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1216275169|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Patent trolls start on the open source sector: Why go to the effort of developing new software when you can use patents to extort other companies? A story about FireStar Software, which has not updated its software since 2003, preferring to rely on lawyers rather than programmers, to assure its income... (Comments: 0)

1216030997|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Patented wheels or how you can drive a car: Recently I found this picture of patented wheels. Just for history I post it here. (Comments: 0)

1215683531|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — EU proposes chaining IPR with competition law: Competition policy and intellectual property policy are like cats and dogs. France on behalf of the EU proposes to overcome the current unintermediated situation. (Comments: 0)

1215513849|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Bunyan wants better document access: How can civil society influence trade talks if everything's secret? Statewatch has an opinion on that. (Comments: 0)

1215196653|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — European Parliament rushes towards Soviet Internet: Brussels, 04 July 2008 — Amendments to the European Telecommunications directive being rushed through the European Parliament propose a "Soviet internet" where software publishers and internet service providers watch traffic and data for Hollywood. Software and services that run on the internet would have to ask for permission of the regulators. (Comments: 0)

1215162459|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Spanish MEP paints the EPO as the legislator: The EPO Gazette reports that some MEPs members of the Legal Affairs committee visited the EPO in early June. Questions were raised on the democratic control of the Office, and how the Alicante model of the OHIM could also apply to the EPO. One MEP mentioned that the EPO is also taking political decisions. (Comments: 0)

1214839613|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Get your patent licence at Microsoft: If you don't trust the OSP (Open Specification Promise), ask for a patent licence at Microsoft. "If you would prefer a written license, or if the formats are not covered by the OSP, patent licenses are available by contacting iplg@microsoft.com" they say on their website. (Comments: 0)

1214174542|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Campaign4Creativity is back in software patents lobbying: Simon Gentry is back in software patents lobbying. Now his role is to push for legalisation of software patents via the creation of central patent court in Europe. (Comments: 0)

1213879040|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — WIPO will discuss a report on patents and open standards next week: WIPO will discuss next week a report on the international patent system. A section of it is mentioning open standards. (Comments: 1)

1213793348|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Commission publishes transatlanctic roadmap to advance global patent harmonisation: The Commission agreed with its transatlantic counterparts on a road map to patent harmonisation, during the TEC 13 May, but did not publish the document. Now its out. (Comments: 4)

1213378159|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Barroso after the Irish NO vote: "The treaty is alive, and we should now try to find a solution": President of the European Commission reacted to the Irish NO vote by saying they will try to bypass it: "The treaty is alive, and we should now try to find a solution". There is no doubt that there will be attempts to bypass the decision of the polls in Ireland. (Comments: 1)

1213106016|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Microsoft sucks 8,136,000 EUR each year out of the European Commission: Commission pays Microsoft each year 226EUR for its office infrastructure. Commission has approx 36,000 users. Make the math. Commission makes also "open" tenders which prefers Microsoft products. (Comments: 4)