Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!decwrl!bacchus.pa.dec.com!granite.pa.dec.com!mwm From: mwm@raven.pa.dec.com (Mike (Real Amigas have keyboard garages) Meyer) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: thought Dillon and friends would like to know Message-ID: Date: 6 Aug 90 16:32:23 GMT References: <1990Jul27.204559.26305@athena.mit.edu> <1990Jul29.024841.1000@agate.berkeley.edu> <90210.100908GRGREF@BYUVM.BITNET> <10743@wehi.dn.mu.oz> <6057@hub.ucsb.edu> Sender: news@wrl.dec.com (News) Distribution: usa Organization: Missionaria Phonibalonica Lines: 27 In-Reply-To: 6600dan@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu's message of 5 Aug 90 03:25:31 GMT In article <6057@hub.ucsb.edu> 6600dan@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Dan Zerkle) writes: 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.... You certainly did - I never said that. Please check your attributions (I know - I'm not great about that myself). 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. This information is out of date. Since the 1981 or thereabouts, the patent office has been quite happy to patent algorithms even if you don't have an underlying "hardware" implementation.