Table of Contents
- Frequently asked questions about patents and free telephony
- Isn't it wrong that people can keep these patents secret?
- If I implement something in software outside the USA, I am free from patent problems. Right?
- If I build a clean room implementation of some software, I have no patent problems. Right?
- If I build a clean room implementation of some software, I have no trade secret problems. Right?
- I don't know of any patents applicable to what I am doing, so I am OK. Right?
- Software patents only exist in the USA, so I can freely use things like G.729 in Europe. Right?
- If I wish really hard, and twist everything people say, then I can come to the conclusion that patents on things like voice compression techniques don't apply to me. Right?
- I cannot use the GPL licence on something like a G.729 implementation,
because it is patented. Right?
- What if I implement something which is patented, purely to teach myself about the subject?
- Nobody has pressed any claims so far, so it must be OK. Right?
- There is lots of prior art for what I am doing, so I can ignore the bogus patents. Right?
- I've read the patent standing in my way, and its full of stuff that is clearly old hat. How can they patent that?
- I've read the patent standing in my way, and I only infringe a few of its claims. Does that mean I am OK?
- How come publicly available standards have been tied to patented techniques? Doesn't this give the patent holders a monopoly position?
- I often see the term "prior art" in relation to patents. What does it mean?
- You can't patent pure maths. Compression is pure maths, so how can it be patented?
- Software cannot be patented in the EU, right?
- Can I freely distribute software using patented techniques in the EU? The software on its own doesn't do anything, right?
- If the European Patent Office has issued patents which contravene the rules, can I ignore them?