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Kristian Erik Hermansen wrote: > Dan Ritter <[hidden email]> wrote: >> ...Sun's patents suggest that they don't want anyone reverse-engineering it... > > You can get around the reversing-to-implementation problem using the Chinese > Wall methodology... A "Chinese Wall" - making sure the implementors have never seen the original code - only helps you avoid copyright infringement. Like if you're a PC clone manufacturer and you want to create a BIOS compatible with IBM's. This technique does nothing for avoiding patent infringement. That's why software patents are so dangerous. You can do a completely independent implementation of an algorithm, have no knowledge that the algorithm was even thought of before, and still be in violation. Open source is particularly vulnerable to such claims as the source is readily available for claim holders to inspect looking for violations. To avoid patent infringement you're better off carefully studying the existing implementation and its patents, so you can engineer around the patents. -Tom -- Tom Metro Venture Logic, Newton, MA, USA "Enterprise solutions through open source." Professional Profile: http://tmetro.venturelogic.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [hidden email] http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
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