Oracle intersted in buying Ubunutu

[Alexander Jacob Tsykin]

On Thursday 20 April 2006 21:13, Robert McWilliam wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:53:16 +1000, "Alexander Jacob Tsykin"
>
> <stsykin at gmail.com> said:
> > My father happens to work in a business which does use software
> > patents and does not use OSS at all. This means that I have a
> > different perspective to many who use Linux. While I do not personally
> > approve of software patents, I can appreciate the necessity.Ultimately
> > though, I believe in freedom, and people should have the absolute
> > freedom to choose how they license their software. I do not say that
> > you should never impose your own morals on other people. All of us do,
> > all the time, and sometimes this is both necessary and beneficial.
> > However, in thsi issue, I believe it is wrong to do so.
>
> I would be very interested in hearing about any industry where software
> patents are required to do business profitably.
>
> There is a difference between having propietary software and having
> patented software. In the first instance you get to license the software
> that you have written any way you like, because you hold the copyright.
> And anyone who wants to use that software is required to follow you're
> license (Which is actually the same way that open source works).
>
> With software patents whoever is granted a patent has control not only
> of software that they write but of all the software that uses any of the
> ideas and principles in the patent. This prevents other people from
> writing similar software, and depending on the exact wording of the
> patent even compatible software.
>
> The ability to license software you have written any way you like has
> nothing to do with patents and is actually the basis of open source.
A good example is the games industry. A major selling point for the best games 
is not just specific code. It is ideas. Gameplay is also important. They 
don't just need to control use of software through a license, they need to be 
in a position to ban it completely should that be necessary.

Sasha