D&C GLug - Home Page

[ Date Index ] [ Thread Index ] [ <= Previous by date / thread ] [ Next by date / thread => ]

[LUG] Sony denied two software patents

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/sony_refused_p2p_patents/

Although the grounds for refusal appear weak: not because each
application is clearly a piece of (garbage) "software for a
computer-as-such" but because the entire programme is installed on both
sides of a P2P connection and therefore runs on "a" computer!

I have no idea how this is meant to reflect on client-server programmes.
It appears to allow for patents on "asymmetric" programmes where the
patent application covers both the client and the server and where
functionality is only available when both client and server can
communicate over a network. Basically, any server software that cannot
be tested from that server (i.e. a server programme that does not
provide a localhost client, even for debugging.)

So, on the one hand the rejection is welcome but, as ever, clarity has
not been achieved.

-- 

Neil Williams
=============
http://www.data-freedom.org/
http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/
http://www.linux.codehelp.co.uk/


Attachment: signature.asc
Description: OpenPGP digital signature

-- 
The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list
FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html