http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk hourly 1 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://gmane.org/img/gmane-25t.png http://gmane.org http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5651 My MP just sent me a copy of his letter of 4 November reminding the PM of his letter of 6 October where he asked about the non-answer nature of the response... again, I'll try to let the list know about replies... MJ Ray 2008-11-11T13:12:21 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5650 For what I wanted the current position is fine, I think that was the first place I looked for it originally. I'd expect it to be in a HOWTO type document, I'm not sure that it actually belongs in the licence itself (no other licence I've seen has that sort of thing in it). (The company for which I wanted it has confirmed that they have no interest in claiming IP for any software which isn't directly written for them, which is good to hear. Especially since the last one tried to claim everything for up to half a year after we left...) Thanks, Chris C Chris Croughton 2008-10-31T10:31:16 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5649 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 MJ Ray wrote: It's at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html I don't think the text of GPL3 will be changed for this, but I'll see if anything else can be done. - - Rob. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iEYEARECAAYFAkkKwMcACgkQCZbRMCZZBfbnGwCeMAubocAA8fMk0IHKBijcHnvC iIQAnip6438peccEknbCovzhaptS1Pzd =klch -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Rob Myers 2008-10-31T08:24:39 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5648 Thanks. GPLv3 says the relevant URL is http://www.gnu.org/licenses/ but I don't see a disclaimer there. Where is it? Confused, MJ Ray 2008-10-31T02:23:13 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5647 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 MJ Ray wrote: Thank you for pointing this out. A sample disclaimer has been added to the relevant URL. - - Rob. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iEYEARECAAYFAkkKLc4ACgkQCZbRMCZZBfaqZgCgj5gcPJel9XMrHSK3cGXigMK7 FroAn0XM4pdOomwZldPlIoNliuVLfFtG =GdCt -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Rob Myers 2008-10-30T21:57:34 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5646 This was an important month for Free Software. Not only was Software Freedom Day held (as always) on the 20th, but this years marks the 25th anniversary of the GNU Project. Celebrations took place across Europe and our Fellows continued to support Free Software in local areas with enthusiasm and passion. Other important events took place. On the policy level, FSFE engaged with representatives of the World Bank to explain why Free Software continues to be important in both economics and politics. On the legal level, meetings, speeches, panels and training events continued to build infrastructure for the future. Shane, FSFE Zurich Office 1. The GNU's 25th Birthday in Berlin, Germany 2. The smallest unit of freedom: A Fellow - Sean Daly 3. Reach the people - Software Freedom Day in Berlin, Vienna and Utrecht 4. Fellowship events throughout Europe 5. Free Software for World Bank financed projects 6. Freedom Task Force activites - GPLv3 in The Netherlands, panels in Italy and speeches in Berlin and Free Software Foundation Europe 2008-10-27T16:04:03 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5645 Chris Croughton <affs< at >keristor.co.uk> wrote: [...] It's near the end of GPLv2. See /usr/share/common-licenses or http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html#SEC4 I've no idea whether that is enough for English law. Generally, I've got through by deleting zealous "IP rights claims" from employment contracts and not working for evil companies. ;-) No equivalent example disclaimer is in GPLv3. It's not on the URL that GPLv3 says it is. This is yet another thing that I tried to tell FSF before they published GPLv3, but their buggy unfixable "stet" web application didn't let me and the email went unanswered. Please tell RMS that this is another small consequence of GPLv3's ineffective and incomplete review process. Hope that helps, MJ Ray 2008-10-25T09:49:52 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5644 Theoretically that's true. However, it doesn't stop them trying, my last place they tried to force an NDA on everyone which not only said explicitly that they claimed rights in everything you did anywhere while you were working there but also would have meant that no one working there could have got another job in the idustry for 6 months after leaving! At least there al of the contractors told them where to stuff it and they backed down (a number of permies signed it, I believe). Plenty of companies do. A friend recently got a job and on reading the contract found that legally they even had claim on anything includer her performing as an amateur musician! They write these things so broadly to try to catch everything. Well, its a protection just in case. Remember that the ordinary people in the company can be reasonable, but when lawyers smell money it acts like catnip. Just look at the SCO case, everyone with any sense knew that they didn't have a leg to stand on but the lawyers carried it for a Chris Croughton 2008-10-24T19:11:18 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5643 I don't have a waiver but I never heard of a contractor needing one. Surely by definition you do work all over the place and for all kinds of people and may even maintain old contracts at the weekend? How can they claim any work other than what they contracted you to do? How do they even have any rights over other work to wavie? In the past when I have been a contractor I've informed companies that they will have non-exclusive rights in some libraries developed independantly of their work and non-exlcusive rights to enhancements made to such libraries for them, and that I may retain ownership. They can pay more if they want to keep ownershipl. I also inform them that some parts my be software deveoperd by 3rd parties in which they may have non-exclusive rights blah blah Sam sam.liddicott 2008-10-24T17:04:20 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5642 I need the company for whom I will be working to sign a waiver of their rights in my Free Software development. There used to be such a thing on the FSF site, however the only reference to it I can find is a message from RMS saying that he thought it was there but he can't find it! Can anyone point me to such a waiver, or send me a copy? The points are: I will be working as contractor for a company which asserts its IP rights. They only really need those rights in their own area. It is not clear from the contract whether they actually try to claim ownership of what I do in my own time (in one place it implies that they don't, and in another it can be interpreted that they do). I want a waiver which they can sign saying that any work I do on Free Software projects is mine, not theirs. (I'm not getting into the "you should only work for companies writing Free Software" -- suffice it to say that (a) I would love to and (b) my continued existence implies havng to eat and pay bills.) Th Chris Croughton 2008-10-24T16:46:03 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5640 Complete with gormeless pro-patent rhetoric, timesonline.co.uk reports that, following the UK IPO's complaint against the High Court's pro-swpat ruling, the UK Court of Appeal has rejected the IPO's appeal and has instead agreed with the High Court that, for "complex software", software patents are valid: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article4907993.ece We previously saw a post-Nov-2009 swpat debate as an inevitability that we'd have to prepare for whether we want it or not. With this ruling, a new EU-level legislative proposal is becoming something we might even push for. (Nov 2009 is when a new European Commission will be chosen. Commissioner McCreevy said he'd make no further legislative proposals regarding swpats during his term, so there's a good chance that something will be launched when he is replaced.) I put the relevent part of the European Patent Convention online here with some links: http://fsfe.org/en/fellows/ciaran/ciaran_s_free_software_notes/why_european_software_ Ciaran O'Riordan 2008-10-13T11:25:55 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5639 (Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested) The next DFEY-NW meeting is next Sunday - 19th of October, in central Manchester. All young people who have interest in issues of freedom and education are more than welcome to attend. You can find the full information here: http://dfey.freedomdreams.co.uk/wiki/Meetings/October -- To mark the upcoming meeting I have written a short piece about why DFEY exists and what I think it is there for. Your comments opinions and thoughts would be very welcome. DFEY stands for "Digital Freedom in Education and Youth" what that actually means in practise I'll get to in a second. -- When you think of the word "freedom", the first thing you probably think of is freedom of speech - the freedom to say what you want to say, when you want to say it, where you want to say it. There are various groups and non-profit organisations commited to preserving various aspects of freedom in a digital world; * The Free Software Foundation campaigns to ke Tim Dobson 2008-10-11T00:43:15 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5638 Bit surprised this hasn't reached here yet... also rather disappointed that there's a discount for using Paypal (who are refusing to recognise my company's registration number and my credit card - I thought M6-IT CIC would have the same problem). Anyway, please pass this on to any exec staff types you know. From: Richard Rothwell <richardr< at >m6-it.org> Subject: FLOSSIE Conference 2009 - dates announced Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:08:16 +0100 Sustainable ICT in Schools - Beyond the PC 2 day conference - Birmingham 12th-13th February 2009 Full details at: http://www.schoolforge.org.uk/index.php/FLOSSIE_2009 Registration is available at the early bird rate of £70 through Paypal for individuals or invoiced to schools or businesses at the full rate £85. This year's conference will look to the future, and how FLOSS can improve the outcomes for learners while providing better return on investment for the organisation. Confirmed speakers include: * Gareth Davies, Chair of Naace * Simon Phi MJ Ray 2008-10-06T08:18:45 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5637 (Please forward this to anybody or any lists you think might be interested) DFEY-NW (Digital Freedom in Education & Youth - North West) is a group focusing on young people and issues of freedom in the digital world, based in the Northwest of England at the moment. === In Brief === WHERE: Meet near KFC, Upstairs, Piccadilly Station, Manchester VENUE: Marbella Cafe, above Sunshine Studios, 52 Newton Street. WHEN: Sunday 19th October, 12pm -> ~4pm SIGN UP: http://dfey-nw.eventwax.com/admin/dfey-nw-october-meeting CONTACT: Email - team at dfey dot freedomdreams dot net Tim Dobson 2008-09-29T18:13:55 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5636 [...] Now, now, there's no need to sling mud at British Library people - they seem to be spending time trying to make money for their organisation however they can, rather than distributing and sharing knowledge with British citizens. However, I also had a copy of that petition response and was in utter disbelief that it doesn't *once* respond to the suggestion of ODF, instead discussing PDF! I've written to my (conservative) MP asking his views and whether he'll help highlight the non-answer nature of that response. I'll try to let the list know if I get a good reply. Regards, MJ Ray 2008-09-29T14:04:37 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5635 http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page16957 "The National Archives does not currently plan to convert any records to Microsoft Office Open XML format." Seems to counter earlier announcements they made: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/164.htm "The ongoing collaboration will also see The National Archives further its innovative approach to sustaining the nation´s digital heritage, by contributing their expertise and insight in digital preservation towards the development of future releases of Microsoft products. Having addressed some of the key format sustainability issues through the implementation of the Ecma Open XML format in its latest products, the announcement represents a further step in Microsoft´s commitment to digital preservation." Not surprising that Adam Farquhar, Head of eArchitecture at the British Library is maintaining his independence by being co-chair of the Microsoft Office OpenXML standards committee. Does he also have a job with Microsoft? Jon ___________________________ Jon Grant 2008-09-26T17:54:33 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5634 The most exciting thing this month is the amount of Fellowship activity we are seeing around Europe. It's great to see more and more local meetings, giving Free Software supporters a chance to hang out together and share views. I've been lucky enough to attend several of the recent gatherings and what impresses me most is that our Fellows discuss such a broad range of topics. People talk about their local area, concerns about digital rights, business perspectives and ideas for future strategy. It's a dynamic environment to be working in. I'd love to see more meetings, especially in my own 'home' countries of Ireland and the UK. If you would like to be involved (whether you are a Fellow or not) please visit http://fsfeurope.org/contribute/ or send an email to team< at >fsfeurope.org. Shane, Zurich Office 1. FSFE welcomes KDE's adoption of the Fiduciary Licence Agreement (FLA) 2. FSFE at Akademy 2008 3. Swedish Fellows meet for talks and barbecue 4. Fellowship meeting in Nijmegen 5. Fellowship meetin Free Software Foundation Europe 2008-09-24T15:16:29 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5633 I think Dafydd Harries was doing the Debian work, and so far as I know he has stopped doing translations now. There are 266 fuzzy and 364 untranslated messages in the 5 files, which is not impossible to do in 3 days. However, doing it in a hurry might mean slightly different vocabulary being used in similar strings, and then people who like to whinge about such things would be annoyed :-) I'll be away for most of Fri and Sat anyway. However, if anyone (Gareth? Dafydd?) would like to share out the work, and/or check what I get done, then I'd be willing to give it a go. Kevin Donnelly 2008-09-18T11:00:19 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5632 Can anyone here give them a hand getting Welsh language support in the debian installer, please? It says the chances are low, but the 100-days projects shows that Welsh-language translators can do amazing things sometimes. See the email which follows: Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:23:17 +0200 From: Christian Perrier <bubulle< at >debian.org> To: debian-i18n< at >lists.debian.org, debian-boot< at >lists.debian.org Subject: 3 days left: 10 languages in danger in D-I (D-I string freeze status) Message-ID: <20080918052317.GA10443< at >mykerinos.kheops.frmug.org> 3 days left before the end of the string freeze NEW for today: Slovenian completed for sublevels 1-3 Ukrainian completed for sublevels 1-3 Catalan back to full 100% Big progress for Macedonian Languages meeting the release criteria: 50 ------------------------------------------ Already activated and complete for level 1: 44 Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, German, Dzongkha, Greek, Esperanto, Spanish, Basque, Finnish, French, Galician, Gujarat MJ Ray 2008-09-18T08:37:47 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5631 Saturday 20th September is Software Freedom Day [1]. As many of you will know, this is a worldwide event designed to promote software freedom. I am proud to announce that Manchester Free Software (like many other groups across the country and the world) will be hosting an event to celebrate. As a group we like to celebrate software freedom everyday, but on Saturday 20th September we will be getting together with a whole host of people to talk about and demonstrate free software. The event will take place at the Marbella Cafe [2] on Newton Street from 11am to 4pm. Everyone is welcome and there will be plenty of people there who are learning about free software for the first time. We will be giving away CDs, leaflets and stickers. I'm also told that the Cafe serves great food (veggie and vegan friendly). We will have a number of Internet connected PCs available, which will be used to demonstrate LTSP [3]. The Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) is designed to be used on low powered machines and so is bril Lucy 2008-09-14T17:34:38 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.org.fsf.uk/5630 Next Meeting ------------ Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 16th September, 2008. Dave Crossland, a well known free software advocate, is giving a talk entitled 'Free as in profit (fonts and software freedom)'. Dave will discuss the importance of fonts, how they count as free software and how to contribute to existing free fonts, as well as how to make your own. The talk will cover many important issues within free software, including trademarks, patents and copyright. Location -------- The meeting will take place at 19:00 in the Manchester Digital Development Agency on Portland Street. Access is via the doorbells at the entrance. Wheelchair access via the lift is available to the left of the main entrance. MDDA provide complimentary Fair Trade tea and coffee. Manchester Digital Development Agency (MDDA) Lower Ground Floor 117-119 Portland Street Manchester M1 6ED Directions are available on the MDDA web site[1]: [1]: http://manchesterdda.com/directions/ General information about Manchester Free S Tim Dobson 2008-09-07T19:16:12 Search the mailing list at Gmane query http://search.gmane.org/?group=$group=gmane.org.fsf.uk