|
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, February 10 2013 @ 03:54 PM EST |
I've been struggling to think of an industrial scenario to
go with the bare algorithm. Best I can come up with is
gambling on the soccer ball going through standard goalposts
in FIFA matches where the goalie isn't in position.
However, something like that happens with the DVD patents,
say, or the MPEG-LA patent pool which covers audio decoding.
The algorithms in question have no other use than, say,
decoding MP3 files - so the patents cover all likely uses -
and no other algorithm will do the job.
Such algorithms are abstract, mathematical in nature, and
not tied to any particular implementation in hardware. But
since it has 'industrial application' (people pay for
entertainment), MPEG-LA could obtain an injunction should a
Linux distribution incorporate the relevant codec by
default.
Such algorithms then appear in packages issued by a third
party based in places which don't recognize them as
patentable subject matter, or in places (like Antigua) which
are permitted by the WTO to violate US copyright and patent
law (because the US behaved badly).
Hell of a way to run a civilization.[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
|
|
|
|
|