IBM on Wednesday promised not to use its formidable collection of technology patents against Linux and challenged other companies to do the same, working to dispel one cloud that hangs over the open-source programming movement.
"IBM has no intention of asserting its patent portfolio against the Linux kernel, unless of course we are forced to defend ourselves," said Nick Donofrio, senior vice president for technology and manufacturing, drawing applause in a speech at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo.
The tech giant's announcement could relieve some who fear the legal threat of the computing industry's largest patent arsenal. But it doesn't address the more tangible danger that Microsoft, an avowed Linux enemy, could attack. Microsoft declined to comment for this story. But in April, the company's top lawyer said the software giant is willing "to work creatively" and to license its technology. However, patent licenses requiring royalty payments are prohibited for software governed by one major open-source license, the General Public License (GPL).
News source: C|Net News.com
"IBM has no intention of asserting its patent portfolio against the Linux kernel, unless of course we are forced to defend ourselves," said Nick Donofrio, senior vice president for technology and manufacturing, drawing applause in a speech at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo.
The tech giant's announcement could relieve some who fear the legal threat of the computing industry's largest patent arsenal. But it doesn't address the more tangible danger that Microsoft, an avowed Linux enemy, could attack. Microsoft declined to comment for this story. But in April, the company's top lawyer said the software giant is willing "to work creatively" and to license its technology. However, patent licenses requiring royalty payments are prohibited for software governed by one major open-source license, the General Public License (GPL).
News source: C|Net News.com
Cont...
Hailed as two of the best known strategy game brands in the world, Diplomacy® and Squad Leader® have attracted millions of players in their previous editions. Internal teams at Paradox, known for specializing in the creation of strategy games, will develop the new PC games. Past Paradox projects include the award-winning Europa Universalis®, Hearts of Iron™ and Crusader Kings™.
“We will be working closely with Atari and Wizards of the Coast to make sure we maximize the potential these brands have. We feel that Paradox is the right partner to develop the PC Games these brands and their fans deserve”, says Theodore Bergquist, CEO of Paradox Entertainment.
Paradox Entertainment was created to build fantasy, science fiction and alternative history brands in cross-media platforms. The interactive division has a long experience in developing and publishing strategy games for the PC platform. Past titles include the award-winning bestselling titles Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Victoria and Crusader Kings.
Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is a worldwide leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories, and a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products. The company holds an exclusive patent on trading card games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces the premier trading card game, MAGIC: THE GATHERING(r), among many other trading card games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of roleplaying games, such as DUNGEONS & DRAGONS(r), and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at wizards.com. "Magic: the Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the USA and other countries. Diplomacy and Squad leader are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. All rights reserved.".
STV
i dont think that microsoft has ever tried to "shut down" open source or linux.
STV
Maybe, but then they wouldn't be the IBM we know either.
Like saying "if Microsoft had created a Linux distro, they would promote Linux".
Sure, but that's an alternate reality.
Plus, they left in a good "unless" clause that they can use to justify any course of action they choose, anyway.
IBM has a HUGE portfolio of patents going a long way back, and they have used it effectively in the past - a lot for defense, plus some offensive suits. They aren't afraid to use it, and these warm words don't exactly give me a warm-n-fuzzy feeling for IBM. They are a large Goliath whos motives are for their own self-interest, and they will aid in Linux development only as long as it suits them.
lets say that IBM has a patent that both linux and windows infringes on. could IBM leave linux alone and only go after microsoft, or does it have to go after microsoft too, if it does choose to enforce it?
STV
Anyway, IBM is having the most software patents in the world, so this is good news.
Not surprising either, since they're involved in several projects having to do with Linux.
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