Rich Walker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Stephen Birch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > >>> On 4 Jul 2005, at 11:44 am, Wookey wrote: >>> Take a look at this patent (granted this week in europe) >>> >>> http://gauss.ffii.org/PatentView/EP1170667 >>> >>> I'm fairly sure that apt-get and associated package-integratity >>> checking tools could be considered infringing. (Does dpkg/apt have >>> a modular structure?) >> >> It seems that when RMS cried "the sky is falling" [this time regarding >> patents] he was, once again, absolutely correct. Software patents are >> the single biggest threat not only to the open source movement but >> also to small/medium sized software companies. > > Note that this particular patent is: > EP Status: Granted. Within 9 month opposition window > > So if you have *proof of prior art* you can oppose the patent grant > > In practical terms, this means someone who can "prove" that the Debian > Packaging system does this. Which probably means an Official > Debian Person sending the letter, with dates of when the technology was > introduced into Debian, and perhaps extracts from the Packaging Manuals > of the period to show this. > > cheers, Rich.
Would that mean Debian gets ownership of the patent then and Sun would have to pay us? MfG Goswin -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]