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

[Jayson Vantuyl]

On Wed, Dec 08, 2004 at 12:23:31AM +0800, Steve Underwood wrote:
> Software is patentable in Europe and most other places, when it meets 
> certain conditions. It always has been. There is actually nothing in 
> European patent law directly about software. What is says is basically 
> pure maths can't be patented, while applied maths can. The means 
> fundamental algorithms can't be patented, but a piece of software that 
> has a "technical effect" can. I think "technical effect" is also a magic 
> term of some kind in US patent law. The US does, however, allow the 
> patenting of pure maths.
The US *DOESN'T* allow the patenting of pure math.  In fact, it
specifically forbids it.  However, the US disagrees with you as to
whether or not an algorithm is pure math.  FWIW, I think it obviously
is.
-- 
Jayson Vantuyl