Re: [gnome-db] OleDB

[Jean-Michel POURE <jm poure freesurf fr>]

Le Lundi 12 Mai 2003 18:13, Rodrigo Moya a écrit :
> Apart from that, there's nothing we can gain from them looking at the
> code, since we can't do the same with theirs.

During a discussion, MS ***may*** learn more about GnomeDb and discover its 
exact scope, i.e. discover what has not yet been implemented and "patent" the 
underlying ideas. Also, they ***may*** "patent" your ideas before you program 
them.

No need to look at the source code. This is not a question of friendship but a 
question of law, even if the laws should and hopefully will be changed.

There is very little you can do against it, apart asking MS a preliminary 
written agreement that they will never "patent" your ideas worldwide, 
including the US and Europe, nor use the "such as" clause. The agreement must 
be a signed by an authorized person from Microsoft in the mother company, not 
a subsidiary. It will not prevent them from "patenting" non-implemented 
features of GnomeDB.

IMHO, the best is to stay away from MS.

Cheers, Jean-Michel