IBM makes 500 Patents "royalty free"

Today's announcement by IBM marks a shrewd reversal in its approach to patents.  Not only does it help them gain esteem in the Linux/Open source community, it empowers their equally massive consulting division to use, share, and dissiminate their knowledge more widely than before.  Worst-case scenario, IBM scales-down it's Patent-enforcement legal staff (and associated expenses), and scales-up it's consulting business (and associated profits).  Its likely that any miniscule losses in patent revenue will be greatly compensated by the up-tick in consulting hours.

With IBM being the #1 patent holder for software patents, I, like many people, have had a growing concern about the stifling affect of software patents on entrepreneurial software development and innovation within the open-source community.

Eventhough this change largely is targeted towards the Linux and open-source initiatives, its also a  good sign for shrink-wrapped software developers because it finally acknowledges the harm done by such patents.  Hopefully others  in the industry like Microsoft, and Xerox will open their Patent-coffers and share the wealth, or possible go beyond the restrictions to Open Source...