Mateusz Loskot <mateusz@loskot.net> wrote:
Hi,
First, please, forgive me if this subject have been discussed already, but I couldn't find anything in the lists archives and Boost docs.
Today, my friend was told (warned) on the #c++ IRC channel that Boost uses some technologies already patented by IBM (and may be other entities), like RCU or SMR (and may be more). I have no idea if this is true or not, so I'd like to ask some questions regarding this warning:
1. Does Boost use any patented technologies?
Yes. There is a huge volume of truly silly patents out there (e.g. xor), so it is basically impossible for Boost not to use patented techniques. As far as I know, Boost has not received any cease-and-desist letters. But that does not mean Boost will never get one. Is is a Sword of Damocles over every software project. Software patents really suck.
2. If it does, and for example it uses some in library X, does it mean I can not use library Y (without copying X) in my program because of patents-derived restrictions? In other words, if Boost uses any patented technologies in library X, does it influence other libraries? What are implications regarding it?
Ripping out library X should be sufficient. However, many of Boost's libraries depend on each other, so it may not be a simple task. Cheers, Walter Landry wlandry@ucsd.edu