Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga.tech:12789 comp.sys.amiga:59816 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!snorkelwacker!apple!decwrl!nsc!amdahl!kim From: kim@uts.amdahl.com (Kim DeVaughn) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech,comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Patenting ideas Message-ID: Date: 15 Jun 90 07:39:25 GMT References: <2635@zipeecs.umich.edu> Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga Distribution: na Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Lines: 45 In article <2635@zipeecs.umich.edu>, gilgalad@dip.eecs.umich.edu (Ralph Seguin) writes: > > I have been watching the discussion about Tetris, copyrighting and patenting. > While it is true that you cannot patent an idea, I have just encountered > what appears to be the exception to the rule. I was going to write an RSA > cyphering program for the Amiga (PD probably), but I received some messages > from several people saying that the RSA is patented by a company called RSA There is no exception here. RSA has a patent on a specific algorithm, not an "idea". The confusion here on the net seems to be in the way different people define "idea". I personally agree with the statement "you can't patent an idea". It this case the "idea" is something along the lines of "encoding information so as to be indecypherable to all but selected persons". Clearly NOT something that could be patented. Specific ways of implementing that idea do seem to be patentable ... however the courts may rule otherwise should the validity of a patent be challenged. > patent on the RSA algorithm. If it is true, it seems painfully apparent > that the patenting process has some major problems with it (ie, with some > trickery, you could probably patent breathing 8-) Supposedly (I do not have 1st hand knowledge of this), some person as a patent on the use of the xor function, as a means of providing a non-destructive cursor on terminals. And while nobody actually believes this would stand up under a serious challenge in court, nobody has actually done so, as the person licenses the patent for only $100 to anyone. Cheaper that *any* legal action could possibly be. NOW. CAN WE PLEASE KEEP THESE DISCUSSIONS OUT OF .TECH and .HARDWARE? Note the Followup-To line, and removal of .hw in this response. THANK YOU! /kim [ Any thoughts or opinions which may or may not have been expressed ] [ herein are my own. They are not necessarily those of my employer. ] -- UUCP: kim@amdahl.amdahl.com or: {sun,decwrl,hplabs,pyramid,uunet,oliveb,ames}!amdahl!kim DDD: 408-746-8462 USPS: Amdahl Corp. M/S 249, 1250 E. Arques Av, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 BIX: kdevaughn GEnie: K.DEVAUGHN CIS: 76535,25