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IBM's Supreme Court Brief Says That Patents Drive Free Software

Posted by timothy on from the corellation-is-not-causation dept.

H4x0r Jim Duggan writes "For the Supreme Court's upcoming review of the Bilski decision, IBM has submitted an amicus brief claiming that software patents 'fueled the explosive growth of open source software development' (!) (p38 of linked PDF). EndSoftwarePatents, for its own amicus brief, is looking for help building a list of free software harmed by software patents, and a list of companies that distribute free software and are taxed by patent royalties."

4 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Easy enough by T+Murphy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Spore, Crysis and Bioshock are all free, but got all kinds of bad press because some illegitimately-sold non-free copies included patented DRM software. If this DRM had nothing to do with these games I'd bet they would be a lot more popular.

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    1. Re:Easy enough by xouumalperxe · · Score: 3, Funny

      But the shoplifted copy would have DRM.

  2. Re:Just a thought... by H0p313ss · · Score: 5, Funny

    Aren't open source license agreements also enforced by patent law?

    Your task today it to look up the words "patent" and "copyright" and when you are done give us 100 words on why that was a stupid comment.

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    XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
  3. Re:Put's the lie to their open source claims by spazdor · · Score: 4, Funny

    HP is not on IBM's side. This I promise you.

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    DRM: Terminator crops for your mind!