Software patents and FreeBSD

[Matthew D. Fuller]

On Mon, Jul 18, 2005 at 11:25:23PM -0700 I heard the voice of
David Schwartz, and lo! it spake thus:
> 
> > On Sunday 10 July 2005 08:16 pm, Matthew D. Fuller wrote:
> > Thank you. I am against patents all together. . . :-D

Well, I wasn't the one who said that...    but I'm going to agree with
it anyway, just for kicks   8-}

> If there was no patent system, the same effect would be achieved by
> contracts and EULAs. The net effect would be the same as with
> patents, except that the terms would not be limited by law and there
> would not be as much public disclosure.

No, there would be one important difference; the burden of proof would
be correct.  If you wanted sanctions against me, you'd have to
demonstrate that I stole the idea from you.


-- 
Matthew Fuller     (MF4839)   |  fullermd at over-yonder.net
Systems/Network Administrator |  http://www.over-yonder.net/~fullermd/
           On the Internet, nobody can hear you scream.