http://www.fosspatents.com/2013/03/googles-promise-not-to-assert-10.html
Google is trying to improve its image it seems. Last week, Google decided that it would allow 10 of its patents to be unasserted against open source software. The move is certainly more of a public relations effort than a genuine gift by Google. Google may be allowing these patents to go unasserted, but Google has hundreds of other patents - many of them very similar to the 10 unasserted - that they could assert against your company.
"The problem with patent pledges and pools is not what's in them -- it's what's not in them. As a result, those pledges didn't prove to be helpful in any way (I'm sure that not even one lawsuit has been avoided because of those pledges) and quickly fell out of favor. For almost eight years no major industry player joined these companies in publishing a list of patents that would not be asserted against open source."
Its interesting to compare Google's pledge with other companies with a large stockpile of patents at their disposal. For example, currently IBM has pledged 500, and Sun approximately 1,600. Its amazing how few patents Google pledged in comparison
I have to question why Google even did this. Pledging ten patents just makes them seem greedy and seem like a tyrant compared to its patent pledging rivals.
What do you think? Was this worth Google doing? Was this a mistake? Is Google trying to cover up its inner evil?
Google has implemented this new pledge in conjunction with the release of Microsoft's new patent search system. Transparency is a key component of this industry, so it is instrumental to see companies like Microsoft and Google pushing for this open environment.
ReplyDeleteI read this article as well and it was clearly a PR stunt with no honorable goals behind it.
ReplyDeleteI also read about this. Google is stating that this patent giveaway will hopefully encourage other patent holders, leading to an increase in innovation. However, the 10 patents they gave out don't seem too helpful...
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