03.27.07
Oracle to Join Open Invention Network
From the attaboy department
Today it is expected that the Open Invention Network will announce a new member, Oracle. No word on exactly which patents Oracle will be making available to OIN…
On March 27, Oracle and the Open Invention Network (OIN) will announce that Oracle will become an OIN licensee. By doing this, Oracle opens the doors to making some of its patents available royalty-free to any company, institution, or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against Linux.
OIN members — which currently include IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat, and Sony — agree to assign software patents that might affect Linux to the OIN. These patents can then be used by anyone in Linux without having to pay any royalty fees or having to worry about future law suits.
Regular readers will know that I am a little critical of Oracle from time to time, so it’s very pleasing to be able to write a positive entry on them. Of course, I see the whole concept of stockpiling legally invalid software patents on behalf of GNU/Linux as just a symbolic effort, but it’s nice to see nonetheless.
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