Re: Spring Loaded Folders Reloaded

[Shaun McCance <shaunm wolfram com>]

On Fri, 2003-02-28 at 11:43, Alexander Larsson wrote:
> On 28 Feb 2003, Christophe Fergeau wrote:
> 
> > > 
> > > However, looking at the Apple latest patent [1], it is clear that the 
> > > patch would make Nautilus violates claim 1 of that patent.
> > 
> > To my eyes, the more sensible thing to do with respect to patent is to
> > never read any so that you can say you didn't know about it if there is
> > some problems :)
> > Moreover, this apple patent is probably valid in a few countries, and I
> > don't think it's really fair to reject this patch because it's illegal
> > in the us (and maybe a few other countries). You can #ifdef it out in
> > the problematic countries if you want to be safe :)
> 
> That would mean you can't distribute nautilus.
> 
> >From the GPL:
> 7.  If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent 
> infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues), 
> conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or 
> otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not 
> excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute 
> so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and 
> any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not 
> distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent license would not 
> permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive 
> copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could 
> satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from 
> distribution of the Program.

Has anybody contacted Apple about this?  Given how much they've borrowed
from free software lately, they may be willing to grant some sort of
free license for spring-loaded folders to free software.