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5 years ago... IBM reveals large-scale Linux push

Still loving that penguin...

Tags: open source, ibm

By silicon.com

Published: 11 January 2005 17:30 GMT

11.01.00 IBM has announced its intention to integrate all of its hardware products with the Linux open source software platform.

Linux will become the common operating system on the S/390, AS/400, RS/6000 and Netfinity servers.

According to Tony Occleshaw, a manager within IBM's European software business, the company is looking to open platforms to tap a wider development community.

11.01.05 Five years on and Big Blue is still banging the drum for open source. Today it announced it was handing over 500 patents for the greater good.

Open source developers can now make use of the patents without fear of the kind of legal action that has blighted the community in recent years - most clearly evidenced by the SCO suits.

John Kelly, the head of IBM's intellectual property division, said: "Through measures such as today's pledge, we will increasingly use patents to encourage and protect global innovation and interoperability through open standards, and we urge others to do so as well."

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