Re: [OT] use of patented algorithms in the kernel ok or not?

[Stefan Traby]

On Fri, Dec 19, 2003 at 09:47:05AM +0100, Arjan van de Ven wrote:
> On Fri, 2003-12-19 at 00:11, Lennert Buytenhek wrote:
> 
> > However, I am aware that there is a patent on this algorithm, exclusively
> > licensed to a major manufacturer of networking equipment.
> 
> a patent in which country ?
> 
> Maybe we need a CONFIG_USA so that we can enhance the kernel for
> non-unitedstatians while keeping it safe to run in that one country with
> the patents as well.

Ask a lawyer first - ahm - unless you have CONFIG_GUANTANAMO_BAY enabled...

Raph Levien holds some GPL-friendly patents.
see: http://www.levien.com/patents.html.

Try to get a patent holder to make a statement like Raph did and it's
suitable for Linux and other free software projects.

-- 

  ciao - 
    Stefan
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