IBM Files Patent for System that Calculates How to Offshore Jobs While Maximizing Tax Breaks

[girl gone mad]

you're going to love this one, Ohiochick:

IBM Files Patent for System that Calculates How to Offshore Jobs While Maximizing Tax Breaks
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

Inquiring minds are noting http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090330/BIZ/903300315">IBM files for patent on offshoring jobs.

Update: IBM withdraws its application, calling it an error.

In their application to patent a "method and system for strategic global resource sourcing," five Hudson Valley IBMers describe how it weighs such plans as "50 percent of resources in China by 2010," against such factors as labor costs, infrastructure and the "minimum head count to qualify for incentives."

Lee Conrad, national coordinator for Alliance@IBM, a group trying to unionize Big Blue, was stunned to learn of the application.

"This is obviously outrageous — a patent on how to offshore U.S. jobs," Conrad said. "IBM is obviously doing all it can to decimate the U.S. work force, and it is all the more reason why IBM should not get any tax breaks or stimulus money. They clearly are abandoning the U.S. work force."

The application says the system weighs moving into or out of a particular country against criteria such as wages, political systems, "incentive contracts" and the economic impact of "violating and/or satisfying those incentives."

What Makes IBM Special?

Q: What Makes IBM Special?
A: Filing for an outsourcing strategy patent twice in 17 months only to withdraw the application when it was publicized.

[PLR_Writer]

1. Error or change in societal thinking?

Offshoring jobs to us working class was sold that the jobs were those that we didn't want. Perhaps IBM ordered the creation of this when outsourcing was still 'kind of ok'.

[Deja Q]

9. Most people want challenges, new things to learn, advancement, loyalty...

Well, in theory, it's been said most Gen-X'ers go from job to job wanting more money and to hell with the rest, but I don't fit many Gen-X stereotypes... Sadly, there are few stereotypes I do fit into. Which is a bit of a shame, but nobody's perfect...

[Octafish]

2. IBM helped the NAZIs computerize the Holocaust.

Edwin Black of The New York Times chronicled the role played by the company. Seems the "IBMers" want to build a better planet, one obviously safe for corporations.

[formercia]

7. I'm writing this on an IBM computer that I bought on Ebay for $21.50

a significant upgrade for me, but then, when you're poor, labor is cheap in so many ways.

I must admit, they do show an uncommon HUBRIS.

[reprehensor]

17. Yes they did.

Gruesome.

[Blue_Tires]

3. k+r

[adamuu]

4. we should examine the algorithm and use it against them

closing loopholes in our laws

[Skidmore]

5. Corporate weapon of mass desctruction--should be treated as such.

[Maven]

6. There's a typo in the article

Update: IBM withdraws its application, calling it an error.

Should read:

Update: IBM public relations withdraws its application, calling it a ridiculously stupid fucking error.

[nichomachus]

8. Where did we put that guillotine -- I know it's around here somewhere

Party like it's 1789!

[OhioChick]

10. K&R

:kick:

On edit to add: I read the article, but initially missed your first line and just caught it. ;)

Traitorous bastards.

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Well, that's SOOO much better than, you know, making stuff.

If their customer says "Fuck IBM, I'm not paying the license fee anymore", what are they gonna do about it?

Fight it out in a higly publicized court case? GOOD IDEA.

Teaching your own customers to be unethical businessmen is not a winning plan.

[ogneopasno]

12. Why should this surprise anyone? They've been actively outsourcing for years.

Is it the patent that bugs people? I mean, yeah, but not surprising.

[ihavenobias]

13. K & R, lucky # 13. n/t

[myrna minx]

14. Well, considering that IBM colluded with the Nazis, this shouldn't surprise, but it does sicken.

http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/

[indepat]

16. Was going to ask were it not IBM that colluded with the Nazis.

:P

[ChromeFoundry]

15. K&R

:kick: