A friend asked me a question yesterday that I couldn't answer, so I did some research to see if I could find one. The question was: In the Novell-Microsoft deal, what happens at the end of the 5-year term? If you as an individual programmer write code, contribute it, and it's covered by the patent agreement during the five years, what happens to it afterward? Is that contributed code still covered? Are you?
If you are a programmer, that is a question you'll want to ask your lawyer, but for the rest of us who may be just wondering, I thought I'd share with you what I've noticed. I have at least found the right places to look.