To Open Source or not Open Source, that is the question

[N1LAF]

:roll:

Google loses Linux patent lawsuit, pointing up vulnerability for Android


A federal jury last week awarded Linux patent-holder Bedrock Computer Technologies $5 million in the closely watched patent infringement case. It may be the first such award over the Linux kernel that is at the core of the open-source operating system.

In a statement, Google said: "Google will continue to defend against attacks like this one on the open source community. The recent explosion in patent litigation is turning the world's information highway into a toll road, forcing companies to spend millions and millions of dollars defending old, questionable patent claims."
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/04/google-loses-linux-patent-lawsuit-implications-for-android.html

Bedrock is also suing Amazon, MySpace, PayPal, Yahoo and others.
Red Hat is suing Bedrock.
Apple sued Samsung Electronics.
Samsung countersued Apple
Oracle sues Google over Android software
...

So much for open source...

[NQ6U]

The Apple/Samsung thing has nothing to do with Open Source. It's about "trade dress" issues.

And, does anybody else but me thing about that old Neil Diamond song when they hear the name Samsung?


Samsung blue
Everybody knows one
Samsung blue
Every garden grows one...

But the whole issue of software patents is getting out of hand. Legislation is needed to invalidate them entirely. They were a bad idea to begin with. Copyright should suffice to protect commercial software.

[W4GPL]

So much for open source...That's painfully obtuse.

[NQ6U]

That's painfully obtuse.

You're surprised? It's not like he'd know a GPL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License) if one bit him on the ass.

[W3MIV]

Open Source is the enemy of the very establishment to which Paul pledges political allegiance. Korporate Amerika and its international cartel will attack any system that reduces their potential for profit. To them, the GPL is nothing less than pure, evil socialism. The tragedy is that they have lots of money and an a legion of avaricious lawyers.

[N1LAF]

That's painfully obtuse.

Look at the title of the thread, it was intentional to add comical relief...

Just look at all the lawsuits going on.. talk about feeding corporations, the legal corporations.

[N1LAF]

You're surprised? It's not like he'd know a GPL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License) if one bit him on the ass.

I knew it existed, but really didn't pay much attention to it (since all my coding is my own, for private use), but I will now read it, thanks Carl!

[N1LAF]

Open Source is the enemy of the very establishment to which Paul pledges political allegiance. Korporate Amerika and its international cartel will attack any system that reduces their potential for profit. To them, the GPL is nothing less than pure, evil socialism. The tragedy is that they have lots of money and an a legion of avaricious lawyers.

OK, smart guy, question for you:

What primary legal obligations does a public corporation with public shares have every year?

[KC2UGV]

:roll:

Google loses Linux patent lawsuit, pointing up vulnerability for Android


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/04/google-loses-linux-patent-lawsuit-implications-for-android.html

Bedrock is also suing Amazon, MySpace, PayPal, Yahoo and others.
Red Hat is suing Bedrock.
Apple sued Samsung Electronics.
Samsung countersued Apple
Oracle sues Google over Android software
...

So much for open source...

How does any of this point to any issues with open source? This is a product of the corporate war chests involving patent portfolios for things like "Using a pointing device to mimick human gestures"...

[KC2UGV]

The Apple/Samsung thing has nothing to do with Open Source. It's about "trade dress" issues.

And, does anybody else but me thing about that old Neil Diamond song when they hear the name Samsung?


Samsung blue
Everybody knows one
Samsung blue
Every garden grows one...

But the whole issue of software patents is getting out of hand. Legislation is needed to invalidate them entirely. They were a bad idea to begin with. Copyright should suffice to protect commercial software.

Absolutley. There should be no way to "Patent" math... Or, any other construct existing in code. Copyright protects the manner of implmenting it, patents need to get a complete revamp. Patenting DNA? Numerical sequences? Where does the insanity end?

[n2ize]

Absolutley. There should be no way to "Patent" math... Or, any other construct existing in code. Copyright protects the manner of implmenting it, patents need to get a complete revamp. Patenting DNA? Numerical sequences? Where does the insanity end?

It is absurd. You have software companies t6hat are patenting things like functions that generate number sequences or other combinations of fundamental ideas. Many of these thing are entities that any student or professional may derive in the course of his study or work. In such cases copyright is more than adequate.

[N1LAF]

How does any of this point to any issues with open source? This is a product of the corporate war chests involving patent portfolios for things like "Using a pointing device to mimick human gestures"...

Because of this one line in the article: "A federal jury last week awarded Linux patent-holder Bedrock Computer Technologies $5 million in the closely watched patent infringement case. It may be the first such award over the Linux kernel that is at the core of the open-source operating system."

I saw that, and the Shakespeare thing, thought it would be a neat headline. I thought it would be an interest item here, not intend it to be a source of contention.

[NQ6U]

Because of this one line in the article: "A federal jury last week awarded Linux patent-holder Bedrock Computer Technologies $5 million in the closely watched patent infringement case. It may be the first such award over the Linux kernel that is at the core of the open-source operating system."

That infringement case was filed in the Eastern District of Texas, a court that's famous for upholding even the most tenuous of patent claims. They're equally famous for having their judgements overturned by higher courts. This isn't over yet—Google will appeal and probably win.