Re: [GENERAL] New MS patent: sounds like PG db rules

Nikola Milutinovic wrote:

Still, this sounds dangerous. It should be, even legally, WRONG to patent something that already exist and was not invented by the patentee. I know we can laugh off MS in court, but what about new DBs or project even built on PG that have this functionality? Software patents are a menace, I'm afraid. And this is still just one portion. IBM is also into this line of "work".

Nix.

----- Original Message ----
From: Dave Page <dpage@pgadmin.org>
To: Justin Clift <justin@salasaga.org>
Cc: Jonathan Bond-Caron <jbondc@gmail.com>; A. Kretschmer <andreas.kretschmer@schollglas.com>; pgsql-general@postgresql.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 3:18:31 PM
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] New MS patent: sounds like PG db rules

HI Justin

On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 2:06 PM, Justin Clift <justin@salasaga.org> wrote:

> I'm trying to point out that - PG is a database system - and MS may have
> just been granted a patent for a fundamental part of it.
>
> Thinking it might need looking in to, and trying to bring it to the
> attention of some that can (or even cares?). ;>

I don't think it's a major issue. Even if MS do think we infringe on
the patent it would be laughable for them to try to do anything about
it given that our rules implementation has provably existed in a
leading FOSS project for a decade or more.

--
Dave Page
EnterpriseDB UK: http://www.enterprisedb.com

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Question???  Does the license that Postgresql works under allow for a foundation or non for profit entity be created  that would hold onto patents for original  ideas of the contributors so WE can protect the users and developers of postgresql

The idea start playing the game MS and other Software companies are playing where they keep applying for  patents/copyrights where there is prior art.  This would protect everyone  in the development chain from having defend stupid lawsuits that these companies could bring against the biggest offenders.

USPTO  only looks at existing patents and trademarks to see if they can issue a patent .  So if a patent  makes claims on already existing art it puts the burden on the original inventor to get the patent revoke.  Doing the above would help put an end to this.

This is just a suggestion.