Kennon - Slashdot User

Feds to collect DNA from every person they arrest 0

Submitted by

Kennon

on Thursday April 17 2008, @03:36AM

Kennon writes "The U.S. government plans to begin collecting DNA samples from anyone arrested by a federal law enforcement agency — a move intended to prevent violent crime but which also is raising concerns about the privacy of innocent people. Using authority granted by Congress, the government also plans to collect DNA samples from foreigners who are detained, whether they have been charged or not. The DNA would be collected through a cheek swab, Justice Department spokesman Erik Ablin said Wednesday. That would be a departure from current practice, which limits DNA collection to convicted felons."

Sun Helped fund SCO assault on Linux?->

Submitted by

Kennon

on Tuesday June 05 2007, @05:31PM

Kennon writes "Did Sun use SCO to attack Linux just like Microsoft?

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols over at Linux Watch seems to believe that might be the case. TFA:

"According to the court exhibit, Sun bought a "right to use license" (RTU license) for its commercial Linux end-users. In addition, Sun was buying "a UnixWare source code license to developers," and both licenses "contained a covenant not to sue, which provided that the licensee would not be exposed to liability for the use of SCO's intellectual property in Linux."

Nowhere does the exhibit explain in any detail exactly what SCO IP was hidden within Linux. Does that sound to you like the sort of vague patent claims made by Microsoft in regards to its recent patent deals with Novell and with Xandros? It does to me.

What makes this even odder is that, according to the exhibit, Microsoft and Sun also paid for UnixWare rights, and incidental rights to the older UNIX System V source code. Since they had paid for the rights to use Unix, why should they also be paying SCO not to sue them for the use of Linux?

My conclusion, then, as now, is that both companies were paying for SCO to attack IBM and Linux. It's difficult for me to see it in any other light. Both companies, after all, already had licenses to use SCO's Unix and IP. "

Looks like GoDaddy is parking boycottsun.com!"
Link to Original Source

Truth behind the Cleartype/OpenSUSE FUD

Submitted by

Kennon

on Wednesday April 11 2007, @02:08PM

Kennon writes "Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols over at Linux Watch clears up the FUD around yesterdays Slashdot article concerning OpenSUSE, Cleartype, and patent deals with Microsoft."

Novell/MS detail collaboration in whitepaper

Submitted by

Kennon

on Tuesday March 06 2007, @03:13PM

Kennon writes "You probably work at a business that uses both open source and proprietary software to run mission critical applications. And chances are you struggle with issues of interoperability between these technology worlds.

In order to solve these issues, Novell® and Microsoft have announced a partnership to bridge the worlds of proprietary and open source technology. Together, Novell and Microsoft are introducing new technology that improves interoperability between SUSE® Linux Enterprise and Windows, which will allow you to save money, gain flexibility and streamline your company operations. We are doing this in four areas: virtualization, systems management, directory integration and identity, and office document formats.

On November 2, 2006, Novell, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation announced a series of agreements to jointly build, market and support new solutions to improve interoperability (and make a few million dollars) and make Microsoft and Novell® products work better together. Novell and Microsoft are bridging the worlds of proprietary and open source technology, and we have built this bridge based on a foundation of mutual respect for intellectual property. (cough) http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1706983/54356689/ 3534/0/ marketting survey then links to PDF: http://www.moreinterop.com/tca-roadmap.pdf"