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IBM have opened up 500 patents
but they still have plenty left...
IBM
have announced that they have opened up 500 of their patents. Of course they'll
still have plenty left. In the last year they have registered 3,248 patents (!)
the 12th year in succession that they have had more patents than anyone else.
The company say that they are committed to creating a "patent commons".
Others might suspect that they want to make patents appear more acceptable, and
so protect their principal income source. Time will tell! In the meantime I guess it is a sign that the people are becoming more aware of the social impact of patents, otherwise IBM wouldn't bother. The text of the pledge
and the list of patents is available here.
Last modified
2005-01-13 09:52 PM
