Proposed new OSD item - patent termination

[Bruce Perens]

Matthew Garrett wrote:

>You seem to be implying the issue is the use of /any/ patents against the open source community.
>  
>
This is due to concerns regarding the likely topics of Open Source 
development.

VLSI designs are already software. They are programmed into a gate-array 
in fundamentaly the same way that we program a computer. They are 
presently the topic of a vigorous Open Source development. Thus OpenCores.

Signal-processing designs, formerly in the domain of hardware, are also 
software. Thus, we have GNU Radio.

Three dimensional CAD designs, potentially realizable in tangible 
objects, are today exchanged as Open Source, and there is an Open Source 
program for controlling a milling machine.

So, yes, what falls out is that we will probably want to guard against 
enforcement of patents against Open Source designs, whether they are 
designs for software programs or teapots.

    Thanks

    Bruce