this is opening up patents, so yes, in a world like ours having something be patented, but royalty free and anyone can use is much better than the alternative. which is either one company owning it and licencing it. or a patent troll getting it and making it even worse.
the sarcasm in this case, is not warranted. this is a good thing.
Doesn't "opening up patents" means that anyone can use the ideas behind the patent without charge? Which means that it's actually not locked anymore, so yes it does help?
Maybe they do it because of an increasing risk of getting challenged in court and causing a patent law re-evaluation, which would hurt them for other patents. I don't think EA does something because of good will.