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Difference between revisions of "Analogies"

m (Sometimes analogies help to explain this to people new to the area.)
 
m (Minefield: This analogy omits one aspect: when you step on a mine, you know it, but when you violate a patent, the patent holder might threaten you immediately, or might decide to let you continu)
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* http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/fighting-software-patents.html
 
* http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/fighting-software-patents.html
 
* http://www.ifso.ie/documents/rms-2004-05-24.html
 
* http://www.ifso.ie/documents/rms-2004-05-24.html
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This analogy omits one aspect: when you step on a mine, you know it, but when you violate a patent, the patent holder might threaten you immediately, or might decide to let you continue to build you project on that idea and then threaten you.
  
 
==Literary patents==
 
==Literary patents==
 
Again citing Richard Stallman:
 
Again citing Richard Stallman:
 
* http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/software-literary-patents.html
 
* http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/software-literary-patents.html

Revision as of 16:03, 20 February 2009

Sometimes analogies help to explain this to people new to the area.

Minefield

Richard Stallman has frequently mentioned this analogy in parts of his speeches:

This analogy omits one aspect: when you step on a mine, you know it, but when you violate a patent, the patent holder might threaten you immediately, or might decide to let you continue to build you project on that idea and then threaten you.

Literary patents

Again citing Richard Stallman: