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Computer Associates Pledges to Open Source Patents

Posted by Zonk on from the don't-fear-the-penguin dept.

DigitumDei writes "Systems management vendor Computer Associates International has confirmed that it intends to pledge a number of its patents to the open source community. This is a move by CA to make it clear that they do not intend to use their patents against Linux. They have, however, ruled out any further large scale donation of CA software code to the open source community as they just released the Ingres database management system under an open source license last year."

5 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. This is commendable.. by MasterOfUniverse · · Score: 4, Informative

    Let me be the first to say..well done CA!

    --
    "There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people."--Howard Zinn
  2. Re:What does that... by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 3, Informative
    No its probably not terminating the right to the patents . . . I'm not even sure that they could do that. They are probably granting the open source community a license to these patents to use them in open source software for the term of the patent.

    As the patent holder, they could even license these patents to open source projects only and ban the patents from any non-open source project (e.g. not let Microsoft incorporate these patents into their closed source software).

  3. Re:What does that... by squiggleslash · · Score: 3, Informative
    It is supposed to mean (but might not, we'll have to see what the details are) that the open source community will be able to use code that infringes on the patents without risking being sued. That is, if you are producing code licensed under a license approved by the OSI, you need not fear patent lawsuits from CA.

    While open source (and free software) makes up a large proportion of software, it is by no means the total of it. So this isn't terminating a patent right, because the patents will still be enforced against, for example, proprietary software.

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  4. Re:what kind of license? by i23098 · · Score: 2, Informative

    one could do one of two things: either contribute the patent to the public domain, or license it in some way


    They can give free patents licences to every program licenced under a free license. Every other application (closed source) must buy a license...

  5. Re:What does that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    fully dedicating a patent right to the public is allowable and in a limited sense is actually required in some circumstances. Its called a terminal disclaimer.