IBM Patents Method For Paying Open Source Workers

Frequanaut writes "Oh, the bitter, bitter irony. According to The Inquirer, in a strange move, IBM has patented a method for paying open source volunteers. By the way, if the future of software development is open source, how will anyone get paid when only IBM can do it?" The Inquirer quizzically notes, with regard to this patent: "It may be an ingenious way of paying open source developers and volunteers, Big Blue, but can it really be described as an invention?"

So what?

[chill]

It is a patent on A method, not the only method.

With the way the current business world works, anything that can be patented needs to be, if nothing else but for the defensive value.

IBM, who I believe is the #1 patent holder in the world, knows this better than anyone.

who would you rather

[trustedserf]

who would you rather be holding such a patent, Microsoft, perhaps our friends SCO. In the climate of patent fever in america, it's not so much whether they have the patent as how they use it.

it's a bit early yet to really trust ibm IMHO.

Re:One thing to bear in mind...

[oZZoZZ]

They DO enforce them... they just don't enforce them in things that we see... IBM doesn't care if joe blow writes and OS (or Richard Stallman) and uses some of their ideas... but if HyperGlobalMegaTech uses their 'inventions', and they get patents, IBM cross-licences with them to get access to their 'inventions'.. so IBM enforces patents selectivly.. mostly for cross licencing.

Re:Note to Recent Grads

[Rick the Red]

McDonalds often pays less than minimum wage

Note to recent grads: You will not take home all you earn. Even if you earn minimum wage, your Government will keep some of your earnings as income tax, Social Security tax (FICA), etc. Then there's deductions for your medical plan (if you're lucky enough to have one), pension fund, etc. Just because you don't take it all home doesn't mean McDonald's isn't paying you what they're required -- by law -- to pay. McDonalds couldn't pay less than minimum wage for more than one pay period before finding themselves in court.

Re:Wow.

[diamondsw]

Having gone through the IBM patent process, something like this would be much more likely to be marked "publish". In that case you don't actually patent it, but you do place the description in the public domain, thus preventing others from patenting it. It simply establishes prior art.

Inside IBM, employees do receive awards based on successful patent applications, so that may have something to do with this being patented, rather than simply published.

That being said, it really pisses me off as my recent patent application was denied for not being "novel". Grrrr...

Re:I worked for IBM and you are WRONG

[Anonymous Coward]

I worked for IBM and you are WRONG simple as that. They no longer pay employees for patents. Actually after 5 years there you are EXPECTED to have submitted at least one patent application. It does not need to be accepted but you are supposed to have submitted it. The woman I worked with was working weekend to get hers done. Please don't spead false data. I got laid off with everyone else a few years ago..

I worked for IBM less than a year ago, and I can confirm that our business unit at the very least was paying people for patents. Don't you expect your information to be somewhat out of date if you got laid off "a few years ago?" Perhaps you are spreading quite a bit of false information yourself.

Re:The fault: The IBM patent reward system

[nedwidek]

Speaking as an IBM employee, you've only got part of that right. Yes there are monetary rewards for a filing and then when the patent is awarded, but you're 100% wrong when it comes to the spamming. Each division at each site has a patent review board. You have to first convince this board that you are on to something (Having been involved in the process I can say it is not easy and most get shot down at this point). Next you are referred to IBM legal for the writing of the patent application and a prior art search. Only if you've made it to this point does the filing go in.

If you work at IBM and want to make bonus money it is much easier to write articles at Developer Works and get recognition through the Author Awards Program.

Re:I worked for IBM and you are WRONG

[ciggieposeur]

I was laid off in the last Software Group batch (Dec 19). Patents are still compensated something like $1000/pop. Every project cycle before and after the patent evangelist shows up to ask all the developers if anything can be filed. The laywers will often split patents into two filings (for example one for screen I/O and one for printed I/O).

I know several IBMers that have abused the patent office by filing obvious claims and been rewarded thousands of dollars by the company. Most have been promoted to managers.

And now I don't have to post anonymously anymore! Don't y'all feel a little silly being unable to discuss IBM's policies with you own names? I mean y'all are just saying what the BOV instructor did when you were hired on.