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(SOAP patent controversy: ==Open Source Assurance program== The text(s) of Red Hat's "''Open Source Assurance''" program<ref>https://www.redhat.com/rhel/details/assurance/</ref> are not publicly)
 
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'''Red Hat''' is a software company which lobbies against [[software patents]].
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==Bilski submissions==
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==Lobbying against software patents==
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===USA: Bilski submissions===
 
Red Hat filed strongly anti-software-patent briefs for both the 2008 [[in re Bilski]] case and the 2009 [[Bilski v. Kappos]] case.
 
Red Hat filed strongly anti-software-patent briefs for both the 2008 [[in re Bilski]] case and the 2009 [[Bilski v. Kappos]] case.
  
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** [http://www.redhat.com/f/pdf/federal_circuit_brief.pdf Groklaw discussion]
 
** [http://www.redhat.com/f/pdf/federal_circuit_brief.pdf Groklaw discussion]
  
==EU anti-swpat lobbying==
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===EU anti-swpat lobbying===
  
 
During the [[EU Software Patents directive]], Red Hat financed the [[No Software Patents]] campaign.  Their counsel at the time [[Mark Webbink]] was also regularly in the European Parliament.<ref>I know this from personal contact with him in the parliament, but we should find a citation for it.</ref>
 
During the [[EU Software Patents directive]], Red Hat financed the [[No Software Patents]] campaign.  Their counsel at the time [[Mark Webbink]] was also regularly in the European Parliament.<ref>I know this from personal contact with him in the parliament, but we should find a citation for it.</ref>
  
==Anti-swpat lobbying in India==
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===Anti-swpat lobbying in India===
  
 
In response to a 2008 proposal in [[India]] to change the patents manual to allow software patents, Red Hat submitted a letter arguing to continue excluding software from patentability.<ref>http://ipindia.nic.in/ipr/patent/Patent_Manual_Feedback/REDHAT_INDIA_PVT._LTD._NEW_DELHI.pdf</ref>
 
In response to a 2008 proposal in [[India]] to change the patents manual to allow software patents, Red Hat submitted a letter arguing to continue excluding software from patentability.<ref>http://ipindia.nic.in/ipr/patent/Patent_Manual_Feedback/REDHAT_INDIA_PVT._LTD._NEW_DELHI.pdf</ref>
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==Litigation==
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===By Red Hat===
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No known cases.  (And no reason to think there have been any.)
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===Against Red Hat===
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* [[Software Tree LLC (Acacia) v. Red Hat (2009, USA)]] - settled out of court (controversially<ref>http://gigaom.com/cloud/red-hats-secret-patent-deal-and-the-fate-of-jboss-developers/</ref>)
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* [[Acacia v. Red Hat and Novell (2010, USA)‎]] - patents ruled invalid (Acacia operated as ''IP Innovation LLC'')
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==Open Source Assurance program==
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The text(s) of Red Hat's "''Open Source Assurance''" program<ref>https://www.redhat.com/rhel/details/assurance/</ref> are not publicly available.  This is a service Red Hat provides to it's paying customers.  According to Red Hat's FAQ:<ref>https://www.redhat.com/rhel/details/assurance/faq/</ref>
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<blockquote>
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The terms of program include the following (i) replacing the infringing portion of the software, (ii) modifying the software so that its use becomes non-infringing, or (iii) obtaining the rights necessary for a customer to continue its use of the software. In addition, Red Hat will defend a customer (i.e., hire and pay for a lawyer) in the event of an intellectual property lawsuit and will pay damages that result from a judgment or settlement against the customer.
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</blockquote>
  
 
==SOAP patent controversy==
 
==SOAP patent controversy==
'''This section appears to be either misleading or inaccurate in several regards.  I have asked folks to review this page. -- Warren Togami 20100207'''
 
  
Despite lobbying against [[software patents]], Red Hat has raised some concerns when it began applying for software patents related to SOAP communication.  Red Hat offers a non-aggression [[patent promise]], but this promise is indeed a "promise", not a licence, and it's not irrevocable.  Thus, if Red Hat had a change of management or was bought out, these patents could be used aggressively.  The promise is also limited to only protecting the [[free software]] community.
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Despite lobbying against [[software patents]], Red Hat raised some concerns in 2009 when it applied for software patents related to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).  Red Hat offers a non-aggression [[patent promise]], but this promise is indeed a "promise", not a licence, and it's not irrevocable.  Thus, if Red Hat had a change of management or was bought out, these patents could be used aggressively.  The existence of the promise would only provide an [[equitable defence]].
  
While Red Hat previous owned software patents, these were just incidentally acquired when Red Hat bought other companies.  The SOAP patent was worrying because it was the first act showing intent/desire to hold patents in its area of activity.  
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The promise is also limited to only protecting the [[free software]] community.
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While Red Hat previously owned software patents, these were just incidentally acquired when Red Hat bought other companies.  The SOAP patent was worrying because it was the first sign of intent/desire to hold patents in its area of activity without granting a general licence.  Some companies apply for patents to build up a [[Defensive patent acquisition|portfolio for defensive purposes]].  If this was Red Hat's intention, they could have granted a general licence stating that these patents would only be used defensively, i.e. against patent holders who had attacked Red Hat or its partners.
  
 
===Press coverage===
 
===Press coverage===
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==External links==
 
==External links==
*2009-10-01: [[Groklaw]] - [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20091001154227155 Red Hat Files its Bilski Brief: Asks Supreme Ct. to Exclude Software From Patentability]
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* 2009-04-31: [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/30/red_hat_europe_patents/ Red Hat to submit 11-page case against software patents to European regulators] - anyone know what happened of this?
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* [http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2009/11/red-hat-on-patents-video.html Red Hat on Patents (VIDEO)], Nov 2009
* 2009-05-05: [http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=14&entryid=2162 Red Hat Makes its Position Patent], by Glyn Moody regarding the [[EPO EBA referral G3-08]]
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* [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20091001154227155 Red Hat Files its Bilski Brief: Asks Supreme Ct. to Exclude Software From Patentability], 1 Oct 2009, '''[[Groklaw]]'''
* 2009: [[Groklaw]] - [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080611191302741 Red Hat Makes History With Patent Settlement - Compatible with GPLv3]
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* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/30/red_hat_europe_patents/ Red Hat to submit 11-page case against software patents to European regulators], 31 Apr 2009, ''The Register''' - ''anyone know what happened of this?''
* 2009: [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/30/red_hat_europe_patents/ Red Hat pitches software-patents-free Europe], about their brief for the [[EPO EBA referral G3-08]]
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* [http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=14&entryid=2162 Red Hat Makes its Position Patent], 5 May 2009, '''Glyn Moody''' - ''regarding the [[EPO EBA referral G3-08]]''
* 2008: [http://www.redhat.com/about/news/prarchive/2008/patent.html "Red Hat Puts Patent Issue to Rest"]
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* [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080611191302741 Red Hat Makes History With Patent Settlement - Compatible with GPLv3], 11 June 2008, '''Groklaw'''
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* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/30/red_hat_europe_patents/ Red Hat pitches software-patents-free Europe], 30 Apr 2009, '''The Register''' - ''about their brief for the [[EPO EBA referral G3-08]]''
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* [http://www.redhat.com/about/news/prarchive/2008/patent.html "Red Hat Puts Patent Issue to Rest"], 2008, '''Red Hat'''
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* [http://blog.internetnews.com/skerner/2010/10/red-hat-settles-patent-case-wi.html Red Hat settles patent case with Acacia - shares few details], 4 Oct 2010, '''internetnews.com'''
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* [http://www.redhat.com/f/pdf/blog/patent_settlement_agreement.pdf Red Hat's patent settlement with Firestar]
  
 
===Related to Fedora===
 
===Related to Fedora===
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==References==
 
==References==
<references />
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{{reflist}}
  
{{page footer}}
 
  
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{{footer}}
 
[[Category:Organisations]]
 
[[Category:Organisations]]
 
[[Category:India]]
 
[[Category:India]]
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[[Category:GNU+Linux]]

Latest revision as of 17:17, 28 March 2013

Red Hat is a software company which lobbies against software patents.

Lobbying against software patents

USA: Bilski submissions

Red Hat filed strongly anti-software-patent briefs for both the 2008 in re Bilski case and the 2009 Bilski v. Kappos case.

EU anti-swpat lobbying

During the EU Software Patents directive, Red Hat financed the No Software Patents campaign. Their counsel at the time Mark Webbink was also regularly in the European Parliament.[1]

Anti-swpat lobbying in India

In response to a 2008 proposal in India to change the patents manual to allow software patents, Red Hat submitted a letter arguing to continue excluding software from patentability.[2]

Litigation

By Red Hat

No known cases. (And no reason to think there have been any.)

Against Red Hat

Open Source Assurance program

The text(s) of Red Hat's "Open Source Assurance" program[4] are not publicly available. This is a service Red Hat provides to it's paying customers. According to Red Hat's FAQ:[5]

The terms of program include the following (i) replacing the infringing portion of the software, (ii) modifying the software so that its use becomes non-infringing, or (iii) obtaining the rights necessary for a customer to continue its use of the software. In addition, Red Hat will defend a customer (i.e., hire and pay for a lawyer) in the event of an intellectual property lawsuit and will pay damages that result from a judgment or settlement against the customer.

SOAP patent controversy

Despite lobbying against software patents, Red Hat raised some concerns in 2009 when it applied for software patents related to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). Red Hat offers a non-aggression patent promise, but this promise is indeed a "promise", not a licence, and it's not irrevocable. Thus, if Red Hat had a change of management or was bought out, these patents could be used aggressively. The existence of the promise would only provide an equitable defence.

The promise is also limited to only protecting the free software community.

While Red Hat previously owned software patents, these were just incidentally acquired when Red Hat bought other companies. The SOAP patent was worrying because it was the first sign of intent/desire to hold patents in its area of activity without granting a general licence. Some companies apply for patents to build up a portfolio for defensive purposes. If this was Red Hat's intention, they could have granted a general licence stating that these patents would only be used defensively, i.e. against patent holders who had attacked Red Hat or its partners.

Press coverage

Related pages on ESP Wiki

External links

Related to Fedora

Fedora is a partly independent project with large involvement from Red Hat.

References