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From: dave@prc.unisys.com (David Lee Matuszek)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk,comp.unix.bsd,comp.os.mach,misc.int-property,alt.suit.att-bsdi,comp.sys.mac.advocacy
Subject: Re: Letter asking for help with Apple from the US VP
Message-ID: <1992Sep23.210820.18867@gvl.unisys.com>
Date: 23 Sep 92 21:08:20 GMT
References: <1992Sep21.182121.8203@puma.ATL.GE.COM> <BZS.92Sep21192823@ussr.std.com> <1992Sep22.031436.11940@fcom.cc.utah.edu>
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In article <1992Sep22.031436.11940@fcom.cc.utah.edu> terry@icarus.weber.edu writes:
>
>
> Seriously, I think it's time to rethink intellectual propertly
>law on software, probably in terms of patents rather than copyrights...
>hopefully with a most a 7 year limitation before the protection runs out.
>All of this BS is getting a bit ridiculous.
I agree completely that it is time to rethink intellectual property laws.
I disagree completely that patent law might be a better basis than
copyright law.
Patents protect ideas, such as XORing a cursor onto the screen, or
run-time checking of parameter lists (two particularly egregious
examples). Copyrights protect the expression of ideas. (I admit this
is an oversimplification but it is nonetheless essentially correct.)
You cannot unknowingly violate a copyright; expressing the same ideas
in your own words is never a violation. You can violate a patent
accidently, by having the same ideas as someone else. If you are a
programmer, chances are some of your code violates some patent or
other. You do not have the resources to ensure your code is legal,
_even if_ you work for a large company; you do not have the resources
to defend yourself in court, _unless_ you work for a large company.
Patent laws therefore discriminate very strongly against individuals
and small businesses in favor of large companies. While your opinion
may differ, I think this is very strongly undesirable.
--dave
--
And the President put his hand on my shoulder and said: "Dan,
I _knew_ Spiro Agnew. He was a friend of mine. And Dan...
You're no Spiro Agnew!"
-- Vice President Dan Quayle