Slashdot Mirror
Patent Case With FOSS Implications
ThousandStars writes, "SCOTUSBlog posted about the
liklihood that the Supreme Court will review whether an organization can get around software patents by completing the work in other countries. This case has huge implications for OSS projects with coders in the U.S., as it may inhibit, among other things, the ability of American coders to contribute to projects that violate U.S. software patents." The Patently-O blog gives background on the case.
There may be for some illegal acts, but it seems perfectly legal for companies to move "pay the workers less than $5 per hour" offshore.
(IANAL)
"...it may inhibit, among other things, the ability of American coders to contribute to projects..."
Yup, indeed it will.
And the USA will not be as competitive in the world of software development.
Bullet, meet foot.
--
Don't like it? Respond with words, not karma.
The US isn't the biggest software market in the world.
That's likely to make it hard to teach the next generation how to program computers; that will be 'education', and I will not be teaching anyone if there is any chance that someone will slap a patent law suit on me. (Nor will I be paying for a patent licence).
And if the next generation don't know how, there will be no-one to fix the bugs after the current generation retires.
And we'll lose it.
Microsoft is one of the companies that hates software patents and only seems to get them in case someone tries to sue them over patent infringement (defencive patents).
'Yes, firefox is indeed greater than women. Can women block pops up for you? No. Can Firefox show you naked women? Yes.'
I can understand that a law exists that prevents items that violate US patent law from being exported, but why does the US have such a law? All it does is harm US manufacturers. It only makes sense for patents to apply where the product is actually used.
Assume a product is used in country A. There are no patents in country A that affect this device. The only patents on this device exist in the USA. Now, every country on the globe can build and ship this device to country A, EXCEPT the USA. How does this law make sense.
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
There's already a form of IP to protect both... it's called Copyright.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
As much as slashdot is too focused on OSS, it's missing the bigger picture. In global corporations, most every piece of anything contains some component that is developed in the US. If that component "taints" the rest of the software so that all US patents apply, then there's countless billions to be had in patent licenses from all major coroporations. In practise it makes US patents valid world-wide, because it's impossible to have a european branch of the software, developed separately, which can implement the patented parts without creating US liability. The only viable option would be to not implement those features, hence a global monopoly to the patent holder.
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
This isn't just a case of the US shooting itself in the foot, and thus inhibiting its own abilities. This is a case of the US shooting itself right in the scrotum, destroying its ability to produce new programmers.
These days, many of the most talented commercial developers got their start working on open source software. It's a very good proving ground for new developers. Open source software provides a base upon which a new programmer can build, and thus employ code reuse to help them achieve their ideas.
Open source development tools, like GCC, also allow those with limited capital (ie. often teenagers and students) to begin to develop their own software. They no longer need to drop $250 for just the extremely limited student editions of Borland C++ or Microsoft Visual C++. Instead, they have powerful, professional tools right at their fingertips.
Anything that inhibits the ability of Americans to develop or use open source software is a direct attack on the next generation of American developers. Of course, nations like China, India, and Russia won't be so stupid. They'll allow their developers true freedom, and they will soon become the leading producers of computer programmers and software developers. America, on the other hand, will not have the facilities available to upcoming developers. And thus new American developers will stagnate, while those in other nations flourish.
Just open up some anoymous proxies, for American developers. Let quality speak for itself, should OSS become illegal due to patents, will that stop joe six pack for downloading the best new OS 4 years from now, especially when it's free? Enterprises will be screwed, but who cares about them? Not me, i'll continue to work on whatever platform I like.