[From nobody Sat Feb 24 21:32:18 2007 Return-Path: <bxl-bounces@ffii.org> X-Original-To: joao@silvaneves.org Delivered-To: joao@silvaneves.org Received: from vic.ffii.org (vic.ffii.org [82.197.166.218]) by mail.1407.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 21D2320269 for <joao@silvaneves.org>; Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:22:36 +0000 (WET) Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=vic.ffii.org ident=list) by vic.ffii.org with esmtp (Exim 4.50 #1) id 1HL4Kj-00039q-3F; Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:21:33 +0100 Received: from smtp20.nijmegen.internl.net ([217.149.192.18]) by vic.ffii.org with esmtp (Exim 4.50 #1) id 1HL4KZ-00039d-Nd for bxl@ffii.org; Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:21:31 +0100 Received: from hatertsehei.nijmegen.internl.net by smtp20.nijmegen.internl.net via hatertsehei.nijmegen.internl.net [217.149.192.13] with ESMTP for <bxl@ffii.org> id l1OLLLeC011100 (8.13.6/2.04); Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:21:21 +0100 (CET) Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:21:20 +0100 (MET) From: "S.M. Claassen" <stalemat@inter.nl.net> X-Sender: stalemat@hatertsehei.nijmegen.internl.net To: bxl@ffii.org Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.21.0702242212250.11101-100000@hatertsehei.nijmegen.internl.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.4 (2006-07-26) on vic.ffii.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.8 required=7.0 tests=AWL,BAYES_50, GREYLIST_ISWHITE,UNPARSEABLE_RELAY autolearn=ham version=3.1.4 Subject: US Supreme Court takes on software patents X-BeenThere: bxl@ffii.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: Silvester Claassen <s.m.claassen@member.fsf.org> List-Id: Organising Events in Brussels -- Organisation d'Evenements a Bruxelles <bxl.ffii.org> List-Unsubscribe: <https://lists.ffii.org/mailman/listinfo/bxl>, <mailto:bxl-request@ffii.org?subject=unsubscribe> List-Archive: <https://lists.ffii.org/mailman/private/bxl> List-Post: <mailto:bxl@ffii.org> List-Help: <mailto:bxl-request@ffii.org?subject=help> List-Subscribe: <https://lists.ffii.org/mailman/listinfo/bxl>, <mailto:bxl-request@ffii.org?subject=subscribe> Sender: bxl-bounces@ffii.org Errors-To: bxl-bounces@ffii.org Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable ------- Court Takes on Software Patents Washington Post (02/22/07) P. D1; Barnes, Robert; Sipress, Alan The Supreme Court is hearing a case that asks whether or not the distribution of computer code, separate from any hardware, can be subject to patent laws. Microsoft is being tried for copyright infringement for the global distribution of a system that translates speech into code, which was patented by AT&T. Microsoft has admitted to infringing on the copyright in computers sold in the United States, but claims that it is not responsible for its programs being installed on computers by foreign manufacturers. A patent law amendment passed by Congress in 1984 forbids the shipping of components of patented inventions overseas for assembly in the attempt to sidestep patent laws. What justices must decide is whether code is a "component" of a patented invention, and whether it was "supplied" from the United States. Software companies are worried that a decision in favor of AT&T would make U.S. patent law apply to worldwide use of U.S.-developed software, potentially making it more appealing to move research and development operations overseas. "Facts resolve this case," says AT&T attorney Seth Waxman. "Microsoft has 'supplied' a 'component' that when 'combined with hardware' enables the practice of AT&T's invention." Microsoft attorney Theodore B. Olson claims the code is more of a blueprint, as it can be used to produce programs that do not infringe on the AT&T patent. The government sees the software that utilizes the code as the component in question, not the code by itself, explains Assistant Solicitor General Daryl Joessefer. He compares the code to the ridges on a key and a program to the key itself, pointing out that "a key has a series of ridges on it that enable it to open a lock. But the component is the key that actually turns the lock, not the abstract sequence of ridges on the key." Two lower courts have sided with AT&T, and now the Supreme Court must make its decision by July.=20 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/21/AR200702210= 0087.html?sub=3DAR ------- Cordially yours, Silvester Claassen _______________________________________________ bxl mailing list (un)subscribe via http://lists.ffii.org/mailman/listinfo/bxl and http://akt= iv.ffii.org/. If you subscribed via the latter, you can unsubscribe only = by going to both.=20 ]