[Haskell-cafe] Software patents covered in GHC?

[Manuel M T Chakravarty]

austin seipp:
> *sigh* CC'ing to the rest of haskell-cafe for completeness. I need to
> change 'reply all' to a default in my email I guess.
> 
> On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 12:19 PM, austin seipp <as at hacks.yi.org> wrote:
>> Hello,
>> 
>> Realistically, there probably is. Considering everything down to
>> linked lists are patented by the USPO, I'd be willing to bet (at least
>> a dollar or two) that there are many patents out there that apply to
>> the code used in GHC. I don't know if you could say anything different
>> about *any* nontrivial software, to be quite honest.
>> 
>> IANAL however, so I won't attempt to claim in what countries these
>> patents apply, nor could I cite you patent numbers (legalese being
>> terse and software patents so seemingly open to interpretation
>> sometimes, it would be hard to narrow down anyway I think.)

In fact, you are better of not to know.  Given that GHC (like all non-trivial software) surely infringes on some patents, the damages that a patent holder can sue you for are less if you do not know about the patents you are infringing on.  IIRC, a plaintiff can triple the charges if they can reasonably show that you have been aware of the patents that you are infringing on.  Nasty business!

Manuel

>> On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 12:10 PM, Shakthi Kannan <shakthimaan at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> 
>>> I would like to know if there are any software algorithms used in the
>>> Glasgow Haskell Compiler that have been patented? If yes, in which
>>> countries do they apply?
>>> 
>>> Just curious to know.
>>> 
>>> SK
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Shakthi Kannan
>>> http://www.shakthimaan.com
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Haskell-Cafe mailing list
>>> Haskell-Cafe at haskell.org
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>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Regards,
>> Austin
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Regards,
> Austin
> 
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