If you are really serious about being open with it then I would consider asking for the funding to file the patent. Keep the patent for yourself and just publish it on the web with terms such as Creative Commons.

The funding could come from private donations. A dollar here, a dollar there type of thing. Post a donation link to somewhere like Slashdot with a suitable teaser (or teasers if you want to attract a larger audience - multiple teasers targeting different demographics will only increase the size of the donation pool).

A few possible teasers for Slashdot...for the young crowd you could talk about how your invention would enable every individual to pour hot grits down Natalie's front. The middle age may enjoy something about the .cx domain. The old ones (see my Slashdot ID number) would be into something nostalgic - old hardware like Z80s for instance.

Another good things about the public fundraising - Documentation to help with any prior art disputes...

What will this deposition get you? What if PJ is really "Not who she seems to be?" What will it matter? What are you afraid of? Why are you trying to silence this one voice?

Could it be that you are afraid because the analysis and opinion of PJ's writings have "held water" over time? Are you tired of being put in a bad light because of the tactics you (I mean you and your lawyers) employ? Do you think that your image will improve without this one voice? What about all of the trade articles talking about your lawsuits against your customers? Is harrasment the best that you can do after all this time?

Many people have come to the conclusion that PJ is one person. Exposing this person probably will not have a positive impact on your image - even if it was someone linked to IBM. The ideas expressed on Groklaw are out there - you can't kill an idea! The simple fact that these ideas have held true over time irrespective of the voice that spoke them guarentees their immortality.

Silencing one voice will cause 1000 others to shout out. Open Source is about distributed development of software, hardware, community, public knowledge, and the human race. Remeber Ransom Love's warning: 'Don't do it,' Love says he told McBride. `You don't want to take on the entire Linux community.'

Who are you going to silence next?

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