Software Patents
Did you see this response to that? (A new flag 
)
How about this counter-punch from IBM:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/11/technology/11soft.html
It starts as:
<snip>
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/11/technology/11soft.html
It starts as:
I.B.M. to Give Free Access to 500 Patents
By STEVE LOHR
Published: January 11, 2005
I.B.M. plans to announce today that it is making 500 of its software patents freely available to anyone working on open-source projects, like the popular Linux operating system, on which programmers collaborate and share code.
The new model for I.B.M., analysts say, represents a shift away from the traditional corporate approach to protecting ownership of ideas through patents, copyrights, trademark and trade-secret laws. The conventional practice is to amass as many patents as possible and then charge anyone wants access to them. I.B.M. has long been the champion of that formula. The company, analysts estimate, collected $1 billion or more year from licensing its inventions.
The move comes after a lengthy internal review by I.B.M., the world's patent holder, of its strategy toward intellectual property. I.B.M. executives said the patent donation today would be the first of several such steps.
John Kelly, the senior vice president for technology and intellectual property, called the patent contribution "the beginning of a new era in how I.B.M. will manage intellectual property."
I.B.M. may be redefining its intellectual property strategy, but it apparently has no intention of slowing the pace of its patent activity. I.B.M. was granted 3,248 patents in 2004, far more than any other company, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent office is announcing today its yearly ranking of the top 10 private-sector patent recipients.
By STEVE LOHR
Published: January 11, 2005
I.B.M. plans to announce today that it is making 500 of its software patents freely available to anyone working on open-source projects, like the popular Linux operating system, on which programmers collaborate and share code.
The new model for I.B.M., analysts say, represents a shift away from the traditional corporate approach to protecting ownership of ideas through patents, copyrights, trademark and trade-secret laws. The conventional practice is to amass as many patents as possible and then charge anyone wants access to them. I.B.M. has long been the champion of that formula. The company, analysts estimate, collected $1 billion or more year from licensing its inventions.
The move comes after a lengthy internal review by I.B.M., the world's patent holder, of its strategy toward intellectual property. I.B.M. executives said the patent donation today would be the first of several such steps.
John Kelly, the senior vice president for technology and intellectual property, called the patent contribution "the beginning of a new era in how I.B.M. will manage intellectual property."
I.B.M. may be redefining its intellectual property strategy, but it apparently has no intention of slowing the pace of its patent activity. I.B.M. was granted 3,248 patents in 2004, far more than any other company, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent office is announcing today its yearly ranking of the top 10 private-sector patent recipients.
<snip>
Well, it seems that there might be more down the road as they decide what would help their bottom line.
If they release patents that have potential for development in the FOSS community, then it might be a win-win situation.
I guess we would have to see what patents they are releasing, how significant they are, and how it would affect the community.
You would have to admit, however, that they have been making very good moves to prop up their image recently.
If they release patents that have potential for development in the FOSS community, then it might be a win-win situation.
I guess we would have to see what patents they are releasing, how significant they are, and how it would affect the community.
You would have to admit, however, that they have been making very good moves to prop up their image recently.
Here's an interesting article about copyrights:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/view.html?pg=5
When I think about these aspects of copyrights then they can be almost as unjustified as patents...
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/view.html?pg=5
When I think about these aspects of copyrights then they can be almost as unjustified as patents...
It's one of the best article about this issue I have ever read! 
Almost everything that needs to be said is there. I am always wondering why people are constantly confusing copyright/intellectual property and (software) patents...
If you grant a software patent (at least in 99,99999...% of the cases) you basically allow the patent holder to do exactly the same thing that copyrights are trying to prevent: To benefit from someone elses work without having anything contributed (this is theft, in my opinion). Someone does the work and you get the money... isn't this the same that happens if you breach the copyright??
One of Amazon's arguments for their patent of the "One click oder" was the effort to develop this feature for their portal. And this is wrong, since a patent isn't meant to cover the costs they had to implement their idea (which is certainly not an invention either).
Almost everything that needs to be said is there. I am always wondering why people are constantly confusing copyright/intellectual property and (software) patents...
If you grant a software patent (at least in 99,99999...% of the cases) you basically allow the patent holder to do exactly the same thing that copyrights are trying to prevent: To benefit from someone elses work without having anything contributed (this is theft, in my opinion). Someone does the work and you get the money... isn't this the same that happens if you breach the copyright??
One of Amazon's arguments for their patent of the "One click oder" was the effort to develop this feature for their portal. And this is wrong, since a patent isn't meant to cover the costs they had to implement their idea (which is certainly not an invention either).
We can all Thank Poland
However, does anyone know if this one is really likely to disappear or how soon will it be back on the agenda?
Andy D
However, does anyone know if this one is really likely to disappear or how soon will it be back on the agenda?
Andy D
Thanks Andy Diament,
I have just thanked Poland. I recommend that all Moodle users do the same.
Timothy