Patent Case With FOSS Implications 113
ThousandStars writes, "SCOTUSBlog posted about the
liklihood that the Supreme Court will review whether an organization can get around software patents by completing the work in other countries. This case has huge implications for OSS projects with coders in the U.S., as it may inhibit, among other things, the ability of American coders to contribute to projects that violate U.S. software patents." The Patently-O blog gives background on the case.
Software patents? (Score:4, Interesting)
Just a question.
Re:Microsoft is behind this! (Score:2, Interesting)
Even Microsoft seem to be warming to the idea of running Linux virtual machines under Windows.
And loads of major corporations use OSS in their internal business processes. Think of all those Linksys routers with their GPL microcode. Millions in use throughout the USA.
patented compiler (Score:3, Interesting)
Could someone with copyright/patent on a compiler claim that any object code it produces is a derivative work since it uses their proprietary assembly-generating algorithm?
I think that's an interesting question that should be asked in court. I think it would make a mockery of software patents, which is a good thing. Neither alogrithms, business methods, nor software should be patented period!
Falcon