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On Friday 08 April 2005 8:39 pm, Neil Williams wrote:
After a recent thread here about the dangers of software patents to "pure software", this has cropped up on one of the mailing lists discussing the computer implemented directive. I've added links to the actual patent documents by using a pattern match - apologies if any don't actually work, but they should. Since word processing is an often used example, this list of granted patents may be handy (by Carsten Svaneborg):
To start you off, this one IS in force:
EP0262804 Data input and processing apparatus having spelling-check function and means for dealing with misspelled word. http://swpat.ffii.org/pikta/txt/ep/0262/804/
That one isn't on that section of FFII yet. http://swpat.ffii.org/patents/stats/index.en.html#method Applicant/Proprietor BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Patent Granted with effect from 29.04.1992 Date Next Renewal Due 01.09.2005 Status PATENT IN FORCE but not (yet) legally enforceable. That's just one. Searching via Google brings up: http://gauss.ffii.org/PatentView/EP262804 http://patent.tange.dk/ziki/EP/2/6/EP262804.html When reading a patent description, remember these key points: The Abstract and Description are there to mislead you. Only the claims matter. If it is described as a typewriter but claimed as a machine, then a keyboard can be made to infringe. If it is claimed as a typewriter, then a keyboard can still infringe as "contributory" if the entire purpose of the keyboard invention was to replicate the effects of a typewriter. (Which is obviously true.) Whether you infringe a patent is decided by *lawyers* not developers, users or anyone with any technical or computer expertise. Think as a man on the Clapham omnibus would think: If it looks like a typewriter and it sounds like a typewriter and it can write words by typing on it, then it is a typewriter - even if it is a keyboard. -- Neil Williams ============= http://www.dcglug.org.uk/ http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/ http://sourceforge.net/projects/isbnsearch/ http://www.neil.williamsleesmill.me.uk/ http://www.biglumber.com/x/web?qs=0x8801094A28BCB3E3
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