At 09:32 PM 2/16/01, Dan Hollis wrote:
>On Fri, 16 Feb 2001, David Relson wrote:
> > At 08:52 PM 2/16/01, you wrote:
> > > On Fri, 16 Feb 2001, Michael H. Warfield wrote:
> > > > > You know XOR is patented (yes, the logical bit operation XOR).
> > > > But wasn't that Xerox that had that?
> > > US Patent #4,197,590 held by NuGraphics, Inc.
> > The patent was for using the technique of using XOR for dragging/moving
> > parts of a graphics image without erasing other parts. Also, since the
> > patent was granted in 1980, the inventors have had their 17 years of patent
> > protection, and we're all free to use the technique - legally!
>
>So you approve of 4,197,590 and think it was an innovative and non obvious
>invention in 1980?
>
>-Dan
Dan,
No, I didn't say I approved of the patent. I merely reported a bit of the
when and what of the patent and said that that is no longer relevant, i.e.
it's not a concern.
I don't approve of software patents. I think the idea of granting software
patents is a bad idea. As programmers solving problems everyday, we are
constantly developing techniques for dealing with new problems or finding
new and better solutions for old problems. This is a process of continuous
invention carried out simultaneously and independently in many
places. Putting patent restrictions on this process is a bad idea.
David
--------------------------------------------------------
David Relson Osage Software Systems, Inc.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Ann Arbor, MI 48103
www.osagesoftware.com tel: 734.821.8800
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