Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!lethe!yunexus!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!cs326ag From: cs326ag@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Loren J. Rittle) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc Subject: AT&T using patent to go after people using X Message-ID: <1991Feb22.090412.28321@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Date: 22 Feb 91 09:04:12 GMT Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana Lines: 123 I just saw the article repeated below in gnu.announce: Article 71 of gnu.announce: Path: ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!think.com!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!shelby!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unreplyable!garbage From: gnulists@AI.MIT.EDU (GNU Mailing List Maintainence) Newsgroups: gnu.announce Subject: [jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com: AT&T Claims patent on part of MIT's X11 server.] Message-ID: <9102220300.AA24170@rice-chex> Date: 22 Feb 91 03:00:42 GMT Sender: daemon@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu Reply-To: tower-prep@prep.ai.mit.edu Distribution: gnu Organization: Project GNU, Free Software Foundation, 675 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA +1 (617) 876-3296 Lines: 93 Approved: info-gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu [ I wonder what prior art existed, and if it invalidates AT&T's patent. -len ] Return-Path: To: unido!gnu-announce Path: pcsbst!jkh From: jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) Newsgroups: gnu.announce Subject: AT&T Claims patent on part of MIT's X11 server. Date: 20 Feb 91 14:38:26 GMT Organization: /usr1/ben/jkh/.organization I thought that this would be of general interest, to say the least.. The following letter has been sent by AT&T to all (to my knowledge) MIT X Consortium members, though its claims potentially affect *all* users of The X Window System, version 11 / revision 3 and above. To quote the letter directly (all misreferences to "X Windows" intentionally left in): < Dated February 7, 1991 > Dear : AT&T is aware that your company/institution is an active participant in the further development of the X Windows System. We assume that your company/institution is, or may well be, commercially marketing or internally developing products(s) which are based on an X Windows System implementation. Consequently, we bring to your attention an AT&T patent #4,555,775 invented by Robert C. Pike and issued on November 26, 1985. The "backing store" functionality available in the X Windows System is an implementation of this patented invention, therefore, your company/institution needs a license from AT&T for the use of this patent. We will be pleased to discuss licensing arrangements with the appropriate organization in your company/institution. To expedite these arrangements, your response should be directed to Ms. O. T. Franz at: AT&T 10 Independence Boulevard Room: LL2-3A28 Warren, New Jersey 07059-6799 Telephone: 908-580-5929 FAX: 908-580-6355 We look forward to resolving this matter in the near future. Very truly yours, A.E. Herron Manager, Intellectual Property Copy to: L. Bearson O.T. Franz R.E. Kerwin ---- So. What more can I say? You are, of course, free to direct your responses to those listed above.. :-) One also wonders about other window systems using "backing store" and the degree to which this patent will be enforced. Jordan -- PCS Computer Systeme GmbH, Munich, West Germany UUCP: pyramid!pcsbst!jkh jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com EUNET: unido!pcsbst!jkh ARPA: jkh@violet.berkeley.edu or hubbard@decwrl.dec.com Seems like this `back store' patent would also cover some aspects of intuition. Jordan even wonders about other window systems that use `back store'. Anyone care to commment? Loren J. Rittle -- ``NewTek stated that the Toaster *would not* be made to directly support the Mac, at this point Sculley stormed out of the booth...'' -A scene at the recent MacExpo. Gee, you wouldn't think that an Apple Exec would be so worried about one little Amiga Device... Loren J. Rittle l-rittle@uiuc.edu