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Tim Bray Finds An Affinity Between Patents And OSS

Posted by timothy on from the but-the-broken-system-remains-broken dept.

Manuzhai writes "Tim Bray, of XML co-invention fame, is writing about software patents and Open Source software today. While he deprecates the 'business-method' patents like one-click ordering, he thinks some (Open) source code could tell the truth about a patent application: 'In fact, in an ideal world, I'd rewrite the law to allow software patents but require a working Open-Source implementation as a condition of getting one.'"

1 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. great idea by GISGEOLOGYGEEK · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Great idea. Here's your patent but you also have to give it away free as open source right away so that you have a much harder time making your investments back.

    Ya, that will really spur innovation. I'll work for free so that you can take it despite the patent

    --
    George Bush + Linux = "I will not let information get in the way of the fight against Windows"