Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S933160AbWLaMlw (ORCPT ); Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:41:52 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S933163AbWLaMlv (ORCPT ); Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:41:51 -0500 Received: from ns.firmix.at ([62.141.48.66]:49241 "EHLO ns.firmix.at" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S933160AbWLaMlu (ORCPT ); Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:41:50 -0500 Subject: Re: Open letter to Linux kernel developers (was Re: Binary Drivers) From: Bernd Petrovitsch To: Erik Mouw Cc: Valdis.Kletnieks@vt.edu, Giuseppe Bilotta , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org In-Reply-To: <20061222115921.GT3073@harddisk-recovery.com> References: <200612162007.32110.marekw1977@yahoo.com.au> <4587097D.5070501@opensound.com> <13yc6wkb4m09f$.e9chic96695b.dlg@40tude.net> <200612211816.kBLIGFdf024664@turing-police.cc.vt.edu> <20061222115921.GT3073@harddisk-recovery.com> Content-Type: text/plain Organization: http://www.firmix.at/ Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2006 13:41:39 +0100 Message-Id: <1167568899.3318.39.camel@gimli.at.home> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Evolution 2.8.2.1 (2.8.2.1-2.fc6) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Firmix-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.56 on ns.firmix.at X-Spam-Score: -2.41 () AWL,BAYES_00,FORGED_RCVD_HELO X-Firmix-Spam-Status: No, hits=-2.41 required=5 X-Firmix-Spam-Score: -2.41 () AWL,BAYES_00,FORGED_RCVD_HELO Content-Disposition: inline Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 1643 Lines: 34 On Fri, 2006-12-22 at 12:59 +0100, Erik Mouw wrote: > On Thu, Dec 21, 2006 at 01:16:15PM -0500, Valdis.Kletnieks@vt.edu wrote: > > At least nVidia *does* actually Get It, they just don't have a choice in > > implementing it, because all their current hardware includes patents that > > they licensed from other companies (I believe some of the OpenGL stuff that > > originated at SGI and got bought by Microsoft is involved, but I have no > > hard references for actual patent numbers). And then they have the big > > problem - do they keep using the patent in order to boost performance, > > or no? > > Wasn't the whole idea about patents that you publish your invention? Of course. But it is much better for the patent-interested parties if it wouldn't be necessary (and said parties are actually complaining about the "must publish" thing). And the times are long gone when a patent was actually "publishing". They use since ages there own secret language so - the patent system as such doen not enforce "publisching" (except you are one of speakers of "patent quak"). - that even the most trivial idea looks like it is very complicated. - that even an already implemented idean looks like it is very new. Bernd -- Firmix Software GmbH http://www.firmix.at/ mobil: +43 664 4416156 fax: +43 1 7890849-55 Embedded Linux Development and Services - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/