Bug 1471 - Mention of patent issues in rsync docs
Summary: Mention of patent issues in rsync docs
Status: CLOSED WONTFIX
Alias: None
Product: rsync
Classification: Unclassified
Component: core (show other bugs)
Version: 2.6.2
Hardware: All Linux
: P3 enhancement (vote)
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Wayne Davison
QA Contact: Rsync QA Contact
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2004-06-21 22:46 UTC by Dan Shearer
Modified: 2004-08-03 11:54 UTC (History)
0 users

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Description Dan Shearer 2004-06-21 22:46:08 UTC
It might be worthwhile mentioning the issue of software patents. I have spoken
to Ross Williams, author of the Blocklets Algorithm (http://blocklets.com) and
CEO of Rocksoft (http://rocksoft.com) and he does not believe that rsync
infringes. I have suggested to Rocksoft and now to rsync.samba.org that some
statement relating to software patents (and perhaps functionality) might be in
order to avoid confusion.

I am not suggesting that the rsync team make any statements of warranty
concerning possible infringment, but a summary of the issues and why there
probably isn't a problem might be helpful.

I have made a similar suggestion to the principle maintainer of Unison, see
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/
Comment 1 Wayne Davison 2004-08-03 11:21:13 UTC
I believe that programmers should not delve into patent issues in order to avoid
becoming tainted.  As long as no one is accusing rsync of infringing its
patent(s) then I see no reason to even mention the subject.