[linux-audio-dev] [Fwd: Graphical dataflow programs violate patents]

From: Xavier Amatriain <xamat(a)iua.upf.es> To: iua-mtg(a)iua.upf.es Subject: Graphical dataflow programs violate patents Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 10:57:56 +0100 I read that National Circuits sued and won a case against Mathworks for their Simulink product infringing a number of paterns (September this year). According to a summary of the claims (which you can read here http://cafc.bna.com/03-1540.pdf): the dispute was about the term "data flow diagrams" (which are interpreted) as a graphical computer program whose execution follows a set of semantic or operational rules as follows: 1. The order of the operations is not completely specified by the user 2. The order of operations is implied by data interdependencies 3. a node may only execute after all its inputs have become available, and, 4. outputs are generated after a node completes execution It turns out that most graphical audio programs such as Max, Pd, OSW or CLAM's Network Editor may be infringing these patents. Luckily this is still not valid in Europe and we hope will never be. Read more about this story at: http://patentlaw.typepad.com/patent/2004/09/federal_circuit.html http://digital.ni.com/worldwide/bwcontent.nsf/web/all/03B9A7C68030C42D86256… http://www.mathworks.com/company/pressroom/articles/article7951.html http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/16801