Intel's Andy Grove compares patents to toxic loans. Setting aside Intel's many market-bound crimes for a moment, here we have another abusive monopolist saying what he really thinks about intellectual monopolies...

Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) submitted its comments to the European Patent Office (EPO) on the patentability of software, responding to a request of the Enlarged Board of Appeal. In the brief, FSFE explains the harmful nature of software patents for innovation, competition and economy in general.

"The Minister of Science and Technology proposes to include a set of Regulations in the Publicly Financed Research and Development Act, section 17, that will result in dire consequences for the research sector in South Africa in particular and all South Africans in general, by stifling local innovation and access to knowledge. These Regulations must be stopped!

The latest developments in Microsoft's subversive battle against better-priced (and simply better) competition

Microsoft slammed for using software patents against interoperability, the OIN responds too late

Mandriva clarifies (again) that it is in no way involved in/a victim of Microsoft's patent racketeering scheme

The Open Invention Network has launched a project to find prior art for Microsoft's patents on the FAT filesystem. The OIN believes that the FAT patents will not hold up to scrutiny and the organization hopes that the Linux community will assist in an effort to have it invalidated.

The operator of a technology discussion forum has sued Apple, claiming that the company used U.S. copyright law to curb legitimate discussion of its iTunes software.