[Asterisk-Users] Digium and mailing lists

[Kevin Walsh]

> Kevin Walsh wrote:
> > Steve Underwood [steveu at coppice.org] wrote:
> > > Correct. Signal processing algorithms are not patentable in most
> > > places. Applied signal processing methods are.
> > > 
> > Only when "applied" by creating a physical device.  I understand that
> > software "devices" are allowed by the USPTO, but that's exactly the
> > point you're missing: The USPTO only applies to the USA, other countries
> > have other patent rules, and most countries don't consider software
> > applications to be patentable.  If you have another meaning of "applied"
> > in the context of G.729 patents then please explain further.
> > 
> So you can you do G.729 compression without a physical device? Neat
> trick. Can I see? :-) 
>
Please read who you've written before sending.  While you're at it,
please read what I've written too.

As I've said (possibly more than once), physical devices CAN be patented
but software and mathematical algorithms etc. CANNOT.  Therefore, the
various algorithms that make up G.729 cannot be legally patented and
enforced under current British and European Union legislation.

> 
> I'm from the UK. When I lived there I never knew anyone in telecoms DSP
> who had any doubt about the patentability of these things. That's why
> they took out so many patents. :-)
>
Perhaps they need to retain new legal council before they waste any more
money. :-)

See here: http://swpat.ffii.org/.

> 
> That's enough. This is getting tedious. Some people want to believe that
> codecs can't be patented so much, there really is no arguing with them -
> despite what the patent databases in Europe might say.
> 
You're right - this is getting tedious.  I suggest that you find out
more about British and European patent law before posting any further
followups.

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