Messages in this thread | | | Date | Wed, 3 Nov 1999 14:31:29 -0800 (PST) | From | Joe <> | Subject | Re: Patent |
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As a former Patent Examiner, I feel that I can shed some light on patents. Someting to keep in mind when looking at them is the claims. Claims are really the major part of a patent that have any relevance.
Claims 1 and 11 are the independant claims and both of those claims specifically state "A method of processing dates in a database,..."
Does the linux kernel use a database? (retorical q here) I think not .. thus this patent is irrelevant to what is being done in kernel code.
However all the compaines that are using 'pivit logic' with databases are at risk of possible infringement. Now even if you have proof of this logic in the linux kernel one must prove that it is obvious to use such logic within a database. Seeing as just about eveyone in the industry uses this kind of logic in there database apps, I'd say it was not rocket science but I am not an attourney 'I have legs' (LOL).
Personally I am ammazed at what people today call novel and want patent protection over. Companies want to patent there data structures.. no joke a certain co in a certain northwest state was and probably still is trying this. I had to leave that place cause my waders were not tall enough.
So next patent you see read the claims carefully first and look for the independant claims as they are the 'meat'. The rest of the patent is there for clairification as to what the claims are referring to and for the legal b******t that goes into patents.
Yes, I have lost faith in a system so widely abused! Joe Acosta
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