In mid-January, IBM announced it would provide free access to key innovations covered by 500 of its existing software patents to individuals and groups working on open source software, in an effort to help foster continued innovation.
The pledge covers a broad range of patents, including some related to interoperability features of operating systems and databases, as well as Internet, user interface and language processing technologies. Several of the patents to be released are related to dynamic linking processes for operating systems, and one pertains to file-export protocols.
For more information, visit www.ibm.com/news/us/.