Summary: How companies such as IBM and Microsoft take away algorithms and then 'donate' or 'sell them back' to us

NOW that an ex-IBM executive is in charge of the USPTO [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], things may get interesting. IBM needs to be pressured to drop its defense of software patents, particularly as long as other very massive multinational giants are spreading this mechanism of oppression against programmers. IBM would say, "but the shareholders! The shareholders."

“IBM needs to be pressured to drop its defense of software patents...”IBM is not an enemy, but there is also room for improvement when subjugation occurs and marketing of IBM's own Linux products is hinged on indemnification that only IBM can offer.

FFII's president writes: '"Bilski Vs Doll" at the US Supreme Court becomes "Bilski Vs Kappos" or "Bilski Vs IBM" if you prefer.'

Scientes replies with: "Bilski trying to sue to get a business method patent issued, USPTO refused their patent, seek judicial review."

Jose_X brought up the subject earlier today and he also wrote many things in Linux Today, including:

In case, this comment appears cryptic, I think the OIN way is superior to the Microsoft way, but the OIN way still leaves much to be desired. The IP moguls are bottling up "free water" so the rest of us have to pay for it.

GreyGeek replied as follows:

The IP moguls are bottling up "free water" so the rest of us have to pay for it.

That sums it up pretty well. It doesn't matter that FREE software was around before Bill Gates stole BASIC out of a dumpster behind YALE's IT bldg.

Now the "IP Moguls" are trying a new spin, which you remarked on in another post: "Patents promote innovation because they make FOSS possible"

That's like claiming that settlers made free range possible because they put up fences. (After they stole the free range from the natives, and used their own laws to enforce the theft. Sound familiar?)

David Gerard concludes with: 'William Patry agrees: use the phrase "intellectual monopoly", not "intellectual property" http://is.gd/2uKKx patents are corporate welfare.'

These are also corporate warfare (against competition that rises from the bottom). Microsoft is unlikely to fight against software patents, but IBM can possibly change its ways, especially if the Free software community is able to see what IBM is up to and how easily it can improve things with its enormous influence over the USPTO. ⬆