Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?

To: debian-legal@lists.debian.org
Subject: Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
From: Richard Braakman <dark@xs4all.nl>
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 20:41:07 +0300
Message-id: <[🔎] 20021023174107.GA10438@cs140102.pp.htv.fi>
In-reply-to: <[🔎] 20021023.095848.74753944.wlandry@ucsd.edu>
References: <[🔎] 20021023094019.GA17721@shawn.gmx.de> <[🔎] 20021023.095848.74753944.wlandry@ucsd.edu>

On Wed, Oct 23, 2002 at 09:58:50AM -0700, Walter Landry wrote:
> You have to take it out of whatever Debian distributes.  I can
> download the the .orig.tar.gz file, so it can't be in that.  Even if
> the .diff.gz takes it out.

Hmm, but why?  You're explicitly allowed to describe how a patented
algorithm works, that's the whole point of patents.  And source code
is just a detailed description of how the algorithm works.

Are you talking about distributability or about freeness?

Richard Braakman

Reply to:

Follow-Ups:
- Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
  - From: Walter Landry <wlandry@ucsd.edu>

References:
- LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
  - From: Chris Halls <halls@debian.org>
- Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
  - From: Walter Landry <wlandry@ucsd.edu>

Prev by Date: Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
Next by Date: Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
Previous by thread: Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
Next by thread: Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
Index(es):
- Date
- Thread