[Asterisk-Dev] Re: writing a GPL G.729?

[Tom Ivar Helbekkmo]

"Race Vanderdecken" <asterisk at vanderdecken.com> writes:

> NO, you can't violate patents because you feel it is unfair for them
> to have the patent.

Of course not.  However, if some mechanism is patented in the USA, but
not, say, in Liberia, then a Liberian could build a machine that uses
that mechanism, and sell it (or give it away) in Liberia.  Roy is
asking about the possibility of writing a G.729 codec in Norway, and
distributing it in Norway, and in other countries where G.729 is not
patented.  He is presupposing that G.729 is not protected by patent
(or by some other legal agreement) in Norway.  If he's wrong, then say
so.  Don't put words into his mouth by claiming that he wants to do
this because he thinks patents are unfair.

> These are the rules of the game.

Paul Graham (famous for his work with Lisp, and for inventing what is
now the main mechanism of anti-spam tools) has written a very
interesting essay about the rules of the game, what he feels is wrong
with them, and how they're inadvertently damaging the USA.  You can
read it at <http://www.paulgraham.com/gba.html>.  You'll also find a
number of other, very well-written, essays on his web site.

> When software becomes totally Free, with no patent protection, there
> will be no one left to write the new software.

Says you.  Some of us think you're completely, utterly, wrong.  Actual
innovation does not take place in the big companies with the many
patent lawyers -- it's happening in the Open Source world, and in the
small startup companies that grow out of it.

-tih
-- 
Tom Ivar Helbekkmo, Senior System Administrator, EUnet Norway Hosting
www.eunet.no  T +47-22092958 M +47-93013940 F +47-22092901 FWD 484145