Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 14:38:08 -0700 (MST) From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: chat@freebsd.org Subject: RTLinux Patent Message-ID: <200002102138.OAA03354@lariat.lariat.org>
next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
In case folks on the list haven't heard yet, one of the developers of RTLinux claims to have *patented* a fairly generic (and probably not original) scheme for placing a real time kernel underneath a non-real-time OS. What's more outrageous still is what he says about licensing. The "inventor," Victor Yodaiken, says: What you should think of the patent depends on who you are. If you are an RTLinux user, or even if you use some other version of realtime Linux, then you should be thrilled that there is some legal protection for using the system royalty free and you should send me some money to help me pay the extensive legal fees involved. If you want to use my idea for a non-Linux or non open project, you should think about how to pay. In short, this person intends to use the patent to torpedo both closed source AND open source real-time operating system implementations other than Linux derivatives. He has indicated that he will demand royalties from anyone who releases a non-GPLed product -- open source or not -- which he believes to infringe upon the patent. Ironically, the techniques mentioned in the patent appear to have been used by Intel in its real time layer for Windows, as well as in IBM's VM/CMS. Thus, the patent may be invalidated. But is it a harbinger of things to come? Will other adherents of the GPL attempt to use patents to force the BSDs to adopt their license -- preventing the BSDs from serving as a developer-friendly alternative? For more information, see: http://lwn.net/2000/0210/a/vy-patent.html (Message from the "inventor") http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?&pn=US05995745__ (The patent) http://lwn.net/2000/0210/ (Linux Weekly News article) --Brett Glass P.S. -- Brett and Chris: Feel free to repost on Daemon Daily News if you'd like. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?200002102138.OAA03354>