Subject:
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Why TLG doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore.
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.cad.dev
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Date:
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Mon, 16 Aug 1999 07:27:07 GMT
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Viewed:
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1261 times
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Despite the dire Subject line, I am only refering to good things for
people who author "lego" software.
There are the PR problems that Mookie mentioned, but there is more than
that. Lego has lost the IP rights in several countries (due to time).
Further more, a US trademark law would only protect the actual "lego" on
the studs, but not the studs themselves. Several countries take the lead
of the world trademark agreement (which is rather US like), so other
countries would be similar (I'm afraid that I can't remember the name of
this...)
Then there is cost vs. gain. If it was one person's CAD, and lego didn't
want to "aquire" it (buy it or sue for rights):
If the author's program is closed source, then Lego will probably suceed
in keeping off the net for a while, possibly causing lost of interest.
Unless the author decides to go toe-to-toe (not likely, in the US anyway).
If the author's program is open source, or if the closed source is spread
far enough around, then Lego will have little recourse. They can shut
down the author, but many more pages will pop up. Giving no cost to the
community, other than web-pages (cheap), while potentially costing Lego
millions.
This wasn't as possible 5 years ago, and 10 years ago (I *was* on the net
then) it was very unlikely, and company lawyers never heard of such
manoevers.
This is probably my strongest reason why all source should, if not be open
source (pref: GPL), then spead among people in different countries.
If you come up with the ultimate Lego hobbiest's application, a GPL
licence will not stop a company from asking you to continue that with
them.
Anyway, I'm very pro open source, and I will speak out on this, but since
this can make me annoying, eventually, I'll be able to just say, "Use the
source" and you can all groan without me going on a diatribe.
Ciao!
PS: I work for TurboLinux, an opensource company. We have one application
that is closed (not counting bundled software), and I believe that it
*eventually* becomes Open Source (x years after release). If it doesn't,
I won't work on it. Period.
--
"This is the Steve Allen show. To those of you lunging for the channel selector, 'Good Night!'"
The Doctor What: Guru to the Gods http://docwhat.gerf.org/
docwhat@gerf.org (finger docwhat@gerf.org for PGP key)
KF6VNC
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Why TLG doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore.
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| (...) I thought that most countries have signed the same agreement about copyright laws, making the laws the same almost everywhere (in about 200 countries at least). (...) Or you could find a place that doesn't have copyright laws and put the (...) (25 years ago, 16-Aug-99, to lugnet.cad.dev)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Parts for LDraw or parts for POV-Ray?
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| Snipped most of the message... ok.. all of it.. :-) I have some thoughts on why TLG hasn't thought about trying to shut this down... I'm sure they already know the group as a whole isn't very happy with them. To turn around, and try to shut down a (...) (25 years ago, 16-Aug-99, to lugnet.cad.dev)
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