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Folks,
Appropo to Wojtek's comments about IBM we find the following recent
announcement.
" January 11, 2005 (10:53 AM EST)
WASHINGTON — IBM Corp. announced Tuesday (Jan. 11) that it will give
open source developers free access to 500 of its software patents.
The company said the pledge represents a significant shift in the way it
manages its huge IP portfolio.
IBM said its offer is available to any individual, group or company
working on or using software complying with an industry initiative's
definition of open source software. The company also said it hopes the
move will serve as the basis for an industry-wide "patent commons" that
would lead to greater innovation.
The company also announced that it has again topped the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office's annual list of patent awards. IBM lead the IP list
for the twelfth consecutive year with 3,248 patents.
"
skulski{([at]})nowhere.xy
> Hi all:
[snip]
> Additionally:
>
> -- Ask yourself why the "apparently free" Linux was funded on the scale
> of about one billion dollars? (Hint: perhaps some big company wanted
> to deliver a friendly competition to the MS doors? Perhaps this
> friendly company was IBM?)
>
> -- If you can divert 1/10,000 of Linux funding to our backyard, then
> by all means please do so.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> W.
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Received on Tue Jan 11 2005 - 18:04:36 UTC