Re: [Bodington-developers] [Tetraelf-developers] Fwd: Blackboard Patent Pledge

[Alistair Y. <ali...@sm...>]

> CEO
Cake Eating Officer :)

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On 1 Feb 2007, at 17:24, John Norman wrote:

> Didn't you get the Bb press release last week?
>
> Bodington is to acquire Bb and Alistair Young will be the new CEO :-P
>
> John
>
> On 1 Feb 2007, at 13:57, Alistair Young wrote:
>
>> why he sent to me is a mystery!
>>
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>> mov eax,1
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>>
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>>> From: "Michael Chasen" <bbf...@bl...>
>>> Date: 1 February 2007 14:01:05 GMT
>>> To: <ali...@sm...>
>>> Subject: Blackboard Patent Pledge
>>> Reply-To: Blackboard <reply-=20
>>> EfXurQPQrTQ=3D-...@bl...>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Blackboard Patent Pledge
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> February 1, 2007
>>>
>>> Dear Blackboard Community,
>>> I am writing to share some exciting news about a patent pledge =20
>>> Blackboard is making today to the open source and home-grown =20
>>> course management community.  We are announcing a legally-=20
>>> binding, irrevocable, world-wide pledge not to assert any of our =20
>>> issued or pending patents related to course management systems or =20=

>>> transaction systems against the use, development or support of =20
>>> any open source or home-grown course management systems.
>>>
>>> We developed this pledge over several months with the help and =20
>>> dedication of various members of the e-Learning community, such =20
>>> as EDUCAUSE, Sakai and many Blackboard clients. We are very =20
>>> grateful for their time and counsel.  Without such a thoughtful =20
>>> and collaborative process, this sort of unprecedented pledge for =20
>>> a company of our size might not have been possible.
>>>
>>> =93We particularly welcome the inclusion of pending patents, the =20
>>> clarification on the commercial support, customization, hosting =20
>>> or maintenance of open source systems and the worldwide nature of =20=

>>> Blackboard=92s pledge. We also appreciate the willingness of =20
>>> Blackboard to continue with frank and direct dialogue with our =20
>>> two organizations and with other higher education representatives =20=

>>> and groups to work toward addressing these problems of community =20
>>> concern.=94
>>> -Joint Statement of EDUCAUSE and Sakai Boards of Directors
>>>
>>> =93We wish to acknowledge the company=92s actions and express our =20=

>>> appreciation to Blackboard in committing to continue to foster =20
>>> creativity and collaboration within the e-Learning community.  =20
>>> Such a response can only benefit the teachers and practitioners, =20
>>> the learners, Blackboard, and indeed the wider e-Learning =20
>>> community.=94
>>> -Australasian Council on Open, Distance and E-Learning (ACODE)
>>>
>>> As a longstanding and leading member of the e-Learning community, =20=

>>> we understand that Blackboard plays an important role in =20
>>> promoting the open exchange of ideas, collaboration and =20
>>> innovation. This pledge symbolizes our continued commitment to =20
>>> that role by agreeing not to assert U.S. Patent No. 6,988,138 and =20=

>>> many other pending patent applications as well as their =20
>>> international counterparts against the development, use or =20
>>> distribution of open source software or home-grown course =20
>>> management systems anywhere in the world, to the extent that such =20=

>>> systems are not bundled with proprietary software.  This pledge =20
>>> also extends to the commercial support, hosting, customization =20
>>> and maintenance of such applications.
>>>
>>> So those using home-grown or open source systems, professors and =20
>>> teachers contributing to open source projects, open source =20
>>> initiatives, commercially developed open source add-on =20
>>> applications to proprietary products and vendors hosting and =20
>>> supporting open source applications all are covered by this =20
>>> pledge.  In addition, we have extended the pledge to many =20
>>> specifically named open source initiatives within the course and =20
>>> learning management system space whether or not they may include =20
>>> proprietary elements within their applications, including Sakai, =20
>>> Moodle, ATutor, Bodington and Elgg.
>>>
>>> We are very pleased to take this formal step which is part of a =20
>>> larger effort on our part to engage more deeply with the e-=20
>>> Learning community and help foster greater openness and =20
>>> interoperability.  We believe the pledge and the collaboration =20
>>> that brought it about will support and promote new innovation and =20=

>>> the free flow of ideas across the global e-Learning community.
>>>
>>> The text of the Pledge which incorporates by reference a list of =20
>>> frequently asked questions, as well as the announcement press =20
>>> release may be found on our website at www.blackboard.com/=20
>>> patent.  If you have any questions about the Pledge, please =20
>>> contact Blackboard's Chief Legal Officer, Matthew Small, at =20
>>> ms...@bl....
>>>
>>> Thank you again for your continued partnership.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Michael Chasen
>>> President and CEO
>>> Blackboard Inc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This email was sent to: ali...@sm...
>>>
>>> This email was sent by: Blackboard Inc.
>>> 1899 L Street NW, 11th Floor Washington, DC, 20036 USA
>>>
>>> Go here to change your email subscriptions. Go here to =20
>>> unsubscribe from all communications.
>>> We respect your right to privacy. View our policy.
>>> If you have difficulty viewing this email, go here.
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------=20=

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>> cmd=3Dlnk&kid=3D120709&bid=3D263057&dat=3D121642_______________________=
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>