July 2010 - Free-software-melb - lists.softwarefreedom.com.au

Re: [free-software-melb] Patents and upcoming discussion group dates
by Alex Fraser 30 Jul '10

30 Jul '10

Hi everyone, Ben and I have contacted several organisations: - Linux Australia - ask-oss - CASE - VPAC - EFA - Melb PC - PCUG (Canberra) - Open Source Law (Brendan Scott) - Ubuntu Australia (wrote to Melissa; could write to two others) - OLPC (au) Ben has also been in contact with Kim Carr and Richard Marles' offices. Apparently the review group met a couple of weeks ago, will be meeting again in December, and will deliver the review in February. We think they will probably be drafting the report in the mean time, so now is a good time to try to influence them. We already have over 360 signatures - even though most of the organisations were only written to just now. There are still more that we can contact, but it's getting difficult. Perhaps you can help? These are the others we identified, and the reason they haven't been contacted yet: - Charles Wright (Fairfax) No email - Computer-related expo at the exhibition buildings Too vague - VicNet http://vicnet.net.au/about-us2.html - info(a)vicnet.net.au Not sure how to word the email to get their interest. - Hackerspace http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Australia Too many spaces to choose from. If someone wants to go through these, feel free :) - Google Aus http://www.google.com.au/contact/ +61 2 9374 4000 Only phone contacts given. Does anyone know somebody who works at Google? - Redhat http://www.apac.redhat.com/about/ 1800-REDHAT Only customer service emails given. I may call them on Monday, but how does one start the conversation? "Hi, I'd like to speak to your CEO...". Actually for these companies, it might be better to encourage them to make their own formal submission to the Government. - TomTom Same as Google. - Waugh Partners http://bethesignal.org/ http://pipka.org/ No email. Does anyone know Pia or Jeff's addresses? Included below is the email I sent to Melb PC. Feel free to modify it and send it to other organisations (putting your own name to it). Cheers, Alex ----- Hello, The Melbourne Free Software Interest Group has written an open letter calling for the abolition of software patents in Australia. http://apps.softwarefreedom.com.au/patents/ We already have over 350 signatures, inlcuding those of several software company CEOs and high profile free software developers. I notice Melb PC has a Linux and Open Source interest group. In fact, software patents threaten all users and developers of software, free or otherwise. As an organisation with interests in this area, your members may like to sign the letter. Patent law is changing around the world: a software patent has been rejected in the first appeals ruling in the US since Bilski[1], and the upcoming Patents Bill in New Zealand is likely to disallow the patenting of software[2]. And here in Australia, the Government is currently reviewing patent legislation. Please encourage your members to sign, and help us create a stronger software industry. Best regards, ... [1] http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20100713173032257 [2] http://www.nzcs.org.nz/news/blog.php?/archives/97-.html

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Re: [free-software-melb] Patents and upcoming discussion group dates
by Chris Samuel 28 Jul '10

28 Jul '10

On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:03:01 pm Ben Sturmfels wrote: > If anyone is interested in helping us contact people, they'd > be very welcome. Blogged it, should get picked up by planet.linux.org.au shortly. http://www.csamuel.org/2010/07/28/soliciting-australian-signatories-to-an-o… minister-kim-carr cheers! Chris -- Chris Samuel : http://www.csamuel.org/ : Melbourne, VIC This email may come with a PGP signature as a file. Do not panic. For more info see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenPGP

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Re: [free-software-melb] Patents and upcoming discussion group dates
by Malcolm Gillies 28 Jul '10

28 Jul '10

Hi Ben, > We also came up with plenty of good ideas for who else to contact. Is Roger Clarke still active in this area? cheers, Malcolm

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Next gathering Thurs 22 July (Thurs week)?
by Ben Sturmfels 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Hi Folks, At our last gathering on 29 July we discussed moving the monthly date from "last Tuesday of the month" to "3rd Thursday of the month". That would make the next gathering Thurs 22 July (Thurs week). Who likes this date? (apart from Alex, Chris and George who mentioned it was ok for them) I propose the following agenda for the next gathering: 1. Quick update on open letter on software patents (letter should be online for signing by then). 2. Show us a free software game you like in a few mins or less. Alex will bring along the game he's working on, Cargo. In case you're stuck for ideas: - Wesnoth - Wormux - X-Moto - Nexuiz - Supertux - Overkill - Frozen Bubble - Neverball/Neverputt - Teeworlds I'll bring a laptop, so let me know ahead and I can install a game for you to demo. I realise not everyone's into games, but please don't let that stop you coming for a look. :) Cheers, Ben

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Next gathering tomorrow, Thurs 22 July, 6:30pm
by Ben Sturmfels 21 Jul '10

21 Jul '10

Hi Folks, Just a reminder that our monthly gathering is on tomorrow evening, 6:30-7:30pm at the State Library of Victoria. Meet in the foyer just before 6:30. If we've already gone in, feel free to call me on 0458 925 588. Bags larger than a small backpack/handbag need to go in the cloak-room ($1 charge). Agenda: 1. Quick update on open letter on software patents (letter should be online for signing by then). 2. Quick update on forming an Australian Free Software Association. 3. Show us a free software game you like in a few mins or less. Alex will bring along the game he's working on, Cargo. In case you're stuck for ideas: Wesnoth, Wormux, X-Moto, Nexuiz, Supertux, Overkill, Frozen Bubble, Neverball/Neverputt, Teeworlds. I'll bring a laptop, so let me know ahead and I can install a game for you to demo. I realise not everyone's into games, but please don't let that stop you coming for a look. :) Cheers, Ben

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Sign the open letter to abolish software patents
by Ben Sturmfels 19 Jul '10

19 Jul '10

Hi Folks, The open letter to abolish software patents is now available to read and sign. Thanks very much to everyone who helped out. http://apps.softwarefreedom.com.au/patents/ Please encourage any friends and colleagues in the software industry to sign the letter. Regards, Ben

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Open letter on abolishing software patents in Australia
by Ben Sturmfels 19 Jul '10

19 Jul '10

Hi Folks, I've finally written up a letter to Senator Kim Carr on abolishing software patents. I'd really appreciate any feedback. Alex, Chris and George gave some very useful thoughts at our recent get-together. The letter is published on the End Software Patents wiki so please hop in and edit it: http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Open_letter_on_Australian_software_patents I'm hoping to finalise it and start collecting signatures in a week or so. I'll probably set up a web form for collecting signatures and also aim to collect a small number of higher profile signatures on paper. Cheers, Ben

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