Twitter calls for patent truce

Twitter is calling on other companies to join an agreement that will ensure that its IT patents will not be used "to harm" other companies.

Twitter is calling the Innovator's Patent Agreement a kind of Hippocratic Oath for tech companies.

The company encourages the use of patents only for defensive purposes and not to block the innovative efforts of other companies.

"As one of the largest tech companies, Twitter employs a large number of talented people who create exciting products. Like many companies, we use patent law to protect their inventions," said Adam Messinger, vice president of engineering. "However, we also think a lot about how these patents will be used in the future. Sometimes we worry that our patents could be used to hinder the innovation of other enthusiasts. For this reason, we are publishing a draft Innovator's Patent Agreement, which we informally call the IPA."

Twitter has committed not to use its patents to file "attack" lawsuits aimed at blocking technological development. The company plans to approve the document by the end of this year and encourages other companies to join it. Twitter will only use the IPA to protect its employees' patents.

"With IPA, employees can be confident that their patents will only be used defensively, not as weapons," the company comments.