Thank you for your inputs Laurent and Peter. I'd rather not get into a deeper discussion about GPLV3 without really understanding more. :-).
I have a simple question. (The answer might not be that simple with GPLv3, but let me try anyway) Suppose I build a product based on a patent able idea. Suppose this product is built with an LGPLv3 library (zero-mq). Will I lose my rights on the patent? Warm regards, Sojan On Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 2:35 PM, Charles Remes <[email protected]> wrote: > It took me a long time, but I have come around to share Pieter's view. > > cr > > On Jan 31, 2014, at 5:19 AM, Pieter Hintjens <[email protected]> wrote: > > > This is off-topic for ZeroMQ, but if you want my detailed > > deconstruction of the patent system, and why I've spent years of my > > life fighting it, see here: http://hintjens.com/blog:31. > > > > My views are on the public record. For two years I was president of > > the FFII, the leading European NGO defining software patent policy in > > Europe. We contributed to the relevant clauses in the GPLv3. I chose > > that for ZeroMQ with the very specific intention of excluding any > > contributor that used patents in their software business strategy. > > > > In short, the patent system does not help small inventors except in > > freak cases. The _entire_ patent system is, in my view, a legal > > parasite designed by professional sociopaths to feed off real economic > > activity, leaving nothing but ruin behind. Every claim for patents is > > based on the lure of easy money, wrong assumptions, bogus economic > > theory, mistaken theories of innovation, naivety about legal process, > > or outright lies. > > > > On Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 9:29 AM, Laurent Alebarde <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> IMHO, everything can be hell or haven, including LGPL. It depends on > one's > >> motivations and intentions. For patents, lawyers are the tools of the > >> owners, so what happens depends on the owners (except the patent > officers, > >> but they infringe only the owners). I agree also many patents are > abusive > >> and shaming. > >> > >> That's why I am also against patents on software. But it is not that > simple. > >> Software is just a tool. Many technologies need software to come to > life but > >> are not intrinsically software. Then patents may be IMHO legitimate. > When > >> you spend thousands of hours to develop an innovative technology, you > can > >> expect earning some money with it, at least to feed your children, > isn't it > >> ? > >> > >> Open source and associated consulting and expertise is a great > economical > >> model, but not the only one. Moreover, it fits some people, and not > others. > >> Other people are creative and technology centric. For them, the patent > may > >> be the less bad idea, even if many times it is finaly a real bad idea > >> because filing a patent requires that you have funds to defend it. But > it > >> may also be a good idea, especially if your invention needs to be > opened, or > >> once again, the less bad idea. Many corporates are unfair, isn't it ? > The > >> guy who invented car wipers had to fight all his life to obtain the > first > >> dollar from his invention. > >> > >> When it comes to technical innovation, when you want to keep your > freedom in > >> a small business, when you want to spend your time in creation more > than in > >> service, what do you propose ? > >> > >> Of course, you cannot answer: consulting is great, make your technology > >> free, raise a community, do expertise and be happy. That would be just > what > >> fits to some people, but not others. Besides, if the technology is > simple to > >> use, nobody will need your expertise. > >> > >> One may also hire a few people to do the consulting, and stay on the > >> creation, but then you have to spend most of your time in management, > what > >> is creativity counter productive. You can also hire a CE, but then you > may > >> have other kind of troubles. > >> > >> You may also just stay an employee in a corporate with a cool R&D. > >> > >> There is no legitimate reason to prevent anyone to get freedom and to > be, > >> behave and work as he is, as far as the freedom and dignity of everyone > else > >> is respected and preserved. > >> > >> My 2 cts. > >> > >> Laurent Alebarde > >> > >> > >> Le 30/01/2014 14:00, Pieter Hintjens a écrit : > >> > >> On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 4:29 AM, Sojan James <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> > >> I think zeromq is a great library to use for my project. At my > company, all > >> open source usage needs to be approved for use by a legal team. Usage > of > >> GLPv3 and LGPLv3 is flatly refused. One of the reasons is the clause > about > >> the patents. I don't fully understand the implications of the patent > clause > >> of LGPLv3 w.r.t zeromq. Does the static linking exception affect my > >> obligations in any way? > >> > >> I'm basically looking for any information that I can provide to the > legal > >> team to discuss further if an exception can be granted for this library. > >> > >> The patent clause in the LGPLv3 applies to anyone using ZeroMQ, no > >> matter how they link it. This is deliberate. The goal is to reduce > >> patent lawsuits around ZeroMQ. You can read the full implications > >> elsewhere; it's standard part of GPLv3. Any firm that flatly refuses > >> (L)GPLv3 for these reasons is welcome to go buy commercial software, > >> or use other products. > >> > >> Speaking personally, (software) patents are an infectious abomination > >> that allow pseudo-lawyers to parasite the work of productive people. > >> Firms do make the choice: either they embrace that abomination or they > >> reject it. If they embrace it, they are dangerous partners and > >> unreliable contributors. The LGPLv3 patent clause makes a good filter > >> to ensure such firms do not join our community. /End of personal > >> statement > >> > >> -Pieter > >> _______________________________________________ > >> zeromq-dev mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://lists.zeromq.org/mailman/listinfo/zeromq-dev > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> zeromq-dev mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://lists.zeromq.org/mailman/listinfo/zeromq-dev > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > zeromq-dev mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.zeromq.org/mailman/listinfo/zeromq-dev > > _______________________________________________ > zeromq-dev mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.zeromq.org/mailman/listinfo/zeromq-dev > -- ---------------------------------------------------------- "Don't Seek Happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness" -- Eckhart Tolle (A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose)
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