Editors • About the Site • Comes vs. Microsoft • Using This Web Site • Site Archives • Credibility Index • OOXML • OpenDocument • Patents • Novell • News Digest • Site News • RSS
Boycott Novell

07.01.08

MySQL Founders Call for Stronger Support of Patent Lens, Fight Against Software Patents

Posted in Patents, Courtroom, SUN, FOSS, Database at 5:52 am by Roy Schestowitz

There is a heap of software patents news at the moment. Here is one thing we can do against them.

Since David Axmark and I started to work on MySQL we also took a strong stand against software patents. MySQL AB have been sponsoring several efforts to prevent software patents in Europa.

Now David and I are continuing to do this outside of MySQL AB.

[…]

If you are a philanthropist and if you care about open source software and don’t have a love for the current patent system, I encourage you to join us in sponsoring Patent Lens. You can also try to get your company to sponsor.

Interestingly enough, as Digital Majority wishes to point out, software patents can also be used as a FUD tactic, not just for actual lawsuits. That’s precisely what Microsoft is doing at the moment. Dillon wrote:

Developers are curious whether NetApp will be successful in hindering even greater adoption of Sun’s ZFS open source technology.

Therein lies the conflict between companies with encyclopedias of patents (portfolio) and Free software. Sun must adapt to the stance of MySQL, as opposed to the other way around. Sun’s and MySQL’s new relationship continues to act as a problem to the work of MySQL’s founders. █

If you liked this post, consider subscribing to the RSS feed or join us now at the IRC channel.

Pages that cross-reference this one

Listed from October 23rd 2007 onwards, pingbacks and trackbacks (external) are omitted

Leave a Comment

What Else is New

  1. Microsoft's Partner Group Attacks ODF

    A typical mouthpiece of Microsoft Corporation goes batting against its big (and open/free) rival

  2. Open Letter to the Portuguese Ministry of Education

    Discrimination against Free sofwtare in Portugal's government is noted

  3. Microsoft Tries to Dodge Vista Collusions Lawsuit as Ballmer Deposition Nears

    More material is released for public viewing and Microsoft embarrassment ensues

  4. Silver Lie and Silver Liars

    Microsoft's (and Novell's) campaign to market Silverlight (and Moonlight) tells lies

  5. The Microsoft-Influenced US Regulators Wrong on Yahoo!

    An accumulation of reports and a new video

  6. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 20th, 2008 - Part 2

    IRC Log for November 20th, 2008 - Part 2

  7. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 20th, 2008 - Part 1

    IRC Log for November 20th, 2008 - Part 1

  8. Why Novell Was Wrong to Attend Kochi Conference

    A clear explanation of Novell as a misfit in the recent F/OSS conference (India)

  9. Links 21/11/2008: Via Sees the Light; New KOffice 2.0 Beta

    Links for the day

  10. Microsoft 2.0: A Company of Debt

    Microsoft is finally selling debt as buybacks get a little excessive

  11. Microsoft Uses Novell to Say Open Source Software Supports OOXML

    In yesterday's conference in Europe, Novell was once again used as a selling point for Microsoft and lock-in

  12. Reader's Post: The Windows Software Development Minefield, and Mono

    An analysis of Mono -- from Novell and Microsoft to Fedora

  13. Marcel Gagné on Microsoft/Novell (Video)

    New episode that mentions our Web site

  14. Links 20/11/2008: IBM to Buy Transitive, China Helps GNU/Linux Development

    Links for the day

  15. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 19th, 2008 - Part 2

    IRC Log for November 19th, 2008- Part 2

  16. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 19th, 2008 - Part 1

    IRC Log for November 19th, 2008- Part 1

  17. How Bill Gates Sabotaged PCs to Make Business

    The story about OneCare being lumped in (to Windows) brings past memories of Gates' sabotage

  18. Sys-Con is Copyrighting Slightly Modified Press Releases

    Sys-Con turns press releases (about Novell staff in this case) into tweaked press releases with Sys-Con copyrights

  19. Novell's Moonlight Finds Fans: Microsoft Bloggers

    One of Moonlight's (and Mono's) biggest fan base is Microsoft

  20. The Analysts Know Everything

    Here is undeniable proof that analysts should not be listened to

  21. Patents Roundup: Microsoft Sues, Patents Critic Become Nobel Laureate, and More

    An extensive summary of news about software patents

  22. Waggener-Edstrom Behind the 2008 Laptop Bribes, Edelman Behind 2006's

    Waggener-Edstrom was this year's Microsoft 'proxy' for handling the Vista 7 [sic] laptops giveaway

  23. AstroTurfers Pretend to be GNU/Linux Users?

    Site trolls who pretend to be GNU/Linux users but actually use Windows

  24. Analyst Lies and Novell Business Growth

    Analysts refuted for bogus studies that align with their funders' desires

  25. Liability for Software When Life is at Stake

    Hospitals in the UK get shut down for choosing Windows and ceding control to crackers

  26. More Information About Microsoft's and Intel's Crimes Against Customers

    Microsoft helped Intel make $billions at customers' expense (more evidence appears)

  27. An Ode (Eulogy) to ISO

    ISO releases Microsoft's OOXML, so we have a quick stab at it

  28. Links 19/11/2008: Many New GNU/Linux-based Products, Linux Gets OpenGL 3.0

    Links for the day

  29. IRC: #boycottnovell @ FreeNode: November 18th, 2008

    IRC Log for November 18th, 2008

  30. Novell Information, in the Words of Anivar Aravind

    A lead protester tells the story about the recent incident in India

An invade, divide, and conquer Grand Plan

Novell CEO Ron HovsepianHighlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. Learn more

Xandros founderHighlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. Learn more

Linspire CEO Kevin CarmonyHighlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. Learn more

Hand with moneyHighlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. Learn more

Eric RaymondHighlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. Learn more

XenSource CEOAnalysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy. Learn more

More analysis >>

Recent Posts