Martin Mickos, CEO of open source database maker MySQL AB, compared the problems arising from software patents to the problems caused by cigarette addiction.

“It’s killing people all over the world,” he said in reference to software patents. He added that unlike the government fight against cigarette smoking, Europe has done more than the U.S. in the software patent arena. “It’s seriously bleeding innovation, entrepreneurialism and the evolution of the software industry,” he said.

But, he wasn’t done. Mickos mentioned the day in 1939 when the Soviet Union attacked his native Finland and no other countries came to its aid. Relating that to the software industry, Mickos said, “Every company needs to have a defense plan of their own and withstand pressure from others.” He said companies will gladly join consortia to help other companies, “but when things get bad and legs get broken, you’re on your own.”

I’m not sure what got into Martin, who is a normally a very peaceful person, but it may have something to do with his injured leg. He was on stage with an injured foot and crutches.

For more on the Always On conference, see:
Always On Webcast

Technorati tags: always+on, alwayson, ao, mysql.