[Fsfe-ie] Nokia, patents and the EU directive

Éibhear ifso at gibiris.org
Thu May 26 17:29:12 CEST 2005


Hi,

Following the lead, one would think, of IBM and Novell, Nokia has
announced that Linux kernel development may use all its patents
(http://press.nokia.com/PR/200505/995845_5.html and
http://www.nokia.com/iprstatements).

According to http://swpat.ffii.org/gasnu/nokia/index.en.html, however,
"Nokia seems absolutely pro-swpat."

There is a cross-licensing type clause in the Nokia's new patent policy
saying that the protection only extends to those who don't assert their
own patents against the kernel. They're also keen to get other players in
the market to play fair too.

Nokia also announced in the last few days a new product whose OS is based
on the Linux kernel, so it could be construed as a means not to be branded
hypocritical.

I'm trying to make sense of this, because if they're serious in their
statements that Free Software development needs to be protected from
patents, then they could just support the EP's text of the directive from
Sept. 2003 and all efforts to return the directive to that state.

Anyone with any insights?

Éibhear

-- 
Éibhear Ó hAnluain
IFSO
Dublin



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