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Microsoft

Microsoft caught with hand in cookie jar-> 1

Submitted by
dlane
dlane writes "Representatives of the NZ Open Source Society have successfully opposed a Microsoft software patent application related to XML use in representing productivity data. This was a very broad patent, found subject to prior art: i.e. a very low quality patent that shouldn't have been submitted much less granted. As it was, it took the NZOSS members and their legal team 8 years to get MS to abandon the application.

This isn't the first time they've tried this: another bad application (http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/F68C4D35A4AE5DD5CC257038000F4A24) was submitted to NZ's patent office although it had been disallowed in other jurisdictions (including US) due to prior art. NZOSS representatives challenged the application and were able to force MS to change the wording to the point where it was no longer seen as a threat to developers.

Whenever Microsoft claims support for "improved quality patents" realise that what they mean is "other people's patents". Feel free to highlight their hypocrisy."
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Open Source

linux.conf.au 2011, shaping up to be stunning!->

Submitted by Dante_J
Dante_J writes "In the proud tradition of being one of the best "grass roots" FOSS conferences on the planet and just weeks away, linux.conf.au 2011 in Brisbane Australia, is shaping up nicely. Keynote speakers include Vint Cerf, Eric Allman, Mark Pesce & Geoff Huston. Many impressive Miniconfs, Presentations, Tutorials and an Open Day are included. Everything from FOSS rockets to kernel hacking, haecksen to Meego. This is one of those rare occasions of the FOSS community gathering in one geographic location, expressing both breadth and depth. A week of geeky goodness. Regos are available now, but time is limited."
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Government

Microsoft's bulk deal with New Zealand Collapses->

Submitted by
vik
vik writes "The 3-year whole-of-government deal that Microsoft has been establishing with the New Zealand government since 2000 has collapsed, opening the doors to the wider use of Open Source software in government. The NZ State Services Commission (already a prize-winning user of Open Source) says in a statement that it "...became apparent during discussions that a formal agreement with Microsoft is no longer appropriate". Having lost their discount, individual government departments will now have to put their IT requirements out to tender individually."
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