ClamAV, an open source anti-virus program for email scanning is a great product, we use it ourselves to filter out the viruses we receive on our personal email accounts. Unfortunately Trend Micro believe they own the patent regarding a technology that’s been in use for many years by many companies, and have now decided to file suit against Barracuda Networks. Barracuda Networks supplies hardware devices for companies to manage spam, web and instant message filtering, and uses ClamAV in some of its appliances.

In the cup of life there has been some backwash however, and there are calls now for a boycott of Trend products by the ScriptumLibre Foundation, a Dutch group that creates awareness about the economic and social meaning of free knowledge and culture for our society.

I have never had a love of software patents and especially those that that are so poorly generalised they stifle development, but for something like this to happen, so late in the game, I really can’t see the point of what Trend is trying to achieve beyond creating a resentment within the Open Source Community, or for those who believe in its values.

I quite happily support this boycott, and fully support the idea that anyone who agrees this is all bad removes Trend Micro programs from their systems. I would quite happily recommend replacement programs if anyone asks, I would also be happy to do the removals and installations for you through remote assistance if you so chose. Heck, if you live in Christchurch I’ll come to your house, remove the Trend Micro programs, install something better that keeps you protected, and, I will even bring a pie !

Everyone likes pie.