Re: implementing reiserfs in C++ for a new OS

[Hans Reiser <reiser@namesys.com>]

Markus Törnqvist wrote:

>On Tue, Aug 10, 2004 at 12:51:26PM -0700, Hans Reiser wrote:
>  
>
>>Yes, but it protects the expression not just in every literal word, but 
>>in the sense of it.  Look at the lawsuits over ripping off movie script 
>>writers.
>>    
>>
>
>That happens mostly in the so-called land of the free, where movie writers
>engage in pissing contests over who has the biggest asteroid or volcano.
>
>Of course it's possible these ideas came simultaneously, and you can't
>lock an idea down because people have the same ideas, it's just that
>those guys are greedy as well and thus start shouting about intellectual
>property infringment just to cover their industrial espionage.
>  
>
No, if you walk into someone's office with a cute movie concept, you 
should not get ripped off, and you should not have to keep it secret 
until you have your own resources to produce the movie for fear that you 
will be.

>  
>
>>Taking the essence of our expression, and transforming it into C++ and 
>>Indian, will not avoid infringement of our copyright.  Our documentation 
>>is as protected as  the source code, probably more so, because we 
>>haven't GPL'd everything on the website.
>>    
>>
>
>I have nothing but respect for you, your team and your work, but this
>is a bit wrong.
>
>Sure the documentation is copyrighted, but it's the actual documentation,
>not the idea behind it, that is copyrighted.
>  
>
There is an idea, and then there is an expression of an idea.  
expression is not just the letters, or the words, it is somewhere 
between the exact characters and the idea.

>  
>
>>I don't really understand why he doesn't license it from us or adhere to 
>>the GPL if it is going to be free as he describes. 
>>    
>>
I think he is going to clarify it, he sent me a private email in which 
things make more sense, I'll let him say the rest.