[Sussex] Breaking Patent News

[Angelo Servini]

<Steve Dobson Said>
> This does seam to be a measure to stop SCO like action.  If 
> you use any
> F/OSS software that contains any of these IBM patents, and 
> Linux almost
> certainly does (remember the OSRM study that identified 
> around 300 patents
> that might be infringed by Linux), then IBM an revoke your 
> rights to use
> these patents.
> 

Looking Good, but will this be enough to prevent the parasites
(patenters) from killing off innovation?  I mean, it is good to have
free software - but as you will agree, commercial software is still
needed, especially in vertical markets where it is not feasible for OSS
to cover.  In these cases the IBM promise will not stand, and companies
that depend entirely on revenue from their software are still liable to
attack from the patenters.  That will directly affect us as developers,
as we will lose our jobs, and the users will be forced to pay outrageous
prices for their software from the priveleges few; if they can afford to
buy it in the first place.  They in turn could also go out of business.
This is far more serious than the effect on OSS only - it could spark
the end of the current economic stability we now enjoy.

I think that the IBM move is at best a stopgap.  IMHO, We still need to
canvas and motivate those around us to petition government officials to
outlaw thise uncompetitive and unfair legislature.  I in fact am going
to write to MP's about this. (Sorry BTW, I have not paid much attention
to this until now)

Did the SLUG actually mention a few months ago that there was a standard
letter floating about and can I use it?

--
Angelo Servini
Programmer/Analyst
Claybrook Computing Ltd
Sutherland House
Russell Way
Crawley
West Sussex.  RH10 1UH
* 01293 604955
* 01293 604099 (Fax)
* angelo.servini at claybrook.co.uk

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