Open Source gets IBM Bonus
Those in the open source community just got a late Christmas gift.
IBM just announced that they will not enforce 500 of its software patents against those using them for open source software development. In other words, the technology covered by those patents is available for use by anyone using them to create open source software.
One can speculate as to many reason’s why IBM would do that – but it will be a mutual benefit to the open source movement and IBM.
Hello,
How secure is the software developer from being sued by IBM in the future for using its patents? Are there laws in place that prevent IBM from changing their mind 2 years from now? Also won’t IBM want to collect royalties on their patents if open source projects using their patents turn into profitable businesses? I just think that IBM is looking to make more money by letting developers use their software patents for free and eventually enforce the law on the developers if they try to make money from the software. I don’t think developers will run to embrace IBMs free technology, knowing in the back of their minds that BigBlue has a lot more legal power in court then they ever will.
Comment by Paul Dysko — January 12, 2005 @ 7:42 pm