[SpikeTues] Open Source can't be innovative, Microsoft loses IE Patent case, a soldiers joy, 54 days to Christmas

In an interview in the Business Week, Danny Rimer (VC with Index Ventures), talks about the open source movement and his view on the space.  Although don't expect a fluffy, "we are the world" type of chorus on the merits of open source.  In fact Mr Rimer is quite ruthless about the open source model for companies, stating that a successful open source company shouldn't innovate; "Open-source companies absolutely can't have a new, innovative technology.", citing MySQL as a classic example where by they took on the dominant role of Oracle and made relational databases available for the masses.  There are many examples of innovative successful companies in the open source space and it pains me when I hear such sweeping statements like these given such a public platform.

• http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2005/tc2005103_5298_tc_218.htm

An update on the IE Patent case that Microsoft is currently fighting.  The courts have upheld the original complaint that Microsoft should pay $565M to the University of California and its partners for infringing a patent within IE.  The patent in question isn't as a straight forward as simple plugin technology as first thought.  It seems to be related to a users ability to read forms in a web page. Although, still a stretch that this was allowed to be patented in the first place.  Europe is still on course to be outlawing software patents once and for all.

• http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002596493_microsoft01.html

The life of a soldier can be hard.  Our brave guys'n'gals defend our nations borders from the rogue elements and put up with a lot.  Away from their families for months at a time, no creature comforts to speak of and never really have time to yourself to just reflect.  During World War II the hardships were just as hard, probably harder as they didn't have the facilities of today's modern army.  Although there is one hard ship they didn't speak of too much that has now surfaced after historical papers have been released to the National Archives.  The poor yank soldiers had to endure the continued allure of the good old British "good time girls".  Our ladies of the nights would apparently target the wealthy American soldier and it was getting to be so much of a problem, that a special meeting had to be arranged between the chiefs!

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4394494.stm

With Halloween now out of the way, we can begin the count down to Christmas, that other popular pagan festival hijacked by Rome.  From here on in, we'll highlight some interesting facts about the upcoming holiday and dispell some myths and legends.

Countdown To Christmas Fact#54:
The abbreviation of Xmas for Christmas is not irreligious. The first letter of the word Christ in Greek is chi, which is identical to our X. Xmas was originally an ecclesiastical abbreviation that was used in tables and charts. In the early days of printing, when font sizes were limited and type was set by hand, abbreviations and ditto marks were used liberally. Xmas came into general use from the church!
Courtesy: http://www.kencollins.com/Holy-02t.htm

tags: patent  microsoft  mysql  christmas  

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