OStatic

One of the big threats to open source software - so far more threatened than carried out - is software patents. As the software universe becomes hedged about with thousands upon thousands of patents, it becomes increasingly impossible to create software without violating someone's patent. A case currently in front of the United States Court of Apeals for the Federal Circuit, In re Bilski, offers some hope that the patent madness will be reined in. Here's what's going on and why you should care.