Mathias Gaunard wrote:
Le 20/07/2010 21:19, schnarf@optonline.net wrote:
Mathias Gaunard wrote:
Patents become invalid if you can demonstrate prior art. I wouldn't worry too much about it in this case.
Patent invalidation is a very difficult thing to do, and not a good way to build a defense. Attempting to invalidate a patent can bankrupt you with legal fees, and finding prior art that legally works can be tricky.
It only matters if the patent holder tries to enforce the patent, which is realistically not going to happen in this case, because they would ultimately lose. The relation to his work is fairly remote, there is a massive amount of prior art (it's in TAoCP for god's sake), and it's a quite trivial addition to a widely known technique.
Are we sure that the patent holder is in no way associated with SCO? :-) Some parties don't care about losing, because they have nothing more to lose. The odd chance of winning against all odds can perhaps be worth 10 years in court? Bo Persson