Weekly news wrap-up: Studies and surveys supporting Linux, Turbolinux sold

One group is focusing on a study of how well Open Source tools work in schools, and another has published a survey designed to encourage retailers to demo Linux in their stores. Open Source activism takes many forms.
Early in the week, we reported that the Open-Source Software Institute was working with Mississippi education institutions to craft a study on how well Open Source software works in schools. The sponsors hope to have the study completed in about 18 months, and they believe the results will give schools concrete evidence about using Open Source software. Judging by the comments on the article, it’s a good idea.

In a quasi-related story, there was a lot of reporting this week on the University of Maastricht’s Free/Libre/Open Source Software study, which recommends more governments should consider Open Source software.

Later in the week, Tina Gasperson reported on WeWantLinux.org, a grassroots group trying to show retailers that there’s a demand for hands-on Linux machines in their stores. After just a few days, the survey has about 550 responses.

Turbolinux changes hands

There were several stories this week about Turbolinux being sold. Here’s one at Linux and Main. Here’s one from Japanese publication NIKKEI. And here’s one from Internetnews.com. The bottom line: Japanese software company Software Research Associates purchased the Linux software business from Turbolinux.

Sigma Designs vs. the GPL?

Sigma Designs got some bad press this week when the XVID project accused the company of ripping off its MPEG-4 video codec. XVID leaders suggested the copying of the code without attribution contributed to a violation of the GNU GPL, the license the XVID work was released under. Late this week, Sigma apologized for the copied code, saying it was one programmer’s doing, and released its REALmagic codec under the GPL. Those moves may not be quite enough to make the XVID team happy, however.

Odds ‘n’ ends