Comments on: HealthVault: becoming un-Microsoft? http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/ My life and thoughts, often about FOSS in medicine Mon, 12 May 2008 21:42:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Getting Giga Over Google (Again) « Crossover Healthcare http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-598 Getting Giga Over Google (Again) « Crossover Healthcare Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:28:25 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-598 [...] surprising announcement that they are going to “open source” their framework, release API’s specifications, and even fund startup projects as part of their Be Well [...] […] surprising announcement that they are going to “open source” their framework, release API’s specifications, and even fund startup projects as part of their Be Well […]

]]> By: Peter http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-571 Peter Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:51:08 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-571 I should also point out that Microsoft's foray into "open" Office formats is a third perspective--if you're worried about their honesty with publishing open specs, that would be a good place to look for perspective. Summary: not all positive. I should also point out that Microsoft’s foray into “open” Office formats is a third perspective–if you’re worried about their honesty with publishing open specs, that would be a good place to look for perspective. Summary: not all positive.

]]> By: Peter http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-570 Peter Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:48:48 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-570 I think there are a lot of people in Microsoft who want to open source things, and, in a lot of ways, they're getting to do just that. Like any other open source project, you can probably trust the intentions of the guy releasing it. Where we come into problems is patents. This is where no one trusts Microsoft--and for good reason, especially with Ballmer's saber-rattling from a few years ago about Linux and its "hundreds of patent violations". I don't know what to think of this; this will either be a Big Problem in the future, or we'll be stuck in this sort of Patent Stockpiles Cold War we're in right now, or a MIRACLE will occur. I'm holding out for the miracle. Bottom line: MS-PL open source from Microsoft is as trustworthy as anywhere else; unfortunately permissive copyright licenses won't protect us from the coming "software patent thermonuclear war." I think there are a lot of people in Microsoft who want to open source things, and, in a lot of ways, they’re getting to do just that. Like any other open source project, you can probably trust the intentions of the guy releasing it.

Where we come into problems is patents. This is where no one trusts Microsoft–and for good reason, especially with Ballmer’s saber-rattling from a few years ago about Linux and its “hundreds of patent violations”. I don’t know what to think of this; this will either be a Big Problem in the future, or we’ll be stuck in this sort of Patent Stockpiles Cold War we’re in right now, or a MIRACLE will occur.

I’m holding out for the miracle.

Bottom line: MS-PL open source from Microsoft is as trustworthy as anywhere else; unfortunately permissive copyright licenses won’t protect us from the coming “software patent thermonuclear war.”

]]> By: Opening up HealthVault : business|bytes|genes|molecules http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-566 Opening up HealthVault : business|bytes|genes|molecules Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:42:57 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2008/02/21/healthvault-becoming-un-microsoft/#comment-566 [...] Microsoft seems to be doing a lot of opening up today (just look at TechMeme). And their health offerings seem to be no different. Heck they almost made Fred Trotter choke on his cheerios. [...] […] Microsoft seems to be doing a lot of opening up today (just look at TechMeme). And their health offerings seem to be no different. Heck they almost made Fred Trotter choke on his cheerios. […]

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