Interview: Richard Stallman, on Free Software and patents

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 18 Jan 2006 at 14:43

But I think it is a mistake to look at the issue in such terms at all. If these programs were really designed such that they could reduce the danger and harm of software patents, it would not be hypocritical for us to cooperate with them. It is not hypocritical to do one thing to prevent some software patents, while doing another thing to fully solve the problem by abolishing software patents.

The problem with these programs is that they don't really help to protect software developers from patents.

For instance, two of them will help patent holders make sure that their patents are written in a way that we will have no prior art to attack. They will be able to make "high quality" patents to shaft us
with. That is why I don't think people should cooperate with these programs.

How do these initiatives show IBM in terms of its commitment to Free Software?

IBM does not have a commitment to free software. It cooperate with us part of the time.

How do you think companies benefiting from the GNU/Linux platform should act in regards to the issue of software patents?

I think we should press these companies to pledge not to use their patents for aggression. Preferably, that means not for aggression against anyone. However, if not that, at least to pledge not to use patents against GPL-covered free software.

Under the patent system, the only protection from patents is to threaten retaliation, and that usually means with other patents. To ask companies not to get patents is asking them to bare their throats
to other companies. We do not need to ask them to go that far. I'd rather ask them to pledge not to use their patents for aggression. That does not involve rendering themselves defenseless against others that do have patents.

Richard Stallman's website is at www.stallman.org . The GNU website is at www.gnu.org/ and Free Software Foundation can be found at www.fsf.org .