Re: Versioning file system

[Jeffrey V. Merkey]

Jan Harkes wrote:

> On Sat, Jun 16, 2007 at 04:12:14AM -0600, Jeffrey V. Merkey wrote:
>  
>
> > Jeffrey V. Merkey wrote:
> >    
> >
> > > over).  There's also another patent filed as well.  It's a noble 
> > > effort to do a free version, but be aware there's some big guns with 
> > > patents out there already, not to mention doing this is complex beyond 
> > > belief.
> > >      
> > I reviewed your sample implementation, and it appears to infringe 3 
> > patents already.    You should do some research on this.  ~~~~
> >    
>
> First of all, you are responding to someone in the UK, I thought they
> didn't even have software patents over there. Second, I didn't see any
> implementation, just a high level description. Finally advising anyone
> (who is not an actual patent lawyer that could correctly interpret the
> language and scope of a patent) to go search out patents seems pretty
> bad advice. That can only result in not even attempting to research some
> potentially new and innovative approach.
>
> Researching prior published work in the area is considerably more
> helpful. Especially when something is complex beyond belief it has
> probably attracted various researchers over time and there are most
> likely various different solutions that have been explored previously.
> Such existing work can form a good basis for further work.
>
> Finally, even if there are patents they could be too limited in scope,
> overly broad, can be invalidated due to prior art. It may also be
> possible that a patent holder has no problem granting a royalty free
> license for a GPL licensed implementation.
>
> Jan
>
>
>  
When you get into the recycling issues with storage, the patents come 
into play. Also, using the file name to reference revisions is already 
the subject of a patent previously filed (I no longer own the patent, I 
sold them to Canopy). There is a third one about to be issued.

The patents are:
*
6,862,609
**6,795,895

and this one about to be issued:

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/fetch.jsp?LANG=ENG&DBSELECT=PCT&SERVER_TYPE=19&SORT=1211506-KEY&TYPE_FIELD=256&IDB=0&IDOC=1205953&C=10&ELEMENT_SET=IA,WO,TTL-EN&RESULT=1&TOTAL=3&START=1&DISP=25&FORM=SEP-0/HITNUM,B-ENG,DP,MC,PA,ABSUM-ENG&SEARCH_IA=US2005045566&QUERY=%28IN%2fmerkey%29+

The last one was filed with WIPO and has international protection, UK 
included.

Jeff

*

Jeff
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