Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!ads.com!saturn!mfeldman From: mfeldman@zodiac.ads.com (Mike Feldman) Newsgroups: comp.windows.x Subject: AT&T Claims patent on part of MIT's X11 server. Message-ID: Date: 22 Feb 91 17:10:49 GMT References: Sender: usenet@ads.com (USENET News) Organization: ADS, That Knowledge-Based Systems Company in Mountain View Lines: 106 In-Reply-To: bhanafee@deimos.ads.com's message of 22 Feb 91 10:30:04 In article bhanafee@deimos.ads.com (Brian Hanafee) writes: In article <9102220300.AA24170@rice-chex> gnulists@AI.MIT.EDU (GNU Mailing List Maintainence) writes: From: gnulists@AI.MIT.EDU (GNU Mailing List Maintainence) Newsgroups: gnu.announce Date: 22 Feb 91 03:00:42 GMT 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 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