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I think this was the final patent on it that was valid anywhere, so now the status changes from "someone has a patent globally and we need to consider this" to
by nemomarx 2mo ago
I think this was the final patent on it that was valid anywhere, so now the status changes from "someone has a patent globally and we need to consider this" to "no one has a patent." If you're distributing something globally, even one market that still has the patent might stop you from default shipping a driver touching on it, or you might have to worry about court orders at least. It's hard to avoid jurisdictions on the open web.
- senshan 2mo agoRight, but I thought it matters only if you sell something globally. Linux is distributed for free, so the burden of patent compliance is on the user, isn't it?
- nemomarx 2mo agoNot a lawyer, but patent law refers to distribution too. It shouldn't matter if it's free or has a price if they can say you're distributing it to Brazilian users.
- dymk 2mo agoPlenty of open source software avoids using patents even though it’s free. Selling doesn’t factor into it.
- pjc50 2mo agoNope. Distribution is what matters.
- PunchyHamster 2mo agoBoth Ubuntu and RedHad sell a product, as do few other
- breakingcups 2mo agoDistributing something for free doesn't mean you don't have patent obligations if you do it in the country that patent is valid in. On top of that, many corporations do sell their distribution of Linux.
- amelius 2mo agoIs this the "install third-party software" checkbox in the Ubuntu installer?
- nemomarx 2mo agoI thought those were just the closed source drivers from Nvidia, Intel, and so on. But those vendors might have licenses for this kind of patent, especially Nvidia?