How to tame the SWPAT monster
The idea to put patents into a pool to protect free software is old. Public Informational Property is however hardly usable for excluding others, especially when your opponent is a professional extortionist who develops no software but only trades with patents. So far the mutal defense idea has not been very successful. The chances for success could improve somewhat, if the patent system itself was reformed, so as to provide some mechanisms for adequately protecting public "intellectual property".