[Opensim-dev] Violating the GPL by looking (Re: Voice Module)

[Dzonatas]

If a company has a goal to create patents and they use the resources of 
source code to achieve that goal, then they would not want to use code 
that is copyrighted in such a way that restricts patents being created 
from it.

That is why I consider the BSD license insecure because it does not 
prevent someone else being able to patent your code. I know I'm not 
alone in that thought. Take for example the SCO vs. IBM /Linux/etc, 
there was nothing to prevent SCO from being able to patent the OS as it 
existed under the BSD. When unix-like software moved to the GPL (hurd, 
linux) any similarities could be claimed for patent infringement, and 
that they did! SCO's argument is not too far fetched, and it presents an 
example of a major security issue.

I'd imagine there are those that want to submit code to the project and 
want the security along with it. =)


Dickson, Mike (ISS Software) wrote:
>
> Re: the comment below, the GPL addresses patents relative to code that 
> is release under the GPL. That is, if a patent license is offered it 
> must be without restriction (open to all) and free.  So I don’t think 
> patents are an issue either.
>
>  
>
> FWIW, IMO the same protection doesn’t apply to network protocols.  So 
> if the clever folks on the OpenSIM project reverse engineered the 
> protocols involved between the viewer and the server back end and 
> someone owns patented IP on the protocol then that might be an issue. 
> Just commenting again on the assertion by some that “open protocols” 
> make things all ok.  True if they truly are open but I personally 
> haven’t seen any statement to that effect.  Maybe if the team is 
> looking for indemnification language that’s the place to push… And 
> stop worrying about who has seen such and so’s code.
>
>  
>
> The only possible monkeywrench is patent infringement, but I don't
>
> know if any patent filing has actually occurred on anything that
>
> Linden's employees may have invented.  (I can't find any, but that
>
> doesn't mean anything.)
>
>  
>
> My (non-lawyer, again) opinion?  Y'all need to lighten up.
>
>  
>
> -Kyle H
>
>  
>
> I’m also not a lawyer either, FWIW.
>
>  
>
> Mike
>
>  
>
>  
>
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