Andrew Tridgell discusses why reading patents is usually a good idea, how to read a patent, and how to build a solid defence. Tridgell also suggests how free software could scare off patent holders.

Samba developer and open source legend Andrew Tridgell says the open source community is poor at fighting patent attacks, but says things could improve with some changes in strategy. He offered his tips for effectively fighting patent holders making claims against open source projects at the recent Linux.conf.au.

Who says that Microsoft and free software developers are enemies?

How Microsoft, its offshoot Intellectual Ventures, and to a lesser degree Apple (which invests in Intellectual Ventures) harm Free software through the courtrooms

Patent-hoarding giant Intellectual Ventures has long beat the drum that it doesn't file lawsuits. But now Intellectual Ventures has started selling some of its 27,000 patents to people who aren't afraid to sue...

Facebook is becoming a software patents nuisance and its potential ties with Microsoft's massive patent troll are worth elucidating

While he sees the GPLv3 as "extremely good", Andrew "Tridge" Tridgell believes that the free software licence still needs strengthening.

Ways of dodging the software patent plague (until it's cured) needn't involve selling out. Yesterday it was shown that Red Hat had paid in vain for software patents that would not be valid anyway. At the time, Red Hat was seen as a courageous patent swatter, but not everyone is happy. Here is quite a legitimate new criticism. (strong language warning)

New examples of patent trolls and patent boosters (possibly even lobbyists) putting a form of patent tax on the de facto universal platform which is free Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures, which is funded and made with Microsoft’s investments (Myhrvold is Microsoft’s former CTO), is expanding the pyramid scheme by signing a patent deal with HTC. The Register says: