News (6)

Aussie BitTorrent case to test Aust-US FTA

A federal magistrate today rejected a request from solicitors representing Internet service provider Swiftel Communications and associated parties to move a court case over alleged copyright infringement to the Federal Court. Read more »

Patent fear plagues Aussie developers

Patents are being used as an offensive measure," John MacPhail, a partner at Baker & McKenzie, told attendees at forum on software patents in Sydney on Wednesday. Read more »

Open source push reflects need for FTA action: Lundy

Even modest adoption of open source software could trim 2.5 percent from the government's IT spend, Labor senator and shadow minister for IT Kate Lundy told approximately 150 gathered attendees in a broad keynote speech that kicked off the AUUG'2004 conference in Melbourne yesterday. Read more »

AU FOSS bodies blast US free-trade deal

Australia's national open source industry body, OSIA (Open Source Industry Australia), and Linux Australia have spoken out about their concerns over the proposed Australian-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), warning that the legal framework of the intellectual property clauses will put the entire Australian software development industry at risk. Read more »

Coonan attacks Aust-US free trade critics

The new Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, has lashed back at opposition claims that the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) will "harm" Australian software producers. Read more »

Thousands of AU developers protest US trade pact

Almost 3,000 developers from Australia and abroad have voiced their opposition to the proposed intellectual property clauses in the United States-Australia Free Trade agreement. Read more »

Features (6)

Talking IP with Kimberlee Weatherall and Rusty Russell

Law professor and intellectual property expert Kimberlee Weatherall and Linux Australia's IP Policy Adviser, Rusty Russell, talk about the new intellectual property laws Read more »

A patently bad idea?

So you've developed software that is going to change the world only to discover another company holds the patent for your idea. Are patents protecting or destroying the software industry? Read more »

Designing for distant shores, part 2

In our final part in our series on selling software overseas, Angus Kidman identifies the business issues you'll need to address. Read more »

The problem with US patents

Commentary-- Many patented ideas required little more than half a brain, five minutes of uninterrupted privacy, a napkin, and a pen for scribbling. We need some changes. Read more »

Builder AU's June Top 10

Have you had your head stuck in a project and missed the latest Builder AU news, features and reviews? Keep in touch with our top 10 stories for June. Read more »

Why open source is bad for Australia

Open source is actually anti-industry, and protecting it is not in Australia's interests, says one industry observer. Read more »

Log in


Sign up | Forgot your password?

  • Chris Duckett IE9's H.264 vote killed Ogg

    In a split decision by the judges, the winner of the W3C/WHATWG video codec consensus is H.264, taking home the future of video playback on the internet while loser Ogg goes home with nothing but thoughts of what might have been. Read more »

    -- posted by Chris Duckett

  • Staff Google launches Apps Marketplace

    Google launches and app store, while Mozilla plans to re-write its open-source license. More of this week's news in the Roundup. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

  • Staff Microsoft showcases new NUIs

    TechFest, Microsoft's internal even took place this week with researchers showcasing some new interfaces the company is working on. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

What's on?

  • Optus Deal

    Broadband + home phone + PlayStation®3 in a single package price!