tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19798349.post2015560370831732790..comments2024-03-22T12:20:48.920+00:00Comments on open...: Should an Open Source Licence Ever Be Patent-Agnostic?Glyn Moodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436885795882611585noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19798349.post-42376938080407550222009-04-10T11:44:00.000+00:002009-04-10T11:44:00.000+00:00Indeed, as is noted in the OSI submission. Confir...Indeed, as is noted in the OSI submission. Confirms that BSD licence occupies an unusual position.Glyn Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04436885795882611585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19798349.post-33776341403914107522009-04-10T10:20:00.000+00:002009-04-10T10:20:00.000+00:00BSD is copyright agnostic...BSD is copyright agnostic...Rob Myershttp://www.robmyers.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19798349.post-87728797000123995432009-04-09T13:59:00.000+00:002009-04-09T13:59:00.000+00:00Thanks - good points.Thanks - good points.Glyn Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04436885795882611585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19798349.post-54216952577135707032009-04-09T13:51:00.000+00:002009-04-09T13:51:00.000+00:00It depends upon your objective:1) Keep the source ...It depends upon your objective:<BR/><BR/>1) Keep the source code visible, OR<BR/>2) Emancipate the public<BR/><BR/>No doubt source code visibility may sometimes only be achieved subject to patent holder agreement. However, unless the patent is neutralised this doesn't emancipate the public.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't trade liberty for source code.<BR/><BR/>After all, that's what some people believe is the whole point of copyright and patent: "we'll suspend the public's liberty to utilise or reproduce your work if you publish it".<BR/><BR/>It's an invidious and unethical trade in the first place.<BR/><BR/>I see no benefit in answering your question. However if the question was "Should a Free Software license ever be Patent Agnostic?", then the answer should clearly be "No", unless of course it is a license restricted to jurisdictions in which software patents do not exist, but then it is still effectively cognisant of patents.Crosbie Fitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06554471152790988479noreply@blogger.com