On Tue, May 21, 2002 at 06:20:24AM -0700, Jim Lynch wrote: > > Either Debian must decide that these things are bull and ignore them > > or it must cease to be. Those are the only two options available to > > us. These patents are ridiculous and meaningless. The holders of > > these patents know it, and they don't actually enforce them because > > they realize how stupid it would be and how easily prior art could be > > proven if necessary. > Hey! You with the balls! Yeah, you! DO it! Get the patents recinded! > If not, please don't talk about balls or backbones :) > Lawyers: how fast could this be, and how expensive? Also, is it in fact > necessary, or can we just ignore them, hoping someone else doesn't fall > victim to them? IANAL, but to the best of my knowledge, it's not possible in the US to make an affirmative suit challenging a patent; I believe you must be sued *first* by the patent holder for infringement. Which means the best way to fight them is by ignoring them and proving they have no teeth. Steve Langasek postmodern programmer
Attachment:
pgpPBVqtR8Se4.pgp
Description: PGP signature