I'm not defending Amazon or the patent process by any stretch of the imagination. I worked for an online calendaring company, and somehow got my name on the patent for the ability to search metadata online. Which of course was silly. I and the developers pointed out that it was silly and revolted against the filing of the patent.
The lawyers convinced us that filing the patent is the only way to prevent someone else from filing a patent, covering your technology, and then suing you, forcing you to PROVE to a court (always a chancy thing) that you had created prior art. And quite frankly every innovation we made to our online calendar showed up 3 months later in someone elses calendar. In fact we even found instances where people had literally cut and pasted our code, comments and all!
So we knew that there were unscrupulous bastards out there, willing to completely rip us off. So bearing that in mind, we agreed to file for patents, not so much to enforce them, but to protect ourselves from future suits. I agree, if the system was healthy and working, we wouldn't need to have done that, but the system is already full of sharks -- I don't blame people for getting shark repellant. Applying for the patent HAS to be done nowadays. Enforcing the patents is when I start to get mad. I know it's a fine line, but scruples and business operate in different realities.
..announce that my DNA is CopyLeft, from this day forward. If any Geekgirl wishes to gain access to my DNA, please send a picture and an essay on the effects of GPL and the software industry and what effects this will have on humanity in whole. B with blue eyes can skip the essay. Thank you. III.IIVIVIXIIVIVXXIVVIIIIVVIIIXIIIIIVIIVIIII VVIIIV IIVIIIIIIVIII...
SuSE/Novell couldn't have pulled this off without technology stolen from SCO. It's a known fact that SCO owns IP on everything that makes linux useful.
I've been using Wintel for over 15 years and have just recently installed Mandrake 9 on an older P2 450. Here are a couple of points I think are worth mentioning (ubergeeks can exclude themselves from the classifications below):
1. Linux is ready for *some* desktops only, namely ones where users won't be constantly tweaking and installing new software and hardware. You want a computer for grandma to browse the web, send email and view a few grandkid photos? Linux is great! You want to roll out corporate desktops where employees don't really need to be able to download and install the latest version of KaZaA? Linux is a godsend (provided the business software you need is supported).
2. Linux is *not* ready for the average user desktop. The average user wants to do everything grandma wants to do, but they also want to be able to install or upgrade software and hardware *easily*. In addition, they want a fully functional GUI, with no *necessity* of dropping to a CLI for everyday tasks. They want to be able to go to a third party software/driver website, follow the 'click here for Linux version' hyperlink, download the file, then double-click to install it.
Needless to say, as long as Linux distributions and desktop managers continue to proliferate, the average user's requirements will never be met. I say this as a *fact* not a *prescription*, so spare me the Linux-strength-in-diversity comments. I just think you can't have your cake (freedom/diversity) and eat it too (Linux on average desktop).
The reason GPL hasn't been tested in court is that there haven't been any solid violations of the licence and the fact that it is so clear. Most minor violations have been resolved out of court fairly easily. The only grey area is derivative work which most certainly includes ripping off a chunk of code.
Slashdot Mirror
but it also has Hydrogen Peroxide in the atmosphere!
link
Antiseptic and life-killing, the chemical helps explain why the martian atmosphere and surface are void of life.
"Winners Don't Do Drugs" messages on PC games too.
An Indian journal reporting that Indian outsourcing is good!
Next, you're going to say that ISPs are responsible for all of the traffic that goes through them.
What I'd give to get that list
I'm not defending Amazon or the patent process by any stretch of the imagination. I worked for an online calendaring company, and somehow got my name on the patent for the ability to search metadata online. Which of course was silly. I and the developers pointed out that it was silly and revolted against the filing of the patent.
The lawyers convinced us that filing the patent is the only way to prevent someone else from filing a patent, covering your technology, and then suing you, forcing you to PROVE to a court (always a chancy thing) that you had created prior art. And quite frankly every innovation we made to our online calendar showed up 3 months later in someone elses calendar. In fact we even found instances where people had literally cut and pasted our code, comments and all!
So we knew that there were unscrupulous bastards out there, willing to completely rip us off. So bearing that in mind, we agreed to file for patents, not so much to enforce them, but to protect ourselves from future suits. I agree, if the system was healthy and working, we wouldn't need to have done that, but the system is already full of sharks -- I don't blame people for getting shark repellant. Applying for the patent HAS to be done nowadays. Enforcing the patents is when I start to get mad. I know it's a fine line, but scruples and business operate in different realities.
Someone patent searching for '*' and '%', which between them will cover all other searches! ...
Profit!
..announce that my DNA is CopyLeft, from this day forward.I VVIIIV IIVIIIIIIVIII...
If any Geekgirl wishes to gain access to my DNA, please send a picture and an essay on the effects of GPL and the software industry and what effects this will have on humanity in whole.
B with blue eyes can skip the essay.
Thank you.
III.IIVIVIXIIVIVXXIVVIIIIVVIIIXIIIIIVIIVIII
Hasn't Bush taken more vacations than any other President, and in fact put in less time working than the average American?
Not really - right now hydrogen fuel is really only useful as a container of energy, not as an energy source.
Given that the US can't seem to get in-person voting right (Goooo Diebold), I doubt they're really ready for remote voting.
Not very likely - take a look at, say, the e.Digital Odyssey, which has been selling with no problems.
Odyssey
SuSE/Novell couldn't have pulled this off without technology stolen from SCO. It's a known fact that SCO owns IP on everything that makes linux useful.
I've been using Wintel for over 15 years and have just recently installed Mandrake 9 on an older P2 450. Here are a couple of points I think are worth mentioning (ubergeeks can exclude themselves from the classifications below):
1. Linux is ready for *some* desktops only, namely ones where users won't be constantly tweaking and installing new software and hardware. You want a computer for grandma to browse the web, send email and view a few grandkid photos? Linux is great! You want to roll out corporate desktops where employees don't really need to be able to download and install the latest version of KaZaA? Linux is a godsend (provided the business software you need is supported).
2. Linux is *not* ready for the average user desktop. The average user wants to do everything grandma wants to do, but they also want to be able to install or upgrade software and hardware *easily*. In addition, they want a fully functional GUI, with no *necessity* of dropping to a CLI for everyday tasks. They want to be able to go to a third party software/driver website, follow the 'click here for Linux version' hyperlink, download the file, then double-click to install it.
Needless to say, as long as Linux distributions and desktop managers continue to proliferate, the average user's requirements will never be met. I say this as a *fact* not a *prescription*, so spare me the Linux-strength-in-diversity comments. I just think you can't have your cake (freedom/diversity) and eat it too (Linux on average desktop).
Will the insurance company pick it up if you (I mean it) damages another car?
In the US, these have to pass some stern Government inspection and testing before they are allowed on the road. I don't think I want the liability.
Is parking really that hard? Are people really that stupid and lazy?
This article is a DUPE!
ON GNAA ALL DAY
for 30 minutes of 64 bit computing
I'm really curious about the algorithms it uses to form theories, too bad the site doesnt provide any 'intimate' details
That "fake" system has now been accepted! Metric RULES! What you used to call Kilobytes? Kibibytes (KiB).
The reason GPL hasn't been tested in court is that there haven't been any solid violations of the licence and the fact that it is so clear. Most minor violations have been resolved out of court fairly easily. The only grey area is derivative work which most certainly includes ripping off a chunk of code.
DONGS (FP)
You are very good.. at turning me on
To pay your $699 licensing fees!
WinEthernet? I did not know such existed