[H]ardNews 2nd Edition

10% Sign Linux Trademark Letter:

Last week we told you that Linus Torvalds sent his lawyers out asking companies to relinquish any legal claim to the Linux name. This week, Linus’ lawyers report that 10% of the 90 companies have agreed.

A lawyer acting on behalf of Linus Torvalds has hailed as "favourable" the fact one in nine Australian vendors targeted by a letter campaign asking them to relinquish any legal claim to the 'Linux' name have agreed to do so.

Apple Having Patent Troubles:

It seems like Apple just can’t catch a break in the patent arena. Last week they were beat to the punch by Microsoft, this week Creative was awarded a patent that covers song navigation technology and they seem poised to “vigorously defend their intellectual property”.

Raising another legal threat to the iPod music player, Creative Technology Ltd. said it has been awarded a U.S. patent for a song-navigation technology it claims is used on Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading devices.