here. This is what he has to say about software patents:
"I think many people in the proprietary world will take a cue from SCO and that we are approaching a very bad time regarding software patents. We have an overload of improperly issued, invalid, non-invention software patents that will be prosecuted aggressively against people who can't really afford to defend themselves.
The problem is worst for the open source developer, but it's also a problem for small and medium-sized businesses. If the open source developer gets sued, he probably can't afford to be in court very long. He'll probably have to settle. In the one example I have of this so far, the developers signed their copyrights over to the plaintiff and signed a covenant that said they wouldn't develop similar software."
This is a realistic view. When discussing patents, the law and strategy of civil procedure matters a lot. It doesn't help anyone to be able to win defending a patent lawsuit if that is so expensive that settling is cheaper.