Re: [pgsql-www] Software Patents - Mailing list pgsql-advocacy

From Bruce Momjian
Subject Re: [pgsql-www] Software Patents
Date
Msg-id 200504221724.j3MHOqQ29612@candle.pha.pa.us
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: [pgsql-www] Software Patents  (Josh Berkus <josh@agliodbs.com>)
List pgsql-advocacy
Josh Berkus wrote:
> Marc,
>
> > But, as a community it doesn't affect us either, since we don't include
> > patent'd software, and if we are made aware of a patent related issue, we
> > work to remove it
> > Unless I'm missing something?
>
> Yep.    We all spent a couple weeks discussing the ARC patent.   Tom spent
> several days coding a workaround.
>
> Now imagine if someone were to hit us with a patent claim every week.   Would
> we get any development done?  Would any commercial user be willing to use our
> software without indemnity if they were getting served every month (or even
> once)?
>
> That's the threat that software patents hold for OSS.

Yep, that is the big open issue.  What if a patent hits that we can't
easily work around?  We could be crippled.

But, that is my personal opinion.  I don't think that should be codified
in our web site.

--
  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  pgman@candle.pha.pa.us               |  (610) 359-1001
  +  If your life is a hard drive,     |  13 Roberts Road
  +  Christ can be your backup.        |  Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073

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