Re: Possible GPL Violation of Linux in Amstrad's E3 Videophone

Alan Cox
2004-10-10T14:28:15Z

On Sul, 2004-10-10 at 07:35, Brian Litzinger wrote:
> At least in New York and California the owner of intellectual
> property has to defend his property. Otherwise it becomes
> abandoned. (just like real property)

This sort of thing thankfully only applies to Americans for copyright,
foreigners have more rights in the USA here than US citizens do because
of international treaties.

You do lose certain abilities if you know about a violation for a long
time especially in trademark, to an extent in patent and very little in
copyright (you'd find it hard to argue you needed an injunction as
opposed to just damages if you let someone do infringe for two years).

Courts in europe at least also take a dim view of ambushing people (in
other words sitting on an infringement for a few years to rack up the
value).

Alan