Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 19th Sep 2006 21:19 UTC
An effort by the Open Source Development Labs to help developers defend themselves against software patents has come under fire from FSF founder Richard Stallman, who believes that the plan could backfire. The controversy centers on the issue of patents on software processes, which many believe could threaten the future of open-source software and software innovation in general. Because software processes are abstract, critics say such patents effectively let companies monopolize ideas, without which software can't be developed.
Thread beginning with comment 163779
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:
2005-11-13
One issue with software patents is that they have to be proved invalid which is a very expensive proposition for Free Software developers. This is why patents are especially dangerous to Free Software. Counter suing doesn't fix this.
Having said this, I am not sure what the best course of action is.
Seth