🚀 go-pugleaf

 +---- barmar@bbnplanet.com wrote (Wed, 16 Dec 1998 19:30:47 GMT):
 | In article <7583q9$m3v@sifon.cc.mcgill.ca>,
 | Navindra Umanee  <navindra@cs.mcgill.ca> wrote:
 | >> and (iii) agree to the extent Programs
 | >> are developed which utilize the Windows 95/98 style graphical user
 | >> interface or components contained therein, such applets or
 | >> applications may only be developed to run on a Windows 95/98 or
 | >> Windows NT platform.  Refer to the Java Runtime Environment Version
 | >> 1.2 binary code license
 | >
 | >WTF is this about?!  I can't write applications that look like
 | >Windbloze applications for Linux?
 | 
 | I suspect that Sun is concerned that Micro$oft might have a user interface
 | copyright on the GUI, which limits its use to running under their OS.

Yep.

 | Which would hardly be surprising, considering that in the early days of
 | Windows MS licensed GUI components from Apple; they obviously consider them
 | licensable intellectual property.
 +----

Sun also expressed concern about Apple legal troubles for
similar GUIness when they released Swing.  For the newsgroups
that may not be aware; Java has yet another new GUI, similar to
X+whatever, in that you can repeatedly change look and feel at
runtime, yet for each application, and the application won't
notice, much.  So there is a Microsoft L&F and an Apple L&F but
only 'enabled' on specific platforms.  There are other L&F's,
you can write your own.  A Star Trek L&F might encounter legal
entanglements.

As for legal concerns about Sun; there seems to be a trend
towards something that looks like single source RFC's that
disallow clean room implementations.  Clean room if you have
the clean roomed vendor providing the specification for you,
via URL, but warning of dangers to those that might dare to
independently implement.

<a href="http://java.sun.com/products/jini/licensing/scslfaq.html">
From this . . . </a>

	Under this license, can I create a Jini technology "clone"?

	If you agree to the terms of the SCSL license, you are granted
	rights to use the Jini technology Intellectual Property within the
	source code and make modifications subject to the responsibilities
	outlined in the license. For example, a Research Use licensee is
	free to create "clones" as long as the source code, if published,
	includes the proper notices. An Internal Deployment Use licensee
	can create a "clone" as long as it is compliant with the Jini TCK.
	A Commercial Use must also enter into a Jini compatibility logo
	license agreement.

	If you choose not to accept the terms of the SCSL, you have access
	to the specifications under normal copyrights. This does not,
	however, grant you rights to any Intellectual Property which Sun
	and/or other community members may have. If you choose to
	implement a "clean room" clone of Jini technology, you are subject
	to any IP claims related to the technology.

Looks like the patent bug, again, with a layer of 'opponent
vendor pollution' FUD, I suppose.

-- 
Gary Johnson     gjohnson@season.com
Privacy on the net is still illegal.