Re: [Vala] Microsoft patents & Vala

[Steffen Schaumburg <steffen schaumburger info>]

On 23/11/10 00:41, Aleksander Wabik wrote:
> The question about how much microsoft patents (especially for .net and
> c#) do threaten Vala? The thing that I've found on the internet -
> rather critical for the whole Vala project idea:
> http://linuxpatents.blogspot.com/2010/05/language-envy.html
It is sadly _completely_ impossible write non-trivial software without
"violating" patents. That's the evil of software patents. Even the most
primitive and obvious "ideas" are patented, like FAT. Even if one tried,
it is simply not possible to either research all patents that cover a
certain piece of software, nor to write useful software without
"violating" someone's unethical claim to a monopoly on certain ideas. It
is important to note that you're no safer with other languages, since
even if the language&STDLIB are covered by a loophole-free patent
promise, that doesn't extend to your own ideas put in code. Even if you
get licenses from patent holders, they never, EVER guarantee that the
license covers all applicable patents for a certain technology (prime
example: MPEG LA).

As I see it you basically have 4 choices:
- Don't write software.
- Work for a gigantic corporation that can afford to cross-license the
competition and to pay off the so-called patent trolls.
- Ignore the whole topic, realising that there really isn't anything one
can do about it.
- Move somewhere where software patents are unenforcable.

<rant>No offense to the author of the blog post, but articles like that
are pure and unadulterated FUD. I especially love the accusation that
vala has "copy-pasted" lots of "Microsoft covered patents". The term
doesn't even make sense. I assume the author meant to say "Microsoft
technologies covered by patents". And as the author should be aware,
EVERYONE who writes software infringes patents. Microsoft certainly
does, as numerous "convictions" for "violations" proof. I find it hugely
offensive that the author essentially claims that Vala is in large parts
copying Microsoft's ideas, and accuses people who actually do something
useful of being stupid and negligent.</rant>

Cheers, Steffen

PS: IANAL