Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[James Dasher <jdasher AT ibiblio.org>]

On Oct 5, 2004, at 2:10 PM, Jim Allman wrote:

> Just for a change of pace, here's another technical/business topic to 
> ponder:

Woo-hoo!

> It seems like software patents are creating quite a minefield for 
> developers, and down-on-their-luck companies are starting to demand 
> tribute when they have no better way of making money.
>
> Does the emerging IP landscape (especially the stockpiling of patent 
> portfolios by BigCos) spell trouble for independent software 
> developers? I'm not just thinking about open-source projects, but also 
> niche commercial apps.

I'd be interested in hearing how open source apps especially provide 
grounds for techniques and methods in the public domain.  E.g., if 
someone had open-sourced a "one-click shopping" technique, would 
Amazon.com have been able to drive Barnes & Noble off the Web?

> Are y'all worried about this? Is anyone taking steps to deal with it 
> (liability insurance, patenting your own stuff, etc)? Or are you 
> depending on the plankton defense (they'll never both me, I'm nobody)?

For all the good it may do, Cory Doctorow reviewed recent action -- 
well, it's a bureaucracy, so let's call it "decision to review stuff" - 
regarding copyright at WIPO. 
<http://www.boingboing.net/2004/10/04/massive_victory_at_w.html>

Cheers, y'all --

--
James Dasher
misterdasher dot com
IM misterdasher