Perens on Patents

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Posted by michael on Friday January 23, 2004 @05:19AM from the perennial dept.

lewiz writes "An interesting interview with Bruce Perens over at the BBC. He's up discussing the role of HP, IBM, et al and the move towards Linux. However, his main point is about software patents and how they are much more of a problem than SCO: 'We're looking at a future where only the very largest companies will be able to implement software, and it will technically be illegal for other people to do so.'"

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Shhh by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-23 05:20 · Score: -1, Offtopic

Fool me once shame on you
Re:Communist by bindman · 2004-01-23 05:25 · Score: -1, Offtopic

exactly. Linux is part one in the ten point platform of those Commie Hippies. They want everyone to be equal and free. Not in the United States! Perhaps the radical religious linux freaks should move to China, and learn what real work is like. What do we do to commie bastards? We fuck em in the ass.
If Mr. Perens reads this... by i.r.id10t · 2004-01-23 05:26 · Score: 0, Offtopic

... I'd like to know what question he wishes the interviewer had asked, and what his response would be.

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Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
Who cares about Linux by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-23 05:28 · Score: -1, Offtopic

Meanwhile Microsoft gave $1 billion of computer aid to the United Nations? When was the last time a Linux company did that, perhaps I was just too busy that day to read the headlines. And no, donations of crappy software off SourceForge do not count, how about real computers and stuff?
MOD -1, KARMA POINT HOARDER by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-23 05:37 · Score: -1, Offtopic

This guy is storing up karma for what will probably be a massive crapflood. Mods, if you give this guy points, you're supporting goatsex links, homoerotic stories, and gay nigger propoganda. Mark my words.
1. Re:MOD -1, KARMA POINT HOARDER by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-23 06:03 · Score: -1, Offtopic
  
  Look closer at this guys name, AC. He's IMPERSONATING ESR. I find it offensive. I'm going to follow *every* post he makes with MOD PARENT DOWN!! INPERSONATION!
  
  FAQ
Annonymously posting to the internet. by wetshoe · 2004-01-23 05:46 · Score: 0, Offtopic

Whatever happened to the good old days of the underground? You can always upload illegal softwarre to the internet, and if it's useful, then people will use it, regardless of its status. A case in point is the DeCSS code. When it was originally posted, it was on one web site. Then, some other geek thought it was cool, so he put it up on his website, and so on. Then the authorities cracked down, so 10 geeks had it up for a week, then a week later it was 10 other geeks. It's like playing keep away, the people keeping the thing away, in this case the code out there, most always win, because there is so many of them, the authorities can't possibly keep control over ever single one of them.
People will always be using illegal software, whether it be pirated software or softwarre that infringes on someone else's IP. It all comes down to cost, if someone can't afford it, they'll find some other way to get it. If software is published by only a few large companies that overcharge for their products, people will find other means. It almost reminds me of a quote from Jurrasic Park, "Life will find a way."
SCO Fix by MojoRilla · 2004-01-23 05:51 · Score: 0, Offtopic

I was starting to go through SCO withdrawl. What with the hearing being delayed until February 6th, I thought there might be an entire day without SCO on Slashdot.
Re:Perens too good for Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-23 06:00 · Score: -1, Offtopic

The most recent crap I took a few hours ago is too good for Slashdot.
Re:Perens too good for Slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-01-23 06:09 · Score: -1, Offtopic

I despise this site so much, I make printouts of these threads and use them to wipe my ass.
And when given the choice: by Perianwyr+Stormcrow · 2004-01-23 06:52 · Score: 1, Offtopic

When given the choice between:

having a general purpose system that does 50% of what I need to do

having a general purpose system that does 100% of what I need to do

I am always going to pick the second. Linux does not have:

Illustrator (lack of this is HUGE, and don't tell me to use Sodipodi 'cause it ain't cuttin' it.)
Photoshop (don't tell me to use the GIMP, I've been having this argument with people for 6 years and it is not holding any more water.)

You also can't play Ultima Online on it (at least if you want to use UOAssist.)

Now, that isn't to say that Linux doesn't kick ass for certain specialized applications. 3d comes to mind- there are many many high quality 3d apps you can get for it, and most of them are things I would not mind using, (assuming someone else paid for them, ha ha.)

But it's not a platform for graphic or industrial designers- yet. And I've been saying that yet for years and years so who knows.

I will however agree that Linux would work for all of my non gamer non graphics professional friends who have Win98 PCs infested with porn spyware and trojans.

--
What we call folk wisdom is often no more than a kind of expedient stupidity.-Edward Abbey
James T. Nail by turgid · 2004-01-23 11:06 · Score: 0, Offtopic

James T. Nail (Crocodile Shoooooees) of Newcastle Upon Tyne says, "Mod this up aboot a thoosand insightful."

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Stick Men