Patents and Linux

[WipeOut]

Chris Kloiber wrote:

>On Mon, 2004-05-17 at 14:39, Chadley Wilson wrote:
>
>(snip)
>
>  
>
>>Why would some one patent open source software that an entire community
>>is working on. Does this mean we will end up with another Microsoft type product that
>>is linux based?
>>    
>>
>
>No, what it means is Microsoft is patenting everything in sight, whether
>or not they came up with it originally. (A recent slashdot article
>claims 10 new patents/day for Microsoft) The overtaxed US Patent office
>rubber stamps these without much thought, that means when Microsoft sues
>you they are in a position of strength, with you having not only to
>prove prior art to have the patent overturned, but you get massive legal
>bills that will likely put you out of business (if you had a business to
>start with). In this way they have legal tools to further their
>monopolistic ways to crush competition, and there is little anyone can
>do about it once the legislation is passed.
>
>I believe (but could be wrong) that the language of the European
>Software Patent legislation would honor US patents, as well as a whole
>slew of existing European Software patents that were issued even though
>it was not strictly legal to do so at the time.
>
>  
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<rant>
This is one area where IBM, Novell, HP, Redhat and many of the other big 
players in the Linux and Open Source world seem to have been very quiet!!

Obviously they would all be happy if the patents came in because they 
would stand to gain finacially from it as they have the money to also go 
on a patent spree.. It really only the little guys who will be shut down 
while the "Evil Empires" continue to monopolise the world..

All this thanks to a bunch of computer illiterate retards in 
government's around the world who listen to the monopolistic 
corporations when making decisions about technology who are only out to 
capatalise on their position for their own gain.. Just because those 
corporations have the biggest market share doesn't mean they are the 
best people to ask for advise..

So much for demoracy, freedom and equal oppertunity.. All these things 
are steadily being regulated away from the people and the political 
leaders are becoming more and more like dictators..

Welcome to a world where "Big Brother" is active in everyday life, not 
just on a TV show..
</rant>