Re: Bug#220464: gimp: LZW patent is still valid in Europe and Japan
On Thu, Nov 13, 2003 at 03:27:45PM +0100, Adrian Bunk wrote:
> On Thu, Nov 13, 2003 at 11:31:32AM +0100, Francesco P. Lovergine wrote:
> >...
> > <IMVHO>
> >
> > I think is that Unisys' pateting position is currently
> > defendable in a court outside USA, as well as SCO claims about
> >...
>
> "defendable" means you have to defend yourself, and lawsuits aren't
> cheap.
>
Mmm, damn non-native english speaking :) I mean that IMHO
SCO and Unisys patents are quite on the same plane.
It's difficult that they could really obtain something (but for FUD)
in a European court currently, for instance. Software patents
are not so easy to protect outside US. Sw patenting outside
US is very, very questionable (I speak for Europe at least).
> > It's probably time for the project to have a seriuos position
> > about patenting and not remove anything at all, but fighting for our
> > software freedom, when ever needed.
>
> "and not remove anything at all" is impossible, consider e.g. the
> effects if a patent holder would start to sue mirrors or users of main.
>
So, if we have to follow this kind of reasoning you should open a seriuous bug
report to remove all linux kernels from debian main. I cannot see
any difference among SCO and Unisys. Both them can _potentially_
sue our users and mirrors. Also the interested users for the kernel
are more than those of LZW algorithm.
> Unfortunaltely, even "fighting for our software freedom" wouldn't always
> work, since the patent holders often are in a very good legal position.
>
> > </IMVHO>
> >
> > PS: please consider to continue the discussion off BTS.
>
> Why? I consider it convenient to say:
>
> You can read our discussion at
> http://bugs.debian.org/220464
>
ok
--
Francesco P. Lovergine
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