IBM Locking Up Lots of Cloud Computing Patents

dkatana writes: In an article for InformationWeek Charles Babcock notes that IBM has been hoarding patents on every aspect of cloud computing. They've secured about 1,200 in the past 18 months, including ~400 so far this year. "For those who conceive of the cloud as an environment based on public standards with many shared elements, the grant of these patents isn't entirely reassuring." Babcock says, and he adds: "Whatever the intent, these patents illustrate how the cloud, even though it's conceived of as a shared environment following public standards, may be subject to some of the same intellectual property disputes and patent trolling as earlier, more directly proprietary environments."

Comments

Re:If you can't beat 'em...

[ClaraBow]

IBM has a good business model and actual good products and services -- totally the opposite of SCO!

Re:If you can't beat 'em...

[AchilleTalon]

It seems you have missed the point. You patent to avoid the patent trolls to sue you claiming a patent on a thing you neglected to patent. Even if at the end you may win, you will throw a lot of money at this useless lawsuit. So, to avoid it in first place, you are better to patent everything you can.