🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec31.031552.17197@netcom.com>, pdh@netcom.com (Phil Howard ) writes:
|> I would consider cracking VCR+ an interesting and challenging exercise.
|> I've noted some patterns in the codes in TV Guide and thought I would
|> give it a try sometime.  I've collected a few issues, including one week
|> from several areas so I can get a lot of channel diversity.  Some day I
|> may even get around to it.

Is it really necessary to reverse-engineer the VCR+ algorithm?  I thought
that VCR+ is patented.  If you can obtain the patent number, then the patent
can be retrieved.  The patent _must_ disclose the method used.

Of course, you can't legally _use_ the patented technology without licensing
it, but it's perfectly legal to understand the technology.  That's the whole
point of the patent system -- to make information public.  

I guess the question is whether the patent number is public information...
-- 

...Russ Schnapp
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