Comments on: Patent Claims Against Open Source http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/02/23/do-patents-threaten-open-source/ open source software innovation support centre Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tim Ivorson http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/02/23/do-patents-threaten-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Tim Ivorson Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:27:38 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/02/23/do-patents-threaten-open-source/#comment-30 I think that some might find it misleading "to say that patents threaten <i>individual</i> open source software projects, but it is also true to say that patents threaten <i>individual</i> closed source projects too." Under "reasonable and non-discriminatory" patent licensing, a fee may be demanded for each copy of the software. However, under open source/free software licences, anybody with a copy of the software may distribute copies for free. As a result, this patent licensing is incompatible with open source/free software copyright licensing, and requires all software implementing the patented technology to be closed source. I think that some might find it misleading “to say that patents threaten individual open source software projects, but it is also true to say that patents threaten individual closed source projects too.”

Under “reasonable and non-discriminatory” patent licensing, a fee may be demanded for each copy of the software. However, under open source/free software licences, anybody with a copy of the software may distribute copies for free. As a result, this patent licensing is incompatible with open source/free software copyright licensing, and requires all software implementing the patented technology to be closed source.

]]> By: Ross Gardler http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/02/23/do-patents-threaten-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Ross Gardler Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:07:18 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/02/23/do-patents-threaten-open-source/#comment-29 The UK governments position on Software Patents is that they are unenforceable in the UK. See http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11077.asp The UK governments position on Software Patents is that they are unenforceable in the UK.

See http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11077.asp

]]> By: Ross Gardler http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2007/02/23/do-patents-threaten-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Ross Gardler Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:26:14 +0000 http://osswatch.jiscinvolve.org/2007/02/23/do-patents-threaten-open-source/#comment-28 I've changed the title of this post as a result of feedback from the OSS Watch team. It was felt that the original title of "Do Patents Threaten Open Source?" could be interpreted as a a less than open question about the issue. At OSS Watch we believe that software patents are not an open source issue, therefore we have no stance on them. The intention of this article is to illustrate why I, as an individual, also feel that Software Patents are not an open source issue. The change in title is intended to encourage a wider readership, I have not changed any of the content of the article. I’ve changed the title of this post as a result of feedback from the OSS Watch team.

It was felt that the original title of “Do Patents Threaten Open Source?” could be interpreted as a a less than open question about the issue. At OSS Watch we believe that software patents are not an open source issue, therefore we have no stance on them. The intention of this article is to illustrate why I, as an individual, also feel that Software Patents are not an open source issue.

The change in title is intended to encourage a wider readership, I have not changed any of the content of the article.

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