Re: ARC patent

Jeff Davis <jdavis-pgsql@empires.org>

From: Jeff Davis <jdavis-pgsql@empires.org>
To: Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us>
Cc: pgsql-hackers <pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org>
Date: 2005-01-17T21:06:04Z
Lists: pgsql-hackers
> You want scarey --- forget the IBM patent.  Find an Oracle or Microsoft
> patent that is similar to something in our code.  It will might not be
> exact, but our ARC isn't exact either.
> 
> Basically any organization that wants to produce patent-free code would
> need one lawyer for every five programmers, and even then it isn't 100%.
> The method I have heard to find infringement sounds pretty imprecise.
> 
> The remedy for patent infringment I think is usually to stop using the
> patented idea, rather than punitive damages, unlike copyright.
> 

Is that for all kinds of patent infringement, or only the
didn't-know-better kind? Right now I don't think we can claim
"didn't-know-better".

Also, does "stop" mean stop distributing the patented process, or stop
using all installations?

Regards,
	Jeff Davis