I'm the sysadmin for improveverywhere's server (currently curled in the corner in the fetal position, sucking its thumb and begging for its mommy), and we got a DMCA takedown notice, in addition to the C&D improveverywhere got.
#####
Subject: Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Dear Sir or Madam:
I represent [OUR ISP]. Attached to this e-mail, or set out below, is a notice [OUR ISP] received alleging that material on your website infringes a copyright. This notice was sent to [OUR ISP] under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). A good summary of the DMCA can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA#DMCA_Title_II:_Online_Copyright_Infringement_Liability_Limitation_Act
The DMCA has three steps. The notice [OUR ISP] received is the first step.
This notice triggers automatic removal or take down provisions under the DMCA. What this means is that the material identified in the DMCA notice must be removed by you, or taken down by [OUR ISP]. This must be done before you can dispute the claims set out in the notice. [OUR ISP] understands that this "guilty until proven innocent" aspect of the DMCA can be unfair, but its required by law.
If you believe the DMCA notice contains errors, you should immediately contact the person who sent the notice. Please let me know by e-mail if they agree to withdraw the notice. I will then contact them to verify the withdrawal.
After you remove the material, you may present [OUR ISP] with a "counter notice." This is the second step.
The elements of the counter notice are identified below, and in more detail in the wikipedia entry. Please make sure you fully understand the DMCA before presenting [OUR ISP] with a DMCA counter notice. It may be helpful for you to consult with your attorney. Unfortunately [OUR ISP] can not provide you with legal advice on this matter.
It is important that you take action immediately. Please let me know, within 5 days of the date of this e-mail that you have taken down the material. If I do not hear from you within this period of time, the DMCA requires [OUR ISP] to take down the material.
On behalf of the staff at [OUR ISP] I thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
The problem is now, there isn't a reasonable tech saavy person around who can argue that Windows still has a monopoly hold on any market. Linux is an equal or superior product in every possible way, without exception, without question, period. There is nothing MS can do to stop its growth, and its plain as fact for everyone to see. MS is fighting a holding battle as of now. And any future action would require first that MS be proven a current monopoly. Between Linux, MacOSX, and misc. products, it is MOST highly unlikely that MS would face any significant challenge.
This isn't necessarily directed to you, but to a misconception I've seen over and over again.
You don't have to have 100% market share to have a monopoly.
That's not me talking - that's the US Supreme Court. Just because Linux and MacOS exist doesn't negate the fact that Microsoft has a monopoly on desktop computer operating systems. True, one could argue that they do not have a monopoly in the server room, but they still have one on the desktop. And they use that desktop monopoly to try to extend their reach into other areas, which is what ran them afoul of antitrust laws.
Part of having a monopoly in an area is that you get to dictate the terms in that area. Aside from the Mac, which does not by its existance negate the desktop monopoly, Microsoft names the terms by which the desktop market operates. Their browser quirks define what an acceptable webpage is, not standards. Their document formats define what people use in the office. Their media formats, increasingly, define what people listen to.
That's their monopoly. Not the fact that Joe Hacker runs KDE at home.
Note that you don't have to use OOP in Python - it just makes it easy if you want to. You're more than welcome to "def"ine a bunch of functions and call them directly.
Interesting point - most of the learning material is OOP-related, though, so I feel pretty lost trying to learn Python without knowing OOP. But that's good to know.
I've tried several times to pick up Python - I have both Learning and Programming Python, have read through them, tried to do some stuff, but it's never clicked for me.
Maybe I slept through too many CS classes and can't wrap my brain around OOP, maybe it's my failings as a coder, maybe I have a lot less free time nowadays than I used to, but I've been able to do a ton of useful work in Perl and haven't even been able to get started in Python.
Maybe I'll give it an 8th try one of these days. I feel like I'm missing this moment of clarity where I'll go "A ha! So _that's_ what makes Python so good!" But I haven't found it yet.
Of course, the real action is in Southside Virginia. I wonder if there's a LUG there....;-)
Re:I think you overrate this SCO thing.
on
The Voice of Groklaw
·
· Score: 3, Informative
And yes, a really good one wants to be your next president. I for one think he'd be an awesome president.
Unless you care about copyright abuse. I'm a North Carolinian and have had several discussions with John Edwards staffers in Raleigh, and he's completely in the pocket of the MPAA/RIAA.
There are turorials that explain how to get the basics going. But the real beauty of wxWindows, at least to me, is that the name of the class tells you exaclty what it is. You want a button, wxButton.
Right, the documentation will tell you that if you need a button, use wxButton. It won't tell a non-C++ programmer how to fit that button into an overall application, or how to do interesting things with the button. It'll tell you that it expects certain WX_* things, but you have to go track down the C++ documentation for those functions. The docs were written for someone who does a lot of C++, and it shows.
And most tutorials I've seen are usually in the form of wikis with a couple of semi-commented hello world type programs, and every example beyond that in complexity is usually "Coming soon...":-)
I'll admit that the problem is probably mostly on my end, but I was able to pick up the Perl/Tk book and get up to speed on GUI programming fairly quickly. There's no equivalent reference for wxWindows/wxPerl that I've found that lets me do the same. So every time I try to port my app to a wxWindows binding, I usually have to drop it in frustration after a couple of weeks. Which is a shame, because I think wxWindows is a superior toolkit.
wxWindows looks like a really nice toolkit, with lots of robust widgets. I just wish that A) wxPerl wasn't so buggy, and B) that the wxPerl/wxWindows documentation was better than "Here's an alphabetical list of method calls - good luck!"
Good docs like the Perl/Tk books keep me with that toolkit. I'm the first to admit I'm not a good coder, but I've been able to do a lot following the documetation in Mastering Perl/Tk.
One interesting thing is the Libertarian Party is the only semi-mainstream media or political entity I've seen that signs (at least some) of its press releases with PGP.
1. Security updates: SuSE is still providing updates for their 7.3 release, so I feel confident that in 2006 I'll still have updates for release 9. Well, I am not so confident any more after the Novel news...
That's certainly a valid concern, one of the few I've seen in this story so far. The Red Hat --> Fedora move really affects the small business or small corporate server the most. The large businesses will buy the Enterprise stuff, for the certified apps and guaranteed security lifespan. The home user will use Fedora, because they want bleeding-edge stuff and don't care about upgrading every few months. But the small business user who can't justify either the fast update times or $100 cost will lose out, and find another distribution.
Personally, I think the Fedora project should commit itself to longer support times, at least a year for each release. Who knows - seeing that it's "community based," the community could decide to go that route if enough people suggest it. That would remove one of the biggest legitimate complaints about the Fedora project.
YaST is not closed source. Full source code is provided. However, it's not GPLd it's under some other license.
I'll take your word for it. The last time I used SuSE (which has been several years, I'll admit), YaST was closed-source. In the interest of fairness, the Red Hat up2date server is still closed-source, which I'm not a big fan of.
Also, you're confusing the releases. SuSE has no runtime licenses for their desktop release. You're thinking of a previous product that bundled Crossover and some disk partitioning software and they've since pulled that one.
As I linked elsewhere in this thread, that product is still available in their online store for a per-seat license. Not that it's a bad thing or a good thing, my point was that both companies (Red Hat and SuSE) have a combination of free releases and commercial releases, but you don't have story after story posted about "SuSE only provides support for their expensive commercial distributions, so they're EEEEEEVIL"
As for offering ISOs, you can easily mirror the RPMs from their ftp site, burn to a CD, and you're done.
Certainly true, though when compared with Red Hat, where you can download a Fedora ISO, burn it to CD, and be ready to install in 10 minutes, it doesn't seem like this is a mark in the column of "Why SuSE is better than Red Hat".
Yes, SUSE (just like Red Hat) offers distribution versions with a higher price tag, which includes additional (commercial) software and support. (SUSE Linux Desktop includes Code Weavers cross over office, which is 60$ per seat (70$ if you want a CD))
No problem. My point was that you have people cursing Red Hat and praising SuSE in this story when they have pretty much the same business model. They both have a free, unsupported distribution (SuSE personal vs. Fedora), and they both have expensive, supported, enterprise-based distributions (SuSE Enterprise and Desktop vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux).
Which is why seeing comments that say "Yay! Now I can dump Red Hat for a distribution like SuSE that doesn't do all of this evil stuff" is so bizarre.
This product you point out is a version of SuSE that includes Codeweavers Crossover Office and a few other commercial goodies. It is *NOT* the regular SuSE that you can download and install.
And Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a version of Red Hat with certifications and a few other commercial goodies. It is *NOT* the regular Fedora release that you can download and install.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes......yes they did.
I'm the sysadmin for improveverywhere's server (currently curled in the corner in the fetal position, sucking its thumb and begging for its mommy), and we got a DMCA takedown notice, in addition to the C&D improveverywhere got.
#####
Subject: Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Dear Sir or Madam:
I represent [OUR ISP]. Attached to this e-mail, or set out below, is a notice [OUR ISP] received alleging that material on your website infringes a copyright. This notice was sent to [OUR ISP] under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). A good summary of the DMCA can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA#DMCA_Title_II:_Online_Copyright_Infringement_Liability_Limitation_Act
The DMCA has three steps. The notice [OUR ISP] received is the first step.
This notice triggers automatic removal or take down provisions under the DMCA. What this means is that the material identified in the DMCA notice must be removed by you, or taken down by [OUR ISP]. This must be done before you can dispute the claims set out in the notice. [OUR ISP] understands that this "guilty until proven innocent" aspect of the DMCA can be unfair, but its required by law.
If you believe the DMCA notice contains errors, you should immediately contact the person who sent the notice. Please let me know by e-mail if they agree to withdraw the notice. I will then contact them to verify the withdrawal.
After you remove the material, you may present [OUR ISP] with a "counter notice." This is the second step.
The elements of the counter notice are identified below, and in more detail in the wikipedia entry. Please make sure you fully understand the DMCA before presenting [OUR ISP] with a DMCA counter notice. It may be helpful for you to consult with your attorney. Unfortunately [OUR ISP] can not provide you with legal advice on this matter.
It is important that you take action immediately. Please let me know, within 5 days of the date of this e-mail that you have taken down the material. If I do not hear from you within this period of time, the DMCA requires [OUR ISP] to take down the material.
On behalf of the staff at [OUR ISP] I thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[THEIR LAWYER]
There's a Sanrio Hello Kitty Store at Crabtree Valley Mall?!?!
Sure is, second level, by the food court, across from EB Games.
Their fantasy sports are very good. That's really the only thing I use Yahoo for any more.
Very similar load, yes.
http://www.trilug.org/~minter/bestbuy.html
Thanks for the tips - it's a shared hosting box, so I'm not in a position to switch to lighttpd on short notice, but I did disable KeepAlive.
Well, I _thought_ my server load was on the way down after three days of getting hammered by this story....
The fact that this hasn't been laughed out of court yet makes me sad.
Heh - those guys have an office downstairs in the building I work in. Guess I better not talk too loudly when I'm walking past....
As a North Carolina resident, my response is "If we could only be so lucky!"
I use GAIM's MSN messenger stuff every day to talk to the Windows users on my project, and even use it through a Squid proxy. Works fine for me.
[shrug]
The problem is now, there isn't a reasonable tech saavy person around who can argue that Windows still has a monopoly hold on any market. Linux is an equal or superior product in every possible way, without exception, without question, period. There is nothing MS can do to stop its growth, and its plain as fact for everyone to see. MS is fighting a holding battle as of now. And any future action would require first that MS be proven a current monopoly. Between Linux, MacOSX, and misc. products, it is MOST highly unlikely that MS would face any significant challenge.
This isn't necessarily directed to you, but to a misconception I've seen over and over again.
You don't have to have 100% market share to have a monopoly.
That's not me talking - that's the US Supreme Court. Just because Linux and MacOS exist doesn't negate the fact that Microsoft has a monopoly on desktop computer operating systems. True, one could argue that they do not have a monopoly in the server room, but they still have one on the desktop. And they use that desktop monopoly to try to extend their reach into other areas, which is what ran them afoul of antitrust laws.
Part of having a monopoly in an area is that you get to dictate the terms in that area. Aside from the Mac, which does not by its existance negate the desktop monopoly, Microsoft names the terms by which the desktop market operates. Their browser quirks define what an acceptable webpage is, not standards. Their document formats define what people use in the office. Their media formats, increasingly, define what people listen to.
That's their monopoly. Not the fact that Joe Hacker runs KDE at home.
The next time my wife dares to tell me "You have too much free time on your hands," I will show her this guy's site.
She will never be able to use that line again, for it will have lost all meaning.
Note that you don't have to use OOP in Python - it just makes it easy if you want to. You're more than welcome to "def"ine a bunch of functions and call them directly.
Interesting point - most of the learning material is OOP-related, though, so I feel pretty lost trying to learn Python without knowing OOP. But that's good to know.
I've tried several times to pick up Python - I have both Learning and Programming Python, have read through them, tried to do some stuff, but it's never clicked for me.
Maybe I slept through too many CS classes and can't wrap my brain around OOP, maybe it's my failings as a coder, maybe I have a lot less free time nowadays than I used to, but I've been able to do a ton of useful work in Perl and haven't even been able to get started in Python.
Maybe I'll give it an 8th try one of these days. I feel like I'm missing this moment of clarity where I'll go "A ha! So _that's_ what makes Python so good!" But I haven't found it yet.
Are you in Hampton Roads (Southeastern Virginia)?
;-)
I was for four years...
Of course, the real action is in Southside Virginia. I wonder if there's a LUG there....
And yes, a really good one wants to be your next president. I for one think he'd be an awesome president.
Unless you care about copyright abuse. I'm a North Carolinian and have had several discussions with John Edwards staffers in Raleigh, and he's completely in the pocket of the MPAA/RIAA.
Take it from a tarheel - pass on Edwards.
Dead Rat? OMG! I get it! It's like you took "Red Hat" and changed some letters around, and now it's like insulting!
That's what makes it funny!!!!111
There are turorials that explain how to get the basics going. But the real beauty of wxWindows, at least to me, is that the name of the class tells you exaclty what it is. You want a button, wxButton.
:-)
Right, the documentation will tell you that if you need a button, use wxButton. It won't tell a non-C++ programmer how to fit that button into an overall application, or how to do interesting things with the button. It'll tell you that it expects certain WX_* things, but you have to go track down the C++ documentation for those functions. The docs were written for someone who does a lot of C++, and it shows.
And most tutorials I've seen are usually in the form of wikis with a couple of semi-commented hello world type programs, and every example beyond that in complexity is usually "Coming soon..."
I'll admit that the problem is probably mostly on my end, but I was able to pick up the Perl/Tk book and get up to speed on GUI programming fairly quickly. There's no equivalent reference for wxWindows/wxPerl that I've found that lets me do the same. So every time I try to port my app to a wxWindows binding, I usually have to drop it in frustration after a couple of weeks. Which is a shame, because I think wxWindows is a superior toolkit.
wxWindows looks like a really nice toolkit, with lots of robust widgets. I just wish that A) wxPerl wasn't so buggy, and B) that the wxPerl/wxWindows documentation was better than "Here's an alphabetical list of method calls - good luck!"
Good docs like the Perl/Tk books keep me with that toolkit. I'm the first to admit I'm not a good coder, but I've been able to do a lot following the documetation in Mastering Perl/Tk.
One interesting thing is the Libertarian Party is the only semi-mainstream media or political entity I've seen that signs (at least some) of its press releases with PGP.
1. Security updates: SuSE is still providing updates for their 7.3 release, so I feel confident that in 2006 I'll still have updates for release 9. Well, I am not so confident any more after the Novel news ...
That's certainly a valid concern, one of the few I've seen in this story so far. The Red Hat --> Fedora move really affects the small business or small corporate server the most. The large businesses will buy the Enterprise stuff, for the certified apps and guaranteed security lifespan. The home user will use Fedora, because they want bleeding-edge stuff and don't care about upgrading every few months. But the small business user who can't justify either the fast update times or $100 cost will lose out, and find another distribution.
Personally, I think the Fedora project should commit itself to longer support times, at least a year for each release. Who knows - seeing that it's "community based," the community could decide to go that route if enough people suggest it. That would remove one of the biggest legitimate complaints about the Fedora project.
YaST is not closed source. Full source code is provided. However, it's not GPLd it's under some other license.
I'll take your word for it. The last time I used SuSE (which has been several years, I'll admit), YaST was closed-source. In the interest of fairness, the Red Hat up2date server is still closed-source, which I'm not a big fan of.
Also, you're confusing the releases. SuSE has no runtime licenses for their desktop release. You're thinking of a previous product that bundled Crossover and some disk partitioning software and they've since pulled that one.
As I linked elsewhere in this thread, that product is still available in their online store for a per-seat license. Not that it's a bad thing or a good thing, my point was that both companies (Red Hat and SuSE) have a combination of free releases and commercial releases, but you don't have story after story posted about "SuSE only provides support for their expensive commercial distributions, so they're EEEEEEVIL"
As for offering ISOs, you can easily mirror the RPMs from their ftp site, burn to a CD, and you're done.
Certainly true, though when compared with Red Hat, where you can download a Fedora ISO, burn it to CD, and be ready to install in 10 minutes, it doesn't seem like this is a mark in the column of "Why SuSE is better than Red Hat".
Yes, SUSE (just like Red Hat) offers distribution versions with a higher price tag, which includes additional (commercial) software and support.
(SUSE Linux Desktop includes Code Weavers cross over office, which is 60$ per seat (70$ if you want a CD))
No problem. My point was that you have people cursing Red Hat and praising SuSE in this story when they have pretty much the same business model. They both have a free, unsupported distribution (SuSE personal vs. Fedora), and they both have expensive, supported, enterprise-based distributions (SuSE Enterprise and Desktop vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux).
Which is why seeing comments that say "Yay! Now I can dump Red Hat for a distribution like SuSE that doesn't do all of this evil stuff" is so bizarre.
This product you point out is a version of SuSE that includes Codeweavers Crossover Office and a few other commercial goodies. It is *NOT* the regular SuSE that you can download and install.
And Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a version of Red Hat with certifications and a few other commercial goodies. It is *NOT* the regular Fedora release that you can download and install.