Nokia Makes Unused Patents Available to All

I really feel like this is a bit of a puff piece. They are looking to license their patents but there are no takers. In order to sweeten the deal they have partnered with a corporation with an office space surplus and some VC. They will be making some money in there somewhere. I am not saying it's all bad, it does sound like it will help the Finnish economy.

Well, they're giving the licences away FOR FREE.

"Then it must be good !!!" <unknown late night vitamin commercial>

Nokia has a strange relationship with the Finnish economy in general. The size of Nokia in comparison with the country's economy is by far the largest in the developed world. They make up more than 30% of the market capitalization of the Helsinki Stock Exchange, and over 25% of Finland's exports.

By way of comparison, Exxon Mobil comprises just 3% of the NYSE market capitalization. A hypothetical merger of the 6 largest companies (Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart, Microsoft, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble) would comprise just 10%.

...Finnish companies.

diff the EU Council text on sw patents, with NOKIA's patent, and give it some thought...

http://www.ffii.se/erik/NBF/NBF050426-new.pdf