Shifter — Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:53 pm

Author: Paradigm Shifter

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:53 pm

So the running joke of 13.37 has ended?

Praxis LIVE

neilcsmith.net — Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:17 pm

Author: neilcsmith.net

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:17 pm

Hi All,

As a long time LF reader, I thought it would be good to put out an announcement about a piece of software I've been working on. Praxis LIVE is an open-source, graphical environment for rapid development of intermedia performance tools, projections and interactive spaces. It's kind of a missing part of the jigsaw in FLOSS multimedia tools, partly inspired by AudioMulch, Isadora, Bidule, etc.; it uses a similar patcher-style interface, with the added ability to create custom components 'on-the-fly' using Processing or GLSL code.

Website - http://code.google.com/p/praxis/
Screencasts - http://praxisintermedia.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/video-rough-cuts-1/

Yes, it's Java based! However, it would be almost impossible to write it in anything else.

Best wishes, Neil

PS. Be great to get a mention in the magazine! It's still in active development, but definitely usable. Happy to answer any questions.