android lawsuits and its effect on linux kernel

[whiterabbit23]

will lawsuits on android affect the linux kernel in anyway see as how android is basically the linux kernel modified?

[collisionystm]

will lawsuits on android affect the linux kernel in anyway see as how android is basically the linux kernel modified?

Short answer.

NO.

[Dr. C]

Short answer.

NO.
I agree. The same can be said of GNU / Linux in general. The main reason is that the OIN (http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/) has some scary patents so the MAD (Mutualy Assured Destruction) principle of the Cold War applies to GNU / Linux. Until recently this was not the case for many parts of Andriod. By the way there is a reason why Google has been recently buying patent portfolios.

[KiwiNZ]

I agree. The same can be said of GNU / Linux in general. The main reason is that the OIN (http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/) has some scary patents so the MAD (Mutualy Assured Destruction) principle of the Cold War applies to GNU / Linux. Until recently this was not the case for many parts of Andriod. By the way there is a reason why Google has been recently buying patent portfolios.

I thought the Linux community disagreed with Patents.

[lolpenguin]

The free software community certainly doesn't like patents, but Google is Google, and is not fully committed to "software freedom", but does support "open source"

[Jay Car]

The nasty mess caused by software patents - and the equally nasty trolls that use them to extort money - isn't going to get better any time soon. But Google has done a great job of getting many of those patents invalidated.

It can't be any surprise that Google has decided to grab up some patents. When you are beset by bullies, it only stands to reason that you might need to find ways to defend yourself...while also working to diminish the bully-support system.

Here are some excellent articles for anyone that finds this subject interesting.

Here's an excellent one about Tim Berners-Lee's courtroom testimony in the Eolas case:
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/02/tim-berners-lee-patent/

Here's one that shows how the practice of patent extortion against companies that use Android is accomplished - except against B&N, who have taken a stand against it:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20120209222500188

And this one, which is particularly good read. It has to do with Oracle's rather sad attempt at a lawsuit against Google and Android.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20120210080453710

In the end, I think software patents will go the way of the dodo bird, but for now it's a battle that needs to be faced. If Google needs to buy some battle armour in the meantime, who can blame them?

[Pogeymanz]

You can be against something, but still be pragmatic and realistic.