As I understand, in the US, if a court finds you in violation of a patent, damages can be much higher if you actually knew about the patent. Once again I'm not a lawyer, and I don't even play one on TV.
JBQ On Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 12:40 PM, Incognito<[email protected]> wrote: > > > So why is it not wise to talk about patents? What is the exact law > prohibiting this? Trying to make sense of this? > > On Jul 14, 2009, at 2:42 PM, Mark Murphy <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Al Sutton wrote: > They alternative is what HTC, Nokia, etc. do, which is to base yourself > outside the US so you can sell fully functional units to anyone not in > the US and take part in discussions about any software/hardware concept > you want. > > Agreed. While unfortunate, Google's policy is standard fare for many > US-based tech firms, particularly larger ones (e.g., ones with in-house > legal counsel). I've heard the same policy stated at a wide range of > firms, mostly "name brands". > > this is hardly the position a company that claims to be open should take. > > Open versus closed has little to do with it. Being a large target and a > magnet for patent suits does. > > Of course, it would be lovely if a Google-sized enterprise would take a > shot at getting some of these things declared unconstitutional through > the courts, but we can't exactly blame them if they elect to eschew such > a strategy. > > it doesn't strike me as logical that a google android engineer is given an > incentive not to participate in discussions on a google android forum. > > You are welcome to petition your Congressperson, if applicable, to have > the laws amended. Or, donate to a cause that tries to minimize the > impact of software patents (e.g., EFF). > > -- > Mark Murphy (a Commons Guy) > http://commonsware.com | http://twitter.com/commonsguy > > Android App Developer Books: http://commonsware.com/books.html > > > > > > > > > > -- Jean-Baptiste M. "JBQ" Queru Android Engineer, Google. Questions sent directly to me that have no reason for being private will likely get ignored or forwarded to a public forum with no further warning. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
