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    SubjectRe: Article: IBM wants to "clean up the license" of Linux
    On Sun, Dec 20, 1998 at 04:46:49PM +0000, Alan Cox wrote:

    > In the current world trade secrets are less evil than patents.

    In theory, yes, but in practice, I don't think it helps.

    For example, take RC4 -- it was a trade secret, reverse engineered
    and make available to the public.

    Now that its public knowledge, RSA/DSI claim its patented and will
    sue you if you use it -- do you have enough $ and lawyers to fight
    them off. (You can't use the 'word' RC4 either).

    The real problem isn't the patent system -- its the entire US legal
    system, and its only getting worse.




    -cw

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