From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S266219AbUALU7O (ORCPT ); Mon, 12 Jan 2004 15:59:14 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S266244AbUALU7N (ORCPT ); Mon, 12 Jan 2004 15:59:13 -0500 Received: from atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz ([195.113.31.123]:21142 "EHLO atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S266219AbUALU7J (ORCPT ); Mon, 12 Jan 2004 15:59:09 -0500 Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 11:57:55 -0500 From: Pavel Machek To: Jamie Lokier Cc: Arjan van de Ven , Lennert Buytenhek , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: [OT] use of patented algorithms in the kernel ok or not? Message-ID: <20031221165755.GB12866@openzaurus.ucw.cz> References: <20031218231137.GA13652@gnu.org> <1071823624.5223.1.camel@laptop.fenrus.com> <20031221103308.GB3438@mail.shareable.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20031221103308.GB3438@mail.shareable.org> User-Agent: Mutt/1.3.27i Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Hi! > I know that equivalent code, which is covered by most if not all of > the patents, is sold by some software companies to product developers > _in the USA_ without prelicensed patents. The problem of acquiring > suitable patent licenses is left to the purchasers. > > Rationally I would expect that if someone is able to sell code and > leave the problem of patent licensing to the purchaser, then one > should be able to _give away_ code and leave the problem of patent > licensing to the recipient. As far as I can see, it is okay to ignore patents *if you are doing research*. So you should be able to offer it to US people for research purposes. Pavel