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Analogies
Revision as of 07:22, 8 August 2009 by Ciaran (talk | contribs) (→Music: Category:Understanding the patent system)
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:
- http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/stallman-mec-india.html
- http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/fighting-software-patents.html
- http://www.ifso.ie/documents/rms-2004-05-24.html
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.
Literature
Again citing Richard Stallman:
Music
Again citing Richard Stallman:
- http://www.ariel.com.au/a/rms-unsw.html
- http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/buzz/stories/s1226098.htm
- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-121749.html (2nd last section, "If symphonies were patented")