the end of open source as we know it?
Kodak sued Sun over a patent it holds for 'a method by which a program can "ask for help" from another application to carry out certain computer-oriented functions.' Now Sun has settled and will cross-license IP with Kodak.
It seems a lot of developers are scratching their head over this one. Methods have existed for programs to communicate and share data to "help" each other for years before this patent existed. Not only vague and nebulous, prior art throws the validity of this patent into question.
The next question is who does Kodak go after next? Seems like Stardock could be a beneficiary of such scrutiny. OD exists by co-operating with Windows. By Sun dropping the ball on the lawsuit, refusing to fight it, the door has opened for Kodak to demand licensing and $$$ from almost anyone out there. Big and small, I believe that no-one is immune, especially if Kodak's financial woes continue.