IBM today pledged open access to over 500 software patents giving individuals and groups the chance to work on open source software.
The firm believes this is the largest ever pledge of patents of any kind.
The pledge is applicable to any individual, community, or company working on or using software that meets the Open Source Initiative (OSI) definition of open source software.
Dr. John Kelly, Senior Vice President at IBM said,
"True innovation leadership is about more than just the numbers of patents granted. It's about innovating to benefit customers, partners and society. Continuing IBM's legacy of leadership in the strategic use of intellectual property, our pledge today is the beginning of a new era in how IBM will manage intellectual property to benefit our partners and clients. Unlike the preceding Industrial Economy, the Innovation Economy requires that intellectual property be deployed for more than just providing the owner with freedom of action and income generation."
Also today, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released its annual list of the top patentees. With 3,248, IBM earned more U.S. patents than any other company for the twelfth consecutive year.