Software Patents Forum - please RSVP

Hi all,

Please see below for the details about the first Open Source Forum being
run by Linux Australia and OSIA. We are planning on running these every
2 months, and highlighting topical and relevant issues. We are looking
at running one on the desktop, working for government, and other topics
are welcome. Please see below for details and...

...MAKE SURE YOU RSVP! We have limited spots :) If you wish to attend,
please reply to "[email protected]" with Subject: "[RSVP]
Software forum: patents".

Cheers,
Pia

                           Open Source Forum

                            Software Patents


Linux Australia in collaboration with the Open Source Industry
Association (OSIA) and the Baker & McKenzie Cyberspace Law and Policy
Centre at UNSW is proud to present the first Open Source Forum, which
will deal with the increasingly important, but often misunderstood,
issue of software patents. 

The Open Source Forums will be short and focused seminars on topical
developments in the Open Source field. It is intended that each seminar
will include presentations from invited speakers who will represent a
range of views. The forums will also provide an opportunity for all Open
Source participants to express their views. The Forums are intended to
provide Open Source participants, including small businesses, with an
opportunity to get the benefit of a range of views from leaders in the
relevant fields and to contribute to the debate on topical developments
of relevance to the Open Source movement. 

The Forum on Software Patents will be hosted by Baker & McKenzie's
Sydney office on:

Wednesday, 3 November 2004, 12:30pm at:

Baker & McKenzie
Level 27, AMP Centre
50 Bridge Street
Sydney NSW 2000. 

The program for the Forum will be: 

12:30: Introduction and Welcome Pia Smith, Linux Australia

12:35: Patents and Open Source Licences Derek Neve and John MacPhail,
Baker & McKenzie

12:50: How The Australian Patent System Works Bob Kemp, R. E. Kemp & Co
Pty Limited 

13:00: An Industry Perspective: Les Bell, Open Source Industry
Association

13:10: An Industry Perspective: Craig Laughton or Greg Keiser, Novell
Australia

13:20: An Open Source Patent Experience: Rproxy, Rusty Russell, Linux
Australia

13:30: Roundtable discussions

14:30: Close

Attendance is free and a light lunch will be provided. We look forward
to your participation. 

If you wish to attend, please reply to "[email protected]"
with Subject: "[RSVP] Software forum: patents".

For further details see
http://www.bakercyberlawcentre.org/software/patents.htm

We are aiming to run these every 2 months and are open to suggestions
for topics. Please send any suggestions to [email protected]

-- 
Pia Smith
President of Linux Australia
http://linux.org.au

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