At 09:12 PM 5/31/2002 +0200, you wrote:

>I think the XOR was only a hypothetical example. There is plenty of
>real cases however.

No, the XOR algorithm was patented in the US.  I believe it was done in the 
early 80's.  I did some research about software patents back around 1989 
and 1990.  I followed a discussion about the subject when it was first 
brought up by the Free Software Foundation.  I've got a large folder full 
of software patents that I was able to get a hold of (for a small fee from 
the Patent Office).  I even know someone who has a software patent (check 
the early issues of the QHJ for discussion of this).

Tim Swenson

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