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Five Linux Companies Buy Software Patents
An anonymous reader writes "In order to protect themselves against patent grabbing 'trolls,' major Linux companies are buying software patents through a nonprofit company called Open Invention Network. This nonprofit company will then offer royalty-free licenses to companies and individuals that agreed not to assert their own patents."
King Aethelred of Wessex announced that he had purchased protection from the Viking raiders that have plagued our shores. "It was really easy," announced Aethelred, "all I had to do was pay money to another bunch of pirates to protect us from the first bunch. Now the problem is solved for ever, and I can't see any potential downsides." On the news, shares in PlunderCorp rose 35% in anticipation of a rich and ongoing new revenue stream.
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
Looks like you've got a choice of eight posts. To summarise:
1. It's odd that Sony is one of the companies
2. Sony is a big company
3. Sony is a big company
4. Sony is a big company
5. It's surprising to see so many heavyweights in an anti-patent trust
6. "Fuck you Sony" gets misspelled on occasions
7. Sony will help with cross-platform root kits
8. We shouldn't treat software patents as acceptable
2) Sony Corp
Hmm... since we've already had today's Sony DRM article... lemme check my Slashdot manual...
flip, flip, flip... ahhh here it is...
Yes, since we've alreay had today's Sony DRM article, the newer Sony "Defender of Freedom" article means that we must express undying love for Sony until the posting of tomorrow's Sony DRM article.
Help me take back Slashdot. When did 'News for Nerds' become 'FUD and Conspiracy Theories for Extremist Nutjobs'?
no :-)
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