Re: patch to gnome-session: smooth fade on logout

[Sander Vesik <Sander Vesik Sun COM>]

Alan Cox wrote:
> On Mer, 2004-04-21 at 15:17, Sander Vesik wrote:
>
> > Don't be silly - as GPL contains a patent-grant, it doesn't matter if 
> > patent implementing patches are sent to upstream by Sun or not, just 
> > having it somewhere (which is guaranteed by GPL) allows you to use both 
> > the patch and the patent, at least in code derived from patched 
> > gnome-session.
>
>
> True and this is an important GPL property
>
>
> > Sun isn't in the business of filing for silly patents anyways.
>
>
> False. Sun claims such patents as "Shopping cart",
> http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP807891&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD

Umm.. I think there may be a couple of more - but just like in a similar 
case with Javastations, it doesnt really mean Sun is in the silly patent 
business. Look at the per year and per decade filing rates of such.

> and are currently heavily lobbying the EU to adopt US style patent
> disasters. I do appreciate however that Sun employees and Sun may not
> share the same views.

OOo took part in the antißEU patents protest banner day, and will do so 
in future too - Sun is a large entity and not all parts of it march in 
lockstep, its not quite as bad as IBM (never mind their past glory 
days). Changing what that part of Sun does to be in sync with the rest 
will take time.

> Alan


--

	Sander

'Bongo Fluffernutter, at your service' he said with a sweeping bow.
'Nice place you got here, Elrond. Love the old-world craftmanship'