Author: Robert Hyatt
Date: 07:24:41 01/07/04
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On January 07, 2004 at 10:04:59, Michel Langeveld wrote: >On January 07, 2004 at 09:59:48, Robert Hyatt wrote: > >>On January 07, 2004 at 09:02:21, Michel Langeveld wrote: >> >>>>I am in the process of doing this, but please make sure you have a license from >>>>me before embarking on such a venture. My patent attorneys would have a heart >>>>attack if they read your post! >>> >>>oops ... lots of concerns >>> >>>I thought the patent was only if someone goes commercial without a license from >>>you. >>> >>>Do I need a license if I don't release it commercial? >> >>No. You can write anything you want. You simply can't sell it or give it away. > >Can I give a patched sourcecode away for Winboard/xboard if I fix it that it >understand this variation? That's a good question. Here is the test, according to an attorney I talked to: If someone patents something, they then hold the right to that "something". You can build one of those for yourself with absolutely no risk of infringement, but the minute you sell it or give it away, you then impact the potential benefit to the patent holder, and that might turn out to be actionable. However, this is a game, and the rules are public, so writing a program to play that game should be perfectly within the internationally accepted patent rules. However, I'd suggest asking an attorney friend (if you know one) about the law where you live.
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