This isn't exactly new behavior for IBM. It's more like tradition there. IBM has an astonishing patent portfolio, routinely topping the list of annual patent co

This isn't exactly new behavior for IBM. It's more like tradition there. IBM has an astonishing patent portfolio, routinely topping the list of annual patent counts, and yet does next to nothing with the vast majority of them... until someone else makes money with something that IBM has a patent on. And then the blue-suited lawyers arrive and shake the infringer down for money. Even Sun's been on the receiving end of that. Anyone familiar with IBM's history would, I think, not be at all surprised by this.