tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990922102626688253.post312444609217447997..comments2023-04-15T11:42:35.385-04:00Comments on Go To Hellman: Copyrighting the Number 42: a StuntErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14172740163003223132noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990922102626688253.post-34525182937548824612012-11-27T19:07:38.753-05:002012-11-27T19:07:38.753-05:00The other important difference between patents and...The other important difference between patents and copyrights: if you hold a patent and I happen to come up with the same idea completely independently, I am still liable. Whereas if you hold copyright and I happen by coincidence to write a similar book, that's fine.Mike Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06039663158335543317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990922102626688253.post-86348854577620666842012-11-27T18:47:09.826-05:002012-11-27T18:47:09.826-05:00Frank, you and Stallman are correct, patents cover...Frank, you and Stallman are correct, patents cover ideas. Copyrights (which are what this post is about) cover expressions of ideas. Patents have short terms compared to copyrights, and are invalid if there is "prior art" or if the use is obvious to those "skilled in the art". It's quite common to confuse patents and copyrights – thanks for allowing me to help reduce the confusion!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04483241450401134977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990922102626688253.post-14612943845293038602012-11-27T18:28:53.751-05:002012-11-27T18:28:53.751-05:00Great post Eric. But correct me if I'm wrong: ...Great post Eric. But correct me if I'm wrong: it looks to me as though patenting software is much like patenting an idea, which you say is not possible. I happened to read some of Richard Stallman's writings when writing a piece about Copyleft recently (here: http://www.gnu.org/doc/fsfs-ii-2.pdf, see Chapters 23 and 24 in particular). In fact, Stallman writes "Patents cover ideas; each patent is a monopoly on practicing some idea, which is described in the patent itself" (p. 139). He's making a convincing case of patenting as protecting an idea, isn't he? Or is he fooling us, you think?Frank Huysmanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478421167690207333noreply@blogger.com