Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on July 20, 2004 12:06 PM
The problem is the tactic that IBM did to Sun(story paraphrased from memory). IBM: We have these seven or so patents that you need to license. Sun: We have looked through these patents and we feel we don't violate most and some probably aren't valid. IBM: OK, well we'll just go back and find some more and add those to this list. Do you think we can't find one you are violating? Sun: Alright we give, here is 20mil plus cross-licensing.
Now it is MSFT going around and noticing what nice software HP's got there and it would be a shame if anything 'happened' to it.
Of course, GPL software has nothing to cross-license and no money and all they need is one possible infringement on any important software to take down a whole distribution. It doesn't have to be their patent, they can help notify other companies and provide funding like they did with SCO(only this time we will be in trouble). We are looking at defending against all software patents no matter who owns them (so IBM is GPL friendly now, what about next year?).
There is no clear way to work around all patented functionality (some are unbelievably broad). We must all fight to stop software patents everywhere and force the USPTO to stop granting/enforcing them now.
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Re:dam MAD
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on July 20, 2004 12:06 PMIBM: We have these seven or so patents that you need to license.
Sun: We have looked through these patents and we feel we don't violate most and some probably aren't valid.
IBM: OK, well we'll just go back and find some more and add those to this list. Do you think we can't find one you are violating?
Sun: Alright we give, here is 20mil plus cross-licensing.
Now it is MSFT going around and noticing what nice software HP's got there and it would be a shame if anything 'happened' to it.
Of course, GPL software has nothing to cross-license and no money and all they need is one possible infringement on any important software to take down a whole distribution. It doesn't have to be their patent, they can help notify other companies and provide funding like they did with SCO(only this time we will be in trouble). We are looking at defending against all software patents no matter who owns them (so IBM is GPL friendly now, what about next year?).
There is no clear way to work around all patented functionality (some are unbelievably broad). We must all fight to stop software patents everywhere and force the USPTO to stop granting/enforcing them now.
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