So, *Now* How Do You Feel About Software Patents? (Groklaw) [LWN.net]

Groklaw looks at an example of how software patents can wreak havoc in the corporate world. "FT.com has the jaw-dropping story about European futures exchanges, brokers and traders preparing for patent infringement claims from Trading Technologies, a US software company, natch, located in Chicago -- where else? -- which has hit on what it appears to view as a pot of gold for itself by obtaining two patents on its MD Trader software product in August of 2004, patents it is now aggressively enforcing. It settled two patent infringement cases already, under circumstances some are questioning, for some licensing dough, and it is currently suing eSpeed, the electronic arm of Cantor Fitzgerald. eSpeed just had one of its patents ruled invalid in a patent infringement lawsuit it brought in July of 2003, after getting the patent in May, so it's been playing the patent game too. Game? It's like musical chairs. You may also recall eSpeed's Wagner patent."

(Log in to post comments)