Re: [Patents] pooling patents, version 2

[Simo Sorce <simo.sorce@xsec.it>]

On Sat, 2003-01-04 at 02:21, Peter Vandenabeele wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 04, 2003 at 02:10:51AM +0100, Simo Sorce wrote:
> > in the worst case you will be forced to release without source
> > code because otherwise the code could reveal a patent infringement (not
> > that you know there are but the risk will be too high). 
> 
> This sounds a little strange to me. The same program (if it is a compiled
> language such as C), would be less vulnerable if the source code is not 
> delivered with it ? I don't feel too good about this method of reducing 
> vulnerability to SW patents, even if it would work.

I heard some big company I do not mention cannot release their drivers
as free software (even if they wish) because they are not sure if they
may break any patent.

As you know the patent game is a bad one also for the uncertainty it
spread, and you cannot risk a simple algorithm you use in some code but
not recognizable in the running code will make you infringing others
patents and so liable. If this scares big companies how do you think SME
can feel ? 

You are not required to be aware of infringing some obscure patent to be
prosecuted.

Simo.

-- 
Simo Sorce - simo.sorce@xsec.it
Xsec s.r.l.
via Durando 10 Ed. G - 20158 - Milano
tel. +39 02 2399 7130 - fax: +39 02 700 442 399

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