Date: Tue, 09 Jan 1996 10:55:11 +0100 From: "Julian H. Stacey" <jhs@vector.jhs.local> To: uhclem%nemesis@fw.ast.com (Frank Durda IV) Cc: current@freebsd.org, gene@starkhome.cs.sunysb.edu Subject: Re: conf.c and USL copyright at top Message-ID: <199601090955.KAA00481@vector.jhs.local> In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 21 Dec 1995 16:45:00 %2B0700." <m0tStkJ-000Cn2C@nemesis.lonestar.org>
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Hi, Reference: > From: uhclem%nemesis@fw.ast.com (Frank Durda IV) > Date: Thu, 21 Dec 95 16:45 WET > > Then they filed new copyrights that were accepted > (there aren't any checks worth mentioning on infringing copyrights). Huh ? I was taught (in England in ~'79) one didnt `file' a copyright but merely assert claim by placing at a minimum `Copyright Fred Smith 1996' on all copies. & the `checks' you mention ? only ones I can think of are lawyers of infringed sueing parties, not some neutral bureaucrat check mechanism. Are you sure you'r not confusing Copyrights with Patents or Trademarks or something else. ( One can file applications for Patents (& wait for grant or refusal), similar with trademarks I believe). > Circular queues and ring buffers were patented > in 1982! I guess nobody every used them before then - just ignore those > samples in Knuth that date back into the 70s. More likely the patent examiner had an off day, or was feeling lazy & passed the application too easily (*). <Diatribe On> (*) I don't know the USA system, but the system in the European Patent Office is biased towards granting rather than refusing applications; there's a points system, each examiner has to get so many per year, though they get extra fractional points for appeals hearings or some such, they get a whole easy point for a quick grant. Most patents I hear of seem Not to be in the public interest, but expect no changes, European goverments cream the profits from the EPO, & Euro. & USA patents get used to screw the worlds' citizenry, repress the growth of new small companies, & of course are looked on favourably by politicians with a penchant for trade disputes. References to shame the western world's patent offices with include: - Neem Tree (Ref Newsweek, late '95, USA PO) - White Mouse Gene (Ref Munich EPO 11or12/95) - Wheat Seed & Africa's Poor (BBC World Service, ~ 2 months ago) <Diatribe Off> I know numerous patent examiners, attorneys & secretaries, & understand just how easily the patent you mention, might have been granted. Julian -- Julian H. Stacey jhs@freebsd.org http://www.freebsd.org/~jhs/
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