Randy Kramer writes: > 1. Use (and modification) of software can be restricted by copyright but > might also be restricted by patent (if the software uses something which > is patented).
Because U.S. law relating to intellectual property has been corrupted. > Aside: I would feel cheated (misled, whatever) if I started to use > software that was open source (with the rights associated with the open > source license applied to that software), but some of those rights were > restricted by patent issues, especially if the licensing was so opaque > that I didn't realize that until later. Worse than what Intel is doing (that is, trying to be helpful), is the issue of third-party and submarine patents. Intel could write software (patented or not), release it under the proposed BSD+Patent license, and both you and Intel would be very surprised if someone else turned up to also have a patent, or a patent could turn up to have been registered but not granted until after you started using it. Intel can't solve those problems but it should be commended for doing what it can (even if it isn't doing everything that we think possible). -- -russ nelson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://russnelson.com Crynwr sells support for free software | PGPok | Why are we still fighting 521 Pleasant Valley Rd. | +1 315 268 1925 voice | the war on drugs when there Potsdam, NY 13676-3213 | +1 315 268 9201 FAX | is a real war to fight? -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3