-----Original Message-----
From: Trenton D. Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, April 24, 1998 03:23
Subject: RE: Patented Free Software
>You can't expect everyone to make free software. People can't afford to do
>this. For instance, how the heck am I supposed to get a job if everyone
out
>there is making free software? On the otherhand, it would be nice if all
>the big software companies would make half decent freeware/lite programs of
>their commercial version. For instance. Corel Draw could be made into a
>freeware program. The could just take out certain functions of the
>software.
>
Sorry if I wasn't clear. I don't expect everyone to make free software. That
is unrealistic. In fact, I have no quarrel with proprietary software at all
(the *licenses* to proprietary software gall me a bit, in most cases; but
that's a different story).
My point was this: if (as seems likely, in my judgment) software vendors
start exerting patent pressure on the free software world because they
cannot compete with free software on technical merit (not always the case,
but frequently so), then free software becomes a thing of the past: if the
Big Boys say they "own" technology X and the government backs them up on it,
then free software can't use it and remain free. So why not head them off at
the pass, and patent free software technology first? Okay, my suggestion
(that free software patent holders force the software companies to release
source code when they use those patented technologies) was a bit much.
Secondly, in response to someone else's reply: I agree that patents on
software (and maybe even patents in general? Haven't thought about that one)
are questionable stuff, and these patents are granted for the most silly of
things. Barring a change of behavior by the Patent Office, though, the Free
Software world has to deal with things as they are, not as they should be.
So...to repeat the question....
Is it likely that commercial software companies will use patent pressure to
squeeze out their free software competitors?
If it is, what can the developers of free software do about it?
Fred
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