Google promises to not sue over patents ‘unless first attacked’

By Andrew Couts March 28, 2013

google — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google today promised users and developers that it will not sue them for using some of its patented cloud software “unless first attacked.” In an attempt to avoid the legal logjam that has turned the mobile industry into a craggy mess, the Internet giant hopes the pledge will entice other companies to free their cloud software and big data processing software patents.

The so-called Open Patent Non-Assertion (OPN) Pledge specifically deals with 10 patents related to Google’s MapReduce software, an open-source program used to process large amounts of data. According to Duane Valz, Google’s in-house patent attorney, the company plans to “expand the set of Google’s patents covered by the pledge to other technologies” at some point in the future. Valz did not specify which patents may be eventually freed from their litigious prison.

The OPN Pledge is directed mostly at developers and other parties that wish to use Google’s MapReduce software. But the end result should be more innovation and new products for users, as developers will be able to use the open-source software however they like, without fear that Google’s lawyers will one day come knocking. That’s potentially good for everyone involved –including us.

For patent trolls and other entities that wish to abuse the patent system, Google is not so nice. The OPN Pledge remains in place for anyone, unless “a party brings a patent suit against Google products or services, or is directly profiting from such litigation.” In which case, Google’s lawyers will come ‘a knockin’.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Google

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…

Computing

Apple already has its next big chip, but you may never see it

Apple Mac Studio top down view showing PC and keyboard.

Apple’s M3 series of chips has been a major improvement over what came before it, with users feeling the benefits across the Mac range. The only chip missing from the lineup is the M3 Ultra, which is reserved for Apple’s high-end Mac Studio and Mac Pro devices.

We’ve been hearing that Apple is thinking of shifting to an annual release cycle for its Mac chips, and with the M2 Ultra having made its debut in June 2023, everyone has been gearing up to see the M3 edition launching this summer.

Computing

Best tools to stress test your CPU

A CPU cooler installed on a motherboard.

Running a CPU stress test tool is a great way to break in a new processor, test an overclock, see how capable your cooling is, or just make sure your PC is running as well as it should. There are a number of CPU stress tests out there, but we have a few favorites you should check out.

The goal of stress testing is to push the computer to failure. You want to see how long it takes before it becomes unstable. It's usually a good idea to run tests for at least an hour or two, though some can take longer.

Computing

One of Lenovo’s best-selling ThinkPad laptops is 45% off today

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

If you're on browsing through laptop deals for a machine that will immensely help in boosting your productivity, you may want to check out Lenovo's offer for the popular Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11. It's a powerful device so its original price is $3,319, but a 45% discount from Lenovo brings it down to a more reasonable $1,825. That's $1,494 in savings that you'll be able to spend on software and accessories, but you're going to have to proceed with the purchase right now if you want to make sure that you get it because this is a clearance sale, so there's no guarantee that stocks will still be available tomorrow.

Why you should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 challenges the performance of the best laptops with its 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 16GB of RAM that our guide on how much RAM do you need says is similar to what you'll find in top-tier machines. The device comes with a 14-inch touchscreen with WUXGA resolution for sharp details and bright colors, a 1TB SSD for ample storage space for your files, and Windows 11 Pro pre-installed so that you can access the more advanced capabilities of the operating system.