Re: [gNewSense-users] Mono & gNewSense

[Paul O'Malley]

Kevin Dean wrote:
> The concept of "functions" in software is "covered" by a patent. The
> idea of "exit codes" is covered as is the concept of "variables".
> 
> ALL computer code, then, is subject to patents. This makes Mono as
> "threatened" by patents as, say, the keyboard driver in Xorg, or
> Amarok or any software which is unquestionably "free". That said,
> there would be NO distro that could exist (not even MS Windows or Mac
> OS X) if the existance of patents negated the use of a given software.
> 
> gNewSense recognizes that and includes uncontested code. Since there's
> never actually been a contested piece of code in gNewSense it's a
> rather moot point, however.
> 
> I personally stand against overly broad software patents on general
> principal but don't think it's that big of an issue really, since
> everybody in the world knows pulling the trigger would be MAD.
> (Mutually assured destruction).
> 


+1, this is moot.

Regards,

Paul