[ewzimm]

Definitely a move in the right direction. Software companies have operated with a war mentality for too long, despite their common interests. They trade employees pretty often too, exposed no-poaching agreements aside. Competition isn't going away any time soon, but I think everyone appreciates more interoperability and cooperation. Will the Internet communities following them be able to follow this example?

[drdaeman]

I find it the opposite. In my perception, the patent hatched buried was actually a good thing for everyone else, because the patents were fought against (with the likely outcome to be revoked as non-patentable bullshit that software patents are). With that peace treaty, nothing is against those patents and they are actually strengthened, which is not something to celebrate.

Of course, would the announcement contain something about dropping the patents (and not the lawsuits), my opinion would be surely different. But all I've read is that two giants won't touch each other and it's not something I do care about.

[ewzimm]

I see your point. But there will be a lot of opportunities for software patents to be tested in court. When people look at history and see companies agreeing not to sue each other, what direction will that push the argument? I hope a good one.