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+ | '''This section appears to be either misleading or inaccurate in several regards. I have asked folks to review this page. -- Warren Togami 20100207''' | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 01:16, 7 February 2010
Contents
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's 2009 brief to the Supreme Court for Bilski v. Kappos
- Red Hat's 2008 brief to the CAFC for in re Bilski
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]
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.
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.
Press coverage
- Slashdot: Red Hat Patenting Around Open Standards
- H-online: The Red Hat Patent Problem and AMQP
- DigtalMajority: Red Hat patents SOAP processing over CGI
- DigitalMajority: Did Red Hat lobby for, or against software patents in Europe?
- BoycottNovell: Red Hat, Microsoft, EU Lobbyists, and Software Patents
- FFII reaction to software patents/Red Hat controversy
- Bricolage - a project which may contain prior art to RH's SOAP patent
Related pages on ESP Wiki
- Open Invention Network - of which Red Hat is a member
- Free software - Red Hat's main area of business
- Software Tree v. Red Hat (2009, USA)
External links
- 2009-10-01: Groklaw - Red Hat Files its Bilski Brief: Asks Supreme Ct. to Exclude Software From Patentability
- 2009-04-31: Red Hat to submit 11-page case against software patents to European regulators - anyone know what happened of this?
- 2009-05-05: Red Hat Makes its Position Patent, by Glyn Moody regarding the EPO EBA referral G3-08
- 2009: Groklaw - Red Hat Makes History With Patent Settlement - Compatible with GPLv3
- "Red Hat Puts Patent Issue to Rest"
Related to Fedora
Fedora is a partly independent project with large involvement from Red Hat.
References
- ↑ I know this from personal contact with him in the parliament, but we should find a citation for it.
- ↑ http://ipindia.nic.in/ipr/patent/Patent_Manual_Feedback/REDHAT_INDIA_PVT._LTD._NEW_DELHI.pdf