From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S264890AbTLVPjZ (ORCPT ); Mon, 22 Dec 2003 10:39:25 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S264910AbTLVPjZ (ORCPT ); Mon, 22 Dec 2003 10:39:25 -0500 Received: from mail.humboldt.co.uk ([81.2.65.18]:27591 "EHLO mail.humboldt.co.uk") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S264890AbTLVPjX (ORCPT ); Mon, 22 Dec 2003 10:39:23 -0500 Subject: Re: [OT] use of patented algorithms in the kernel ok or not? From: Adrian Cox To: John Bradford Cc: Jamie Lokier , Stan Bubrouski , linux-kernel mailing list In-Reply-To: <200312220950.hBM9o7Xr000488@81-2-122-30.bradfords.org.uk> References: <1071969177.1742.112.camel@cube> <20031221105333.GC3438@mail.shareable.org> <1072034966.1286.119.camel@duergar> <20031221215717.GA6507@mail.shareable.org> <200312220950.hBM9o7Xr000488@81-2-122-30.bradfords.org.uk> Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Ximian Evolution 1.0.8 Date: 22 Dec 2003 15:34:15 +0000 Message-Id: <1072107256.28039.321.camel@newt> Mime-Version: 1.0 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Mon, 2003-12-22 at 09:50, John Bradford wrote: > Quote from Jamie Lokier : > > > That's why I said it's uncharted territory. We don't know how safe it > > is to publish code that *doesn't do anything* but does embody a > > patented technique *only if the recipient deliberately modifies the > > code*. > > Look at the MTD code. For examples of source code distribution in a patented area, look at MPEG4 projects, particularly MPEG4IP. http://mpeg4ip.sourceforge.net/ has source code under a variety of licenses including GPL, and the front page has the following disclaimer: "This code is not intended for end users, and does not contain executables. Please read all the legal information to determine if it is suitable for you." The project was started by Cisco, who likely did some legal research first. Cisco, however, have the resources to see off frivolous lawsuits, while individual developers do not. - Adrian Cox http://www.humboldt.co.uk/