Re: Re-implement MCE log ring buffer as per-CPU ring buffer

Steven Rostedt
2009-04-27T14:57:57Z

On Mon, 27 Apr 2009, Davide Libenzi wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009, Steven Rostedt wrote:
>
> > Once it is filed then I can post it, I do not need to wait till it is
> > done.
> >
> > And what the hell do you mean about not using patents?? We have several
> > patents in the kernel. Have you ever heard of the Open Invention Network?
> >
> > http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/
> >
> > This patent will go under the Open Source patent pool to help
> > protect against patent attacks against Linux, et. al.
> >
> > Yes, the Open Source community can file their own patents. The more
> > patents owned by the Open Source community, the better.
>
> IANAL, but what is the point of it? If that's for OSS IP protection
> against Evil Corporate claims, isn't the only fact that you posted the
> code and algorirthm, constitutes Prior Art, that would automatically
> protect your contribution from future claims?

Not always. There could be patent applications that have been out before
you posted. But what you want is not to be on the defensive side only. If
a company comes and attacks you over a patent they own, you pull out all
your patents and look to see if the company that is attacking you is using
anything you own.

As I said, the more patents that the Open Source community owns the
better. The Open Invention Network is posed to counter attack any company
that tries to attack a free software group. It is not just to counter with
prior art, but also threaten the company that is attacking.

-- Steve