Stephen Birch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> On 4 Jul 2005, at 11:44 am, Wookey wrote: >> Take a look at this patent (granted this week in europe) >> >> http://gauss.ffii.org/PatentView/EP1170667 >> >> I'm fairly sure that apt-get and associated package-integratity >> checking tools could be considered infringing. (Does dpkg/apt have >> a modular structure?) > > It seems that when RMS cried "the sky is falling" [this time regarding > patents] he was, once again, absolutely correct. Software patents are > the single biggest threat not only to the open source movement but > also to small/medium sized software companies.
Note that this particular patent is: EP Status: Granted. Within 9 month opposition window So if you have *proof of prior art* you can oppose the patent grant In practical terms, this means someone who can "prove" that the Debian Packaging system does this. Which probably means an Official Debian Person sending the letter, with dates of when the technology was introduced into Debian, and perhaps extracts from the Packaging Manuals of the period to show this. cheers, Rich. -- rich walker | Shadow Robot Company | [EMAIL PROTECTED] technical director 251 Liverpool Road | need a Hand? London N1 1LX | +UK 20 7700 2487 www.shadow.org.uk/products/newhand.shtml -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
