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IBM Calls for Patent Reform

Posted by samzenpus on from the level-playing-field dept.

daria42 writes "IBM has called for tighter regulation of patents and a review of intellectual property ownership issues in collaborative software development. The company is one of the largest patent-holders in the United States. IBM executive Jim Stallings said examining patents for prior art should not only be the job of the patent office but that the wider community should be involved. Stallings also called on the industry to stop what he calls "bad behaviour" by companies who either seek patents for unoriginal work or collect and hoard patents."

1 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. They are on the right track, IBM that is.. by ghostrocket · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    First I worked for IBM for 5 years before I offshored myself to europe... Yes I did it to myself.. Southern EU

    I know that IBM is on the right track. I know and have seen what bad software/ hardware patents can do. It stifles ideas and makes many inovatutions second-guessed and sometimes not implemented at all. If the patent office opens up and looks broader at the possibility of work done then we can be more competive and forwarded thinking/moving in general. Seeking patents for work that is not right, but done all the time. I give IBM support in this by saying; this is what is needed to be done before it is too late.