Re: Re: gif-producing code and sarge

[Nathanael Nerode <neroden@twcny.rr.com>]

Joe Buck wrote:

>> IBM holds *so* many software patents (all invalid on their
>> faces, of course) that if it decided to enforce them, and was
>> successful, most of Debian would likely have to be removed.
> 
> Many of IBM's patents are clearly valid according to US law;

OK, that may be true -- I should have said "many are invalid on their
faces".  Look at the ones they brought out and later dropped in the SCO
case; at least one of them is not an invention in any sense of the word,
being mind-bogglingly obvious.

> they are the result of real cutting-edge research and are
> genuine inventions.  So, as long as software patents are legal,
> those patents are valid.

-- 
There are none so blind as those who will not see.