Category: Semantics

Categories
RDF SVG

RDF to SVG tool

Found at Eclectic – an RDF to SVG tool. You’ve heard about RDF before in this weblog — consider it a meta-language for describing data on the web (and elsewhere). Though you can represent RDF in various forms, the most commonly used technique is XML. SVG is Scalable Vector Graphics and is a way of describing 2D graphics in XML.

Nice tool, though the batch job doesn’t terminate cleanly in W2K. However, it does the job. I was able to create this SVG diagram from one of my RDF documents in five minutes — from download to install to image capture to post.

The tool is based on Jena, an open source Java API that processes RDF and that HP sponsors. Unfortunately, RDF2SVG isn’t open source at this time. No biggie. Fun tool, and useful.

Categories
RDF Technology

Nextware Conference 2002

Recovered from the Wayback Machine. I was signed up to do two sessions, but had to cancel. I was broke and had to move out of San Francisco in June. Back then, conferences didn’t pay travel expenses.

I received a brochure from the Nextware conference being held in Baltimore in May. The conference will cover an interesting mix of topics such as Web Services, XML, open source, wireless, and a host of other topics all related to a common theme of the next generation of software. The effort is being organized by Ken North, managed by Penton Communications, and yours truly will be giving two presentations.

We’re seeing a new trend in conferences this year — different technology topics, usually related to some common theme, combined into one offering in order to cut costs and increase attendance. I think it’s an idea whose time has come. In the last few years, we were seeing too many conferences being held by too many organizations on too many separate topics. That was back when there was money to burn and people could afford to attend 3-4 conferences in a year. Today, conference organizers have to assume that each person reading their brochures is going to one and only one conference — competition will be fierce. End result: Conferences with a lot to offer.

Now, if you’re thinking about attending a conference this year — HINT HINT — I’ll be speaking about Bringing RDF out of the Lab and The .NET Free Zone, covering .NET technology alternatives. Baltimore in the spring time, right next to Washington DC in the spring time. Cherry Blossoms and me speaking on .NET and RDF — what more could you want?

Categories
Legal, Laws, and Regs RDF

More on the RDF/RSS Patent fooflah

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

In case everyone’s confused with my postings about the patent issue, I want to go on record by saying that I’m strongly in favor of RDF. There. I know you were all really worried about that one. Okay now, stop worrying, go back to work.

-earlier-

Jeff Barr of Syndic8 was also a recipient of one of the infamous patent letters. He created a PatentWiki that duplicates the letter he received as well as providing other related information.

It just burns me to see people like Jeff — people who freely, openly, willingly, and gladly contribute to our technological growth –bothered with this type of legal manipulation.

More later — I’m too pissed to communicate now. Not without getting sued.

-earlier-

Dave Winer just came “out” with the information that Userland rec’d one of the patent letters.

Not surprising considering the other recipients.

-earlier-

I had a chance to read the RDF Patent letter; it’s definitely a fishing expedition. Hopefully, none of the recipients of the letter are responding to it. From what I can read, that’s exactly what the law firm is most likely looking for – responses. If I get permission, I’ll post a link to the letter here.

Personally, I’d like the ACLU to get involved in this. After all, what’s a better example of freedom of speech than open source and open standards/specifications? And what threatens said free speech more than the massive loopholes within the Patent system. Think about it.

 

Categories
Legal, Laws, and Regs RDF

RDF patent dispute

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

Over at the RDF interest online forum, at least two developers of implementations based on RDF have received a legal mailing from a firm representing Unified Data Technologies Ltd (UDTL), implying a possible patent infringement due to the use of RDF/RSS.

The RDF working group is consulting with the W3C about the legalities of the whole thing. You can read more at:

http://www.pearlltd.com/content/news/03-10-00.html
http://rdfig.xmlhack.com/2002/01/01/2002-01-01.html
RDF Interest Group online forum

Patents in question are:

Patent 5,684,985 and 6,092,077 as well as others most likely under review for patent pending.

Hopefully the W3C will be able to resolve this, but I doubt this will go away quickly. At least one of the impacted projects, 4suite, is open source.

This is an effort to exploit open source as well as an open W3C specification, enabled by the extremely poor patent review methods of the US Patent and Trademark Office. A case of making money off of the goodwill efforts of others.

Happy New Year, Open Source. Happy New Year, RDF.

Categories
RDF

SDForum Talk: RDF and the Semantic Web

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

I’ll be speaking about RDF and the Semantic Web at the SDForum in San Francisco, October 9th.

See more on the topic at the forum posting.