What if the "five IBM software designers" who "created the product and filed for a patent on it" were the first five employees whose jobs were offshored due to IBM's using their patented software?
Sigh. One can only fantasize of such things. Bill Fairchild From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ed Gould Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 1:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: IBM Withdraws Patent Application on offshoring jobs IBM withdraws software patent application on offshoring jobs Employees fearful of more layoffs at IBM work sites in U.S. ROCHESTER (KTTC-DT) -- Computer giant IBM has abruptly withdrawn a patent application for software that helps companies decide the benefits or disadvantages of moving jobs to another country. Five IBM software designers created the product and filed for a patent on it in September, 2007. But after news of the project broke on Monday, IBM quickly withdrew the patent application, calling it a mistake. IBM spokesman Steve Malkiewicz is quoted as saying the filing was "an error." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
