The Inimitable Tiff

Like most major technology companies, it can sometimes be hard to judge where Google lies on the moral spectrum. However, the King of Search took moral ambiguity to a new level this week with a press release that basically said:

• Software patents are evil
• But all the other cool kids are doing it.
• And if we don’t get some, we can’t defend ourselves.
• So we’re making a move for the Nortel patent portfolio.
• And if we get it, we’ll use it to protect open source, sweetness and apple pie, but in ways we aren’t spelling out precisely.