[ale] Business Week - The Linux Uprising

Doug McNash dmcnash at smyrnacable.net
Fri Feb 21 23:24:25 EST 2003


>
>Since Linux contains no AT&T code, is this really likely 
>to go
>anywhere? Or are they talking about algorithm patents, 
>rather
>than actual implementation?
>

Bell Labs patented the file permissions idea of setuid and 
something else I can't recall from the Multics days I 
believe.

Bell was a regulated monopoly (and limited to the telecom 
biz) at that time and couldn't profit from UNIX so they 
used it internally and gave it to universities of which 
Berkley to to the next level.  Berkley may hold additional 
patents.  

I would think that all patents have expired by now so not 
too worry.  Who would they sue anyhow?
--
Doug McNash
dmcnash at smyrnacable.net
_______________________________________________
Ale mailing list
Ale at ale.org
http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale






More information about the Ale mailing list