which is the reason why i think Design Patterns and Patterns are 
unpatentable..too many cooks created these meals to attribute to any one or 
group of individuals
The real challenge is the submittal process where one must submit at least 50% 
of the patentable code..what do you submit?

I always thought PostGIS whose algorithms were unique enough and whose creators 
were from a sufficiently small population
to place PostGIS into 'patentable' code but apparently PostGIS is firmly 
declared under 'GPL' to quote
"To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must be licensed for 
everyone's free use .."

Recalling an earlier year when a Lowell MA based company offered proprietary 
software which did'nt interoperate with other (GPL software..)
MS on the other hand seems to patent unique algorithms and or methodologies 
which are specific only to MS environments...

Interesting..
Martin
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Justin 
  To: Nikola Milutinovic ; pgsql-general@postgresql.org 
  Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 10:33 AM
  Subject: Re: [GENERAL] New MS patent: sounds like PG db rules




  Nikola Milutinovic wrote: 
    Still, this sounds dangerous. It should be, even legally, WRONG to patent 
something that already exist and was not invented by the patentee. I know we 
can laugh off MS in court, but what about new DBs or project even built on PG 
that have this functionality? Software patents are a menace, I'm afraid. And 
this is still just one portion. IBM is also into this line of "work".

    Nix.


    ----- Original Message ----
    From: Dave Page <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
    To: Justin Clift <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
    Cc: Jonathan Bond-Caron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; A. Kretschmer <[EMAIL 
PROTECTED]>; pgsql-general@postgresql.org
    Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 3:18:31 PM
    Subject: Re: [GENERAL] New MS patent: sounds like PG db rules

    HI Justin

    On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 2:06 PM, Justin Clift <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

    > I'm trying to point out that - PG is a database system - and MS may have
    > just been granted a patent for a fundamental part of it.
    >
    > Thinking it might need looking in to, and trying to bring it to the
    > attention of some that can (or even cares?). ;>

    I don't think it's a major issue. Even if MS do think we infringe on
    the patent it would be laughable for them to try to do anything about
    it given that our rules implementation has provably existed in a
    leading FOSS project for a decade or more.

    -- 
    Dave Page
    EnterpriseDB UK: http://www.enterprisedb.com

    -- 
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  Question???  Does the license that Postgresql works under allow for a 
foundation or non for profit entity be created  that would hold onto patents 
for original  ideas of the contributors so WE can protect the users and 
developers of postgresql 

  The idea start playing the game MS and other Software companies are playing 
where they keep applying for  patents/copyrights where there is prior art.  
This would protect everyone  in the development chain from having defend stupid 
lawsuits that these companies could bring against the biggest offenders. 

  USPTO  only looks at existing patents and trademarks to see if they can issue 
a patent .  So if a patent  makes claims on already existing art it puts the 
burden on the original inventor to get the patent revoke.  Doing the above 
would help put an end to this.

  This is just a suggestion.

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