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As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated
Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:30 AM EDT

I announced in April that as of today, I wouldn't be writing any more articles for Groklaw. I intended to finish the Comes v. Microsoft exhibits as text and perfect some of our other collections and then I would retire from Groklaw, knowing as I did that the research we have done together will remain useful no matter what happens in the future.

I was immediately bombarded with messages asking me to keep the community going or to tell you where to assemble elsewhere. A lot of you asked me to at least keep News Picks going. Groklaw is all of us, not just me, and I have always taken your input as seriously as you would expect me to. So I thought about it, and I realized you are right. I would be irresponsible not to try to leave Groklaw in someone's hands who could keep things going. The community is what makes Groklaw of real value, and it's a FOSS community resource that we built together. Our prior art searching, for example, turned out to be truly useful, and in one case it won the case.

So I thought about who would be the right person. Now that the battlefield has shifted from SCO attacking Linux to Microsoft using patents against it and from servers to mobiles, I realized that Groklaw needs a lawyer at the helm. So I asked Mark Webbink if he would take on this role, and I'm thrilled to tell you that he has accepted. He is the new editor of Groklaw as of today. Mark was General Counsel at Red Hat, as you know, and he is on the board of the Software Freedom Law Center. He is also a law professor, which as I'll explain is a vital piece of what he has planned. Mark is a visiting professor at New York Law School where he runs the Center for Patent Innovations, oversees the Peer To Patent project run with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, has been active in seeking reform of the U.S. patent system, and teaches patent licensing. In addition, Mark is a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University School of Law where he teaches intellectual property (patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret) licensing. Mark has access to law students at those law schools and many others. In addition, Mark has remained interested and involved in free and open source software and related intellectual property issues and he is the author of the chapter on U.S. technology law included in a soon to be released book on free and open source software law.

I know he will make Groklaw the place to go to when you want to understand the law and all things FOSS.

I know, of course, that you'll miss me. Vice versa. But the truth is, I'll be around, just not burdened with the daily chores of writing articles. I need time for other things, and some time to relax. I'll continue to contribute to News Picks, for example. I just won't be the only one. I've worked so hard on a daily basis for eight years, pretty much in emergency mode, that I want time to live a more normal life. Mark might ask me to write an article here and there, but that's up to him, but I'll be here helping with the transition and I'm sure I'll be commenting and interacting with you that way.

Mark understood Groklaw very early on. If you recall, he let us publish some of his articles. I trust him. I like his vision for Groklaw very much. What he has in mind to do is to include his law students, asking them to write articles for Groklaw too, for credit. So you won't lose out on anything, as far as learning the legal process. In fact, it'll be better, because Mark is a lawyer, so he knows many things I don't.

The hope is that other law professors -- and professors of computer science -- will include their students in this new Groklaw, what I call Groklaw 2.0. The more the merrier.

But, but… Groklaw won't be funny any more, I hear some of you say. In fact, I've gotten so much truly sweet email, telling me how much you enjoyed my writing. I appreciate it so much. Thank you all for taking the time to tell me such lovely things.

But I'll explain to you my thinking. Do you remember, you old timers here, how at the beginning, Groklaw was all geeks? We goofed around and humor was the main tone. Lots of puns and poetry and geek jokes and parody press releases. It was my favorite time with Groklaw, actually. I never before or after felt so much part of a community that totally grokked me.

But when you guys showed up, over time you patiently taught me everything I needed to know to write effectively about SCO's claims. You even had to teach me how to do HTML and how to make an image smaller, the most basic things. And I taught you what I knew about the legal process and found materials by lawyers to explain the law to you. And it was magic. Together we changed the course of events, I believe. So much so that others showed up in huge numbers. It wasn't just us geeks any more. It was a wide variety of new people, and they totally didn't grasp the humor. Remember when they'd post sincere comments telling us that what we'd written wasn't exactly correct, when what they were correcting was either sarcasm or a parody?

I finally realized that for their benefit, we had to change and tone it down. Remember? And we did. Because what we wanted was for the new readers to feel comfortable. We wanted executives and judges and journalists and everyone to feel at home. Why? Because our goal was to be effective. There is little point in communicating if it's not received well.

So we changed, in order to be effective. Now it's time to change again and welcome new troops to the community. Here's why. My analysis is that I'm just not the right person to take the lead now. I've always hated patent law, and I still do. I think it's degrading for plaintiffs and unfair to defendants, and I think software and patents need to get a divorce. One day they might. I live in hope.

But I'm a pragmatist. Right now, the battle is all about patents. Every day there's a new patent infringement case filed, it seems, mostly about Android. The recent news about Facebook's smear campaign against Google might make your brain connect some dots about all the anti-Google and anti-Red-Hat litigation too. So there will be more of this, I assume. SCO were like the Keystone Kops. But Microsoft isn't funny.

That being so, what is needed is someone who knows what it all means, what will be most effective, how to hunt for precisely the most useful prior art, for example. I'm not that person, and I realize it. You know how I always wrote that the only legal advice I ever give people is, Ask your lawyer? Well, I gave myself that advice, and I took it. I'm sure this is the right decision.

Please give Mark your full understanding and cooperation. It's about being effective. And now you will always have a lawyer on board who can explain the law to you. Keep in mind, he's a lawyer, but he's not your lawyer for your individual issues and cases. Don't burden him please with questions about those kinds of things. But show him the same patience you showed me and explain the tech to him when he needs your input.

Doing Groklaw was an unbelievable thrill for me. I want him to feel that same satisfaction, and just like I couldn't do it without you, he can't either. The whole point of Groklaw from the earliest days was and is to put the legal and the technical community together, so they could work meaningfully together, with the hope that the group knowledge will be educational for everyone, and that as a result court decisions will be based more on reality, technical and legal. When we work together, there isn't a law firm anywhere that can match the depth of research we can collectively produce.

You can still email me any time, by the way. Because I originally thought I'd just stop today, and now there has to be a transition period, we are still working on setting up everything, so thank you for your patience while we work out the details.

So. It's now Groklaw 2.0, with Mark Webbink and a cast of thousands.

Rob Weir did a very charming post on his blog saying goodbye to Groklaw, with flowers, when he thought it was the end, and it's CC-licensed, Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License, so I'd like to end with it because it's for you and about you guys too, but for the full effect, you need to visit his blog:

*************************

PJ, Goodbye and Good Luck

There was a time when daggers were drawn on Linux and its demise was plotted in dark detail. At that hour stepped out a shieldmaiden with a blog, and that blog was Groklaw. Eight years later, we hear the news that Groklaw will cease new postings after May 16th. My sadness in hearing this news is more than equaled by my gratitude to PJ and her community of researchers and commentators, for their enormous effort and unparalleled achievement over these years. The world is a better place because of PJ. Who can hope to say better?

As a retrospective of a different kind, I’ve taken the titles from every Groklaw article since its start and created a “word cloud” from them, using Wordle. This shows, at a glance, the issues that have dominated the attention of Groklaw over the years.

*******************************

Update: Ruth Suehle of OpenSource.com has an interview with me here that you might enjoy to read. She asked me some interesting questions.

And here's an interview on Heise, by Richard Hillesley, Groklaw - "the blog that made a difference".

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols adds a bit more in yet another interview.


  


As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated | 237 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
Corrections here please
Authored by: NigelWhitley on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:35 AM EDT
Please indicate the correction in the title if possible e.g.
Korrection --> Correction
-------------------
Nigel Whitley

[ Reply to This | # ]

Newpicks here
Authored by: NigelWhitley on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:38 AM EDT
Please put any comments on and suggestions for the Newspicks feature under here.
Kindly include a link to the original article so it can be referenced after the
item has scrolled out of the section.

Obviously the big news is Groklaw 2.0 :-D
------------------------
Nigel Whitley

[ Reply to This | # ]

Good luck with your new role Mark!
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:40 AM EDT
Your articles have been insightful, here is wishing you all the best for Groklaw
2.0

Martin

not logged in

[ Reply to This | # ]

Off-topic goes here [OT]
Authored by: NigelWhitley on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:40 AM EDT
Please include any comments unrelated to this momentous announcement under here
:-)
--------------------
Nigel Whitley

[ Reply to This | # ]

COMES transcription here
Authored by: NigelWhitley on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:43 AM EDT
Work on completing the archival of the exhibits from Comes v MS continues and
all help is appreciated. A link to the case can be found amongst the other quick
links in the top left of the page.
------------------------
Nigel Whitley

[ Reply to This | # ]

Best wishes to PJ
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:46 AM EDT
I like the idea of Groklaw being taken over by a law professor. He'll have a
good grounding in the law and his position in the SFLC implies that he'll be
interested in the very concerns that Groklaw appears most concerned about
already. I don't know yet if he'll be able to fill PJ's shoes, but I think he's
got a good chance of being at least a worthy successor, based on the CV he's
given in this article

"SCO IBM Novell motion as text - Updated" must have been one of the
most common Groklaw headings ever...

Best of luck, PJ. I hope that your next project goes at least half as well as
this one went.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Farewell, PJ
Authored by: NigelWhitley on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:47 AM EDT
Please post your notes of appreciation for PJ's achievements here, along with
your good wishes for the future. I hope she'll drop by to visit as Groklaw's own
emeritus, even after the handover period.
----------------------
Nigel Whitley

[ Reply to This | # ]

Welcome Mark Webbink
Authored by: NigelWhitley on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:50 AM EDT
At the risk of seeming power mad, can we also post simple good wishes and
welcomes to Mark under here. That leaves plenty of room for discussions of the
future and reminiscences of the past and anything else which arises as we face
this bright new era. At least I'm looking forward to it. :-D
-------------------
Nigel Whitley

[ Reply to This | # ]

Once Again, Thanks, PJ -- Welcome, Mark
Authored by: lnuss on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:52 AM EDT
Thanks once again, PJ, for your unstinting efforts over the years. You've built
something truly special here, as you know.

But one more thing to thank you for is for listening to folks that felt there is
still a need for Groklaw, and for arranging to have Groklaw 2.0. Best of luck to
you.

And now, WELCOME, MARK!

---
Larry N.

[ Reply to This | # ]

A fond farewell
Authored by: sysadmin on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:54 AM EDT
PJ,
I hope that you enjoy your retirement, and I wish you all the best. It's been
quite a ride, but you have truly accomplished something great here. Stop by and
make a comment from time to time, so we know how you are doing, because it's
become so much more than just a blog. We care about you.

-Chuck

---
Gravity: It's not just a good idea, it's the law!

[ Reply to This | # ]

As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0
Authored by: Stumbles on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 08:09 AM EDT
Resistance is futile as the Vogon's say and after 8 years of PJ/Groklaw I feel
that. For you to say; "In fact, it'll be better, because Mark is a lawyer,
so he knows many things I don't." is indeed true. I cannot help to think
you knew a whole lot more than the rest of us. So if you trust him, so do I.

So now I can do only one thing; turn down my potentiometer and now that minor
adjustment is made I can say; welcome Mark. I look forward to you carrying on
the many wonderful qualities PJ established here. Though I do not expect you to
keep on hand a red dress for those "special" occasions.



---
You can tuna piano but you can't tune a fish.

[ Reply to This | # ]

But but but ... One thing will be missing
Authored by: cricketjeff on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 08:37 AM EDT
Farewell to PJ and a welcome to Mark
Providing opinions and giving a spark
Decoding and probing the whole legal mess
But Mark may not promise a "Little Red Dress"

---
There is nothing in life that doesn't look better after a good cup of tea.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Thanks PJ
Authored by: DanMeyer on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 08:42 AM EDT
What a ride! I remember all the learning and anticipation building up to the
SCO v. IBM trial, and then the disappointment when SCO declared bankruptcy at
the last moment and didn't go to trial. I found out what motions in limine
were, and pre-trial orders... and all about something I was interested in,
Linux.

Thanks for all the work, PJ.

[ Reply to This | # ]

As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0
Authored by: schestowitz on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 08:55 AM EDT
Thank you PJ and good luck. You made a fine choice with Mark Webbink.

---
Roy S. Schestowitz, Ph.D. Medical Biophysics
http://Schestowitz.com | GNU/Linux | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E

[ Reply to This | # ]

To PJ and Mark
Authored by: tyche on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 09:22 AM EDT
To PJ:

You have managed to make sense out of what was basically nonsense to me. Not
being a full-fledged geek nor a lawyer understanding some of the ins and outs of
the lawsuits involved would have left me adrift. Your explanations of both
sides were not only informative and entertaining, but were at the "third
grade level" necessary for one such as me to understand. I appreciate that
very much. Thank you. I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of your life to
its fullest.

To Mark:

Though only an undergraduate, I have been to college as an adult student using
Veteran's benefits, and had a variety of different professors. Some were
inspirational, some were plodders that should never have gotten tenure. One I
nearly had fired (and he was tenured) for incompetence. From one such as you
with the credentials you hold I would expect great things. It will be
interesting to see how you present things to people of limited knowledge like
myself. I will look at you as I would any "new" professor that I need
to get used to and learn from - with an open mind and a willingness to see both
of us succeed: you with teaching and me with learning all I can. Welcome
aboard.

Craig
Tyche

---
"The Truth shall Make Ye Fret"
"TRUTH", Terry Pratchett

[ Reply to This | # ]

Way to Go!
Authored by: DaveJakeman on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 09:30 AM EDT
Good decision, PJ. Had you just decided to drop Groklaw, I think it would have
forever haunted you. After the transition, you will be able to let go, knowing
it's in good hands. Your baby.

Welcome, Mark. I did wonder about the article you did the other day, which gave
a fair clue. If that article is anything to go by, I think it will be a
seamless transition.

I hope the reins feel good.

[ Reply to This | # ]

  • Way to Go! - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:23 PM EDT
"The only constant in life..."
Authored by: Observer on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 10:06 AM EDT
They say, "The only constant in life is change." We'll miss you PJ, and we'll miss your style, but we will adapt and thrive.

Thanks again!

Oh, and welcome Mark!

---
The Observer

[ Reply to This | # ]

Welcome Mark and Good Luck PJ
Authored by: PolR on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 10:19 AM EDT
I am thrilled to see a lawyer coming on board. Discussions on patent law will be
greatly improved.

I suspect PJ may have still one article to do and it is the one on the Appeal
Court ruling in SCO vs Novell once this is out. It would be nice if she sees to
this saga until the very end.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Thank you P.J. and a welcome to Mark Webbink
Authored by: Davo.Sydney on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 10:37 AM EDT
In my years of listening to many people, I'll share some of what I've observed:

* Almost everyone learns from their mistakes.
* A smart person shares knowledge by teaching/guiding them on which mistakes to
make.
* But a true master knows which mistakes to teach, and which mistakes NOT to
teach, and passes on the wisdom of how one can spot the difference themselves.

Thank you P.J., not only for all your incredibly hard work, but in creating
something that is most definitely bigger than the sum of it's parts.

D/\/O

[ Reply to This | # ]

As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0
Authored by: 1N8 M4L1C3 on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 12:03 PM EDT
On behalf of all of us (including some who have been around since Groklaw's
beginnings) our sincerest and heartfelt thanks goes out to you PJ.

Without your insightful words of wisdom, patience and tollerence with others
(including those who were openly attempting to conduct character assassination
against you), your fair and just moderation within the forum, as well as your
colourful commentary and observations, this website could never have grown into
what we see it today.

You planted the seeds, nurtured and tended to them, watched them grow, and
blossom into this wonderous creation. It's a wonderous legacy that you can
truly be proud of PJ!

God bless and enjoy your retirement.

BTW, we're all still waiting to see you wearing that fancy smancy red dress!
*wink*

Mark - You have some pretty big shoes to fill my friend, as PJ's set the bar
pretty high for you. Please know that you have our full support and
encouragement, while the torch is being passed to you... ...and don't shy away
from calling upon the Groklaw community for help when you need it, as PJ can
attest it's a pretty amazing and resourceful bunch.

All the very best,
m.

---
On the 7th day, Linus saw that which he created and it was good... ...on the
8th day SCO litigated.

[ Reply to This | # ]

No offense, Mark, but you're not as good a writer as PJ
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 12:04 PM EDT
One of PJ's enormous strengths is how she can write in not just a humorous tone
(as described in her posting above) but in a very straightforward way that takes
dry, unfamiliar topics and makes them understandable.

Mark, I have respect for you, but please recognize your writing skills are more
"academic" and less "person on the street." I encourage you
to offer the opportunity for guest authors quite a bit.

Perhaps one of those guest authors will strike a spark and reveal themselves to
be worthy of a broader platform. Blogs are communication vehicles, needing
great communicators.

Offered out of respect and to be constructive, only. I am sure you will bring
other good strengths to Groklaw, including as PJ has indicated better in-depth
knowledge on some topics.

PJ is an awesome writer. And that played a very significant role in the success
of her blog.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Just a note of thanks . . .
Authored by: CraigAgain on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 12:29 PM EDT
Pamela,I wanted to add to the chorus of praise. You are one
of the few who has literally changed the world. Thank you.

---
Don't change your dreams to fit reality. Change reality to fit your dreams.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Thank you - you team of lawyers hired by AutoZone or IBM calling yourselves PJ.
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 12:55 PM EDT
... or whatever it is Darl called you.

Even if the nuttiest anti-groklaw conspiracy were true, you still deserve huge
thanks, and made for one of the most interesting and educational sites on the
internet for many years.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Thank you PJ!
Authored by: ghost on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 01:09 PM EDT
Thank you, and good luck with your new private life!
I have had much interest over the long years, in what you have written, and
Groklaw has been a dear and interesting friend of mine since it came to life.

It has brought understanding, a persistent and large range of emotions from
despair and rage to sheer joy, in a way no other site has, as well as new views
and takes on things, new insights.

You have done a fantastic job, and you have certainly earned your red dress
evening, now, go out and enjoy it!

Welcome, Mr. Webbink.

[ Reply to This | # ]

A Haiku for the Occasion
Authored by: Steve Martin on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 01:36 PM EDT
PJ's passed the torch.
Mr. Webbink now will lead.
The fight continues.


---
"When I say something, I put my name next to it." -- Isaac Jaffe, "Sports Night"

[ Reply to This | # ]

Thank's for the MEmories
Authored by: rsteinmetz70112 on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 01:59 PM EDT
PJ,

Thank you for all of your work and dedidcation.. I hope you will still stop by
from time to time and let us know what you're up to.

I'm sure Mark will be a worthy successor, And I look forward to him telling us
where he intends to take Groklaw 2.0

---
Rsteinmetz - IANAL therefore my opinions are illegal.

"I could be wrong now, but I don't think so."
Randy Newman - The Title Theme from Monk

[ Reply to This | # ]

But, but, but ...
Authored by: troll on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 02:28 PM EDT
but ... there was supposed to be a red dress, wasn't it?

I would really, really like to see you, PJ, in a red dress, celebrating. I
dreamed about that dress.

Yours truly ...

[ Reply to This | # ]

As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated
Authored by: Tezzer on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 03:10 PM EDT
Enjoy your retirement Pamela, you've more than earned it.

Welcome to the hot seat mark :)

---
Kandor

[ Reply to This | # ]

Mark Webbink == Webster ?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 04:09 PM EDT
or not ?

[ Reply to This | # ]

It wont be the same but... I am glad that Groklaw wont die.
Authored by: SilverWave on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 04:52 PM EDT
And yes it was a fun time.

But everything changes.

Good Luck PJ.

Live Long and Prosper.

:-)

---
RMS: The 4 Freedoms
0 run the program for any purpose
1 study the source code and change it
2 make copies and distribute them
3 publish modified versions

[ Reply to This | # ]

As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 05:41 PM EDT
PJ: Thank you so much for everything, and especially for this
transition.
Mark - welcome, and thank you too taking this on. I look
forward to hearing from you and and your students.

Regards,
mnuttall@apache.org

[ Reply to This | # ]

Hi Mark :D and Bye PJ!
Authored by: inode_buddha on Monday, May 16 2011 @ 07:37 PM EDT
Good to see you here, and with such qualifications. Yes, it's herding cats,
albeit for purposes of legal code as opposed to computer code (which we normally
do).

FWIW I started using RH back during version 5.2. Lately I switched back to
Slackware, which was my first distro.

And to PJ: Thank you. You not only changed history for the better, but -- you
also changed me in a subtle way. I'm not afraid to stick up for myself anymore.
Thank you.

---
-inode_buddha

"When we speak of free software,
we are referring to freedom, not price"
-- Richard M. Stallman

[ Reply to This | # ]

Foes of Linux are cringing
Authored by: Cypher3c on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 02:40 AM EDT
They thought it was over...

They thought the bright light of the truth would no longer be shined in their
faces (and in Blepp's briefcase)...

But now...

*Fanfare*

Meet the Grokinator 2.0

*More Fanfare*


---
Sorry, couldn't resist :P

[ Reply to This | # ]

As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 03:29 AM EDT
The best summary of the SCO case I've read was long ago, by someone called
wwoods, on the gentoo-dev IRC channel:

<wwoods> there would be a guy in every courthouse whose job it was to read
the executive summary of the lawsuit
<wwoods> say his name is Carl.
<wwoods> and if you're like. "I want to sue IBM for using stuff
that's mine, even though it isn't technically mine and I gave it away for
free."
<wwoods> and Carl would say "that's the stupidest thing I've ever
heard."
<wwoods> case closed.
<wwoods> dismissed due to Carl.

Pity it doesn't work that way.

Will

[ Reply to This | # ]

The Thanks Of A Grateful World
Authored by: TheBlueSkyRanger on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 06:19 AM EDT
Hey, PJ!

Thank you for allowing Groklaw to continue and for you still popping in. That
makes me feel happiest, that you'll still be around.

You ever run into me (I'm sure you'll know where to look and how to tell who I
am), stop by please and say hi. Once I get done gushing over meeting you, that
is.

If anyone has earned a break, it's you.

Sincerely,
The Blue Sky Ranger

[ Reply to This | # ]

Good Bye, Farewell, and Amen
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 09:18 AM EDT
I am saddened to hear that an era at Groklaw has ended, even though Groklaw
continues under new leadership. But change is as constant as our will to resist
it, I suppose.

To Mark, I bid you welcome. I have every confidence that you will carry this
torch as competently as P.J. has.

To P.J. I wish that you enjoy the spoils of accomplishment that you've so
deservedly earned for having created this masterpiece community. I'm sure great
things await you... after a well earned vacation, of course.

Best wishes.

[ Reply to This | # ]

As of Today,
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 02:22 PM EDT
We'll miss you PJ. I'm sure you picked a good guy to take
over in your semi-retirement but I will miss you!

I mostly lurked, I was busy with career and then with
retirement work (I bought a back-hoe as my retirement gift
to myself) but I read reams of facts about the development
of UNIX and learned a lot from my fellow geeks.

Congratulations and salutations on the great job you led
everyone to do in proving the provenance of UNIX, and Linux.
I'm running Linux right now, and so is my wife, and my
neighbors, who support our network here in the woods.

Best of luck,
JR in WV

PS: Please let us know what you're up to in terms of having
fun - if you go to a remote beach to unwind, let us know how
it was when you get back. We want to know about your happy
endings!

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PJ for president
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 03:43 PM EDT
Yes, I know she does not want that. That is one of the reasons why I think she should be president. I also think the last 8 years have shown that PJ is the kind of person we want to see there.
So lets drag her into the White House in 2016* and show her that no good deed goes unpunished :-)

*no, not 2012. She deserves her time off.

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As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated
Authored by: shayne on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 11:25 PM EDT
Best of luck PJ, you've done good work keeping our community informed , safe and
armed with knowledge about stuff traditionally outside of our computery
expertise domain. Being able to wield arguments learned from your careful
exposition helped me calm panicked customers of my struggling home business back
in the bad old days when SCO first started threatening us with litigation. This
kept food on my table and a roof over my head. I won't forget the difference
this made.

Although I reckon this aint going to be the last we'll hear of you either.
Onwards and upwards!

---
--
“Two things fill me with wonder, the starry sky above and the moral law within.”
- Immanual Kant.

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Thanks, PJ...
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2011 @ 11:54 PM EDT

I spent so much time reading this site that I would definitely have gone through withdrawal if it had been shut down completely. I was going to say "wasted" time but the amount I learned about the legal wranglings that take place in the computer industry far offset any time that I might have deemed wasted. (Even if what I learned had me rolling my eyes more often than not.) I'm glad to hear that the site will still be up and running and, hopefully, continuing to be a "first place to look" for information about the law and technology.

As for yo not writing any more articles? Well, we'll miss your input. I'm betting you'll be back, though. At least in small amounts. For now? Take it easy. You deserve some rest.

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As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2011 @ 10:36 AM EDT
WELCOME MARK!!

And thank you for choosing open source as your law
specialization.

Hope we can learn a lot from you and you from us.

Please keep Groklaw running the same as in the tradition of
P.J.

GROKLAW ROCKS!!

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Thanks for all
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2011 @ 08:22 PM EDT
For many years, I followed the SCO saga throug groklaw and I found all those
articles very interesting in all maters (legal process in USA, software licences
understanding, etc...)

In the end of last year you advised to join OIN, and it motivated me to do it (I
would have done it sooner or later, but you gave me the incentive to "just
do it now".

Thanks and take care, PJ, and welcome to the new crew ^^

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A world of thanks and a welcome for a new world of groklaw
Authored by: crs17 on Friday, May 20 2011 @ 11:54 PM EDT
Even though I'm only an irregular contributor, Groklaw has meant a world to me
(having read it in Estonia, Jordan, Senegal, and Uganda, along with about 40
other countries along with my native US). I've been reading over most of
Groklaw's life. I'm sad to see you give up authorship, PJ, but truth that you
have found a good replacement and welcome you, Mark.

Thanks for everything and for everything to come.

Craig Smilovitz

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Thank You - As of Today, It's Mark Webbink's Groklaw 2.0 - Updated
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 21 2011 @ 08:55 AM EDT
PJ,

Thank you for all your hard work. Thank you for not letting Groklaw
languish.

Mark,

Thank you for picking up the challenge.

I am so happy that Groklaw is one web link that I will not have to retire.

A follower since 2003

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Blessing and Communicating From China
Authored by: prohitj on Thursday, May 26 2011 @ 08:29 AM EDT
As a Chinese people, I learn about Groklaw.net from a news
report,or a blog, whatever, when Groklaw is going into 2.0
.That means I fall much behind the this community creating
in 2003, while I always boast I am a crazy guy about IT &
law. In order to catch up with the steps of open source
community, I've decide to spend my spare time as many as I
can to read these amazing writings in Groklaw.
With the scope of Internet industry in China has become more
and more big, Chinese legal troop, as well as other
countries, is meeting more and more dilemmas, which come
from the conflict between the high speed of development of
IT and the stability,especially the tardiness, of law
system.If we try to resolve these problem correctly, we need
to know about the truth and theory of IT.
Chinese legal troop need to do many things, such as to be in
touch with you guys for these knowledge about IT and law, to
satisfy with the claim coming from that conflict.

---
信息技术产业和电子商
务行业法律问题关注者

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