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Stallman Unimpressed by Nokia Patent Pledge

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-read dept.

Joe Barr writes "NewsForge is running a commentary by Richard Stallman on the recent PR blitz by Nokia concerning their promise not to enforce patent claims against the Linux kernel project. Stallman's take? "In effect, Nokia is lobbying the European Union to give Nokia and many others a new kind of weapon to shoot at software authors and users with--and telling the legislators, 'Don't worry, it's safe to let private armies carry these guns, because we promise that our gunmen won't shoot anyone in that building.'""

5 of 386 comments (clear)

  1. Nokia Offers Patents to Linux Kernel by anandpur · · Score: 5, Informative

    Some details at GROKLAW http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=200505251 80125237
    http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=200505301 04251332&mode=print

  2. What the? by orson_of_fort_worth · · Score: 5, Funny

    When did RMS become such a cynic?

  3. In a public Nokia statement... by Mancat · · Score: 5, Funny

    A Nokia executive has publicly stated, "Our failure to impress Richard M. Stallman is a failure to the entire open source community. We are greatly ashamed that we could not meet the golden standards of such a modern visionary as Mr. Stallman, a man who has contributed much to society in the form of... We're not sure, but we're very ashamed that Mr. Stallman 'is not impressed.' As a result, Nokia will never again attempt to collaborate with the open source community. We are just not the type of corporation that can handle rejection."

    The executive later killed himself.

    --
    hello dear sirs my name is jamesh i are india (bihar) can u guide me install red had linux 9?
  4. Patents as Weapons by njcoder · · Score: 5, Funny

    Patents don't kill innovation, people with patents kill innovation.

    --
    Open Source Java DAO Generator
  5. Re:o_O by golgotha007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just because you may not have the balls to stand up and announce to the world what you think is right doesn't mean you should ridicule or belittle those who do.

    Both the Linux kernel and the GNU tools are essential for an operating system.

    Though he may be eccentric at times, I wholeheartedly applaud Richard Stallman and what his efforts have provided to the rest of the world (for free as in freedom and beer, I might add).

    Why the younger generation open source enthusiasts continue to badger Mr. Stallman is beyond me. Shame on you.