kenns@jacobs.cs.orst.edu (kenn r stump) (06/21/88)
Well, this deal that's happening between PKWare and SEAWARE is really stupid. It would be morally un-ethical for SEAWARE to win. If they did, then Ford might as well sue all other car companies for producing 'similar' products. They all copied Ford's Idea of making a hunk of metal that moves at different rates of speed, which rides on four wheels. Where would it end? Like I say, IT'S STUPID! Let's all laugh at SEAWARE! Just for the fun of it! Kenn What say? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | There aren't too many Viruses running around, Just too many Hypochondriacs! | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | But What's in an opinion, anyway? | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | kenns@jacobs.cs.orst.edu <=- U decide -=> hp-pcd!orstcs!jacobs!kenns | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
las@apr.UUCP (Larry Shurr) (06/22/88)
In article <5199@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU> kenns@jacobs.cs.orst.edu (kenn r stump) writes: >Well, this deal that's happening between PKWare and SEAWARE is really >stupid. It would be morally un-ethical for SEAWARE to win. >If they did, then Ford might as well sue all other car companies >for producing 'similar' products. They all copied Ford's Idea >of making a hunk of metal that moves at different rates of speed, >which rides on four wheels. Where would it end? Like I say, IT'S STUPID! If Ford were to do so it would be especially ironic because Henry Ford I fought and won a similar battle in the early days of the Ford Motor Co. At that time a clever individual had earlier managed to obtain a very generic patent on the automobile (in an earlier posting I point out that ideas are not patentable, only things are, but this is in essence what he had done). Unfortunately, I do not recall that person's name. However, he very diligently protected his patent using litigation and demanded royalties on every automobile-like device sold (he never built any cars and apparently never intended to) . Since automobiles were something which only the wealthy could buy, the royalty costs merely made cars more expensive and more exclusive. But Ford wanted to sell inexpensive cars and his independent-minded personality rankled against such control anyway. So he fought the patent, asserting that it was too general to be applied. If I remember my history correctly, Ford's partners feared that the fight would ruin the company and wanted him to give in and simply charge more for the cars. Ford persevered, however - I think he may have had to buy out his partners - and won. regards, Larry -- Who: Larry A. Shurr (cbosgd!osu-cis!apr!las or try {cbosgd,ihnp4}!cbcp1!las) What: "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." Where: _The Portrait of Dorian Grey_ - Oscar Wilde Disclaimer: The above is not necessarily the opinion of APR or any APR client.
berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu (06/22/88)
What's your point? Should it be impossible for Sony to patent the Beta
VCR because other VCR's record video and use tape? If a Ford is iden-
tical to all other cars, why do people spend so much on Ferraris?
It's always easy to improve on somebody elses' idea. You have to
protect your interests, else you lose the rights to your creation.
Ask Kleenex and Xerox how they feel when people refer to their
competitors' products with names they coined for their own.
Mike Berger
Department of Statistics
Science, Technology, and Society
University of Illinois
berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu
{ihnp4 | convex | pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!bergerkenns@jacobs.cs.orst.edu (Kenn Stump) (06/23/88)
In article 16800307@clio Mike Berger Sez: >What's your point? Should it be impossible for Sony to patent the Beta >VCR because other VCR's record video and use tape? If a Ford is iden- >tical to all other cars, why do people spend so much on Ferraris? > >It's always easy to improve on somebody elses' idea. You have to >protect your interests, else you lose the rights to your creation. >Ask Kleenex and Xerox how they feel when people refer to their >competitors' products with names they coined for their own. > > Mike Berger > Department of Statistics > Science, Technology, and Society > University of Illinois > > berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu > {ihnp4 | convex | pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!berger Alright.. You got me on the VCR bit, BUT a Ford is NOT identical to all other cars. Therefore Ford cannot sue just any of the other car companies because they have an accellerator and four wheels and comfy seats. That's just about what SEA is doing to PK. Their saying that his program's interior is comfortable, has arm-rests, steering wheel, and that the dashboard has a speed-ometer, just like theirs does. And as to your question about why Ferrari's cost so much more than other cars do, it's obviously because they're more powerful, go faster, are extremely comfortable inside, and look REAL nice. SEA didn't coin the term 'ARC'. It's been around in many forms for a long time. It's like saying that Ford coined the term 'car', and that no other car companies can refer to their specific vehicles as cars. It just doesn't work that way. Ask yourself, just what is the point of SEA's Law-suit against Phil Katz? Is it a personal grudge? If so, then they should take it up with him personally, and let someone else use the court systems. 'nuff said.. Kenn