Software Patent Lawsuits Against Open Source Developers - Bruce Perens’ observations and predictions of the problems with software patents and open source models. Possibly alarmist, but food for thought. I especially hate the idea of patent “litigation factories” - businesses that buy patent portfolios and go looking for people to sue.
There is also the specter of patent shake-down operations, like Intellectual Ventures. Founded by ex-Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold… Intellectual Ventures has been purchasing patents to construct a portfolio that it will then assert against someone… The effect of Myhrvold’s business on Open Source could be crippling. But Microsoft, Intel, Apple, Google, and eBay have nothing to fear. They invested in the company, and will be excluded from attacks.
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