No go on SCO claim

Computerworld reports that a start-up company seeking to provide legal insurance for copyright claims against open-source software has declared the Linux kernel free of copyright infringement.

Open Source Risk Management (OSRM) says it can`t find any copyright violations in the 2.4 and 2.6 Linux kernels, counter to claims from The SCO Group, which is suing IBM and other Linux users, claiming that the Linux operating system violates its Unix copyrights.

OSRM has also offered indemnification on legal costs for open-source software, priced at about 3% of the desired coverage. The indemnification packages will be supported by OSRM`s new Open Source Legal Defense Center.

OSRM says its legal experts studied the Linux code for six months to hunt for potential copyright violations and found none after tracing the origins of Linux`s code.

Sprint Corporation and AT&T Wireless Services have reached a wireless Internet roaming agreement for five US airports, Associated Press reports.

The deal will allow Sprint customers to use AT&T`s Wi-Fi network at Denver International, Philadelphia International and Raleigh-Durham International airports. AT&T Wireless customers will be able to use Sprint`s Wi-Fi network at Kansas City International and Salt Lake City International airports.

Jeff Kagan, an independent telecom analyst based in Atlanta, says Wi-Fi customers currently must sign up with several providers to get service in more than one place, but that will change.

"Ultimately, just like in the wireless phone business, roaming will become seamless and one account with one company will work everywhere," says Kagan "This agreement is a big step toward that seamless future."

According to the Washington Post, a top US consumer protection official says Federal regulators and the business community still have more homework to do before deciding on the best way to protect people from computer software that tracks their Web-surfing habits.

The report says Commissioner Mozelle Thompson told a Federal Trade Commission workshop it was too early for Congress and the states to pass laws to ban "spyware." He said technology businesses should instead teach consumers how to avoid falling prey to identity theft scams and other dangers posed by spyware.

Spyware is a term used for hundreds of programs that can track what computer users do online. Some programs record keyboard strokes and relay the information back to their authors, transmitting sensitive data such as credit card numbers and passwords.

Carly Fiorina, Hewlett Packard CEO, has told the National Association of Broadcasters conference in Las Vegas they must embrace digital technology before they are left behind, reports CNet.

"We have entered an era in which every process and all content is going from analogue, static and physical to digital, mobile and virtual," Fiorina told conference delegates.

The report says as part of its utility computing plan, HP aims to license computing power to broadcasters, movie studios and others in order to help ease costs associated with hardware.

With its digital entertainment strategy, HP hopes to customise products and services for the industry and create new services and devices for such areas as colour correction and digital editing.