I note with satisfaction that Eben Moglen’s keynote speech [MP3] and debate with Matthew Small [MP3] have already been reported and commented on in a number of places. (See, for example, Seb’s analysis.) This pleases me for two reasons. First, it means we have developed a healthy community response mechanism to make sure we are […]
Blackboard-Inc.
Ex Parte and Inter Partes Patent Re-Examination
As you know by now, the Blackboard patent has been challenged at the USPTO by separate requests filed by the SFLC and D2L respectively. SFLC filed what’s known as an ex parte request, while D2L filed what’s known as an inter partes request. I think it’s important for the community to become familiar with these […]
What the Sakai/Moodle/ATutor Re-Examination Request Really Means
By now you’ve probably seen that the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) has filed a request to re-examine Blackboard’s patent with the USPTO on behalf of Sakai, Moodle, and ATutor. You may have also seen that D2L has filed a different kind of re-examination request with the USPTO. (SFLC’s request is what’s known as ex […]
The Economic Impact of the Blackboard Patent Suit
One of the topics that I’ve been meaning to get to since EDUCAUSE is the likely impact of the patent suit on the financial health of Blackboard, Desire2Learn, and the other LMS players. I got to talk to a number of university decision-makers and observe the activity at the booths of various LMS vendors. My […]
The EDUCAUSE Letter to Blackboard is Now Public
Insider Higher Ed has let us know that the EDUCAUSE board has published its letter to Blackboard. This is such a remarkable (and courageous) letter that I feel compelled to reproduce it below in its entirety:
Conversations with Desire2Learn and Blackboard
While at EDUCAUSE, I had opportunities to sit down with both Blackboard’s General Counsel Matthew Small and the Desire2Learn executive team. In the spirit of diplomacy, everything in this post has been reviewed by both sides, and there are aspects of our conversations that will remain private. In my conversation with Matt Small, we spent […]
Quick Blackboard Updates
Between multiple family visits and a case of the flu that’s had my flat on my back the last couple of days, I’ve fallen even further behind on my backlog of posts than I was upon returning from EDUCAUSE. In the interest of catching up, this post will be short. First, several bloggers have already […]