http://www.zeropaid.com/news/7383/patent_fight_rattles_academic_computing/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:00:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.zeropaid.com/news/7383/patent_fight_rattles_academic_computing/#comment-184927 Burd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184927 This is very similar to the battle between Blockbuster and Netflix. Just because something is moved onto the net does that make it the exclusive right of whoever moved it there first? Obviously the idea of a classroom is not copyrighted. If so every school in the land would have to pay for the right to use such a facility. But Blackboard wants a cut every time someone attempts to teach on the net. It 's rediculous. They just bought out their major competetor and now they want to control the whole thing. Sound familiar? Can you say RIAA? This is the latest "pig" attitude of American (or maybe even world wide) corporations. I use WEB/CT to teach my classes and I like the format. I've seen Blackboard and it's not so great. But now that they have bought out WEB/CT I'm wondering what will happen to my favorite program. The fact is that competition is what feeds development. Monopoly feeds stagnancy. This is a basic principle of Capitalism. I hope that Blackboard loses this case. If not we--as educators and students--will lose our freedom of choice and yet another obsticle will be placed in the path of liberal and effective education. This is very similar to the battle between Blockbuster and Netflix. Just because something is moved onto the net does that make it the exclusive right of whoever moved it there first? Obviously the idea of a classroom is not copyrighted. If so every school in the land would have to pay for the right to use such a facility. But Blackboard wants a cut every time someone attempts to teach on the net. It ‘s rediculous. They just bought out their major competetor and now they want to control the whole thing. Sound familiar? Can you say RIAA? This is the latest “pig” attitude of American (or maybe even world wide) corporations. I use WEB/CT to teach my classes and I like the format. I’ve seen Blackboard and it’s not so great. But now that they have bought out WEB/CT I’m wondering what will happen to my favorite program. The fact is that competition is what feeds development. Monopoly feeds stagnancy. This is a basic principle of Capitalism. I hope that Blackboard loses this case. If not we–as educators and students–will lose our freedom of choice and yet another obsticle will be placed in the path of liberal and effective education.

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/7383/patent_fight_rattles_academic_computing/#comment-184928 mountain_rage Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184928 The patent system needs a good overhall its as simple as that it will never happen however too many big pla<x>yers would loose money. The patent system needs a good overhall its as simple as that it will never happen however too many big players would loose money.

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/7383/patent_fight_rattles_academic_computing/#comment-184929 Burd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184929 Whoops! I misspelled ridiculous and obstacle. Is that any way for a teacher to post a comment? Whoops! I misspelled ridiculous and obstacle. Is that any way for a teacher to post a comment?

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