Google yanks open-source project after copyright complaint
In response to a copyright complaint, Google has taken down an open-source project called CoreAVC-for-Linux it had hosted on its Web site.
Google didn't share details, but said on the project site that it removed CoreAVC-for-Linux from its Google Code site after receiving a complaint under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
CoreAVC itself is proprietary software for Windows supplied by a company called CoreCodec. The software can play video encoded with the H.264 standard.
According to a cached version of the Google Code page, CoreAVC-for-Linux provides patches to open-source media player software such as MPlayer or MythTV that enable them to use the CoreAVC software on Linux. In other words, it's for programs that connect to the CoreAVC software but doesn't actually include CoreAVC itself.
It's not yet clear who filed the DMCA complaint.
The DMCA's Safe Harbor provision protects a Web site from liability for users' actions as long as the site's operator--in this case Google--fulfills requirements such as removing infringing material once notified by rights holders.
CoreCodec appears to be a company that's got some involvement with the opens-source programming philosophy. According to the CoreCodec Web site, "Our philosophy is to (use) open source when appropriate, and when we do choose to close source a product, we strive to open as much of it as possible for third-party access."
(Via Slashdot.)
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
Canada-based SecuTech to establish worldwide channel
01 March 2008
www.eSecuTech.com
SecuTech, a security vendor of USB-based security hardware, is looking for distributors to sell and market its products to the trade worldwide.
The company is headquartered in Canada and established an international sales force earlier this year, headed by Michelle Law. 'Our company standpoint is that we are a lean organisation and our product margin is going to be high,' she said.
The company will support worldwide suppliers by providing sample products. Once the channel is established, SecuTech will look at making marketing funds available, Law said.
SecuTech?s product set is divided into three types: software protection, network security and video protection.
The software protection products, Unikey and Unikey PRO are generically called dongles. A dongle is a USB or parallel port device that may be integrated to an application to prevent unauthorised duplication. The Unikey dongle product is our most mature and is currently the market leader in Canada. This product is aimed at software developers whose product costs in excess of ?100 and is liable to duplication. This type of product is widely used by CAD-CAM companies and others whose pricing would allow for the addition of a hardware key.
The Unikey video protection system - UniKey Video Protector intends to protect video files like SWF, Flv, MPEG, AVI, WAV, RM and RMVB. It is an easy-to-use solution for software vendors who want to sell video data to customers while scared of illegal usage and distribution.