When will Gates be Open ?

Patent releases by IBM & Sun Microsystems has given a new dimension to the debate of patent vs. open source. At the backdrop of such an event one really wonders if ever the patent supporters give a thought to it.

“God sees the truth, but waits”, the quote from one of my school time stories seems to be applying at least for the Open Source Proponents. The Open Source movement was initiated to change cost, flexibility and control of technology, and its value and momentum continues to grow. And more so because it denounced the myth that “Patents foster Innovation”; patents may just save a few souls while making others crazy wanderlust in search of innovation.

Some respite came after the mega-giants like IBM and Sun Microsystems offered free access to some of their patents for anyone working on open-source projects. IBM, who owns the maximum number of patents in the world and who have been bagging maximum patents year-on-year, contributed 500 of her patents; while Sun Microsystems forwarded 1,673 of hers. This is an unconventional step departing from the cherished idea of “showing protectionism” towards the acquired patents. Though it’s also true that such steps have been initiated earlier, the database program named Cloudscape was given away by IBM last year, which took her $80 million to develop.

Will this come as a setback to the Open Source Critics especially Mr. Gates? Will Gates ever be Open? Considering, the other setback received on the European front for tightening of software patent laws, where the proposal got defeated much to the joy of anti-patent proponents.

Is this the beginning of a new era of IP management? And will similar acts be repeated by other companies? Is perhaps something we have to wait and watch. But, one of the big questions that is still being asked despite this overture is “Why would patents still be good?”

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