MS launching a Patent Ambush on Free Software?
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started by: hweimerhweimer
on: 1206634867|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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Yesterday, Microsoft and Milan-based Sourcesense announced they collaborate to contribute code to Apache POI, a Java library for manipulating Microsoft Office files. This collaboration has two possible consequences: either it will turn POI into the greatest patent laundry of all time, or it will help Microsoft to launch a patent ambush on the project. Feel free to decide which one is more likely.
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MS launching a Patent Ambush on Free Software?
hweimerhweimer 1206634867|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

According to the announcement, Microsoft and Sourcesense will contribute code implementing OOXML to the Apache POI project. Since POI is being licensed under the Apache License, version 2.0, contributors are required to grant a patent license, which Microsoft has so far refused to do for OOXML. I think there are two possible outcomes: either we get a patent license through POI, or Microsoft may even introduce more patented code into the project (aka "patent ambush").

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