Re: [Richard Stallman <rms@gnu.org>] Re: Debian & BSD concerns
Geoffrey writes:
> Can free software be patented, or are the two concepts mutually
> exclusize.
Copyright and patent are orthogonal.
> It sounds like they are: patenting protects the "concept" of the
> software,..
One patents (in effect) the algorithm that the software expresses, not the
software itself.
> ...and the "free software" part is the licensing on the patented
> software.
A slimy character could release a program as free software but patent a key
algorthm, and then demand royalties from everyone who uses the program.
--
John Hasler
john@dhh.gt.org (John Hasler)
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI
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