[Sheflug] Redhat and Software Patents

["Chris J" <xxxxx [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For those that don't read El Reg...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/25505.html

Extract:
----------------------------------------------------------------
Linux distributor Red Hat has posted a statement on its Web site explaining
why it both speaks out against software patents and seeks them.

"Software patents generally impede innovation in software development
and....are inconsistent with open source/free software," the document
begins.

The company also acknowledges that patents can be used as weapons to impede
competitors. Red Hat's stated intent in making patent applications of its
own is to use them as a defensive weapon against patent abusers. The theory
here is that this will help ensure that closed-source freeloaders can be
sued.----------------------------------------------------------------


I'm not sure if its a good thing or not. Certainly it'll give open source a
bit more clout when it comes to copyright breaches, but whether Redhat will
keep this pledge for all time is hard to tell... but they'll have problems
re-neging from it.

Best solution would be to kill of software patents. Or even better, restrict
who can apply for any patent, so corporations can't misuse them.

Chris...

-- 
\ Chris Johnson                 \
 \ cej [at] nightwolf.org.uk          \
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