Open Source GNOME Foundation Settles With Patent Troll

All hail, focused pro bono lawyers…

The open up supply GNOME Basis has won the correct to freely use a patent it was currently being sued above by notorious patent troll, Rothschild Patent Imaging (RPIL) — a person of 30+ subsidiaries created by Leigh Rothschild.

The small basis, which supports an open up supply, Linux-centered desktop ecosystem, was strike in September 2019 with a court docket scenario by RPIL — which the EFF describes as a “poster kid for patent litigation abuse” .

RPIL experienced claimed that GNOME’s “Shotwell” method was in breach of US Patent No. nine,936,086, which effectively statements the patent rights a smartphone that can receive illustrations or photos that a person can filter.

(The EFF blames the US’s Patent Workplace for issuing “more stupid program patents to fuel patent trolling” — a lot of corporations, if not all, settle with Rothschild for circa $fifty,000 cheaper than preventing in courts).

Congratulations @nmcgovern and @gnome Basis in settling the patent litigation and protecting open up supply from non practising entitiy (troll) Rothschild who are granting a launch and covenant to any program that is released below an existing @OpenSourceOrg authorized license

— OpenUK (@openuk_united kingdom) May possibly 21, 2020

In a substantial earn for the open up supply minnow, which was represented pro bono by attorneys from Shearman & Sterling LLP, the litigants say they will grant a launch and covenant for the “entire Rothschild portfolio of patents”.

(This is only “to the extent such program kinds a materials portion of the infringement allegation” and if such program is open up sourced).

Neil McGovern, Executive Director for the GNOME Basis said “I’m extremely pleased that we have concluded this scenario. This will allow us to refocus our awareness on creating a absolutely free program desktop, and will assure certainty for all absolutely free and open up supply program in foreseeable future.”

Leigh Rothschild said “I’m pleased that we have managed to settle this concern amicably. I have constantly supported the innovation of open up supply program and its builders and encourage its innovation and adoption.”

The scenario was settled after 10 months of “tireless” perform by GNOME’s attorneys. The basis said: “The broader absolutely free and open up supply local community owes its thanks and gratitude to their tireless perform.”