Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!mtndew!friedl
From: friedl@mtndew.UUCP (Steve Friedl)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: Copyright of Coded Font Programs
Summary: Patents
Message-ID: <340@mtndew.UUCP>
Date: 10 Feb 90 21:59:41 GMT
References: <1701@adobe.UUCP> <3517@csccat.UUCP> <1735@adobe.UUCP> <1746@adobe.UUCP>
Organization: Steve's Barnburner 386
Lines: 27

In article <17859@rpp386.cactus.org> woody@rpp386.cactus.org (Woodrow Baker) writes:
>Hmmmm, when you disclose the hinting mechanism, this might really bolix
>things up [patented hints]
>

In article <1746@adobe.UUCP>, chesnutt@adobe.com (Stan Chesnutt) writes:
> Not really.  To patent a process or device, you must fully describe the
> technique or mechanism.

True, but in many counties the details of a patent >must< remain
secret until the patent is actually granted, and release of the
info prematurely is grounds to disallow the patent.  I suspect
that many companies patenting "important" things want to get all
the patents granted before they release any of the details.  Once
the patent is granted, then the details are of course released so
we can know what to avoid.

Related to this, "patented secret" -- a common phrase used by snake oil
salesmen -- is meaningless.

     Steve

-- 
Stephen J. Friedl, KA8CMY / Software Consultant / Tustin, CA / 3B2-kind-of-guy
+1 714 544 6561 voice   /   friedl@vsi.com   /   {uunet,attmail}!mtndew!friedl

"Winning the Balridge Quality Award is as easy as falling off a horse." - me