[Fedora-directory-devel] US Patent Problem with Fedora Directory Server? [Auf Viren geprüft]

[Frerk.Meyer at Edeka.de]

Hi,

Currently I use the Sun Java Enterpise System Directory Server
and I want to evaluate if the Fedora Directory Server is a suitable
replacerment.
But I came over patent claims that could prevent me from using the
Open Source Alternative.

Fedora Directory Server and Sun Java Enterprise Directory Server have
the Netscape/iPlanet Directory Server as a common ancestor.

In May 15th 2003 several people applied for patents regarding
directory server software. One of them, Gordon Good, is always
mentioned. Seemingly he worked on the Directory Server at Netscape:
http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/authors/GoodGordon.htm

He was one of them who applied for the following patents:

20030093440
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u
=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1
=%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/
20030088656
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u
=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1
=%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/
20030088615
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u
=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=3&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1
=%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/
20030088589
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u
=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=4&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1
=%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/
20030088587
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u
=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=5&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1
=%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/
20020184230
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u
=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=6&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1
=%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/

I live in Europe so I don't have a problem *yet*, but
should the european parliament fail to stop the software
patent law I would be careful to use this directory server
because of SCO like license demands later.

How is the situation in light of these patent claims with
the fedora directory server?


Frerk Meyer

EDEKA Aktiengesellschaft
GB Datenverarbeitung
Frerk Meyer
CC Web Technologien
New-York-Ring 6
22297 Hamburg
Tel: 040/6377 - 3272
Fax: 040/6377 - 41268
mailto:frerk.meyer at edeka.de