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Why Consider Linux Kernel Patent Risks?
chromatic writes "After the hoopla about OSRM's study of patent risks in the Linux kernel, I talked to Dan Ravicher, the patent attorney and free software afficionado who conducted the study. Contrary to my initial reaction, I've come to believe that the study is actually very valuable. Linux and Patent Risks on the O'Reilly Network explains why."
"The 283 patents that the kernel could infringe have all gone unchallenged so far."
In other words- Sco doesn't know about them yet.
SCO? I thought they owned Linux.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
You mean the mean, pissed off, angry horde of IBM, lawyers that the companies would likely offer to Linus in order to save their own business model?
IBM lawyers vs. MS lawyers
THUNDERDOME!
Commies? The Linux advocates, of course :-)
-matthew.
"THERE IS NO JUSTICE, THERE IS ONLY ME." -Death
Just like for viruses there's value to having diverse operating systems incase one of your systems gets shut down due to not only Viruses, but also IP-laws, vendors stopping support, etc.
So lawyers are viruses?
I'm not surprised...
+++ATHZ 99:5:80
What makes you think that the IBM lawyers would be angry?
I think they'd be more like borgs. Resistance is futile.
The owls are not what they seem
so AFAIK software patents have the possibility of stopping the business end of linux, but can't fundamentally be a threat to its existence?
The fact that Linux users continue to use Linux, which is obviously an illegal rip off of proprietary systems, is analogous to those 12 year olds who continue to trade mp3s even after we explicitly told them that doing so was a felony. We will continue to implement hardware based DRM, we will deny a license for anything but the MS boot block, and we will continue to increase funding for the anti-piracy arm of the FBI so that we can raise multinational efforts to hunt down and prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone who continues to write this so-called "open source" software. We will use any and all available means, including invocation of the PATRIOT Act, to ensure that these hardened criminals do the maximum possible time behind bars as an example to our youth. We are continuing to lobby Congress for "three strikes and you're out" laws which make repeated "open source" violations a mandatory felony. The distribution of such "open source" code is also considered a felony. Distributing 1 kb of hardened binary code, based on open source, has a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and distributing more than 30 g of "open source" source code carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison with up to a $50,000 fine.
With your help, and the help of other concerned citizens like yourself, we will eradicate "open source" houses from our neighborhoods. We will hunt down "open source" dealers. We will prevent our children from using "open source" code. We have already implemented measures to make the distribution of "open source" code with 500 meters of a school an automatic felony, no matter what amount or who the distribution is to.
'Nuff said...
+++ATHZ 99:5:80
I have the utmost confidence in the abilities of Linux programmers to overcome any patent threat. Unless of course, someone patents the keyboard, but even then, someone would sing the source code into the computer :-)
I see Mr Ballmer's joined us again this evening...
Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.