>>>>> "Gerald" == Gerald Henriksen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Gerald> On Thu, 02 Oct 2003 11:26:56 -0700, Jan Rychter Gerald> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> Having worked with GPL software quite a bit, also in the commercial >> world, and having gotten some legal advice, I believe that the >> "anti-patent" clauses in the GPL and LGPL are quite possibly the >> biggest problem preventing the use of GPL'd software by commercial >> entities, much bigger than the "pass on the source and the rights" >> requirement. Gerald> Not really. Certainly it hasn't stopped lots of companies big Gerald> and small from releasing GPL software. >> As I understand it (and as my legal counsel advises me) this >> effectively means that if I distribute GPL/LGPL code, I have to make >> sure that its distribution and re-distribution is not restricted by >> patents (or other restrictions). Gerald> No, simply because that would be impossible (both because you Gerald> would never be able to program given the number of patents you Gerald> would have to search, and because it is entirely probable that Gerald> no software is entirely patent free). Gerald> What you can't do is knowingly license some source Gerald> code/software under the GPL/LGPL if you are already aware of Gerald> any patent or other issues that would in any way conflict with Gerald> the redistribution of that code. Where does it say "knowingly" in the GPL/LGPL text? I understand what you mean, I just think your interpretation of the GPL is different, and I do not agree with it. --J.
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