From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Return-Path: <linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org>
Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand
	id <S131567AbRBQCVA>; Fri, 16 Feb 2001 21:21:00 -0500
Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org
	id <S131606AbRBQCUu>; Fri, 16 Feb 2001 21:20:50 -0500
Received: from host55.osagesoftware.com ([209.142.225.55]:34567 "EHLO
	nic.osagesoftware.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP
	id <S131567AbRBQCUk>; Fri, 16 Feb 2001 21:20:40 -0500
Message-Id: <4.3.2.7.2.20010216211931.00c6d360@mail.osagesoftware.com>
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 4.3.2
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 21:20:34 -0500
To: <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
From: David Relson <relson@osagesoftware.com>
Subject: re:  XOR  [ was: Linux stifles innovation... ]
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.30.0102161748370.14013-100000@anime.net>
In-Reply-To: <20010216194121.B26627@alcove.wittsend.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org
X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org


At 08:52 PM 2/16/01, you wrote:
 > On Fri, 16 Feb 2001, Michael H. Warfield wrote:
 > > > You know XOR is patented (yes, the logical bit operation XOR).
 > > 	But wasn't that Xerox that had that?
 >
 > US Patent #4,197,590 held by NuGraphics, Inc.

The patent was for using the technique of using XOR for dragging/moving 
parts of a graphics image without erasing other parts.  Also, since the 
patent was granted in 1980, the inventors have had their 17 years of patent 
protection, and we're all free to use the technique - legally!

David

P.S.  Given that XOR is a basic boolean operation, I don't think the USPTO 
would ever be so dumb as to grant a patent on it.  But, then the PTO has 
shown a creative ability to grant patents to questionable ideas, so who can 
say what they would/could/will do?