Table of Contents: 1. Free Software Business 2. Software Patents 3. Copyright and Other Legal Act Reforms 4. Government and Free Software Policies 5. Other interesting links

\ Free Software Business //

A short recap from Nokia's e-mail answer to what the future holds for Symbian and Qt. * I Programmer: Nokia confirms that Symbian phones will just fade away http://www.i-programmer.info/news/83-mobliephone/2175-nokia-sends-open-lette... to- developers-about-the-future.html

\ Software Patents //

Again we come to a week full of mobile phone related patent wars. Pretty much everyone is suing everyone and getting sued at the same time. The word on the street also is that the recent Nokia-Microsoft bond is there mainly for both to be more powerful with their joint patent portfolio and thus get to them more favorable settlements easier.

After last week's questions whether Google violated the GPL by copying header files from the Linux kernel to its Android, this week we see patent infringement claims from Microsoft against some companies making Android devices. * TechCrunch: Drunk On Licensing Fees And Patents, Microsoft Has Become A Joke http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/21/this-title-is-patented-pay-me/ * IT World: Android: Sued by Microsoft, not by Linux http://www.itworld.com/open-source/140916/android-sued-microsoft-not-linux * Ars Technica: Long battle likely in Microsoft's newest patent infringement suit http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/03/long-battle-likely-in- microsofts-newest-patent-infringement-suit.ars * the Inquirer: Microsoft sues Barnes & Noble, Foxconn and Inventec over Android http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2036020/microsoft-sues-barnes- noble- foxconn-inventec-android

PaidContent: Microsoft Opponent Gets U.S. Government Support In Patent Showdown http://paidcontent.org/article/419-microsoft-opponent-i4i-gets-u.s.- government- support-in-patent-showdown/

TechCrunch: Robocast Sues Apple for Infringing its "Automated Browsing" Patent http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/22/robocast-sues-apple-for-infringing-its- automated- browsing-patent/

Reuters: Kodak wins skirmish against RIM and Apple http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/25/us-kodak-patent- idUSTRE72O7CH20110325

the Inquirer: Apple and others sued for patent infringement http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2035951/apple-sued-patent- infringement

the Inquirer: Nokia loses a patent infringement claim against Apple's Iphone http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2037754/nokia-loses-patent- infringement- claim-apples-iphone

Ars Technica: Apple's mobile products do not violate Nokia patents, says ITC http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/itc-judge-apple-products-do-not- violate- nokia-patents.ars

\ Copyright and Other Legal Act Reforms //

Michael Geist: Another Copyright Bill Hits the Scrap Heap: Taking Stock of Canadian Digital Law and Policy Reform http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5707/125/

\ Government and Free Software Policies //

FSFE: Mapping the changing landscape of Free Software in the British Public Sector http://fsfe.org/uk/mapping-uk.en.html

OSOR: AU: Government moves to encourage use of Open Source Software http://www.osor.eu/news/au-government-moves-to-encourage-use-of-open-source- software

OSOR: PL: School curriculum to be modernised with courses on free software http://www.osor.eu/news/pl-school-curriculum-to-be-modernised-with-courses-o... free- software

OSOR: NL: Court of Audit 'failed' in its independent review of open source http://www.osor.eu/news/nl-court-of-audit-failed-in-its-independent-review-o... open- source

\ Other interesting links //

CIO: Yahoo Plans to Open Source Code for Non-Core Technologies http://www.cio.com/article/678285/Yahoo_Plans_to_Open_Source_Code_for_Non_Co...

the Inquirer: ICANN wants to break free from the US government http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2037784/icann-break-free-government

Hugo Roy: English: IPRED: challenge EU policy in copyright and patents on the Internet http://blogs.fsfe.org/hugo/2011/03/ipred-challenge-eu-policy-in-copyright-an... patents-on-the-internet/

EU commissioner has started to work on a European Cloud Computing Strategy. * Neelie Kroes: The clear role of public authorities in cloud computing http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/public-authorities-and-cloud/

Ars Technica: Trademarked keyword sales may soon be restricted in Europe http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/03/european-court-advised-to- restrict- the-sale-of-trademarked-keywords.ars

ConsortiumInfo: Open Network Foundation to Promote New Network Architecture http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20110322064932...

the H Online: The Pragmatism of Free Software Idealism and the Idealism of Open Source Pragmatism http://www.h-online.com/open/features/The-pragmatism-of-free-software- idealism-1211946.html

Cheers, Matija