2012/3/28 Raj Mathur (राज माथुर) <[email protected]>: > On Wednesday 28 Mar 2012, Simon McVittie wrote: >> On 28/03/12 07:40, Alexey Eromenko wrote: >> > The Debian project includes a number of patent-encumbered >> > Multimedia codecs >> >> As mentioned in Debian's patent policy >> <http://www.debian.org/legal/patent> point 3, "please refrain from >> posting patent concerns publicly or discussing patents outside of >> communication with legal counsel, where they are subject to >> attorney-client privilege". >> >> Transparency and public discussion are usually good things, but >> patents are an area where they can be harmful. > > Sorry, that just doesn't make sense. In essence, that is foreclosing > all peer-to-peer discussion about patents in the context of Debian. > > I happen to be from a state that doesn't recognise software patents, and > fail to see why the spectre of fear created by one single country should > proscribe all free and open discussion and education about an issue that > eventually (through Debian distributions) affects us all.
It's not just one country, though[1]. While the "spectre of fear" may originate in the United States (and that's debatable) the infection has spread across the globe. [1] http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Countries_and_regions -- Chris -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected] Archive: http://lists.debian.org/caoevnytbwhgwtbb_k537w9akbskjzceafj3t_ts17pke3_m...@mail.gmail.com
