Linux activists take on Microsoft with TomTom patent prior art hunt

Opponents of software patents have long argued that an overloaded patent system cannot keep track of technology developments and that poor patents are issued, either covering too-broad or already-covered ground. This allows the companies granted these payments to charge other, unrelated companies for use of either a wide variety of technologies or technologies invented by someone else entirely.

Bergelt recently spoke to technology law podcast OUT-LAW Radio, and explained the problem.

"You can’t simply do a Google search and pull up prior art. The level of complexity of data that exists in the world, the sorting and sifting process is still one that is extremely difficult and we're trying to make it efficient for relevant prior art to make its way through this defensive publications programme to patents examiners so in the future poor quality patents don't get issued," he said.

"From my view what I do is make the world safe for Linux and the democratisation of innovation," said Bergelt. "We all can appreciate there are a lot of patents that should have never been granted but instead of just railing against the system now there's the capacity for the community to actually become involved in remaking the future and affecting the past if we can get contribution to help invalidate some of these poor quality patents that are out there with the post issue peer to patent programme."