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Monthly Archives: December 2007
Pasay School Sues Microsoft for P100M
MANILA, Philippines — A Pasay City school filed Monday a civil case against software firm Microsoft Corp. and its local subsidiary, Microsoft Philippines, for alleged illegal distribution of copyrighted material.
The case stemmed from Microsoft’s allegedly unauthorized and illegal “digital copying” and distribution of a locally developed manual on the use of Microsoft Office. Ironically, Microsoft has been at the forefront of attempting to curb the illegal distribution of its own copyrighted software in the Philippines. The company is a member of the Business Software Association, an organization which in turn works with the Optical Media Board and the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team to conduct raids on copyright-infringing software in the country.
The registered copyright of the manual in question is owned by Southeastern College (SEC), which filed the case against Seattle, US-based Microsoft and its Philippine office at the Makati City Regional Trial Court.
Originally titled “The SEC Microsoft Office XP Manual,” the 379-page manual was copyrighted in 2005 by SEC director Conrad Mañalac for the exclusive use of teachers and students. It is filed with the National Library with registration No. A-2005-799 and assigned ISBN (international standard numbering system) No. 971-9272-1-2 by the National Library’s Bibliographic Services Division. Mañalac said work on the manual began in 1999.
In 2004, Microsoft Philippines reportedly purchased licenses to print 10,000 copies of the SEC manual, now retitled “Innovate: A Mentor’s Guide to ICT Foundation Competencies,” which was used for the company’s “Partners in Learning” program for high school teachers.
In October 2006, Microsoft distributed the manual (in PDF format) through CDs as part of its corporate giveaways during two separate events.
“SEC has never given Microsoft or any other person authority to reproduce and/or distribute (Innovate) in CDs,” said Atty. Estelito Mendoza, legal counsel for SEC.
He added: “SEC only consented to the printing of 10,000 book copies. The making of the CDs, as well as its copying and distribution, grossly violates Southeastern College’s economic rights to its intellectual property.”
At least 700 copies of the Innovate CDs were allegedly distributed by Microsoft during its two company-sponsored events.
INQUIRER.net contacted Microsoft Philippines to comment on the case. Mae Rivera-Moreno, public relations and community affairs manager of the company, said they are still consulting lawyers regarding its public statement about the lawsuit and that they would issue a reply Monday.
The lawsuit charged that Microsoft violated Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. In a copy of the suit shown to INQUIRER.net, Microsoft allegedly violated two specific provisions: unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted content and public communication of said content.
The CDs in question allegedly contained copyrighted material distributed to teachers in two separate events in 2005 and the 2006. SEC also claimed that Microsoft’s local office also sent the CDs via mail to teachers who were not able to receive copies. The CDs reportedly contained Microsoft’s name and copyright mark on the cover.
In an interview, Atty. Mendoza referred to the act as a “bare-face” case of copyright infringement. It is also regarded as the first legal case of IP violation filed versus Microsoft in the Philippines.
“But Microsoft has reason to be happy,” he added. “This case demonstrates even more strongly that in the Philippines, we do not tolerate counterfeiting, we give protection to intellectual property.”
source:
By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
dude2nuckle Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:12:00 +0000
Source: http://teampilipinas.blogspot
Microsoft’s The Leading Edge Competition
What will give your project the leading edge?
Microsoft is giving you the chance to have the leading edge by completing your computation research project (i.e. animation, manufacturing design, video editing, data visualization) with Microsoft Windows Compute Cluster Server for only US$1/node! MSDNAA licenses will be available to all students (through their universities) participating in this contest which includes ALL Microsoft software except Microsoft Office. View this page for a full list of software inclusions http://www.msdnaa.net.
Areas of research include, but are not limited to: Engineering, Science, Biology, Biotechnology, Finance, Geology, Medicine, Mining, Computational Applications Development, Oil and Gas Exploration, Animation – Media and Entertainment, and any other field of research involving extensive computational calculations.
For more details, visit http://www.theleadingedge.ph
Pasko na Naman!
In a week’s time, it’s Christmas Day 2007! First time for my baby Robyn Andi Xeon. As with every year, when this season in time comes, this song from the APO Hiking Society never fails to condition my mind that indeed, Christmas time is fast approaching.
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For the lyrics of Tuloy na Tuloy Pa Din ang Pasko, click here.
Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Creative Suite 3 All in One
Authors: Mordy Golding & John Ray
ISBN: 978-0-672-32934-0
Before the launch of Adobe Create Suite 3 (CS3) around three (03) months ago, a lot of people, including myself, were eagerly waiting on how will it improve the way people use their computers to design (graphics, web, and print). From September up to this day, it seems that not much people are adopting to CS3, primarily because to the fact that the software family is a little bit pricey — and pirates were given a hard time cracking the software (kudos to Adobe!).
If you want to jump start with Adobe CS3, then the Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Createive Suite 3 All in One book is right for you (ISBN 978-0-672-32934-0, US$34.99 / PHP1,432.58 at Amazon.com).
Sixteen chapters of the book were divided into three (03) parts:
1. The Suite
2. The Applications
3. The Projects
Discussed in the book are the following CS apps:
1. Photoshop CS3
2 .Illustrator CS3
3. InDesign CS3
4. Flash CS3 Professional
5. Dreamweaver CS3
6. Acrobat 8 Professional
This book could have been better if they had included a chapter about Adobe Fireworks, as I still believe that FW is better than Photoshop CS3 when it comes to web page designing.
Overall, the book succeeded in its aim: to give the reader a fast and easy start with Adobe Creative Suite 3.
Attended the Intel Machinima Workshop
Got this invite from an email of Sir Ram posted in the MMA mailing list. I emailed Jill 2 days ago, as instructed, and got a reply from her confirming my seat to the FREE workshop this afternoon at the Ascott Makati (formerly known as Oakwood Premiere).
I must admit, I am NOT a gamer-type of person, proof is that I spent around half-a-day just to finish the first stage of Halo and another 3 hours trying to figure out how can I mount Chief to his vehicle on the next stage. A little bit faster the first time I played Command & Conquer Red Alert. But I know how to make (program) a game.
I wanted to be in this workshop to know what is “machinima“. Apprently, “machinima” refers to “machine cinema” — a new movement in filmmaking (click here to know more about machinima).
I got a little bit frustrated when the speaker from Intel told us what we are going to do in the one-and–half workshop: to create a “machinima” clip using Microsoft Windows Movie Maker and Fraps — welcome to BASICOM!! hehehe – using the Granada Espada game engine. Before the speaker started with his slides, all participants were asked to create their own Granada Espada accounts, if they still doesn’t have one (which I guess 75% of the attendees were not aware that such game, that includes me) — in short, advertising Intel’s Core 2 Quad processor (all of the Acer PCs were running with this type of processors plus a Mag cinema display LCD monitor) and the Granada Espada game.
So, after 10 minutes of “lecture” and “demo”, we were asked to create our own “machinima” clips, which will automatically be included in the contest that runs until tomorrow (you still have time to attend the workshop tomorrow). Took me around 15 minutes to tinker on the controls and flow of the game.
They had also allowed us to have copies of our Movie Maker files, thanks to the 1GB Apacer flash disks that they had provided. And before the workshop sessions ended, all attendees were given their “loot bags” that contains a literature on the current Intel microprocessors and a battery-powered mini-fan.
PHPBB3 Launched!
The day I learned about SMF was the day I turned my eyes off PHPBB — plus the fact that during those times, it was a target among hackers in the world wide web.
But this morning, I received an email from the PHPBB guys informing that version 3 Gold is already out. Took me more than 8 hours to decide whether to give it a shot (for the last time) or not. And I wasn’t disappointed with the results.
My general comments on PHPBB3:
- Sports a sleek new interface and default style.
- One thing that I hated with the previous PHPBB versions was the way it handles forums/threads security and permissions, it has been improved now.
- A better administration panel.
Overall, I am happy with what I saw with PHPBB3. It’s worth trying and installing.
Team Pilipinas Brings Home the Gold Medal
Team Pilipinas will bring the Men’s Basketball Gold Medal in the 24th SEA Games following a sweet win against the Thais, 94-53 in this afternoons “sure gold” match. After their win against the Malaysians yesterday, Team Pilipinas is already assured of the gold medal, and all they have to do today is to show up at the venue of their match against the Thais.
Boyet Bautista made 8 points in this game.
Mabuhay ang Team Pilipinas!
Lousy Globelines Customer Support
Due to the unavailable PLDT line in my parents’ location in Makati, I opted to apply them for a Globelines Prepaid. For a year since it was installed, service of so far, so good.
However, around July of this year, when my parents started complaining that the telephone line does not have a dial tone every now and then. Since the line is named under me, I will call their Customer Support (919.8888 — it’s more of a support now since they ARE NOT REALLY IN SERVICE) and report the problem. The usual CSR spill is that, “Sir, please wait for 24-48 hours, please monitor the line’s dial tone, and our technical crew will visit your phone or contact you.” That’s BS (pardon me)!
It will take 3-5 days for the dial tone to go back and a day later, someone will give me a ring (or my father’s mobile phone) asking if the line is OK already. In between those 2-5 days, I will make follow-up calls to my complaint, and they will usually say, “It’s still under process,” or “They are still checking on the problem.”
Now, around a week ago, my brother (living with my parents) noticed that it seems our line has a “party line” — uso pa ba yun?! He was about to make a call when he heard someone speaking on the other line. He tried to speak with this person, but apparently, that person (on the other line) is speaking with somebody else. My dad and mom experienced the same thing Monday and Tuesday afternoon, before the dial tone went out again yesterday.
I am getting pissed with these guys. I’m here at my parents’ house now and my dad contacted the Globelines Customer Support again, and I asked him to give me the phone so that I can speak with the CSR. What made me irate is when I asked when will the lineman pay our telephone unit a visit, and the CSR told me that all of their linemen were busy as of the moment. BS again (pardon me agin)!
Two (02) crew cabs of Globelines are parked just across our street and the linemen are just sleeping inside it. My dad one of the linemen to check on our unit, and he asked that he has still to receive the work order and advised my dad to just call the customer service.
It seems that Globelines is going the way of PLDT now.