KSM runs into patent trouble [LWN.net]

KSM runs into patent trouble

Posted Dec 4, 2008 8:10 UTC (Thu) by Felix.Braun (subscriber, #3032)
Parent article: KSM runs into patent trouble

Why does US-law dictate what gets into the kernel and what doesn't? If I remember correctly, while the US had hissy-fits about encryption software, there used to be an international fork of the kernel that included strong encryption. If KSM doesn't get included into mainline because of this, it might be time for distributors to create special feature-stripped versions of their distributions for the US, while the rest of the world can profit from new developments in software engineering.

(Log in to post comments)

KSM runs into patent trouble

Posted Dec 4, 2008 8:13 UTC (Thu) by Felix.Braun (subscriber, #3032) [Link]

Not to single out the US, there are probably numerous other jurisdictions that recognise software patents (the EU might just get there). So this feature-stripped distribution should be directed towards all jurisdictions hampered by software patent laws.

KSM runs into patent trouble

Posted Dec 4, 2008 22:51 UTC (Thu) by adegeus (subscriber, #22055) [Link]

The turnaround of the EU to the dark side of US software
patent style has not worked out quite as succesful for
the IP lords so far.

Perhaps dragging this issue for another few years in the EU
is just enough before the whole patent system will collapse all
together. Remember that by 2013 there will be a stock
of 1 million stupid patent applications be waiting for
analysis by the USPTO, and the patent database will be
a black hole infringing itself from one side to the other.

Patents don't warrant a fork

Posted Dec 4, 2008 8:45 UTC (Thu) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link]

Other projects had such issues for years. GIF patend, IDEA (ecryption algorythm) patent, etc. They all just had switches to enable them (default is "disabled", of course). Remember: kernel source can not infringe the patent - it's just a bunch of text. If you want to create binary - it's up to you to prove taht you are not infringing. The one who'll bring compiled binary of KSM to US will be infringer, not kernel developers...

Patents don't warrant a fork

Posted Dec 5, 2008 13:21 UTC (Fri) by cortana (subscriber, #24596) [Link]

I've seen the assertion that source does not infringe several times... but can anyone back it up? Otherwise, we could just implement our MPEG encoders in Python and not have to worry about this patent nonsense... :)