Monday, January 31, 2005

Richard Stallman on patent parasites

In this newsforge article Richard Stallman takes issue with the new CDDL license, under which Open Solaris will be released. Needless to say, he argues that it isn't free (as in freedom). He also takes pot shots at what he calls "patent parasites", mentioning the company ex-Microsoft exec Myhrvold set up,Intellectual Ventures, with the explicit aim of buying up patents for "renting" out.

"Patent parasites don't really produce anything, they only suck the blood of those who do. As regards their choice of victims, they have the scruples of a mosquito, so you're only safe if they don't think you're worth biting."