[linux-audio-dev] Patents on some Linux OS code

[james at dis-dot-dat.net]

On Wed, 08 Dec, 2004 at 05:17PM +0100, Jens M Andreasen spake thus:
> The keyword here is *could*. It is an empty threat.
> 
> 1) There is currently no valid patent issues with Linux. So there is no
> issues to be resolved either.
> 
> 2) If such an issue should be discovered, Novell will back up the Linux
> side with their patent-portfolio, which (cough) *could* (cough) be an
> expensive experience for the attacker.
> 
> 3) Microsoft can't sue Singapore. They will have to get the US
> government to do it for them, and then let WTO sort it out. And before
> that they will have to force Singapore into thinking that SW-patents is
> a neat idea. And then, although US might have the best government money
> can buy, MS is still not the only kid in town with deep pockets.
> 
> 4) The end user is not responsible for what patent issues the producer
> might get involved with.

That's not really true.

All other points, especially the last one (relax) I agree with.

That is all.
 
> So in short: Relax!
> 
> 
> On ons, 2004-12-08 at 08:28 -0600, Cornell III, Howard M wrote:
> >  
> > All,
> > 
> > The 11/22 issue of Computerworld has a blurb about Microsoft CEO Steve
> > Ballmer warning government leaders in Singapore that switching their
> > 20,000 PCs from Windows to Linux could subject them to patent lawsuits.
> > I have heard some tales about commercial versions of Linux including
> > indemnification of users against these suits.  What is the current
> > status of the patent issues?  Will they ever be resolved, or are all
> > Linux users susceptible (proportional to the depth of their pockets)?
> > 
> > Howard Cornell
> > 
> > 

-- 
"I'd crawl over an acre of 'Visual This++' and 'Integrated Development
That' to get to gcc, Emacs, and gdb.  Thank you."
(By Vance Petree, Virginia Power)