Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!sun-barr!newstop!sun!stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM!cmcmanis From: cmcmanis@stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Patenting ideas Message-ID: <137375@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> Date: 15 Jun 90 18:51:14 GMT References: <2635@zipeecs.umich.edu> Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM Distribution: na Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca. Lines: 20 Having read the RSA patent, I can tell you that they phrase the patent in terms of a mechanism that can create and use keys. An example mechanism using and/or/nor gates is described. Some people forget that "software" is nothing more than a simple abstraction on "hardware". Most people are comfortable with the idea of seeing a hardware implementation of something and then replacing it with a microprocessor and some firmware to do the same function. The reverse is also true. The question becomes has there ever been a case of patent infringment where the infringer developed a program that implemented a patented hardware idea? My guess is that the X-or cursor example is one of those. -- --Chuck McManis Sun Microsystems uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis BIX: Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you. "I tell you this parrot is bleeding deceased!"