Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!hub.ucsb.edu!6600dan From: 6600dan@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Dan Zerkle) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: thought Dillon and friends would like to know Message-ID: <6057@hub.ucsb.edu> Date: 5 Aug 90 03:25:31 GMT References: <1990Jul27.204559.26305@athena.mit.edu> <1990Jul29.024841.1000@agate.berkeley.edu> <90210.100908GRGREF@BYUVM.BITNET> <10743@wehi.dn.mu.oz> Sender: news@hub.ucsb.edu Distribution: usa Organization: University of California -- Santa Barbara Lines: 33 In-reply-to: mwm@raven.pa.dec.com's message of 3 Aug 90 23:14:00 GMT In article mwm@raven.pa.dec.com (Mike (Real Amigas have keyboard garages) Meyer) writes: An algorythm per se can not be patented. Was probably is patented is the implementation of the algorythm in modems. Just to add even more confusion to the matter.... Actually, algorithms can be patented, but it is tricky. For example, the RSA public key encryption system is patented. You have to pay Mr. R, Mr. S, and Mr. A a lot of money if you want to sell a product using it. However, it is more complicated than that. From what I understand, you have to generate a schematic for a chunk of hardware that can do what your algorithm is supposed to do. A piece of source code is not good enough. Apparently, there is actually an accepted method of "compiling" code into hardware. This would seem to be the patenting of an "implementation". I learned a little about this circus in a cryptography class. Yes, I find all the legalisms depressing too. My moral outrage at what Apple is doing to MicroSoft over Windows is a very important reason that, as a Programmer For Life, I spent my money on an Amiga instead of giving it to Apple for their lawyers. Anything that stifles programmers' right to program creatively is evil. Anything that makes lawyers even richer is probably evil. Anybody who takes an idea from Xerox, then sues somebody else for using it is evil (and hypocritical). Anything that *purposely* promotes inconsistency for users is evil. Apple is doing all four. I couldn't buy anything from them, even at wonderful student discount rates. Of course, I'm just flaming now, but I needed to get it over with. -Dan