IPFilter Infriging on Bay Network Patent?

jorhan writes "Darren Reed, the author of IPFilter, recently posted this message to the IPFilter mailing list. Apparently IPFilter may infringe upon USA patents owned by Bay Networks, specifically, #5790554. The patent might seem to own just about every conceivable way one might wish to filter and forward data packets, but trying to read through all of the "wherein said first condition" started to give me a headache (ObIANAL). But when you read what application the authors specifically had in mind, it really has little to do with network layer firewalling. Even more important is the question Darren's mail indirectly poses, "Anyone know of any prior art?""

Comments

So what

[Anonymous Coward]

Who cares about this patent shit. Quit posting it on the front page.

Re:So what

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah and who cares about this IPFilter thing. I thought the verdict was pretty much unanamous that Darren Reed is a fuckwad last time he was mentioned on here. Now it turns out he stole all his ideas from Bay Networks.

Not one reference to Linux

[AnonymousCowheard]

Mark me as a flame in your own un-alienable right to do so, but I looked through the pages and saw no reference to Linux and its implementation of Network Address Translation and IP Masquerading. His page references the many other flavors of Unix ie the BSD's, HP-UX, etc. Linux is a flavor of Unix and a heck of a lot more available flavor of Unix for the x86. What's up, people? Just my two-cents worth of a United Stated Federal Reserve bank note...

The patent is valid... PERIOD.

[Anonymous Coward]

Obey the law. If you are using this illegal software remove it immediately. If you know someone who is using it then report them to the FBI immediately. Even if they aren't using it the FBI can find crimes they are guilty of.

Folks, IP laws aren't going away. In fact, they are going to get far stronger. The DMCA is here to stay and the CDBTPA is on it's way so deal with it. Only criminals and terrorists would want it any differently. Free speech doesn't apply, sorry.

Quit whining about the laws. The IP laws, gun laws, censorship laws, drug laws, etc are perfectly constitutional and are required in todays sick society. GROW UP.

a libertarian atheist comments

[Thinkit2]

All IP laws are crap. If a company wants to protect information, let them do it with technology. The government has no business here.

prior art

[imr]

internet?
Isn't this patent office a disguised tax office?

Ironic

[technoid_]

Its ironic that Darren Reed finds himself having to decipher legalese after he put OpenBSD through the mill over the legalese of his ambiguous (at the time) license.