10.21.07
Red Hat’s Webbink Criticises Software Patents and Sheds Light on IP
Here is an excellent article from Red Hat Magazine. It explains what a sad state we have reached as far as “intellectual property” goes.
Then there’s the Lone Cypress, a tree along California’s famous 17-Mile Drive. It’s probably the most infamous example of someone trying to exert ridiculous intellectual property rights. They must’ve made it sound like a good idea, though, because it seems that the idea of copyrighting trees is catching on
Intellectual property is not to be confused or mixed with software patents (let alone just patents). Software patents are a scary monster. For that reason, we have just set up a static page that gives a summary of videos and items that talk about patents, software patents, and intellectual property.
Here is a new video of Mark Webbink on patents. He eloquently explains the real issue.
This week Mark Webbink, former Red Hat General Counsel discusses software patents, their absurdity and the business climate and “judicial activism” that helped create them.
Mark has just joined the SFLC, in case you did not know. He will truly be an asset there.
Meanwhile, Don Marti opines that Acacia’s software patent case against Linux is a cases of job hunting (for former Microsoft employees). Whatever the truth is, the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Related articles:
- A Patent Lie
- Big businesses boast of patent benefits, for small businesses
- If you thought software patents were bad…
- Critic of Software Patents Wins Nobel Prize in Economics
- EFF lawyer warns of e-learning patent dangers
- Analysis: Less patent shield for code
- Supreme Court to Patent Appeals Court: Drop Dead
- Patently wrong
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.