The GNOME Foundation has announced the settlement of a patent dispute with Rothschild Patent Imaging, LLC regarding the Shotwell image viewer.
The statement states that Rothschild Patent Imaging, LLC and personally Leigh Rothschild no longer have claims against the GNOME Foundation or any other free projects. Moreover, Rothschild undertakes not to claim any free software (licensed under any OSI license) for their entire patent pool (about a hundred patents), as well as any new patents that the company may acquire in the future.
GNOME Foundation Executive Director Neil McGovern said he was very pleased with this ending. This allows the organization to switch from legal litigation directly to free software development, and also ensures that Rothschild Patent Imaging, LLC will not have patent claims against free software in the future.
In turn, Leigh Rothschild said he was very pleased with the amicable resolution of the dispute. He has always supported free software and is ready to contribute to its innovation and development.
The GNOME Foundation would like to thank the lawyers of Shearman & Sterling LLP for their work in protecting all free software.
Source: linux.org.ru