-----Original Message----- From: boost-bounces@lists.boost.org [mailto:boost-bounces@lists.boost.org] On Behalf Of Paul A Bristow But IF IT HAD, it MIGHT provide 'prior art' to defend against the patent, for Boost is undoubtedly published in the public domain and available for everyone to see.

I hope that Boost will, in future, prevent (or at least deter) some of the silly software patents that are doing little but enrich some members of the legal progression.

Apparently, if prior art is discussed during application of the patent, it is seldom used in invalidating the patent.