There are lotsa quotes of stuff i said in this Computer World story by Stephen Bell :
"Wellington's Brenda Wallace cruises to victory in predictions contest"
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/technology/android-boosted-ipad-dism...

Well-known Wellington geek Brenda Wallace cruised to victory for the second year running, in developer group Unlimited Potential’s contest for the best predictions for ICT in the year ahead.

A growing number of organisations, especially government agencies, will choose open-source software during 2010, for the wrong reasons, Wallace predicts. Referring to the Public Sector Remix open-source desktop trial, she says, “I suspect they’re doing it because Microsoft wouldn’t give them the price they wanted. I hope they’ll stay open-source, because it gives them freedom and control and breaks a monopoly.”

Libraries will begin renting e-books, she says. More tablet computers will enter the market, running “quasi-operating systems” such as Google’s Android rather than full-blown Linux, Apple or Windows; “but users won’t know or care about the OS; they’ll just use [the devices].”

The move to open government “will get creepy”, Wallace says, observers will “stalk” politicians, reporting their movements through Twitter and other real-time forums. “I’d like to see them do it to the lobbyists,” she says; “I’d like to know who they’re having lunch with.”

New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development have released from documents on the ongoing ACTA negotations.
http://news.business.govt.nz/news/strategic/article/9761

Smarter people than me have read these, and found nothing new revealed.

The last round of negotiations was in Mexico - the next round of talks is right here in New Zealand.

quick recap:

ACTA (anti counterfeiting trade agreement) is a treaty currently being negotiated by the world's weathiest countries, including New Zealand. It is officially about things like stopping the fake prada handbags trade - but there's also been leaked documents showing that big media have been asked for their wishlist such as 3 strikes internet disconnection that we protested so loudly against in NZ's s92a of the Copyright act.

It would be disastrous to have stopped such New Zealand laws that give out punishment (internet termination) without trial or appeal, like the s92a did, only to have it implemented anyway via a treaty that our parliament ratifies. Now is the time to make noise.

This need to stop fake prada is so important, it's been classed as "National Security", so none of us lowly citizens are allowed to know what's actually being negotiated. This also is not standard practice for treaty negotiations to be secret.

All Official information act requests, in several countries, have been unsuccessful in finding out what they're putting into this treaty - cos, you know, national security.

The next talks are in Wellington in April - standby for more info later on citizen action.

Why you should go to LCA, by Selena Deckleman
http://www.chesnok.com/daily/2010/01/27/why-you-should-go-to-lca-2011/

LWN articles (subscription required while the stories are new)
An LCA 2010 overview http://lwn.net/Articles/371044/
LCA: Static analysis with GCC plugins http://lwn.net/Articles/370717/
LCA: Cooperative management of package copyright and licensing data http://lwn.net/Articles/370308/
LCA: How to destroy your community http://lwn.net/Articles/370157/

Another brilliant LCA! by Tridge http://blog.tridgell.net/?p=21

Computer World NZ http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/devt/376AB6C5B174B722CC2576B2007B7F93

75% of Linux code is written by paid devs http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/17365/1/

Smarter Linux file structure aims to ease software management http://www.techworld.com.au/article/333549/smarter_linux_file_structure_...

Make Meeting Times Inconvenient To Get Better Results http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/01/make-meeting-times-inconvenient-to-...

That rather counter-intuitive suggestion came from Leslie Hawthorn, a program manager at Google. during a presentation at linux.conf.au on how to get involved with open source software

Illuminating the elephant in the open source room http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2010/012110-illuminating-the-elephant-in-...

Computerworld > NZ’s S92A failure linked to Aussie ISP copyright case

While New Zealand’s government, internet service provider industry and copyright owners contemplate their next move following the withdrawal of Section 92A of the Copyright Act, a legal action currently awaiting hearing in the Australian Federal courts is set to revolve around a strikingly similar p...

Computerworld > Anti-counterfeiting agreement mirrors S92ASource: computerworld.co.nzA sketch of the matters being discussed raises a potential red flag by mentioning, as with the NZ Copyright Act’s now abandoned Section 92A, the co-operation of internet service providers in detecting infringement of intellectual property rights online

Child porn threat used to push S92A | computerworld.co.nzSource: computerworld.co.nzWaikato University's weekly Student Union magazine Nexus reports that United Video and other video rental stores in Hamilton are using the threat of child pornography to get customers to sign a petition in favour of Section 92A of New Zealand's new copyright law.

Computerworld > Breaking: TelstraClear bails from copyright code talksSource: computerworld.co.nz

TelstraClear has pulled the rug from under efforts to implement New Zealand's controversial new copyright law.

The telco has told the Telecommunications Carriers' Forum (TCF) and a working party trying to thrash out a draft code to implement section 92A of the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act that it no longer supports the effort.

From computerworld.co.nz

A local website has removed recordings of the Conan novels under the threat of legal action from the US, despite the material being in the public domain in New Zealand.

New Zealand-based audio enthusiast website BrokenSea Audio ran into trouble with the copyright holders of Robert E. Howard characters and stories, primarily the stories about Conan the Barbarian, created by the Texan writer in the 1930s.

The material in question is in the public domain, the threat of "one accusation and you're taken down" has caused a host removecontent voluntarily, even though the content is in public domain and they have every right to distribute it.

BrokenSea decided to comply with the demands. All Conan audio dramas and audio books produced by its volunteers have been removed from the website, and a major project — a production of Howard's only full length Conan novel, Hour Of The Dragon, which Mannering had adapted into a full cast audio drama script — has been cancelled.

Under New Zealand copyright law, if a website is accused of copyright infringement, the webhost must take down the content. If the webhost does not, they could be liable for any copyright infringement, even though it isn't their actions that cause the content to be there.

This is in section 92C of our copyright (new technologies) amendment act.

Computerworld > Leaked letter reveals recording industry's copyright stanceSource: computerworld.co.nzContent indicates much work remains before consensus reached

Computerworld > The Fry effect: 'blackout' protest goes viralSource: computerworld.co.nzBlackout campaign gets boost from NZ retweet

me, in computerworld, originally uploaded by Br3nda

smug photo of me and the tiara from the Blogger's Predict panel.

Computerworld > Copyright law an 'opportunity', not a problemSource: computerworld.co.nzRights-holders accentuate the positive. Computer Society says law is 'illogical'. NZCI says the issue, which has generated a virtually united front of opposition from ISPs, and ICT industry groups, is not about ISPs policing the internet, it’s about ISPs "responding to a high standard of evidence of...

Computerworld > Secret IP pact involving NZ draws US lawsuitsSource: computerworld.co.nzACTA meetings have not been kept secret from the public, says MEDTwo digital rights advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in an attempt to get the office to turn over information about a secret international treaty, involving New Zealand, being negotiated to step up cross-border enforcement of copyright and piracy laws.

Computerworld > Judith Tizard meets with copyright expert Lawrence LessigSource: computerworld.co.nzMinister of Commerce receives briefing on copyright in the digital age

Computerworld > Websites threatened by new Copyright ActSource: computerworld.co.nzAssociate Commerce Minister Judith Tizard says, however, that ISPs are in a unique position to be able to control

The New Zealand Government continues to participate in ACTA treaty negotiations.

Our Ministry of Economic Development (MED) reports on ACTA Negotiations: Report on Round Three, 8-9 October 2008, Tokyo and have even published the Agenda. As mentioned on the NZOSS list, MED have noted that "Participants confirmed their intention to continue consulting with their respective stakeholders, and to share the results of the consultations at their next meeting.". Who are these stakeholders? Who are they going to share these with?

ACTA is "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement", a treaty originating in the USA, and to date still secret. Many snippets have leaked, including an assertion that the Copyright Hoarding entities (RIAA and their clones) have been consulted for their wishlist.

New Zealand has a new Copyright Act, that goes into effect on 28th February 2009

In amongst the act is section 92a: ISPs are required to disconnect those accussed of copyright infringement. This was worrying, and during select committee discussion this was modified to have penalties when the accuser turns out to be wrong. (see Controversial copyright clause to be amended computerworld.co.nz)

At the last minute the penalties for wrong accusations was removed. So, the copyright act passed, with section 92a allowing copyright holders to accuse anyone of infringement, without requiring proof - and ISPs are forced to comply and disconnect service. You don't get a trial, you're just cut off and no more internet for you.

No more email, no booking airlines, no more buying books on the internet - you're cut off based only on an accusation. If they decided to accuse me, I would not be able to continue my occupation as an Open Source programmer / gadget wrangler. I'd have to give up and probably retrain as a barrista.

This is New Zealand law. You can't make this shit up!

Computerworld > Radio NZ rolls out Ogg VorbisSource: computerworld.co.nz

Computerworld > Geeky girls come together — to dine out and playSource: computerworld.co.nzGirl Geek dinner events about learning and having fun, says organiser

Internet Society of NZ has made a submission on the proposed Anti-Counterfeit Treaty: ACTA:
http://www.internetnz.net.nz/issues/submissions/2008/acta (pdf)

ACTA is DMCA style legislation wrapped up into a Treaty. It orginates in the USA, and New Zealand government is asking for comment on it..

Finlay is famous today - interviewed about Electoral Enrollment's use of open sourcehttp://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/072965C09248DA04CC257268000C6C7F