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IBM Has 'No Intention' of Using Patents Against Linux

Posted by michael on from the cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die dept.

bendelo writes "In his keynote address on Wednesday at LinuxWorld, IBM Senior Vice President of Technology and Marketing Nick Donofrio assured the Linux nation his company would not assert its formidable patent portfolio against the Linux kernel and strongly advocated others to promise the same. This comes following an independent study by insurance firm OSRM who revealed this week that the Linux kernel might use up to 283 patented methods. This seems a smart move by the Big Blue to help counter the FUD going around." A zdnet.com.com story has a response from Bruce Perens, who basically says he wants to see it in writing. :)

8 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. In writing? Here you go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    IBM has no intentions of using patents against Linux.

  2. the Linux nation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    where is it, i wanna move there, geographically speaking

  3. Re:I don't understand... by stevesliva · · Score: 4, Funny
    Mutual Assured Destruction
    More like Mutually assured licensing. IBM: Hey Intel, you're using our transmogrifier! Intel: But you're using our bandersnatch! All together: Let's cross-license!

    Lawyers: Phew. That'll be $167,456.

    --
    Who do you get to be an expert to tell you something's not obvious? The least insightful person you can find? -J Roberts
  4. Re:Read -all- of the statement by Oddly_Drac · · Score: 4, Funny

    "unless of course we are forced to defend ourselves"

    Is that 'defend' in terms of responding to attack, or defend as in 'bombing the shit out of Iraq'?

    --
    Oddly Draconis
    Too cynical to live, too stubborn to die.
  5. A little perspective by Dav3K · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here is a sampling of large corps and some of the other stuff they also think about:

    SUN: How to crush Microso...er, enemies.
    Microsoft: ..market share...market share...
    Diebold: Who do we want to win the next election?

    As you can see, there are plenty of other motiv^H^H..er, objectives for corporations to ponder over. You could compare profits with gas for a car - you don't go far without it.

  6. Love that phrase "no intention" by ewg · · Score: 5, Funny

    You've got to love that phrase "no intention".

    Hearing makes me want to reply

    • I have "no intention" of striking you in the solar plexus
    • I have "no intention" of keying your auotmobile
    • I have "no intention" of dishonoring your sister

    I understand why it's used: the person talking cannot speak authoritatively for the organization.

    Still annoying, though.

    --
    org.slashdot.post.SignatureNotFoundException: ewg
  7. Re:I don't understand... by servognome · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bah, I found prior art for the transmogrifier

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    D6 63 0D 70 89 81 BB 8E 7B 7C 5F 5D 54 EA AB 73
  8. Re:I don't understand... by Nept · · Score: 2, Funny

    IBM: 802 lb gorilla. You: Little monkey going around shouting "promissory estoppel, promissory estoppel"

    --
    "Teachers leave us kids alone ..." - Roger Waters, Pink Floyd