Algorithms in magazines

Article View: gnu.misc.discuss

Article #75095

#75095

From: Richard Stallman
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 1990 18:42

17 lines
1211 bytes

    Question:  If I code up an algorithm I find in a magazine and
    distribute my implementation, can I put the distributed code
    under the GPL?

There is no copyright reason why you can't.  Copyright doesn't cover
algorithms.

However, you could have a problem if the algorithm is patented.  There
is no way you can tell for certain whether a patent is pending.  The
author of the article might not know, either.

(Usenix has just sent its members mail stating that include files are
now patented.  I don't have any more information than that.)

For more information on the problems of software patents, contact
league@prep.ai.mit.edu.

Technical Details

Message-ID: <9011211842.AA07643@mole.ai.mit.edu>

Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!gmdzi!unido!mcsun!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!AI.MIT.EDU!rms

Show Full Headers

Complete Article Headers

X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit
X-Google-Thread: 1025b4,3a04f0561053ad9e,start
X-Google-Attributes: gid1025b4,public
X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1990-11-21 10:42:51 PST
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!gmdzi!unido!mcsun!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!AI.MIT.EDU!rms
From: rms@AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman)
Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Algorithms in magazines
Message-ID: <9011211842.AA07643@mole.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 21 Nov 90 18:42:51 GMT
Sender: karl@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Distribution: gnu
Organization: GNUs
Lines: 17
Posted: Wed Nov 21 19:42:51 1990