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Difference between revisions of "Analogies"

m (→‎Minefield: With each step, probably nothing happens, but you have to take so many steps, there's no chance of getting across the minefield without stepping on one.)
m (→‎Music: * [http://web.archive.org/web/20050405135357/http://www.coolscience.co.uk/free-software/software-patent-music.html Software patents – a musical analogy])
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==Music==
 
==Music==
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By Chris Lale, January 2003:
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* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050405135357/http://www.coolscience.co.uk/free-software/software-patent-music.html Software patents – a musical analogy]
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Again citing Richard Stallman:
 
Again citing Richard Stallman:
 
* http://www.ariel.com.au/a/rms-unsw.html
 
* http://www.ariel.com.au/a/rms-unsw.html
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[[Category:Arguments]]
 
[[Category:Arguments]]
 
[[Category:Understanding the patent system]]
 
[[Category:Understanding the patent system]]
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Revision as of 21:16, 30 August 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, the damage is instant. When you violate a patent, the patent holder be aware and might threaten you immediately, or they might decide to let you continue to build you project on that idea and then threaten you later, or they might not be aware now but they will threaten you later when they become aware. This happens most consequently regarding standards.

With each step, probably nothing happens, but you have to take so many steps, there's no chance of getting across the minefield without stepping on one.

Literature

Again citing Richard Stallman:

Music

By Chris Lale, January 2003:

Again citing Richard Stallman:

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