[Patents] Re: [Patents] Re: source vs binary.

[Jesus M. Gonzalez-Barahona jgb@gsyc.escet.urjc.es]

Jean-Jacques de Jong writes:
 > 
 > A clear limit must be found between what is allowable dissemination of
 > the teachings of a patent, and what is distributing an infringing
 > product. There is no case law, so we must anticipate it. I think the
 > source-code/binary-code limit is defendable, because it is equivalent to
 > the limits that could be clearly set in other fields, e.g. plans/device,
 > diagram/electronic circuit...

        Very interesting. If this were the case, whole libre software
distributions, like FreeBSD or Debian GNU/Linux, which can be
automatically built from sources, could be distributed (in source
form) without any risk of patents (for the distributor). Only the
end-user could be in risk (in case his use of the program is
considered non for personal/educational use).

        Saludos,

                Jesus.

-- 
Jesus M. Gonzalez Barahona             | Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
jgb@gsyc.escet.urjc.es                 | ESCET
jgb@computer.org                       | c/ Tulipan s/n
Grupo de Sistemas y Comunicaciones     | 28933 Mostoles, Spain