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IBM Pledges Free Access to Patents Involved in Implementing 150+ Software Standards

Posted by SamShazaam on · 4 comments
CNN Money; By Ari Fishkind 		Mail this story
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IBM today announced that it is granting universal and perpetual access to certain intellectual property that might be necessary to implement more than 150 standards designed to make software interoperable. IBM's commitment not only applies to the distributors, developers or manufacturers that are implementing the specifications involved, but also extends to their users or customers. It is valid as long as adopters are not suing any party -- not just IBM -- over necessary patented technology needed to implement the standards.

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Comments (4)

Untitled

jacog ·
Well, this is probably just designed as a political move to make them look good, but I really don't care - because if enough companies follow suit, it all results in Microsoft looking bad (well, worse).

In fact... it's starting to sound like a mutiny is afoot.
vainrveenr ·
Quoting:if enough companies follow suit, it all results in Microsoft looking bad (well, worse).
Nope. Please review the article 'Microsoft vows to bark like a dog for you in 2008' brought courtesy of Sander_Marechal at http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/89698/index.html On the contrary; the MS PR spin for the upcoming Feb. 27, 2008 big releases date will be replete with an abundance of feel-good news for MSFT shareholders, for MS partners, and for a sizable subset of companies currently considering IBM's own version of Interoperability. Furthermore. the MS legal juggernaut may even simultaneously target this very 'Interoperability Specifications Pledge' of IBM (http://www-03.ibm.com/linux/opensource/ispinfo.shtml), if it has not even started to do so already!

The right, proper and Free way to do patent protection

dinotrac ·
OK -- Best world eliminates all ridiculous patents, including most, if not all, software patents.

However, in the here and now of the real world, this is the way to provide patent protection without running afoul of freedom and without mocking the notion of free standards.

Kudos.
rijelkentaurus ·
Yup.

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