> -----Original Message----- > From: Marian POPESCU [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 8:06 AM > To: pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org > Subject: Re: [HACKERS] ARC patent > > >>>Neil Conway <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > >>> > >>> > >>>>FYI, IBM has applied for a patent on ARC (AFAICS the > >>>>patent application is still pending, although the USPTO > >>>>site is a little hard to grok): > >>> > >>>Ugh. We could hope that the patent wouldn't be granted, > >>>but I think it unlikely, unless Jan is aware of prior art > >>>(like a publication predating the filing date). I fear we'll > >>>have to change or remove that code.
Why not just ask IBM for a free license first? After all, they put 1,000+ patents in the public domain or something, didn't they? I realize that they might use this technology in DB2, and don't want to encourage competitors. But IBM seems a lot more friendly to OSS than most companies, and it doesn't seem like it would hurt to ask. At the worst they say "no" and you just proceed as you would have originally. __ David B. Held Software Engineer/Array Services Group 200 14th Ave. East, Sartell, MN 56377 320.534.3637 320.253.7800 800.752.8129 ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faq