[oclug] Fwd: [edlug] Rather Depressing

[Rod Giffin]

On Sat, 2005-03-19 at 01:25 +0000, Greg wrote:
Rod Giffin wrote:

> > That's a common misconception.  A patent for a method of skinning cats
> > does not patent all methods for skinning cats, and there is more
> > than one way to do it.
>
> http://www.groklaw.net/

Groklaw, and the SCO situation is not about patents.  It's about helping
people understand the issues surrounding SCO's legal threats, and SCO
claims copyright infringement and breach of contract, not patent
infringement.  There's a big difference.

>    That is what innovation is all about, coming up with new
> > ways.
>
> True.  However, we are discussing patents

I was discussing patents.  There is nothing wrong with coming up with a
different solution to a problem.  In fact, I can also take a patent, and
improve on it, and then patent the improvement.  Even if the original
patent holder wants to, he cannot without my permissioon, because the
improvement is protected by a separate patent.  For your reference, there
is a nice guide to patents at the CIPO.  Their site is here:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/welcome/welcom-e.html

Note that it has sections on patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial
designs, and integrated circuit topographies.  Each of these is a unique
form of protection for one's creation based on the nature of the creation.

Rod.