Tim Wilkinson writes:
Also, has anyone got a legal opinion of using the 1.2 spec from Sun to
write an independent implementation of the 1.2 additions?
McNealy's minor minions have one to offer:
If the judge were to rule against Sun, "that's not a disaster for us,
for the following reason -- it is very difficult, close to if not, in
fact, impossible, to build an implementation of the Java platform
without at least looking at the documentation or its specifications,"
said Alan Baratz, president of software products and platforms at Sun.
"Well, that's Sun intellectual property. And the judge has been very
clear about that, that if Microsoft uses the specs or uses the
documentation, it is not an independent work," Baratz continued. "Or
if Microsoft purchases something from a third party that had used the
documentation or the specs, it's not an independent work."
From www.javaworld.com/jw-07-idgns-lawsuit.html. For whatever it's
worth in the amazing world of bogus software patents, look and feel,
and language turned property.
b.
