On the one hand, Microsoft might release patents to Red Hat as part of a partnership. On the other hand “Microsoft has an interest in protecting intellectual property.” On the other hand it won’t sue open source on patent infringements. On the other hand Microsoft has an obligation to its shareholders.
Oliver then went on to say that Red Hat should be happy to take MS patents and make money out of it and in doing so, MS would want a cut. The comment was not accepted by me and I handwaved to the moderator to move on as it was not the thrust of the my question.
I was tweeting the whole event (did not use a tag, but check twitter.com/harishpillay). Interesting, Oliver tweeted back about the patent issue and I suggested that he should consider getting MS into OIN and make all of the software patents freely available to ALL open source developers (commercial or otherwise). MS can continue to do their standard royalty extract from those patents that they placed in OIN from people who use it but keep the code secret.
Red Hat is today expected to join others in making the case against the enforcement of patents in software across the European Union.
The company is expected to submit an 11-page report to regulators, which makes the case that patents in software damages innovation in software.
When he attended a rally in Munich this month, Richard Stallman took time out of his busy schedule to talk with our News Editor, Britta Wülfing. The conversation covered everything from Software as a Service, to patents, protests, international politics, and protecting your freedom.
[...]
Linux Pro: They offer Red Hat, what about that? Is that not 100 percent free software?
Stallman: No.
Linux Pro: They claim it to be.
Stallman: I don't know what they say. I'd be surprised if they said anything about free software at all. We talk with the people who make Fedora. They almost removed all the non-free software, but they did not remove the non-free firmware from the Linux kernel itself.
Linux Pro: But wouldn't that be difficult?
Stallman: It's not difficult at all. It's just a choice whether you do it. The reason it's not difficult is we've already done the work. We have a Linux Libre where we have removed the non-free firmware. So if you want a free version GNU/Linux distro you do have to get it from us.
Linux Pro: "From us" means the FSF?
Stallman: Us is FSF in America. That does this.
If the Enlarged Board of Appeal should jump over the admissibility hurdle they will find themselves confronted with demands linke 'we want more of the same' from the usual pro-patent stakeholders interested in more or less maintaining the status quo, as well as with flawed 'get rid of software patents' rethoric of well-known abolitionist groups or individuals representing that way of thinking. Mr Bakels' approach brings in some fresh air but I am somewhat in doubt as to the EBA would dare even only to deal explicitly with such deviation from long established concepts of case law.
A jury denies the claim for than $100 million in damages from Sun for alleged patent infringement, breach of contract, interference with an existing contract, trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition that had been filed by Versata, formerly called Trilogy Software. Versata claimed Sun stole its technology for a product configurator designed to model a software development project throughout the entire product cycle, from requirements to marketing and sales.
Oracle has been sued for alleged patent infringement by supply chain management vendor i2 Technologies, i2 said on Wednesday.
The suit charges Oracle with infringing on 11 of i2's patents. I2 is seeking monetary damages and royalty payments, or else an injunction to block the alleged infringement.
Comments
NotZed
2009-05-01 14:10:44
It means they'll have the money and resources to implement features and provide support all of it's existing users only ever dreamed of. MySQL is a product that needs a hell of a lot of loving to bring it up to scratch, and real money can provide a significant boost to the effort.
What happens may or may not be awesome home-brew beer-free, but it'll still be free like speech is supposed to be in some countries.
I don't know if you've noticed, but Linus('s minix) has plenty of big companies behind it lately, and nobody's crying wolf over that (yet). Not to mention openoffice 'dot' org.
Roy Schestowitz
2009-05-01 14:20:26
Linux has many companies behind it and OIN serves as a patent pool. OOo is owned by a company with only one office suite. MySQL is now owned by a former/existing competitor whose emphasis on Free software is dubious.