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Firefox's Robert O'Callahan on software patents in NZ,

"every developer is an inventor; coming up with new ways of doing things is not exceptional, it's what our developers do every single day. Invention created at such a rate does not deserve or benefit from years of monopoly protection. Indeed, it will be crippled if we are forced to play the patent system "to the hilt", to acquire vast numbers of our own software patents and to navigate the minefield of other people's patents."

-- http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/roc/archives/2010/07/mozilla_and_sof.html

h/t Holloway

The Creative Freedom Foundation has teamed up with Mike Corb and Luke Rowell / Disasteradio to produce the Guilt Upon Accusation anthem: The Copywrong Song.

The song is part of a week of action, launched by the Foundation, against Guilt Upon Accusation laws in NZ. The campaign, taking place from 16-23 February, is a reaction to Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment Act due to come into effect in NZ on February 28, and has already seen thousands of people, organisations, and major companies "blackout" their websites, blogs, FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter and Bebo accounts to show their opposition to the law.

Lyrics: Matt Hunt, Mike Corb, Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Luke Rowell/Disasteradio
Music: Mike Corb
Produced by: Luke Rowell/Disasteradio
Vocals, guitar, guitar synth: Mike Corb
Synths and programming: Luke Rowell/Disasteradio

DOWNLOAD THE MP3
Info on the Remix Challenge

Media7 | MEDIA 7Source: tvnz.co.nzBronwyn Holloway-Smith (Creative Freedom Foundation), Ant Healey (APRA) and Technology Journalist, Pat Pilcher will discuss the implications of Section 92a of the Copyright Act which could force ISPs to become policemen and to disconnect paying customers deemed to have breached the Act.    Thursdays at 9.10pm, with encore screenings on Friday at 12.10pm, Saturdays at 9.10pm & Tuesdays at 12.10pm.    

Group petitions against copyright law changes | TECHNOLOGYSource: tvnz.co.nzWatch TVNZ news tonight for Bronwyn Holloway-Smith speaking on New Zealand's "guilt apon accusation" style copyright laws.

Family Holloway » Blog Archive » Chemicals? In *My* Burger?Source: holloway.co.nzWhen visiting the beautiful state of New South Wales I found myself heading home after a long night drinking past a takeaway bar called Burger Edge and their advertisement of “chemical free chicken” burgers. ...

i'm a finalist in the New Zealand opensource awards - not sure what category, but guess this means i get a ticket ;-) I'm waiting for NZOSA to update their website so i can show my mum.

Last year, the project my husband Callum commits to, Open GPS, won best project. This was great for the project as well as bring the committers+contributors together to meet face to face for the first time.

Some of my colleages are also 2008 finalists:

Interesting Blog post from my colleague Matt Holloway on how ISO business model means there is no final edition of the OOXML spec available for review

I wonder how anyone can vote yes to fast track on something they don't even have an official copy of.

p.s. Welcome to catalyst, Matthew.