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From: dtw@acsu.buffalo.edu (daniel t wesolowski)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Are Software Patents KILLING Innovation
Message-ID: <40579@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 13 Oct 90 21:57:17 GMT
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Hello fellow programers,

     If you create software/programs for use other than your personal
use, I strongly urge you to read the article "Software Patents" in the
Dr. Dobb's Journal (November 1990). While my posting does not even come
close to all the information contained in the article, here are some
quotes from the article.

     "Apple has been sued because the HyperCard program allegedly violates
      patent number 4,736,308, a patent that covers displaying portions of
      two or more strings together on the screen - effectively scrolling
      with multiple subwindow. Scrolling and subwindows are well known
      techniques, but combining them is apparently illegal."

     "the implementors of the widely used public domain data compression
      program 'compress' followed an algorithm obtained from IEEE Computer
      magazine. They and the user community were suprised to learn later that
      patent number 4,558,302 had been issued to one of the authors of the
      article. Now Unisys is demanding royalties for using this algorithm.
      Although the program is still in the public domain - using it means
      risking a lawsuit."

     "Even the giants cannot protect themselves with cross-licensing from
      companies whose only business is to buy patents and then threaten
      to sue."

     "Exempting software from the scope of patents will protect software
      developers from the insupportable cost of patent searches, the wasteful
      struggle to find a way clear of known patents, and the unavoidable
      danger of lawsuits. If nothing is changed, what is now an efficient
      creative activity will become prohibitively expensive. The sparks of
      creativity and individualism that have driven the computer revolution
      will be snuffed out."

      Could I be wrong, or is it time for us programmers and others to band
together and nip this patent garbage in the butt now! 

      In my opinion, if everyone starts playing the patent game, we won't
have to worry about what is the best programming language or who makes the
best compiler, cause we won't be able to use them anyway!

Dan

DISCLAIMER:  This posting reflects the views of the author only.