Groklaw closure was a victory for the astroturfers
Aug 21, 2013 2:47:25 GMT
Authored by gringo on Aug 21, 2013 2:47:25 GMT
Frankly I'm a little lost right now with Apple Vs Samsung going on, Microsoft Vs Motorola (and the implicit Vs Google), Oracle Vs Google appeals to happen soon and SCO Vs IBM back open I'm not entirely sure where to follow these...
Exactly my concern. There is really almost no general sources of information that understand the information sufficiently to provide proper context, or who are not compromised by their sponsor to deliver a stilted perspective. I have found the reporting in the general press on these patent suites atrocious. It seems the authors' recounting has been polluted by the massive astroturfing that goes on to confuse the issues.
I give you one simple example. It is to the advantage of Microsoft and Apple that the patent wars should be viewed as a conflict among competitors, and in that sense all are equally guilty of "fighting". The reality is Apple's patent aggression and self-announced thermonuclear war on Android, with Samsung and other Android OEMs trying to defend themselves. Then any particular action can only be properly understood in that context. Yet time and time again the articles I read in the general tech press lack that perspective, and are so easily willing to, for example, condemn Samsung's use of SEPs when Samsung is merely trying to defend itself with them.
The reality is far from what the astroturfers and under-informed reporters would have us believe. In fact, the patent wars were started by Apple and Microsoft, who behave as trolls and attack Google both directly and via their Android OEMs mercilessly.
Slashdot years ago was the place to go to learn the truth, until it got "bought" by Microsoft who now buys regular large display ads there as a trophy - like planting your flag over the enemy's camp. Now Microsoft's astroturfers have the upper hand there. They post all over the net as well, along with hired "consultants" like FM and tech blog authors, confusing every issue.
Groklaw was like a breath of fresh air, and the only place one could go to get reliable information - the actual court documents along with commentary - where one could always see for themselves what was true and what was not. The loss of Groklaw is a blow to the cause of Truth, and will be viewed as a triumph by Microsoft and Apple, to be sure.
We cannot allow the astroturfers to win with their silly "Google is Evil" motto and all that goes with it, or we will soon find ourselves in a world where Google Search is crippled beyond usefulness, Android is banned or running the Microsoft logo, and Open Source is taxed out of existence. It will be a world where you will have two choices, an iPhone or a Window's Phone, and will only allowed to use a proprietary OS.
Exactly my concern. There is really almost no general sources of information that understand the information sufficiently to provide proper context, or who are not compromised by their sponsor to deliver a stilted perspective. I have found the reporting in the general press on these patent suites atrocious. It seems the authors' recounting has been polluted by the massive astroturfing that goes on to confuse the issues.
I give you one simple example. It is to the advantage of Microsoft and Apple that the patent wars should be viewed as a conflict among competitors, and in that sense all are equally guilty of "fighting". The reality is Apple's patent aggression and self-announced thermonuclear war on Android, with Samsung and other Android OEMs trying to defend themselves. Then any particular action can only be properly understood in that context. Yet time and time again the articles I read in the general tech press lack that perspective, and are so easily willing to, for example, condemn Samsung's use of SEPs when Samsung is merely trying to defend itself with them.
The reality is far from what the astroturfers and under-informed reporters would have us believe. In fact, the patent wars were started by Apple and Microsoft, who behave as trolls and attack Google both directly and via their Android OEMs mercilessly.
Slashdot years ago was the place to go to learn the truth, until it got "bought" by Microsoft who now buys regular large display ads there as a trophy - like planting your flag over the enemy's camp. Now Microsoft's astroturfers have the upper hand there. They post all over the net as well, along with hired "consultants" like FM and tech blog authors, confusing every issue.
Groklaw was like a breath of fresh air, and the only place one could go to get reliable information - the actual court documents along with commentary - where one could always see for themselves what was true and what was not. The loss of Groklaw is a blow to the cause of Truth, and will be viewed as a triumph by Microsoft and Apple, to be sure.
We cannot allow the astroturfers to win with their silly "Google is Evil" motto and all that goes with it, or we will soon find ourselves in a world where Google Search is crippled beyond usefulness, Android is banned or running the Microsoft logo, and Open Source is taxed out of existence. It will be a world where you will have two choices, an iPhone or a Window's Phone, and will only allowed to use a proprietary OS.