[Infowarrior] - Reuters suing GMU over Zotero-EndNote

[Richard Forno]

...another reason why I REFUSE to use EndNote, as if I needed any more  
already.    --rf



http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/09/17/Reuters_Says_George_Mason_University_Is_Handing_Out_Its_Proprietary_Software.htm

Reuters Says George Mason University Is Handing Out Its Proprietary  
Software

      RICHMOND, VA. (CN) - Thomson Reuters demands $10 million and an  
injunction to stop George Mason University from distributing its new  
Web browser application, Zotero software, an open-source format that  
allows users to convert Reuters' EndNote Software. Reuters claims  
George Mason is violating its license agreement and destroying the  
EndNote customer base.
      Thomson Reuters also sued the Commonwealth of Virginia, in  
Richmond City Court. George Mason, founded in 1972, is a state  
institution.
      Reuters says its EndNote Software "allows end users to search  
online bibliographic databases, organize their references, images,  
and .pdfs in any language, and instantly create bibliographic  
reference style files and figure lists in Thomson's proprietary .ens  
style format for over 3,500 journals and publications."
      The complaint states, "Dr. Daniel J. Cohen, Associate Professor,  
Department of History and Art History, and the director of GMU's  
Center for History and New media, developed Zotero, which is a freely  
distributable, open-source software based research tool that allows  
users to gather, organize and analyze sources, including citations,  
and freely share the results with others."
      The Center for History and New Media release "a new beta version  
of Zotero to the general public" on July 8. Reuters adds, "A  
significant and highly touted feature of the new beta version of  
Zotero, however, is its ability to convert - in direct violation of  
the License Agreement - Thomson's 3,500 plus proprietary .ens style  
files within the EndNote Software into free, open source, easily  
distributable Zotero .csl files."
      It claims GMU reverse engineered Reuters' EndNote software to  
create Zotero.
      Reuters is represented by Gary Noyes of Tysons Corner.