BMC patented the 3270 datastream compression process in their early product for compressing CICS inbound and outbound streams. When Duquesne Systems TPX product had the same functionality but was not a "compression product" per se, they did not sue. When the same code was used to build a stand-alone compression product, they sued. [I can't remember if this was before or after the creation of Legent.]
By the time the techies were cut off from the discussion, all claims for the patent had been tossed as prior art. A whole new set of claims were made. Never did find out the outcome, other than the lawyers made a lot of money -- as always. Software patents are another way to keep lawyers enployed. "Going to court is losing a cow for the sake of a chicken." One thing I always wondered: TPX had the ability to have mulitple "personalities". (I added the "batch" one and several others.) Was the reason a separate code cut was taken for the compression product to keep TPX out of the law suit? IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> wrote on 12/12/2006 01:15:53 PM: > I patented a data compression process, and I saw how the sausage was made > at the patent office. For many reasons, I think patenting software is a > very bad idea. I think copyright protections are stronger and easier to > enforce. Software patents are mostly for Public Relations and marketing. ----------------------------------------- The information contained in this communication (including any attachments hereto) is confidential and is intended solely for the personal and confidential use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. The information may also constitute a legally privileged confidential communication. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, dissemination, copying, or unauthorized use of this information, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message. Thank you ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
