Google has “no plans” to ban copyleft

Both Apple and Microsoft have blocked the distribution of copylefted Free Software through their App Store and Windows Phone Marketplace respectively. Though there’s no indication or reason to believe this might happen with Google’s Android Market, I wrote their Open Source Programs Manager, Chris DiBona, asking him about the possibility. He replied:

No, we have no plans to restrict copyleft based programs. When we were creating our application market for android, we wanted to make sure that developers could offer programs that contained open source and free software. (email: 2/20/11)

Google’s inclusive approach to licensing will only help make their market more appealing to developers and users alike.

windows: GNU/Linux’s latest app?

Check out this new Acer netbook that “dual-boots” Windows and Google’s GNU/Linux variant “Android”:

(No, this post is not to point out the video cutting at 1:33 because Windows is taking a lifetime to boot – that laugh is bonus)

At the 1:16 mark we see Android ask, “Switch to OS: Would you like boot (sic) to Windows?”. After confirmation, we see Windows begin to boot…or is it launch? I’m curious – has the Windows operating system been turned into a proprietary GNU/Linux application? It appears this Acer isn’t hard booting when the command is given to start Windows (where’s the BIOS’s output?). So is this a warm boot or has Windows been virtualized?

I’d be grateful to anyone with more information willing to pass it on. When Windows is shut down, are we back to GNU/Linux? Or do we need to boot the machine again?

hate runs shallow

This entire article on FOSS advocacy and Apple is a worthwhile read. In it, Bruce Byfield included some thoughts on hating Microsoft:

Microsoft is the company that everybody loves to hate. These days, you don’t even need to be a geek to express your hate. Tell an anti-Microsoft joke in the average business or college crowd, and you are guaranteed a laugh. Tell a joke against Apple, though, and surprised silence will struggle with strained smiles in your audience.

While Microsoft certainly deserves the critical eye it often receives, when it comes to “hate”, this is my take:

If you desire a better society, use a free system. If you simply hate Microsoft, use Mac OS.

microsoft placation

One has to have their head in the sand to believe this:

This means [Microsoft] will continue working towards the same goal: enabling as many individuals and schools as possible to benefit from the transformative power of technology at the best possible price.

Achieving this goal requires little “work”. All Microsoft needs to do is transform their business model by releasing their software to the public domain or relicensing it as free software. However, the actual goal of Microsoft is to make as much short-term profit as possible despite any social or pedagogical considerations. A belief that this corporation’s goal is to “enable” individuals or “transform” society is naïve.

Best Campaigner Against OOXML

My thanks just got one-upped.

Via /.

“We can’t be bought”

An insightful and entertaining interview offering a glimpse into the free software movement’s mindset. Thanks Volker, Georg, Carlo, Jeremy, and Andrew (absent from the interview). Mainstream media is missing the real story as it focuses in on the pocket-change fine Microsoft has been ordered to pay. Follow the audio with text here.

Moglen and Microsoft’s Strategy

Eben Moglen, as usual, sharply articulates what is actually happening in the world of software patents.

Take Moglen’s explanation of the Microsoft/Novell patent deal, add some of this, that, and a pinch of future lock-in, and key parts of the monopolist’s strategy become clear.

If Microsoft fully succeeds, “open source” itself will have been embraced, extended, and extinguished corporately appropriated. I don’t know what will happen. Much may depend upon how many vocal “open source” supporters actually have this in their heart.

To be honest, I’m pretty pessimistic.

a win for freedom in european court

This is huge.

As a monopoly, Microsoft correctly views interoperability as a threat. Interoperability means viable software choices for computer users and a level playing field for software developers. The Samba team will surely be smiling from ear-to-ear over this ruling. Samba helps make the transition of computer networks to free software easier by providing a layer of interoperability.

As for the 497 million euro fine, we’d gladly trade that in for a similar ruling on Microsoft’s OOXML shenanigans.

more on the beast’s mockery of the ISO process

Update: Sweden declares own vote invalid and will now abstain.

Andy has more commentary on Microsoft’s purchase of the Swedish OOXML vote.

“Sadly, it seems that, due to the efforts of a single company, ISO/IEC will need to overhaul their good faith based rules to prevent a similar stunt from being perpetrated on the system in the future.“

I like “good faith based rules” in general. When relating with others, I tend to deemphasize (though not completely ignore) rules. When things start going awry, people can often communicate their concerns and set things straight allowing reason to reign. A focus solely on rules lacks humanity while encouraging irresponsibility through the exploitation of loopholes. Unfortunately, as Andy reports,

“Jason Matusow, Microsoft’s Director of Corporate Standards, has on at least two occasions (there may be more) stated Microsoft’s intention to do everything that can be done within the system without breaking the rules.“

Clearly, Jason’s intention is to do his job, not The Right Thing. And doing his job means discarding relationship and social responsibility to pursue the single-minded mandate of profit maximization. Such is the nature of the beast.

Leaked Memo on OOXML Voting in Sweden

Update: Sweden declares own vote invalid and will abstain.

Groklaw:

“It costs money to join SIS, registration of around $150 and an additional $1,150 or so to get to vote, so Microsoft is reported to have told partners in the memo that companies that paid the fee and voted appropriately would receive “marketing support” (”marknadsbidrag”) and “additional support in the form of Microsoft resources” (”extra stöd i form av Microsoftresurser”)”

Translated from IDG Sweden.

And the question was raised – “Is this kind of pressure to tip a vote allowed under the ISO rules, by the way?” I don’t know myself but I’m guessing that it is. At best, this will result in a future rules adjustment but the fact is, for what is one of the most important votes in standards history, the damage has been done (see update at top) in Sweden.