IBM releases 500 patents for open-source use
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IBM has officially released 500 patents for use in free/opensource software and encourages other companies to follow suit, saying that "this is just a first step". Preliminary research by FFII shows that these 500 patents have at least 100 counterparts at the EPO which are also covered by IBM's license.
Sources
Media Echo
2005-01-13 US BusinessWeek: A way to hammer at Windows
2005-01-12 PT Público/Ciências: UBM lança no domínio público 500 patentes
2005-01-12 US IDG/Computerworld: Developers voice mixed reactions to IBM patent policy
2005-01-11 US eWeek: Rotten Grapes, IBM and Patents
2005-01-11 US Boston Herald: IBM gives patent access: Other motives seen in open-source boost
2005-01-11 CN Xinhua: Big Blue opens 500 patents for open source use
2005-01-11 US LWN: IBM frees 500 patents
2005-01-11 US Linux Insider: IBM's Patent Pledge Leaves Unresolved Issues, Say Analysts
2005-01-11 US SiliconValley.com: IBM liberates more code for the proletariat
2005-01-11 US TechWeb: Europe Casts Wary Eye On IBM's Open-Source
2005-01-11 UK The Economist: Big Blue becomes bountiful
2005-01-11 UK ZDNet.co.uk: IBM accused of hypocrisy over patent collaboration
2005-01-11 UK PC Pro: IBM opens 500 patents to royalty free use
2005-01-11 UK VNU/Computing: IBM donates 500 software patents to the open source community
2005-01-11 US ZDnet: Big Blue's patent surprise
2005-01-11 UK The Register: IBM pledges 500 patents to OS developers
2005-01-11 UK ZDnet UK: Leader - IBM's open patents are just the first step
2005-01-11 UK Computer Weekly: IBM hands over 500 patents to open-source community
2005-01-11 US IDG/TechWorld: IBM opens 500 patents to open source
2005-01-11 UK BBC: IBM frees 500 software patents
2005-01-11 US Groklaw: IBM Gives FOSS Free Access to 500 Patents - Rethinks IP Management
2005-01-11 US Slashdot: IBM Opens Their Patent Portfolio to Open Source
2005-01-11 EU NoSoftwarePatents.com: criticizes IBM for "diversionary" tactics, "aggressive patent lobbying" and "squeezing"
2005-01-11 EU ZDNet: IBM offers 500 patents for open-source use
2005-01-11 US Reuters: IBM to Give Away 500 Patents
2005-01-11 US Washington Post: IBM to help open-source developers
2005-01-10 US New York Times: IBM to give free access to 500 patents
Comment
James Heald (FFII UK) comments:
- At the most basic level, this is obviously a good thing for OSS projects, because here are 500 patents OSS developers no longer have to worry about. IBM have indicated that this is only the beginning, and I hope that other companies will follow its lead. It's also I think a clear recognition of the commercial benefits that IBM is seeing from Open Source software; and the particular difficulties that patents present for OSS. So on that level it's a welcome piece of enlightened self-interest from IBM. But it's unfortunate that software patents exist, that this sort of gracious permission is even necessary. And it unfortunately does nothing to protect OSS and SMEs from patent attack from other companies out there, who may not share IBM's interests in promoting Open Source (including of course one rather large company from Redmond). Ultimately this is at best only a sideshow. We should not get distracted from the real software patent issue, which is getting a directive which clearly confirms no software patents in Europe. (2005-01-11).
Jonas Maebe (FFII) comments:
- In addition to what James wrote above, it's also important to point out that this move does not help closed source SMEs in any way. If anything, it places them at a relative competitive disadvantage to open source SMEs. That's not something FFII strives for.