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The Open Invention Network acquires 22 more patents
The Open Invention Network has announced
the acquisition of 22 software patents formerly owned by Microsoft.
"We are pleased to have purchased these patents and view this as a
model of successful collaboration among defensive patent organizations that
share a common goal of creating freedom of action for practicing entities
across Linux and the broader technology sector. The prospect of these
patents being placed in the hands of non-practicing entities was a threat
that has been averted with these purchases, irrespective of patent quality
and whether or not the patents truly read on Linux."
Information on what the patents actually covered remains scarce. Readers wanting a conspiratorial view of the whole thing can find it at Groklaw. (Log in to post comments)
The Open Invention Network acquires 22 more patents Posted Sep 9, 2009 14:51 UTC (Wed) by AlexHudson (guest, #41828) [Link]
Given the nature of the organisation Microsoft sold the patents to, it can hardly be called a surprise to Microsoft that they went to OIN. The conspiratorial view appears to be clutching at straws.
The Open Invention Network acquires 22 more patents Posted Sep 9, 2009 21:04 UTC (Wed) by stumbles (guest, #8796) [Link] I think the article was more to point out that OIN *was not* invited. Now why would Microsoft want to exclude them? Maybe there is some straw there, but I think Microsoft was trying to pull some shenanigans. But then, my tinfoil hat has been a bit wonky of late.
The Open Invention Network acquires 22 more patents Posted Sep 10, 2009 7:18 UTC (Thu) by AlexHudson (guest, #41828) [Link]
The point is, if OIN had been deliberately excluded because MS wanted the patents to go to an aggressive troll, then AST should have also been excluded. It's not like MS are unaware of them or their approach.
The Open Invention Network acquires 22 more patents Posted Sep 10, 2009 14:01 UTC (Thu) by dmarti (subscriber, #11625) [Link] They evidently assumed that a troll would be able to outbid OIN for the patents when AST was ready to sell them. Maybe OIN has just been better at keeping its assets liquid in the current financial mess than the trolls. The more members join AST, the less that AST's "released" patents are worth to a troll, and the more affordable they are to OIN.Eben Moglen has a post up about this news too.
The Open Invention Network acquires 22 more patents Posted Sep 10, 2009 14:03 UTC (Thu) by AlexHudson (guest, #41828) [Link]
AST don't sell to trolls. That would defeat the entire purpose of their organisation.
The Open Invention Network acquires 22 more patents Posted Sep 10, 2009 1:39 UTC (Thu) by rahvin (subscriber, #16953) [Link] The conspiratorial view was also shared by RedHat.http://press.redhat.com/2009/09/09/microsoft-and-patent-trolls/ September 9th, 2009It seems to me that RedHat was the one that raised the flag and started waiving it when they heard about the auction as it appears one of the companies solicited by MS went to Redhat (or another OSS company) to discuss the "marketing" materials that accompanied the invitation to bid that discussed ways to use the material against Linux companies. Producing such marketing material means this was an attempt to attack linux without doing it directly and thus opening MS up to Monopoly complaints in the EU or US, particularly that EU where they didn't get the remedies watered down and spent a billion on fines. I personally believe the EU "internet explorer" Monopoly action soured MS on the idea of being personally involved in any attacks on Linux. They were successful using SCO to spread FUD so I believe they've made a corporate decision to try to find another "SCO" to attack Linux and stave off the decline in their software market.
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