Re: [dev] Re: LZW patented file left in .orig.tar source package?
On Tue, Oct 29, 2002 at 01:06:54AM +1300, Nick Phillips wrote:
> I thought that in the US at least, source code had been held to be speech
> (due to the necessity for precise communication of the ideas expressed
> therein) during one of the crypto cases.
> There's nothing about patent law that enables it to override the
> constitution, is there?
Leaving the question... is 'allowing it to be used' significant?
I believe RedHat has altered their distribution (8.0?) to no longer
include any .mp3 encoding/decoding software for this very reason. They
are not willing to risk a law suit, and they are not willing to force
users to license their 'standard' distribution for a fee.
As with most scenarios related to law... do you have a lawyer who can
make your case for you, or are you simply willing to risk it for
others?
I'm not being difficult - just some food for thought.
mark
--
mark@mielke.cc/markm@ncf.ca/markm@nortelnetworks.com __________________________
. . _ ._ . . .__ . . ._. .__ . . . .__ | Neighbourhood Coder
|\/| |_| |_| |/ |_ |\/| | |_ | |/ |_ |
| | | | | \ | \ |__ . | | .|. |__ |__ | \ |__ | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them...
http://mark.mielke.cc/
Reply to: