It's called 'do no harm'. As a maintenance analyst/programmer, if I don't understand how something works, I don't change it.
Doing anything else is a recipe for broken compatibility/breaking things in general.
My wife is significantly vision impaired. She will often use the "print this page" link, as this removes the "cruft". It is easier for her to use the "print..." link than it is for her to force her browser to only read the "@media print"
The minor parties do fairly well out of Australia.
We have (federally and in most states) two houses of parliament. Minor parties had the balance of power for about 24 of the last 27 years in our 'senate'. (Coalition gains Senate control)
The consequences (apart from not always getting who I want elected), are generally benign. Governments that get elected have either direct support or grudging acceptance from the population.
The Australian Copyright Agecny has an information page critical of the proposed changes http://www.copyright.com.au/copyright_reforms.htm
Please be constructive in dealing with the copyright agency. While I may have a different agenda to theirs, they are still a helpfull organisation.
From this document What can I do?
You can submit your concerns on the Copyright Amendment Bill 2006: Exceptions and other Digital Agenda review measures directly to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte
Click here to view the latest Attorney-General's Department newsletter for more information on the proposed Bill and submissions. http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/enewsCopyrightHome.ns f/Page/eNews_Issue_42_-_October_2006
The Australian Copyright Agency's website is http://www.copyright.com.au/.
My (somewhat hazy) understanding is that the 5th Circuit is a US court. This case is being held (I beleive) in Israel. While I beleive that courts will often look at other countries determinations, I dont believe that this is compulsory.
Nothing in the above however, precludes the possibility of Israel following a similar legal decision.
While most desktops may be MS windows based, a significant portion of the target audience (internet using and aware) are using firefox (19.7%)
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.a sp , and as it is generally the early adopters using something like etax, is likely to be even more than that.
The ATO is excluding or alienating maybe 30% of their audience.
As equipment ages, it doesn't keep up with the requirements of the latest microsoft o/s, or even the bells & wistles of the newer non microsoft window managers.
I've got a:
* P100 as a firewall (smoothwall)
* AMD 300 as a test web server (apache)
* celeron 500 as web/file/print server(apache/samba).
Using something other than windows I get:
better support, better products, better price.
I found a bug in samba once, and had a patched solution within a fortnight, with the patch incorporated into the next release.
I have a bug in MS office, and despite installing all patches, having support from a Microsoft partner, and even upgrading to the latest version of office, I can not get the Microsoft bug fixed.
I've read the abstract, and part of the method.
I am not a laywer.
The claims seems to be as broad as the headline suggests.
"As a patent lawyer myself, I'd be willing to answer a few questions to hopefully put an end to the patent ignorance"
If I'm ignorant, and I am quite ready to accept that I probably am, please enlighten me.
Please give us some reasons as to why this patent is not as broad as it seems to many of the slashdot audience.
I'ts one thing to say that "the patent coverage is nowhere near as broad as the post makes it sound", but with a few reasons, I might be convinced.
A law that gives patents to obvious processes.
A legal system that discourages the use of ideas (remember the eolas v microsoft patent)
The white settlers of a large part of North America thought that patents of nobility were a tyranny.
Now you can get a patent for a file layout that is based on a standard. Whose to blame?
Those taking advantage of the system?
Those who enforce the system?
Those who created the system?
Those who elected the creators of the system?
Are you suggesting that the US should be immune to trade embargoes just because they are the US, and have surplus food?
As far as food surpluses go,
The European Union (which has a few countries)
Australia, New Zealand... I have no idea what asian contries are net exporters.
Why do you think that there are grain/sugar/food subsidies?
Is there any chance that, without the work laying cable for the Chinese Govt, you might not have been working at all?
I applaud the message to your CEO.
I applaud the lad who went home.
But is it possible, that it wasn't just the bean counters helping the Chinese Govt?
If it's too much trouble to provide a clear list of rights and responsibilities, then the answer is easy.
Make everything illegal.
Selectively prosecute those at a) are breaking the law, or b) give you too much of a headache.
Recommended reading
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
- Richard Stallman
I was just perusing the australian copyright law. It appears that in australia copyright protection may only exit for 50 years.
Or are there other restrictions that I have not seen.
The australian law can be downloaded from
http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/browse/T OCCO.htm
- look for copyright.
Slashdot Mirror
Thats because you had google safe-search running
It's called 'do no harm'. As a maintenance analyst/programmer, if I don't understand how something works, I don't change it. Doing anything else is a recipe for broken compatibility/breaking things in general.
My wife is significantly vision impaired. She will often use the "print this page" link, as this removes the "cruft". It is easier for her to use the "print..." link than it is for her to force her browser to only read the "@media print"
While minor parties do not get many lower house seats, 'preferences' significantly influence who wins those seats (History of Preferential Voting in Australia)
The consequences (apart from not always getting who I want elected), are generally benign. Governments that get elected have either direct support or grudging acceptance from the population.
The Australian Copyright Agecny has an information page critical of the proposed changes http://www.copyright.com.au/copyright_reforms.htme s f/Page/eNews_Issue_42_-_October_2006
Please be constructive in dealing with the copyright agency. While I may have a different agenda to theirs, they are still a helpfull organisation.
From this document
What can I do?
You can submit your concerns on the Copyright Amendment Bill 2006: Exceptions and other Digital Agenda review measures directly to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctt
Click here to view the latest Attorney-General's Department newsletter for more information on the proposed Bill and submissions. http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/enewsCopyrightHome.n
The Australian Copyright Agency's website is http://www.copyright.com.au/.
My (somewhat hazy) understanding is that the 5th Circuit is a US court. This case is being held (I beleive) in Israel. While I beleive that courts will often look at other countries determinations, I dont believe that this is compulsory. Nothing in the above however, precludes the possibility of Israel following a similar legal decision.
There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order. ~ Ed Howdershelt
I agree there is a resurgence of fascism, and I feel that this is a Bad Thing(tm)
However, I think you'll find that many will either pretend that certain views are not fascist, or even claim them to be a Right Thing(tm)
Just like every other western civilisation employee
People often get the government they deserve.
To quote a redgum song - "Without this kind of governement, just think where we would be".
While most desktops may be MS windows based, a significant portion of the target audience (internet using and aware) are using firefox (19.7%) http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.a sp , and as it is generally the early adopters using something like etax, is likely to be even more than that.
The ATO is excluding or alienating maybe 30% of their audience.
As equipment ages, it doesn't keep up with the requirements of the latest microsoft o/s, or even the bells & wistles of the newer non microsoft window managers. I've got a :
* P100 as a firewall (smoothwall)
* AMD 300 as a test web server (apache)
* celeron 500 as web/file/print server(apache/samba).
Using something other than windows I get: better support, better products, better price.
I found a bug in samba once, and had a patched solution within a fortnight, with the patch incorporated into the next release.
I have a bug in MS office, and despite installing all patches, having support from a Microsoft partner, and even upgrading to the latest version of office, I can not get the Microsoft bug fixed.
I've read the abstract, and part of the method. I am not a laywer. The claims seems to be as broad as the headline suggests.
"As a patent lawyer myself, I'd be willing to answer a few questions to hopefully put an end to the patent ignorance"
If I'm ignorant, and I am quite ready to accept that I probably am, please enlighten me.
Please give us some reasons as to why this patent is not as broad as it seems to many of the slashdot audience. I'ts one thing to say that "the patent coverage is nowhere near as broad as the post makes it sound", but with a few reasons, I might be convinced.
The DCMA is a true law. :-/
A law that gives patents to obvious processes.
A legal system that discourages the use of ideas (remember the eolas v microsoft patent)
The white settlers of a large part of North America thought that patents of nobility were a tyranny.
Now you can get a patent for a file layout that is based on a standard.
Whose to blame?
Those taking advantage of the system?
Those who enforce the system?
Those who created the system?
Those who elected the creators of the system?
Are you suggesting that the US should be immune to trade embargoes just because they are the US, and have surplus food? As far as food surpluses go, The European Union (which has a few countries) Australia, New Zealand ... I have no idea what asian contries are net exporters.
Why do you think that there are grain/sugar/food subsidies?
Is there any chance that, without the work laying cable for the Chinese Govt, you might not have been working at all? I applaud the message to your CEO. I applaud the lad who went home. But is it possible, that it wasn't just the bean counters helping the Chinese Govt?
If it's too much trouble to provide a clear list of rights and responsibilities, then the answer is easy. Make everything illegal. Selectively prosecute those at a) are breaking the law, or b) give you too much of a headache. Recommended reading http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html - Richard Stallman
Don't try browsing 'newsgroups' then. Or you might be in for a bit of a surprise (or maybe even a FINE)
I was just perusing the australian copyright law. It appears that in australia copyright protection may only exit for 50 years. Or are there other restrictions that I have not seen. The australian law can be downloaded from http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/browse/T OCCO.htm
- look for copyright.